I Traded A Fender Strat For An Ibanez Jem Jr.... Was This A Mistake? - Setting Up An Ibanez Jem Jr. 

i’ve been an Ibanez man for as long as I can remember. I first started out with Jackson soloist but then when my friend let me try his Ibanez, I’m like wow this neck is nice and thin, the guitar is easy to play! I have a Ibanez prestige their highest range guitar they make them exclusively in Japan, by really good luthiers. I love it.

Remember when these first came out, still like the jem777, great Color’s in these models

Nice deal... Yeah the Fret board lemon oil is actually Mineral Oil with lemon scent. You can use mineral oil or baby oil if you don't mind the scent of baby oil. also organic coconut oil slightly cleans & is a natural antiseptic. Also a mild cleaner is murphy's oil soap, followed by lemon oil. Deep Clean the fretboard & body Lighter Fluid Zippo or Ronson lighter fluid. is a deep cleaner that flashes off quickly. Chemistry is one of my things,,,

My trem arm would never stay tight. I put a Gotoh GE1996T bridge with a 40mm block and it made a nice difference. I also put green knobs and a pink selector switch cap on and got a pink paint pen and colored in the claw area.

In my opinion, the RG 550 Genesis which is made in Japan, with original Floyd edge trem is the best deal going for $990. It’s not labeled a Prestige, but it really kind of is…. Check it out sometime

I have a jem 555 that Steve signed for me, it has a decent floyd put on it and setup and it's awesome. The Jem Jr, I have yellow, pink and white and I have had the trems changed and setup and they rock. Great video Marty

The guitar is always worth it if you think it is....sounds awesome....makes me want to go buy one 😊

I was watching (but mostly listening to) this at 1.5x speed while doing some paperwork. I enjoyed it immensely! Great deal on your trade! At around 27:45 I was listening and going HOLY CRAP!! Marty is a great guitar player... but he is REALLY playing some SUPER FAST speed licks...! I watched for another minute or two with my jaw on the ground -- until I realized I was NOT playing your video at normal speed!! LOL 😂🤣😂 Give 1.5 speed a try at that spot ... it's VERY impressive!!! 😛

I definitely appreciate all of your content but I really like tech help videos because I’m the type I don’t want to mess up my guitar. Thanks for all your help and lessons you rock brother 🤟🏻

When you are cleaning frets esp with 0000 steel wool place tape over the pickuos so the magnets don't collect steel wool fibers. Use painter's tape. Before putting over the pickups, take the tape and lightly press against your pant leg while holding the tape ends. This takes just enough stickiness off the tape so it still adheres to the pickups without leaving excess tape residue on the pickups so and magnets . Save time from trying to get steel wool off the pickup magnets. You can if you want place a piece of tape over the tape that is on the pickups to keep any steel wool from falling off the tape into the body or onto the pickups afterwards. Sure saves time. I use a Mothers Polish. It cleans frets takes out micro scratches on frets and leaves them polished ,and they will not collect any finger residue,,sweat or anything that may cause your frets gather any type of crude on them. This polish can be used on all metal components of your guitar, to clean take scratches out or just to make them shine and hold the shine over time. This polish is so good and fine that I've used it on CD's that skip from small scratches. I use it as if you were using standard CD cleaner applying it in the proper manner, let it dry and take it off the same way as using cleaning fliuid. CD's play great. I prefer thus method over using steel wool. Leaves behind a clean scratch free job with a micro protective layer on the metal. Strings glide over frets while bending. Can use the polish on all types of metal and other surfaces.

I have a 1990 RG550 in laser blue and it is the most comfortable and versatile guitar I have

I have kramers and fenders with Floyd but I never owned an ibanez. I don’t think I ever played one. People seem to like the RGs too but never tried one. Maybe I need to

Hey I got a tip: I went to the cosmetic section at the grocery. They have these 4 sided, foam fingernail manicure things with different grits on the various sides. Only a couple bucks and work great for some fret fine polishing / clean up.

I placed a Gotoh 1996 and a JB on the bridge and made an outstanding difference.

