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Ibanez USA Custom Specifications

Specs:  JEM & UV | JS | Ibanez 7-strings | USA Custom | J-Custom

Quick Jump:   American Master | Custom Graphics | Exotic Wood | Metaldesign | USRG | Notes

Related Links:   Ibanez USA Custom Shop History

UCEW - USA Custom Exotic Wood

 

UCEW1FM

UCEW1QM

UCEW1BE

UCEW1LC

UCEWFM

UCEWQM

List Price

$1499.95

$1549.95

$1499.95

$1499.95

$1699.95

$1699.95

Color

Amber (AM), Natural (NT), Transparent Purple (TP), Transparent Red (TR)

Natural (NT), Transparent Blue (TB), Transparent Ebony (TE), Transparent Purple (TP)

Body Material

Mahogany w/ Flame Maple top

Mahogany w/ Quilted Maple top

Mahogany w/Birdseye Maple top

Mahogany w/Lacewood top

Mahogany w/ Flame Maple top

Mahogany w/ Quilted Maple top

Pickguard

None

None

None

None

None

None

Pickup Color

Black

Black

Black

Black

Black

Black

Knobs

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Metal

Black Metal

Inlays

Offset Pearl Dots

Pearl/Abalone Rectangle

Offset Pearl Dots

Offset Pearl Dots

Pearl Dots

Pearl Dots

Fretboard

Rosewood

Rosewood

Rosewood

Rosewood

Rosewood

Rosewood

Fret Wire

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Neck Wood

1-piece maple

1-piece maple

1-piece maple

1-piece maple

1-piece birdseye maple

1-piece birdseye maple

Neck Type

Ultra

Ultra

Ultra

Ultra

Ultra

Ultra

Neck Joint

AANJ

AANJ

AANJ

AANJ

AANJ

AANJ

Hardware

CosmoBlack (CK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

Black (BK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

Pickups

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro
S: DiMarzio VS-1

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro
S: DiMarzio VS-1

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro
S: DiMarzio VS-1

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro
S: DiMarzio VS-1

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro
S: IBZ/USA C3

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro
S: IBZ/USA C3

Pickup Config

H-S-H

H-S-H

H-S-H

H-S-H

H-S-H

H-S-H

Pickup Mount

Ring

Ring

Ring

Ring

Direct body

Direct body

Pickup Switching

5-way

5-way

5-way

5-way

5-way

5-way

Bridge/Tremolo

Edge

Edge

Edge

Edge

LoPro Edge

LoPro Edge

Years

1990-1991

1990-1991

1990-1991

1990-1991

1992

1992

Quantity

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

Case

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

Note

Built by Hoshino USA. Bodies supplied by Tak Hosono (founder ESP Guitars) of "Hosono Guitar Works"

USA Custom Ultra Neck Measurements

Thickness:
19.0mm at fret-1  
21.5mm at fret-12

Width:
42mm nut
56mm at fret-22

Radius: 430mm fretboard radius (16.93")


UCMD - USA Custom Metaldesign

 

UCMD1GS

UCMD1ST

UCMD1SK

List Price

$1349.95

$1299.95

$1349.95

Color

Gray Snake

Serpent

Silver Peacock

Body Material

Basswood

Basswood

Basswood

Pickguard

None

None

None

Pickup Color

Black

Black

Black

Knobs

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Inlays

Sharktooth

Dot

Sharktooth

Fretboard

Rosewood

Maple

Rosewood

Fret Wire

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Neck Wood

1-piece maple

1-piece maple, Reverse headstock

1-piece maple

Neck Type

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Neck Joint

Original and AANJ

Original and AANJ

Original and AANJ

Hardware

CosmoBlack (CK)

Black (BK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

Pickup Config

S-S-H

S-S-H

S-S-H

Pickups

H: DiMarzio Super Distortion
S: DiMarzio VS-1

H: DiMarzio Super Distortion
S: DiMarzio VS-1

H: DiMarzio Super Distortion
S: DiMarzio VS-1

Pickup Switching

5-way

5-way

5-way

Bridge/Tremolo

Edge

Edge

Edge

Years

1991-1992

1991-1992

1991-1992

Quantity

unknown

unknown

unknown

Case

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

Note

Built by Hoshino USA in Bensalem, PA USA

Neck Joint Type

The first UCMDs produced in 1990 all had the standard neck joint. By 1991 Ibanez started to produce more and more with the All Access Neck Joint (AANJ). By 1992 most UCMD guitars had the AANJ.

