Guitarists and Ibanez fans rejoice: the JEM series is celebrating its 20th anniversary. And to do this the Ibanez way, another special, limited-series guitar has been prepared: the Steve Vai signature JEM 20TH.
The reason why I am telling you about yet another guitar from Ibanez (by the way, who on Earth knows the exact number of models they've put up?) is that the new JEM model is a total kick-a** guitar like few have seen so far.
What makes it so special is not the fact that it has been specced by Steve Vai but that it comes in full acrylic; not only the body but also the luxury and hi-speed Prestige neck were hand made from special acrylic!
The
body is by far one of the best-designed bodies ever to come out of the Ibanez factories: it is made of transparent resin with colored veins scattered inside and thus making a real 3D-picture of it. The cabling and electronics inside the JEM20TH's body are also in the colors of the paint veins and everything glows in a very eerie manner in either semi-obscurity or UV light. From the few pictures yet released it looks like the paint in UV-active and so the visual part of the show is already done.
The neck is a true marvel as it has perfectly replicated the 5-piece Prestige and if Vai agreed to have his signature on this model then I can't but believe it really is a good one! The pickups are DiMarzio, as expected (despite some previous collaboration between Ibanez and EMG) and they are traditional JEM PU's in the same violent colors as the rest of the artwork. Finally, an Edge Pro Floyd Rose bride completes this cool demonstration of guitar engineering.
And this is not all! Ibanez, together with other leading names in the industry are preparing one hell of a party, the Jemstock! On Saturday, May 19th, in Cotino, California, Hoshino Corporation (mother of Ibanez and Tama) are celebrating!
Hoshino president, Bill Reim and NAMM president Joe Lammond will be present and will lead the party, together with other heavy names inside Ibanez: artists Doug Dopplar and Tommy Merry. Not only the day-long Ibanez and barbecue mix but as well prizes for the whole activity in the support for music retailers field will be presented to Steve Vai and Bill Reim.
Other notable names in the industry will attend this party: Marshall, Vox, Digitech, Mesa Boogie, Shure, Monster Cable and D'Addario. Get further info about this free 11:00AM-4:00PM event here.
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