Good trade Marty and you got the best color they are more $$$ on Reverb 👍🤘

Hi Marty. Thanks for showing the whammy bar fix as I have the same problem with one of my guitars. That's a decent trade swap.

Great guitars. Thin neck and the string height close to the body just so comfy.

Since you removed all the strings it would have been much easier to remove the trem completely and then fit the Trem arm socket. The bar you fitted doesn't look to be OEM, as it should tighten up and not flop about like that. I'd highly recommend a genuine Floyd Rose push-fit arm as a replacement. No more tension collar or arm working loose. Just apply desired tension via the grub screw and that's it. Haven't needed to further adjust the tension on the arm on my JrSP since it was fitted (over a year ago..)

Have this same guitar, love it. They don't sell the yellow ones new anymore.

Excellent move IMO. I have the white Jem Jr, and it's a really nice axe !!! Just picked up an EVH 5150 Iconic head as well. Tried it cranked at practice tonight - Love it !!! Love your guitar - nice yellow and pink pickups! Cool stuff Marty !!!

I would’ve kept the Fotoflame and I’m an Ibanez guy but I’ve always liked the quirky factor of the photo flame. I guess it would’ve depended upon the neck on the fender some of those old Squier necks were incredible but I know the Ibanez necks are great for me and I do like desert yellow. I think since the fender was a parts caster any collectibility of the Photo flame was out the window and I’d value both guitars on the used market 300-350 unseen so if you both are happy it was a good trade. I’ve played an RG550LTD from around 95 for nearly 30 years now and it is and will probably always be my number one but I’m getting older and getting the itch for the traditional stuff Fender styled stats and more recently a Les Paul itch that I’ll have to scratch sooner or later but I want a Japanese LP like a Tokai. Personally I would’ve kept the Fender even though I’m a huge Ibanez homer I’ve never really gotten into to Vai even though he’s had some signature Ibby’s I’ve loved, now if they did a run of JEM JRs with maple boards and disappearing neon color matched Pyramid inlays I’d probably be all over it just for the neck lol. But for you it’s actually a good trade because you not only get a new guitar but you got the content out of the parts caster and now the JEM jr and I’d rather hear wheeler deal trading guitar stories and what can be had on the used market than whatever the newest Amazon guitar is

Never a mistake. ❤

While I like all things JEM when It comes to the import versions I like the blue floral one..Those are really good guitars for the money🤘. These yellow ones need a bit of work.

Checking in! 🤘😊

Sounds and looks awesome bro! Great job on the setup 😎👍

I like the JR's. So easy to upgrade. Floyd and Gotohs fit right in. All mine have DImarzio's, one has a OFR, one has a Gotoh and both have locking tuners too. Even though they're the "cheaper" versions, the necks on the JR's I think might just be my favorite Ibanez neck and I have 7 Ibanez guitars...

Love the ‘80’s yellow!

Ibanez guitars are cold.I traded a satch ibanez...Regretted it.But that handle ibanez guitar is cool.The vai green one is great...

I bought a used white Jem Jnr a few years back. I love it. Great trade I reckon 🤘🏻

All Jems rock.

I loved my original Jem777-DY but had to sell it as a cash strapped student back in the day. It was an awesome guitar that I miss. I don't how good Jr's are by comparison, I've never played a Jr.

I have a jem Jr, I had to set up it up..better, I'm picky, but it plays great ,stays in tune..no problems. For what it is I really like it. I have many more " expensive " guitars, but I always come back to this one. It's one of my favorites.

Anytime you can trade a Fender product away is a good day. I have a JEM 77VBK love it, I also have 3 vintage RGs just the best super strats ever made.

ASMR for guitarists! I love it !

Nice one Marty! That's the one I wanted but unfortunately the yellow one has been discontinued and I couldn't find it new from any reputable dealers so I bought the pink one. Been very happy with it, AFTER installing a Gotoh 1996T as the stock bridge was not very stable. Now it holds tune and flutters like a boss.

hmm! When I adjust the saddle length or height, i don't use a rag like you do, and i see many others do. Still have not scratched my guitars finish :) Same goes when I'm soldering pickups! People use rugs when they solder, I don't use a rag soldering either, I might do it if it's not on my personal guitars, but so far my guitars are without damage :)

Marty I get sidetracked ,wanted to tell you the other guitar I got in trade is a original Squier Tom DeLonge Standard Stratocaster. SeaFoam Green ,original. I love her.