Wizard Neck Measurements

Thickness:
17.0mm at fret-1  
20.0mm at fret-12

Width:
43mm nut
56mm at fret-22

Radius: 430mm fretboard radius (16.93")


MA - USA Custom American Master

 

MA1FM

MA1QM

MA2HSH MA3HH

List Price

$1899.95

$1899.95

$1299.95 $1599.95

Color

Natural (NT)

Natural (NT)

Solid Black (BK), Sovereign Blue (SB) Cherry Sunburst (CS), Transparent Blue (TB), Transparent Purple (TP)

Body Material

Mahogany w/ Flame Maple top

Mahogany w/ Quilted Maple top

American Basswood Mahogany w/ Maple top

Pickguard

None

None

None None

Pickup Color

Black

Black

Black Black

Knobs

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic Black Plastic

Inlays

Pearl Dot

Pearl Dot

Pearl Oval Pearl/Abalone Rectangle

Fretboard

Rosewood

Rosewood

Rosewood Rosewood

Fret Wire

Jumbo

Jumbo

   

Neck Wood

3-piece Maple Purple Heart

3-piece Maple Purple Heart

1-piece Maple 1-piece Maple

Neck Type

American Master Neck Thru-body

Neck Joint

AANJ - thru body

AANJ - thru body

AANJ - thru body AANJ - thru body

Hardware

CosmoBlack (CK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

Black (BK) CosmoBlack (CK)

Pickup Config

H-S-H

H-S-H

H-S-H H-H

Pickup, Neck

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro H: DiMarzio PAF Pro

Pickup, Middle

S: DiMarzio VS-1

S: DiMarzio VS-1

S: DiMarzio VS-1  

Pickup, Bridge

H: DiMarzio Double Whammy

H: DiMarzio Double Whammy

H: DiMarzio Double Whammy H: DiMarzio Double Whammy

Pickup Switching

5-way

5-way

5-way 5-way

Bridge/Tremolo

Edge

Edge

Edge Edge

Years

1991-1992

1991-1992

1989-1990 1989-1990

Quantity

unknown

unknown

unknown unknown

Case

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

   

Note

Built by Wildwood Guitar in CA, USA
Built by Tak Hosono (founder ESP Guitars) at "Hosono Guitar Works" in Grendale, CA - USA from 8/1990- 12/1991 (along with the MAB4FM & MAB5BE basses) - source: Tak Hosono

Built by Roger Gresco in CA, USA

American Master Neck Measurements

Thickness:
17.0mm at fret-1  
20.0mm at fret-12

Width:
43mm nut
56mm at fret-22
57mm at fret-22 (MA2 & MA3 models)

Radius: 430mm fretboard radius (16.93")


UCGR - USA Custom Graphic

 

UCGR1

UCGR

UCGR3

UCGR

UCGR

UCGR

UCGR

UCGR UCGR UCGR

List Price

     

 

           

Color

Surprise Screaming Eagle Dragon Tatoo Winged Being Strung Out Southbound Chopper Icy Hand of Death Get it Away Necromancer's Castle
Artist Pamelina Pamelina   Pamelina     Pamelina      

Body Material

Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood

Pickguard

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

Pickup Color

Black

Black

Black

Black

Black

Black

Black

Black

Black

Black

Knobs

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Inlays

Sharktooth

Sharktooth

Sharktooth

Sharktooth

Dots

Dots

Dots

Dots

Sharktooth

Sharktooth

Fretboard

Rosewood

Rosewood

Rosewood

Rosewood

Maple

Rosewood

Rosewood

Maple

Rosewood

Rosewood

Fret Wire

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Neck Wood

1-piece maple

1-piece maple Reverse headstock

1-piece maple Reverse headstock

1-piece maple Reverse headstock

1-piece maple Reverse headstock

1-piece maple

1-piece maple

1-piece maple

1-piece maple

1-piece maple

Neck Type

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Neck Joint

Original and AANJ. See Notes below.

Hardware

CosmoBlack (CK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

Black (BK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

Black (BK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

Black (BK)

     

Pickup Config

S-S-H

H

H

H-H

H-S

H-S-S

H-S

H H

H-S-S

Pickup, Neck

S: IBZ/USA C2

 

 

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro

S:

S

S

    S

Pickup, Middle

S: IBZ/USA C2

 

 

 

 

S: IBZ/USA C3

 

    S: IBZ/USA C3

Pickup, Bridge

H: IBZ/USA F2

H

H

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro

 

H

 

H H H

Pickup Switching

5-way

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

Bridge/Tremolo

Edge

Edge

Edge

Edge

Edge

Edge

Edge

Edge

Edge

Edge

Years

1990

1990

1990

1990

1990

1990

1990

1990

1990

1990

Quantity

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

Case

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

Note

Built by Hoshino USA. Bodies supplied by Ibanez, Japan routed with only the bridge humbucker.


