The Ibanez JEM & RG: A Short History

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Here's our video on the short history of the Ibanez JEM and RG guitars. This one took a little longer for me to make because, well, pointy guitars were never my thing. But what I realized was that once I started the research, this is a great guitar story. And I can't resist a great story.

Also, "Ibanez: The Untold Story" by Paul Specht, Micheal Wright and Jim Donahue.

I need to thank Jason Shadrick, John Bollinger and all the guys at Premier Guitar magazine for the use of the video clips of Andy Timmons Rig Rundown:

I need to thank Tom Quayle and the excellent people at Dawsons Music in the UK for the use of the intro and outro RG music played by Tom. For the complete demo of the clips used here:

Until next time, thanks for being a part of the five watt world.
Keith

*I was not paid in any way to produce this video.
***Five watt world participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn commissions by linking to Amazon. In simpler language, this means that whenever you buy something from Amazon from a link on here, I receive a small percentage of its price.

[StevenSiroVai]

What a fantastic video. Thanks so much Keith. I found it fascinating as it unravelled info that I was unaware of. I very much appreciate the time and care you put into this.
Steve Vai

[RickBeato]

Awesome Hypes! Once again half of what I know about Ibanez I learned in the last 20 mins. Thanks dude!🔥🔥🔥🔥

[BarryMoeCraig]

I was on that first David Lee Roth tour. I worked as a guitar tech for Frank Hannon of Tesla. I remember during one load in, Vai’s tech Elwood Francis, put skateboard trucks on the back of one of Vai’s axes. He was riding it around backstage. Elwood was a hoot.

Elwood was actually Joe Perry’s tech but was moonlighting for Vai. He later became ZZ Top’s tech and has since taken the spot of bass player, after Dusty passed.

Oh, the glory days of youth.

[davidgood]

I’m not even that interested in the Jem or the RG, but, as usual, I learned a boatload of guitar lore and see where those models fit into our world. I hoist my newly acquired Five Watt World coffee mug to you, sir.

[observinghumanity]

I was a young teen just starting to play guitar when the Jem came onto the scene. I desperately wanted one, but at that age could never afford one, and my parents could not afford to buy me one either. Fast forward to 2017 and the release of the 30th anniversary LNG Jem777 and I finally got that guitar of my childhood dreams and I play the shit out of it and love every minute of it. I am not a collector, so to me it was about having a guitar that I dreamed about when I was starting my guitar player journey.

[paulcoleman]

These Short Histories aren't getting any better, Keith. But that's because the whole series started off as close to perfect as you can be and you've maintained the standard throughout. Essential Youtube.

[joshoptical]

There is no doubt they bet the farm on the JEM & RG models. They had to have retooled entirely to make these especially in the quantities they pushed. IMO one of the great bets of guitar marketing history, and maybe beyond.

[mlwilliam]

So Ibanez and Vai were able to come up with their own original guitar in such a short time, while John Mayer and PRS took years to come up with a strat with a PRS headstock.

[FloridaManMatty]

9:59 - “The fingerboard was scalloped, something he borrowed from Malmsteen”.

Minor correction, Keith - Vai actually got the idea to scallop those last four frets from Billy Sheehan, with whom he had worked when he was with David Lee Roth.

Everything else was spot on! Except you still can’t pronounce “Yngwie Malmsteen” to save your life 😂. As a nearly 30 year Ibanez Jem and Vai fanboy, I can personally certify that this video is VERY accurate and hits all of the high points. You even got the photo of the right Maxxas that Hoshino sent to Vai for Christmas! Solid work!

[MikeW-uz]

I still have my 1975 Ibanez Flash my grandmother bought for me in 1976 two weeks before she unexpectedly passed away. I have always loved the way Ibanez guitars played. Thank you for putting together this expose’ on Ibanez RG guitars.

[TryingYourLvck]

I remember it was 2005-06, skipping band class every chance I had to go to Guitar Center. I saw this epic looking guitar. Affordable too. It was a RG. I grabbed it and it felt so amazing. I fell in love. I saved some money with the small part time I had, and turned out they had sold out and also no longer produced them anymore. They released more RG's but none captured my attention like the one I saw. Ended up with a Les Paul instead that I only used twice .. later in 2016, went into a pawn shop and saw the exact model I wanted. Bought it for $150. Still have it. And also a Prestige Model now. Love all my guitars but all my Ibanez especially the RG's are my favorites. Also still have that Les Paul alongside another one.