What a Deal ! Sounds legit !

It depends on several things... did the Strat inspire you? Does the Ibanez inspire you? I love guitars period, and have a hard time parting with any of them, but I did trade one several years ago. it was a 6-12 double neck, and it was not what I'd hoped it would be. I traded it to two 4x12 speaker cabinets, and I use those! Watching you play, you get the best out of your instrument. So, if you're happy with it, that's all that matters. Rock on, Guitar Friends!!!! 🤟🍻🍺🥃👽🎸

Nice looking guitar and nice video.

Sweet guitar!

I think you came out like a bandit dude! I really like the Yellow! Congrats on your new baby. Partscasters are a dime a dozen

Nice one! I've had my eye on a white Jem JR. The prices for yellow ones on Reverb are nuts. I think you got a good trade.

I wouldn’t even think about it, and I’m not a Vai fan. The Jems are pretty scarce in my country, I would love to have one. And in my opinion, the Ibanez trems (Edge?) are far superior to the Floyd Rose. Congrats! I believe there is a DTuna available for the Ibanez trems. Something tells me you have tasted “lemon oil” 😂

Looks like a cool guitar and Hey! I have that same shirt!

Good trade 👍

Marty, you should get a JEM 7V-WH! I was lucky to get one in mint condition some months ago. Fantastic guitar! 😍

Excellent video, I love the Jem Jr. How the Floyd on that? Thanks for sharing

It's not a mistake if you're happy. It looks cool!

That jam after the setup was Classic Paul Gilbert

Jem Jr. are the best guitar under $500

Marty can I ask what kind of tuner you use in this video please let me know thank you.

imo you got the better end of the deal though the fender strat you traded was a great guitar as well so really it was win/win for all involved, thats a gorgeous shade of yellow and i love the monkey grip, need to get me a jem jr at some time in the future, great value for the money

I would have traded I think you got a good deal even the Indonesian Ibanez guitars are fantastic guitars in my humble opinion

You wouldn't wanna' squeeze it on your fish! ( That's what she said )😉

I just watched the end I was waiting to see if you liked the Ibanez better but you didn't say.did I miss it?

LOVE my Jem Jr!

Great decision,those photo flame guitars were never very attractive to me. Awesome video, great trade. In my opinion

I have one. Put a set of Evolutions in it …. Green ones. Stock pickups are fine. I did it just because.

Its a DL tremelo. Only one crappier is the Floyd Special

Marty love to watch your videos very helpful. What strings are you using?

Great trade!

When you do this how do you set your fine tuning screws? All the way in, half way, ! Just curious how you do it. Thanks and sorry about all the ??

Great trade on your end, IMO. Fender strats are a dime a dozen, this has some pizazz.

You looked like you were enjoying that jem?

Sounds great

Well, you don't need me to tell you a Fender Strat and an Ibanez Jem aren't too similiar and both have their positives & drawbacks. depends what you like, the sound you like and are after and neck & body preferences. I see Jem's and I think of Steve Vai who's super awesome.

Sweet!

Heyyyy Morning Marty!

Looks Hot! 🔥

Have you tried the PGM Mikro guitars?

Without even watching the vid - NO. Not a msitake. I did something similar, but I modded the hell out of my Jem Jr, too, as nothing but the tuners/neck/pickguard and body are original to it now. A guitar is a platform from which to mod to taste from. The Jem Jr. has a lot of capacity for mods. Dropping in a Floyd Rose Special alone (it will fit directly, no mods needed) will stabilize the hell out of the tuning.

I have never owned a Ibanez, for some reason they just never appealed to me..even after playing since 1992

What pickups are in these things Marty?

Was it a mistake?

nice amp around u

No mistake