 

UCGR1

UCGR2

UCGR3

UCGR4

UCGR5

UCGR6

UCGR7

List Price

$1499.95

$1449.95

$1449.95

$1499.95

$1499.95

$1499.95

$1449.95

Color

Surprise Winged Being Guitar Ecstasy Leather & Metal The Nail's Tails Chop Shop Metal Web
Artist Pamelina Pamelina Pamelina Pamelina Pamelina Pamelina Pamelina

Body Material

Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood

Pickguard

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

Pickup Color

Black

Black

Pink, Yel, Gr

Black

Black

Black

Black

Knobs

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Inlays

Sharktooth

Sharktooth

Dots

Sharktooth

Sharktooth

Sharktooth

Sharktooth

Fretboard

Rosewood

Rosewood

Maple

Rosewood

Rosewood

Rosewood

Rosewood

Fret Wire

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Neck Wood

1-piece maple

1-piece maple

1-piece maple

1-piece maple

1-piece maple Reverse headstock

1-piece maple

1-piece maple Reverse headstock

Neck Type

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Neck Joint

Original and AANJ. See Notes below.

Hardware

CosmoBlack (CK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

Black (BK)

Black (BK)

Black (BK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

Black (BK)

Pickup Config

S-S-H

H-H

H-S-H

H-S-H

H-S-H

H-H

H-S-H

Pickup, Neck

S: IBZ/USA C2

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro

S: IBZ/USA C2

H: IBZ/USA F4

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro

H: IBZ/USA F4

H: IBZ/USA F4

Pickup, Middle

S: IBZ/USA C2

 

S: IBZ/USA C2

S: IBZ/USA C3

S: IBZ/USA C3

S: IBZ/USA C3

 

Pickup, Bridge

H: IBZ/USA F2

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro

H: IBZ/USA F2

H: IBZ/USA F2

H: DiMarzio Super Dist

H: IBZ/USA F2

H: IBZ/USA F3

Pickup Switching

5-way

 

5-way

5-way

 

5-way

 

Bridge/Tremolo

Edge

Edge

Edge

Edge

Edge

Edge

Edge

Years

1991-1992

1991-1992

1991-1992

1991-1992

1991-1992

1991-1992

1991-1992

Quantity

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

Case

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

Note

Built by Hoshino USA. Bodies supplied by Ibanez, Japan routed with only the bridge humbucker.


 

UCGR8

UCGR9

UCGR10

UCGR11

UCGR12

UCGR13

UCGR14

List Price

$1449.95

$1449.95

$1449.95

$1499.95

$1449.95

$1449.95

$1449.95

Color

Unraveled Consc. Trick or Treat Ice World No Bones About It Cosmic Swirl Grim Reaper Angels Depart
Artist Pamelina Pamelina     Dan Lawrence    

Body Material

Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood

Pickguard

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

Pickup Color

Black

Black

White

Black

Green

Black

White

Knobs

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Inlays

Dots

Sharktooth

Sharktooth

Sharktooth

Dots

Sharktooth

Dots

Fretboard

Maple

Rosewood

Rosewood

Rosewood

Maple

Rosewood

Rosewood

Fret Wire

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Neck Wood

1-piece maple

1-piece maple

1-piece maple

1-piece maple Reverse headstock

1-piece maple

1-piece maple

1-piece maple

Neck Type

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Neck Joint

Original and AANJ. See Notes below.

Hardware

CosmoBlack (CK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

Black (BK)

Black (BK)

Black (BK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

Black (BK)

Pickup Config

H-S-H

H-H

H-H

H-S-H

S-S-H

H-H

H-S-H

Pickup, Neck

H: IBZ/USA F4

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro

S: IBZ/USA C2

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro

S: IBZ/USA C2

H: IBZ/USA F4

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro

Pickup, Middle

S: IBZ/USA C3

 

 

S: IBZ/USA C3

S: IBZ/USA C2

 

S: IBZ/USA C3

Pickup, Bridge

H: IBZ/USA F2

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro

H: DiMarzio Double Whammy

H: DiMarzio Double Whammy

H: IBZ/USA F2

H: IBZ/USA F2

H: DiMarzio FRED

Pickup Switching

5-way

5-way

 

5-way

5-way

 

5-way

Bridge/Tremolo

Edge

Edge

Edge

Edge

Edge

Edge

Edge

Years

1991-1992

1991-1992

1991-1992

1991-1992

1991-1992

1991-1992

1991-1992

Quantity

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

Case

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

Note

Built by Hoshino USA. Bodies supplied by Ibanez, Japan routed with only the bridge humbucker.


