Ibanez 2025 (4)

When everyone thought Ibanez was through with its 2025 releases, 6 more were announced today, all being signature models. One worth mentioning here would be this Joe Satriani golden affair, the JS1GD. It's not exactly the Chrome Boy counterpart as the number of frets & pickup combo are the current iteration of the JS Series. The manufacturer had issues with the chrome finish on many occasions, hope they made this one right. 

Pic: Ibanez

Dare to be different

I came across this while reading a Satch interview recently. He dared to embrace something different. More importantly, he did this for himself. 

I noticed that players here tend to go with what's hype. They wanna feel safe & keep the company of like-minded people. Music is a creative platform & choice embrace should be it. Don't just go with the flow, know why you are going with it. If it doesn't serve you, then move on. Embrace something else. There are choices out there, it's not like you have only one guitar brand, one amp brand, one string brand... you get the drift.

The counter argument here would be - they don't have what I want so I have no choice. This is true as some brands deal directly, dealer-free & we just don't have the means to acquire it, especially the younger players out there who are just starting out, without credit cards. Along the way, as your purchasing power changes, you should exercise your choices. Nevermind if those popular brands work for others, ask yourself if those work for you. Coming back to the creative realm - it's about the artist. 

I just find this quote inspiring. Satch had a particular liking to the Radius model which was discontinued & Ibanez kept this one particular model going which became the current JS model. People around me are either Fender or Gibson players & I made it a point to try those instrument just to find out why they don't really work for me. However, I keep it open on creative grounds; on days when I need a good single coil tone & I know none of my Ibanez could pull it off, I would gladly reach out for the Strat. But coming back to my Ibanez should not be an issue. 😎

NAMM '23: Ibanez

So Ibanez let loose a bunch of new releases for NAMM 2023. The models on offer are all signature instruments which may / may not appeal to guitar fans in general. This white Talman-esque model you see above is the new Ichika Nito (ICHI100) guitar which is as utilitarian as it gets; nothing fancy, not even branded pickups. Consolation - roasted maple neck.

 

Satch's Chrome Boy (JS3CR) returns to its traditional format - 22 frets but pickups are DiMarzio's PAF Pro / Satchur8. I prefer 22 frets for the JS, it's been this way from the start but saw a 24 fret revision along the way. It's good to see this one keeping it true to its origins.

Pics: Ibanez

Summer NAMM 2022: Gold

Not to be left our this Summer NAMM, something from the Satch camp - behold, the JS2GD. Everything here is gold less the rosewood fretboard & some hardware / electronic appointments. Three things to note: HSS pickup combo, three pickup switches & back to 22 frets. Then again, it's effectively an HHH combo as those single coil sized pickups are humbucking. Three pickup switches will give a very interesting tone adventure if you don't mind them being fiddly; dealing with three switches might be a deal-breaker for some of us. Just happy to see the JS still being relevant to the Ibanez camp. They should really re-intro the Radius model for those of us who do not fancy the Satch association.

One more thing, it's Joe Satriani or Satch, not Joe Satch. 

JS?

Someone's selling this Ibanez JS in the after-market.

This is how a JS looks like. Seen here is the JS100.

I tried to clarify & this was the reply.

Let's look at the disturbing details:

1. Cutaways. These look wrong from the start. From the pic itself, we note that the edges are not rounded off like the JS design.
2. Neck. Re-look at the first pic & then this one - noticed the seller had swapped necks. The first one features a 24-fret neck with no JS inlay, this one has it. However, if you look at the JS100 closely, for the discontinued 22-fret version, there's a gap between the fretboard & the neck pickup but this one has none. 
3. Alignment. Bridge pickup is slanted. Volume & tone controls are in a straight line which is not the case as seen in the JS100 above.

Then again folks, let's give credit to the fact that it's a Santriani model, not Satriani. It's as original as it gets so it's $400 to the good. 

EDIT: Thanks to bro Hotaru for pointing out that all necks featured here are 22-fretted, not 24. It must be the chemo meds. I'm leaving the entry as it is.