[ebathurst]

Can’t wait for “The Ibanez PIA: A SHORT History”

[markcatron]

Of all the guitars I own and have owned, My Ibanez RG-570 that I picked up in 1991 is still my baby, It'll never leave my collection. I still enjoy playing it today as much as I enjoyed back in early 90's.

[Bruce.t.thomas]

Bought my first RG last summer after being a long time Ibanez player: first band rehearsal I brought it to my other guitarist offered to buy it on the spot because he had always wanted an RG to add to his collection. That guitar is still mine and it's a workhorse.

[Lacquerhead-TX]

My wife and I have watched Andy Timmons playing around the Dallas area for years. He always leaves time to meet the fans after the show, which we certainly appreciate.

[VSF-SR-OA-X]

Hell yeah! Still rocking several RG's all these decades later! Can't beat those late 80's/early 90's Fujigen plant 470's/550's/570's! Best all around Guitars, great to mod, fix and very versatile machines. Owned 70+ Guitars since starting and always had at least two in arms reach.

[Barbarapape]

At last i now have all the history of the Jem and RG, i used to be a Fender buyer, but never liked their necks due to my small hands, then a friend suggested trying an Jem / RG. i now have a Jem and 2 RG's, fantastic guitars that sound as good as any fender even playing clean.

[dougcook]

Phenomenal video. I bought my first RG in 1992. Was a 1990 (still new in store) RG570 in Neon Purple. This led to many future Ibanez guitars being owned. I have one of the early JEMs, a Voyager (sign by Red), and even a Universe. But, always went back to the RG570. The other slowly got sold off in the coming years as I got married and kids came along. By 1999 I had sold off everything except the RG570. By the end of the year it too was gone and I had nothing left. The whole that guitar left in my soul was huge, and when eBay was getting big, I continually looked for and RG570 in neon purple to maybe buy to have another. I divorced and remarried, my second wife (and current) knew I wanted to play again, and bought me a newer RG421. I slowly bought a couple more used ones, all while still looking for an RG570 neon purple. They would appear regularly, but were usually higher than I wanted to pay, and also would be snatched up fast, being an early Fujigen product. Then one night, on a normal search for the RG570, two popped up. Looked at the first one, and it was in nice shape, but was a bit pricey. The second one I looked into, it was priced good, but just a bit more than I had for expendable cash. I looked over the pictures and something looked familiar, a toggle, between the knobs. Just like my original I had modded. I looked closer, in great detail at all the images. I knew of three chips/dings that I had on my original, first one...yup...it was there on the lower horn...second one...yup there it was by the rear of the jack...and lastly the bigger chip from a mic stand impacting it at a show I played...yup...there it was. Could this be my original...I looked where it was being sold, from a store that was withing 30 minutes of the guy I sold it to. Calling up my mother in law, and telling her the story about it, in hopes I could maybe borrow the money I was short. By the time I got off the phone, it was marked as sold...my heart dropped. The next day my mother in law called me to tell me it would be delivered to her house in 3 days. Those were some of the longest day of my life. Eventually it arrived and I opened it up. Everything looked right, but how to verify it 100%. I called the original store I bought it from, a small (very small) store in my childhood home town. Asking them if they could help me out, they said it would be extremely hard to find the bill of sale, I told them I could give them a 7 day window of the orginal purchase date, to which they said they would try. The next day the phone rang, they had found the bill of sale, with the serial number...one by one the numbers matched...verifying this was my original guitar. It never had a name, which was uncommon for my guitars back in the day, but now...I call if F8...Fate...because its was fate that is was to be mine again. I hangs on my wall along with my other Ibanez guitar now, and it still is my go to guitar.

[devlieg]

I've never had an Ibenez guitar. But I've got two Ibenez bowl back mandolins that were built in the early and late 1960s. They are both still great players.

[fordhammie]

I'm grateful for youtube shows like this 5WATT!