 

92UCGR1

92UCGR2

92UCGR3

92UCGR4

92UCGR5

92UCGR6

92UCGR7

92UCGR8

List Price

$1549.95

$1599.95

$1549.95

$1549.95

$1499.95

$1549.95

$1599.95

$1499.95

Color

Ice World No Bones About It Grim Reaper Angels Depart Unzipped Sea Monster Alien's Revenge Cosmic Swirl II
Artist   Dan Lawrence Dan Lawrence Dan Lawrence Dan Lawrence Dan Lawrence Dan Lawrence Dan Lawrence

Body Material

Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood Basswood

Pickguard

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

Pickup Color

White

Black

Black

White

Black

Black

White

Black

Knobs

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Inlays

Dots

Sharktooth

Sharktooth

Pearl Dot

Black Dot

Pearl Dot

Sharktooth

Black Dot

Fretboard

Maple

Rosewood

Rosewood

Rosewood

Maple

Maple

Rosewood

Maple

Fret Wire

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Jumbo

Neck Wood

1-piece maple

1-piece maple reverse headstock

1-piece maple reverse headstock

1-piece maple

1-piece maple

1-piece maple

1-piece maple reverse headstock

1-piece maple

Neck Type

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Wizard

Neck Joint

AANJ

AANJ

AANJ

AANJ

AANJ

AANJ

AANJ

AANJ

Hardware

CosmoBlack (CK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

Black (BK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

Black (BK)

Black (BK)

Pickup Config

S-H

H-H

H-H

H-S-H

H-H

H-H

H-S-H

H-H

Pickup, Neck

SH: IBZ/USA C2

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro

H: IBZ/USA F4

H: DiMarzio PAF Pro

S: DiMarzio Fast Track

H: DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell

H: DiMarzio FRED

H: DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell

Pickup, Middle

 

S: IBZ/USA C3

 

S: IBZ/USA C3

 

S: IBZ/USA C3

S: IBZ/USA C3

 

Pickup, Bridge

H: DiMarzio Double Whammy

H: DiMarzio Double Whammy

H: IBZ/USA F2

H: DiMarzio FRED

H: DiMarzio Tone Zone

H: DiMarzio FRED

H: DiMarzio Double Whammy

H: DiMarzio Tone Zone

Pickup Switching

 

5-way

 

5-way

5-way

5-way

5-way

5-way

Bridge/Tremolo

LoPro Edge

LoPro Edge

LoPro Edge

LoPro Edge

LoPro Edge

LoPro Edge

LoPro Edge

LoPro Edge

Years

1992

1991-1992

1991-1992

1991-1992

1991-1992

1991-1992

1991-1992

1991-1992

Quantity

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

Case

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

Note

Built by Hoshino USA. Bodies supplied by Ibanez, Japan routed with only the bridge humbucker.

Neck Joint Type

The first UCGRs produced in 1990 all had the standard neck joint. By 1991 Ibanez started to produce more and more with the All Access Neck Joint (AANJ). By 1992 most UCGR guitars had the AANJ.

Wizard Neck Measurements

Thickness:
17.0mm at fret-1  
20.0mm at fret-12

Width:
43mm nut
56mm at fret-22

Radius: 430mm fretboard radius (16.93")

 

Electronics/Wiring

DiMarzio or EMG pickups in any configuration you want along with the bridge Humbucker

Custom Graphic Artists

These were hand painted by the following people for Ibanez: Dan Lawrence, Pamelina H. and Pedro Cruz, with perhaps one additional artist used.

Custom Graphic Comments by Pamelina. As you might tell, she is very humble!


USRG - USA Custom RG

 

USRG30

USRG20

USRG10

List Price

$1699.95

$1499.95

$1299.95

Color

AM (Amber), TP (Transparent Purple), TB (Transparent Blue). TR (Transparent Red), BT, ST, TK, CT, TG

AM (Amber), TP (Transparent Purple), TB (Transparent Blue). TR (Transparent Red)

AM (Amber), TP (Transparent Purple), TB (Transparent Blue). TR (Transparent Red)

