Hits & Misses

Mickey Mantle hit lots of home runs for the NY Yankees. He won the coveted Triple Crown too. The fact remains that even legendary #7 struck out regularly. Since nobody is beyond mistakes, Ibanez included, I've listed here some of the best and worst at bats by Ibanez.

The Best - Top Three JEM & Universe Guitars

1. JEM10 - creme de la creme... the Crown Jewel. The ultimate JEM needs no introduction. In addition to it's amazing detail, craftsmanship & beauty, the playability tops the 7VWH due to the totally raw neck. Anyone who has played this will attest to it's superiority. In addition, the looks are out of this world, with inlayed bindings on the body, neck and headstock. The etched aluminum pickguard and headstock plate are unprecedented. Almost to beautiful to play but that won't stop me. I'd guess many owners will unfortunately not play these animals... which is a shame.
These are near impossible to find now because the entire lot has been sold from Hoshino. This means that private buyers have them all... only 210 in the USA. So if you're in the market for one, I hate to tell you that the ship has sailed without you. If you can find one at this point, you will pay dearly for a JEM10. If you happen to find one & have the $$$ available you will have the JEM of JEMs.

2. UV77MC - cool to own... cooler to play. Vai's trademark guitar from Passion and Warfare. This guitar launched the Universe into the 7-string stratosphere. I'm not sure I know a JEM/UV fan who wouldn't want one of these... do you?. Even Fender-type nuts were taken back by the multicolor patterns and tonal variations that they only dreamed of doing with their instruments. Over a thousand of these beasts were made, however these are perhaps the toughest multi-year production JEM/UV to find. Unfortunately all good things come to an end. The UV is rarely used by Vai today, however it can be seen on Ya-Yo Gakk from the Alien Love Secrets Video. Maybe Vai will play the new UV777BK when it's released this September.

3. JEM7VWH - will never be as collectable as the LNG or GMC/PMC swirls, but this mighty instrument surpasses them all hands-down in playability. The ebony fretboard, all-access-neck joint, DiMarzio Evolutions and Alder body push this next generation JEM ahead of the pack. Warning, don't play this guitar if you do not intend to buy one... because your instrument wont compare favorably. The fact that Vai has used it for nearly every song he plays live since it was introduced doesn't hurt either.
If you find a 7VWH at a great price... jump on it. Most owners know what fine instruments these are, therefore you don't often see them often in the used market. They are widely available new, however expect a 3-6 month backorder from Hoshino if your dealer does not have one in stock. Since most dealers don't stock these if you're shopping one be patient.

Honorable mention:

JEM777LNG - the first JEM. Set a very high standard right from the start. Would have been a collectors item even if Vai didn't hand sign all 777 of them. The average joe will comment: "what an ugly guitar... what is with that color" but we know better! This was a tribute to his Charvel Green Meanie that he tweaked to perfection (See the Guitar Gallery for some great shots of the Green Meanie). Sadly, these are for sale more than any JEM today. It seems that many who bought them never played them much and have decided that now is a great time to cash in. Teach these fools a lesson and buy a new 7VWH instead... you'll thank me later.

The Worst - Bottom Three JEM & Universe Guitars

1. JEM555s - to purists, these are not really JEMs. The headstock reads "JEM Jr" so this should tell you something right off the bat. The Korean made connotation doesn't help matters either. In all actuality these are fine guitars, so if you're on a tight budget and demand a new JEM, you have no other choice. The problem with this series is twofold: First, Ibanez has mistakenly left off the Lo-Pro Edge tremolo (which is the best in the business) and replaced it with the totally inferior Lo-TRS. Secondly, they stopped the vine inlay at fret 12, using dots the rest of the way. Having owned my first JEM in '88, I do know that these do not compare to the JEM7 series. These are anti collectable. I'd prefer that the model had never been created, but who am I to say. For Lefties, it's your only choice however as lefty 555LWH will ship soon.

2. UV7 (Black w/ Green) - ugly color combo which includes green pickups, and dot inlays to add insult to injury. One word... Why? Did anyone in the world think that this combination on an expensive, obscure 7-stringed guitar would be a world beater? Unfortunately removing the pyramid inlays and introducing a sickly ugly color combination was not the winning lottery ticket. The price was still too high, and they never understood that an important prerequisite before buying an expensive guitar is good looks. Eight years later, Ibanez has remedied the UV7 with the new UV777BK... YES!