On the way home today, I asked a friend to take a second look at this guitar. For $400, does the Santriani model actually have a genuine neck at least (consolation, perhaps). He highlighted some misalignments as indicated above (Right - JS100 headstock for comparison). Even the strings do not travel straight to the posts. Hmm...

New sigs @ SL

New signature Ibanez models are in at Swee Lee, this on one of them - the JS140M (List: $1,159). Looks stunning in this blue finish & a maple fretboard. I'm also digging the H-S pickup combo. 

The other is the PIA3761 (List: $4,499). I've no idea why SL does not cite this model by it's official citation but chose to quote the colour instead (Stallion White). I find this finish boring. Just me (maybe).

Leaving these here for those of you who are interested. I am actually interested in some guitars in SL's listing right now but will not commit to buy till I get to try one in person; still not confident in buying an instrument without prior testing. No idea when that chance will come. The wait continues.

Want chrome?

If you are a Satch fan & have $7K to spare, it's available at Swee Lee now... 😎

Satch's new voice

It's a new one for Satch by DiMarzio- the Satchur8 but you know it's been around for a while prior to its official release. The Satchur8 is currently paired with a Sustainiac pickup in the Ibanez JS2480. It's an Alnico 8 pickup & Satch backed it up as being smooth with lots of clarity. Sounds inviting. Do note that it's only offered as an F-spaced model. 😁

Satch-stainiac

This was a recent release (Summer 2017). I think I missed it due to a growing disinterest in Ibanez, have not been checking stuff out. Satch's JS2480 is equipped with a couple of updated features: 1) A Sustainiac Driver (neck) 2) DiMarzio Satchur8 bridge humbucker. It'd be interesting to see how much it would list for considering there's only pickup difference here.

From Satch to you

The great Satch has this freebie for fans (salute!). Click here to proceed to the relevant download page: GET SATCH's FREE EP!

JS Art 2

Ibanez-Satch collaboration; the JS ART2 guitars. They are now shipping, model No. 38 & 69 will be made available here (if you are interested). 

Satch's b'day message

Here's an SG50 message from the master himself. Thank you, sir.

Ibanez JS 25th

Satch fans- the Ibanez JS25art (this is model number #10) is available at Swee Lee. As the name implies, it's a token model in conjunction with the endorser's time with the manufacturer. So... do you have $12,999 to spare?

pic: Swee Lee Co

Satch's new darling

The Ibanez JS2450. Hmm... 'Chrome' pickups.

Buy Ibanez = Watch Satch

If you purchase any Ibanez guitars at Swee Lee by 16th October 2014, you'd stand a chance to win a free ticket to watch Satch shred his stuff here in SG- 4 more days to go...

Pic: Swee Lee Co.

Satch playing here

Something to look forward to :-)

Unstoppable

Got mine. A little excited because Satch's previous releases were somewhat unconvincing. This one's a track from this release, A Door Into Summer. Enjoy:

Ibanez 2013: Satch goes premium

These are the new Ibanez Satriani models for this 2013, please note that the JS2410 will only debut at the end of the first 2013 quarter- Spring time. We now have Premium manifestations of the Vai/ Timmons/ Satriani models. I'd say it's a wise move because it's a more worthy cause investing in them as opposed to some 'Jr' models that we've come across before where there were compromises in features in the name of cost-cutting.

Worthy quote: Larry LaLonde

Some of us are the players we are today due to our (guitar) teachers. Primus' Larry LaLonde paid tribute to his teacher in a recent guitar magazine interview:

... he really was an amazing, patient teacher. He taught me tons of technique, specifically string-skipping & sweep-picking, but he also helped me to break out of bad habits & make my fingers go to places on the fretboard that they didn't want to go. I still have my lesson book, & I go back sometimes & use the warm-up exercises that he showed me. The thing that set him apart from other teachers was that he was good at giving you information as well as just saying, 'Here's how you play.'

Larry LaLonde, Kirk Hammett & Alex Skolnick among others, were once under the tutelage of Joe Satriani. A good teacher inspires others to become masters of themselves, this is proof.

G3 2012

2012's G3 line-up: Satriani/ Vai/ Lukather but dates are only confirmed for Australia & New Zealand. Whatever's the case, hope they have the DVD coverage.