Body Material

Alder w/ AAA Figured Maple Top

Alder w/ AA Figured Maple Top

Alder w/ AA Figured Maple Top

Pickguard

None

None

None

Pickup Color

Black

Black

Black

Knobs

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Black Plastic

Inlays

Offset Pearl Dots

Offset Pearl Dots

Offset Pearl Dots

Fretboard

Bound Rosewood

Rosewood

Rosewood

Fret Wire

Dunlop 6105

Dunlop 6105

Dunlop 6105

Neck Wood

1-piece maple

1-piece maple

1-piece maple

Neck Type

USRG Tension Free

USRG Tension Free

USRG Tension Free

Neck Joint

AANJ

AANJ

AANJ

Hardware

CosmoBlack (CK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

CosmoBlack (CK)

Pickup Config

H-H

H-H

H-H

Pickups

Neck: DiMarzio PAF Pro
Bridge DiMarzio ToneZone

Neck: DiMarzio PAF Pro
Bridge DiMarzio ToneZone

Neck: DiMarzio PAF Pro
Bridge DiMarzio ToneZone

Pickup Switching

5-way

5-way

5-way

Bridge/Tremolo

LoPro Edge

LoPro Edge

Fixed Bridge

Years

1994-1996

1994-1995

1994-1995

Quantity

unknown

unknown

unknown

Case

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

UM150C - $129.95 list

Note

Built PBC Guitar (Dave Bunker, pres.) in Coopersburg, PA USA

Wizard Neck Measurements

Thickness:
19.0mm at fret-1  
21.0mm at fret-12

Width:
43mm nut
57mm at fret-22

Radius: 16" fretboard radius

 

PBC Guitar Technology

I started building the Ibanez USRG-10-20 and 30 in 1993 and in 1994 started building the ATK Bass line. These several thousand Ibanez were built in Coopersburg PA. by PBC Guitar technology which was my company at the time. All of these instruments featured our special Tension Free neck and other than the electronics and hardware, were built to finish by PBC. We stopped building for Ibanez in late 1996. I learned to have a great respect for this fine Hoshino (Ibanez) company for the quality that they demand and deliver. - Dave Bunker, Pres. Bunker Guitars

Tension Free Neck - Explained by it's Inventor Dave Bunker

The Tension Free neck puts very little stress on the wood and instead of compressing the neck from one end to the other it just pushes the neck up to forward bow or back to back bow in a simple fulcrum method with the rod being pinned through the neck at the 17th fret and adjusted with a screw at the 22nd plus fret.

My attitude has always been since that truss rod necks are old technology in that while they can put back bow on a neck they do it at considerable tone loss and stress which can cause everything from twisting to constantly being out of tune. This was very graphically shown to me by top Boeing engineers who assisted me in the design of the Tension free neck. All wood is very unstable which makes it very unpredictable when stress is applied to it.

Ibanez at first was worried about the Tension Free but after Mr. Hoshino inspected and tested it they went with it. The ATK bass [also made by PBC for Ibanez] won bass of the year in 1994 in the retail/wholesale magazine partly because of the [Tension Free] neck design.

The Tension Free neck was harder to adjust on the USRG20 [and USRG30] guitars because of the locking nut being mounted on the neck end instead of the headstock as is common on Ibanez guitars. I still get lots of calls from customers who bought and play the instruments and in 90+ % of the cases they really like the instruments. The only thing I felt lacked about the Tension Free neck idea was people not fully understandings not only how it worked but how to properly adjust it. If people call me, usually in minutes they have their necks adjusted and are as happy as lambs.

One thing that impressed me at the Bensalem, PA Ibanez facility were the mass number of standard truss rod type necks which were replaced by Ibanez (literally thousands) because of twist and other reasons. Ibanez I'll state again, is one of the finest company's I have ever had the pleasure to do business with. Their inspection and quality control far surpasses any of the other company's. - Dave Bunker, Pres. Bunker Guitars


USA Custom Common Features

USA Custom Guitar Details

Made in USA Construction - see each individual Spec Sheet for the location/factory of manufacture and where the wood supplies were obtained.

Custom Made to Order Option - All USA Customs could be customized and made to order, except the USRG line which came as-is. The models listed above (as per the Ibanez catalog and dealer price sheets) are the stock models as designed by the Custom Shop. People could order the guitars as shown, and dealers might have ordered them for inventory unchanged. Alternately, there was a custom shop spec sheet to allow the customer to choose between a menu of options. The customer would specify their choice for the body, hardware and Dimarzio Pickups. Various neck options were also available to customers, including choice of fretboard wood, inlays, neck binding and an optional reversed headstock.


Information obtained and confirmed from these sources: Ibanez, Ibanez Guitar Catalogs, Dealer Price Lists, various JEM enthusiasts & sites on the links page

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