3. JEM777SP - also needs no explanation. The only thing shocking about this guitar today is just how horrendous the pink looks now. OK, I know that these bright colors were actually somewhat trendy at the time, but I am only thankful that Ibanez had the sense not to make an Orange JEM to mimic Vai's "Eyeball" Jackson... they spared that for one of the early RGs. In a strange way the original 1987 JEM 777 color schemes were all pretty cool when taken as a whole. The way the colors were matched (green, yellow, pink) with the fretboard, knobs, pickups and tremolo "Lion's Claw" routing. The SP has a green tremolo cavity. Being available for three years allowed all too many of these to be created to be even somewhat collectable. To further insult it's owner, many of these Pink ones severely faded from exposure to light. These things turn putrid with no rhyme or reason. Best left in a dark room.

Dishonorable mentions: Your vote goes here!

Colter submits his vote for the JEM777VDY - "Yellow and black fingerboards are a bad idea. I wasn't all that big on the yellow, anyway".

Ken (7'th Heaven) votes in the '97 UV7 - "Black pickups on a black pickguard on a black body make it look like a Black Hole. An expensive Black Hole. Continuation of the dot inlays didn't help either".

Clay Lamb says... "I am a great fan of both Jems and Universe guitars, although insuffient funds leave me without one. Still I have to agree with Ken (7'th Heaven) that the worst, most undesireable Jem or Universe ever created is the new '97 UV7. It appears to me as if Ibanez is trying to distance themselves from their once 'crown prince' with this horribly plain, and unexciting guitar".

Worth Davis nominates.... The DSY [JEM777DY] "The only thing this guitar is good for is parts or a swirl job. I can't believe Ibanez produced it sooo long."

My vote for the worst JEM unquestionally has to be the 555. I HATE THAT LO TRS II tremolo. The half vine half dot looks DISGUSTING. Given the choice of a 555 and a RG-550 the RG is the better choice by far. billy100357@webtv.net

My pick for worst Jem is the Jem 555 with that stupid looking fingerboardwith the vines and dots along with the steve vai inlay at the bottom of the neck. every Jemfan I know cringes at the sight of it. Besides that any Jem without a real Edge tremelo isn't really a Jem now is it? The generic colors can go too! Vince Cravero

The Best - Top Three JEM & Universe Guitars
1.	JEM10 - creme de la creme... the Crown Jewel. The ultimate JEM needs no introduction. In addition to it's amazing detail, craftsmanship & beauty, the playability tops the 7VWH due to the totally raw neck. Anyone who has played this will attest to it's superiority. In addition, the looks are out of this world, with inlayed bindings on the body, neck and headstock. The etched aluminum pickguard and headstock plate are unprecedented. Almost to beautiful to play but that won't stop me. I'd guess many owners will unfortunately not play these animals... which is a shame. These are near impossible to find now because the entire lot has been sold from Hoshino. This means that private buyers have them all... only 210 in the USA. So if you're in the market for one, I hate to tell you that the ship has sailed without you. If you can find one at this point, you will pay dearly for a JEM10. If you happen to find one & have the $$$ available you will have the JEM of JEMs.
2.	UV77MC - cool to own... cooler to play. Vai's trademark guitar from Passion and Warfare. This guitar launched the Universe into the 7-string stratosphere. I'm not sure I know a JEM/UV fan who wouldn't want one of these... do you?. Even Fender-type nuts were taken back by the multicolor patterns and tonal variations that they only dreamed of doing with their instruments. Over a thousand of these beasts were made, however these are perhaps the toughest multi-year production JEM/UV to find. Unfortunately all good things come to an end. The UV is rarely used by Vai today, however it can be seen on Ya-Yo Gakk from the Alien Love Secrets Video. Maybe Vai will play the new UV777BK when it's released this September.
3.	JEM7VWH - will never be as collectable as the LNG or GMC/PMC swirls, but this mighty instrument surpasses them all hands-down in playability. The ebony fretboard, all-access-neck joint, DiMarzio Evolutions and Alder body push this next generation JEM ahead of the pack. Warning, don't play this guitar if you do not intend to buy one... because your instrument wont compare favorably. The fact that Vai has used it for nearly every song he plays live since it was introduced doesn't hurt either. If you find a 7VWH at a great price... jump on it. Most owners know what fine instruments these are, therefore you don't often see them often in the used market. They are widely available new, however expect a 3-6 month backorder from Hoshino if your dealer does not have one in stock. Since most dealers don't stock these if you're shopping one be patient.
	Honorable mention:
	JEM777LNG - the first JEM. Set a very high standard right from the start. Would have been a collectors item even if Vai didn't hand sign all 777 of them. The average joe will comment: "what an ugly guitar... what is with that color" but we know better! This was a tribute to his Charvel Green Meanie that he tweaked to perfection (See the Guitar Gallery for some great shots of the Green Meanie). Sadly, these are for sale more than any JEM today. It seems that many who bought them never played them much and have decided that now is a great time to cash in. Teach these fools a lesson and buy a new 7VWH instead... you'll thank me later.

