Ok, I just bought an Ibanez JS 1000. Great shape and it's a guitar I have always wanted. I have a '92 RG550 that has a neck that is in need of some professional care beyond a setup. It still plays decently, but I decided to take the plunge on the JS. The JS is a 22 fret Basswood body Rosewood neck, with a Fred in the bridge and a PAF Pro in the neck - common knowledge around here. My 24 fret RG is Basswood with a Maple neck and a Fred / PAF Joe combo. If you buy into the theory- acoustically the JS is a warmer sounding guitar, the RG much brighter. Both with regular 9's on them. Why do I compare on NGD?
Plugged in, the JS is much brighter, thinner sounding. And yeah that is not with the push pulls splitting the pickups. I'm kinda confused. I don't expect them to sound the same. But the qualities I like about the Fred are not here. It's the thin sound I have read a very few people on various forums complain about. The JS pickups have the DiMarzio raised black logo on them. My direct from Dimarzio Fred of course doesn't. I don't mind the PAF Pro in the neck, but I can't raise it and it's sunk pretty deep. It didn't fall off the screw, either the screw or the hole seems to be stripped. The screw just turns.
Now I think because of the differences in a 22 fret and 24 fret guitar of the same scale, the JS bridge pickup is roughly 4mm closer to the bridge than the RG pickup. Is that causing that much of a difference in the tone?
Bottom line is I really like this JS, it's a keeper but the thin sound is not. Does any of this sound familiar to the Forum ? Is the Fred really destined to be a 24 fret bridge? If there is something I can check, please let me know. Based on the Dimarzio logo my hunch is this is as it came from Ibanez. Dud pickup? Seems unlikely but who knows.
I wanted this guitar for many reasons, trying to sound like Joe was not one. ( but I do like his tone, and his playing goes without saying). I also love everything I hear from my Fred in the RG. If it needs new pickups I have a few ideas.
Mo Joe - but afraid it's different enough to warm up this axe to were I want it
Tone Zone
Norton
Satchr8
Super Distortion - this is the classic and original replacement pickup and I have never had one.
I want whatever to split well. I also don't want to go super modern.
If I do swap the bridge out, I'll figure out if I want to see if the PAF Pro can be fixed or get a new neck as well. Bridge first
This is the last time LOL - time to get this one more guitar sorted and I'm done. * yea right *
Thanks as always !!!