The Worst - Bottom Three JEM & Universe Guitars
1.	JEM555s - to purists, these are not really JEMs. The headstock reads "JEM Jr" so this should tell you something right off the bat. The Korean made connotation doesn't help matters either. In all actuality these are fine guitars, so if you're on a tight budget and demand a new JEM, you have no other choice. The problem with this series is twofold: First, Ibanez has mistakenly left off the Lo-Pro Edge tremolo (which is the best in the business) and replaced it with the totally inferior Lo-TRS. Secondly, they stopped the vine inlay at fret 12, using dots the rest of the way. Having owned my first JEM in '88, I do know that these do not compare to the JEM7 series. These are anti collectable. I'd prefer that the model had never been created, but who am I to say. For Lefties, it's your only choice however as lefty 555LWH will ship soon.
2.	UV7 (Black w/ Green) - ugly color combo which includes green pickups, and dot inlays to add insult to injury. One word... Why? Did anyone in the world think that this combination on an expensive, obscure 7-stringed guitar would be a world beater? Unfortunately removing the pyramid inlays and introducing a sickly ugly color combination was not the winning lottery ticket. The price was still too high, and they never understood that an important prerequisite before buying an expensive guitar is good looks. Eight years later, Ibanez has remedied the UV7 with the new UV777BK... YES!
3.	JEM777SP - also needs no explanation. The only thing shocking about this guitar today is just how horrendous the pink looks now. OK, I know that these bright colors were actually somewhat trendy at the time, but I am only thankful that Ibanez had the sense not to make an Orange JEM to mimic Vai's "Eyeball" Jackson... they spared that for one of the early RGs. In a strange way the original 1987 JEM 777 color schemes were all pretty cool when taken as a whole. The way the colors were matched (green, yellow, pink) with the fretboard, knobs, pickups and tremolo "Lion's Claw" routing. The SP has a green tremolo cavity. Being available for three years allowed all too many of these to be created to be even somewhat collectable. To further insult it's owner, many of these Pink ones severely faded from exposure to light. These things turn putrid with no rhyme or reason. Best left in a dark room.
	Dishonorable mentions: Your vote goes here!
	Colter submits his vote for the JEM777VDY - "Yellow and black fingerboards are a bad idea. I wasn't all that big on the yellow, anyway". Ken (7'th Heaven) votes in the '97 UV7 - "Black pickups on a black pickguard on a black body make it look like a Black Hole. An expensive Black Hole. Continuation of the dot inlays didn't help either". Clay Lamb says... "I am a great fan of both Jems and Universe guitars, although insuffient funds leave me without one. Still I have to agree with Ken (7'th Heaven) that the worst, most undesireable Jem or Universe ever created is the new '97 UV7. It appears to me as if Ibanez is trying to distance themselves from their once 'crown prince' with this horribly plain, and unexciting guitar". Worth Davis nominates.... The DSY [JEM777DY] "The only thing this guitar is good for is parts or a swirl job. I can't believe Ibanez produced it sooo long." My vote for the worst JEM unquestionally has to be the 555. I HATE THAT LO TRS II tremolo. The half vine half dot looks DISGUSTING. Given the choice of a 555 and a RG-550 the RG is the better choice by far. billy100357@webtv.net My pick for worst Jem is the Jem 555 with that stupid looking fingerboardwith the vines and dots along with the steve vai inlay at the bottom of the neck. every Jemfan I know cringes at the sight of it. Besides that any Jem without a real Edge tremelo isn't really a Jem now is it? The generic colors can go too! Vince Cravero