So, apparently the Ibanez J-Line is a thing

[r3tr0sp3ct1v3]

Hopefully they make an 8 string

 

[FitRocker33]

Touché good point. I’m equally sick of poplar Burl bursts and fades. It’s about as cool as gelled spiky hair with bleached frosted tips

 

[Kaura]

I like it but Ibanez needs to take lessons from Fender and have multiple color options. For example, if you take the new Professional II Strat, you get to choose from 9 different finishes (too bad Fender USA can't into matching headstocks...)

 

[Forkface]

"Road Donger Evil Black 666 Special Custom!"

"Hello? this is the Schecter marketing dept. we would like to make you an offer..."

 

[Forkface]

Love the thing, except im not sure how i feel about the individual saddles bridge thing, mainly because i dont think ive ever used a guitar with that. are there any benefits to that? sound/playabilitywise i mean, because it does make sense from a mass production perspective.

 

[Dyingsea]

Love the thing, except im not sure how i feel about the individual saddles bridge thing, mainly because i dont think ive ever used a guitar with that. are there any benefits to that? sound/playabilitywise i mean, because it does make sense from a mass production perspective.

Just another way to make a hardtail. Don't think too much into it.

 

[Lukhas]

I remember the last time Ibanez did a no frill black line of guitars. That was the original Iron Label lineup; the intent was a bit different, but we've seen where that went. Now we have that new J-line that is almost an alternative to the Premiums... I think Ibanez might start to have too many lines of instruments. You've got the J Custom, the Prestige, the J-Line borrowing from the Genesis line, the Premium, the Axion Label, the Iron Label, the Standard and the GIO. And that's just the RG models! I generally wouldn't mind choice, but it's starting to get really confusing.

Maybe I'm ripe enough to get my "Used Prestige Club" membership card...

 

[bostjan]

Remember when you could just buy an RGXYY and the higher number X was, the less shitty the guitar was? Pepperidge farm remembers.

 

[gunch]

Reject modernity get a shitty old 320DX and use it

 

[Seabeast2000]

I like the idea of having more "in house" qc'd options.

 

[MaxOfMetal]

Remember when you could just buy an RGXYY and the higher number X was, the less shitty the guitar was? Pepperidge farm remembers.

Those designations were almost always trim.

I like the idea of having more "in house" qc'd options.

All regular Ibanez QC is outsourced.

 

[Seabeast2000]

Those designations were almost always trim.



All regular Ibanez QC is outsourced.

But is it outsourced to Cortek?

 

[MaxOfMetal]

But is it outsourced to Cortek?

OEM manufacturers and regional distributors.

 

[Seabeast2000]

OEM manufacturers and regional distributors.

Interesting.

 

[MaxOfMetal]

Interesting.

Ibanez is just a brand owned, developed, and marketed by Hoshino Gakki. The only facility they wholly own and operate is the Ibanez Los Angeles Custom Shop (LACS).

Fujigen is just someone they pay to build guitars for them at scale. As closely related as folks see them, and as far back as they've been partners, it's important to understand that Hoshino is just one of a number of customers and guitars, especially Ibanez ones, are only part of their business.

 

[trem licking]

Ibanez is just a brand owned, developed, and marketed by Hoshino Gakki. The only facility they wholly own and operate is the Ibanez Los Angeles Custom Shop (LACS).

Fujigen is just someone they pay to build guitars for them at scale. As closely related as folks see them, and as far back as they've been partners, it's important to understand that Hoshino is just one of a number of customers and guitars, especially Ibanez ones, are only part of their business.

Doesn't hoshino own, or partly own the Indo facility (where/when they started making the premiums)? thought i read that somewhere long ago.

 

[MaxOfMetal]

Doesn't hoshino own, or partly own the Indo facility (where/when they started making the premiums)? thought i read that somewhere long ago.

They are part owners/investors in a small area of Cortek's Indonesian facility.

At least they were at a time. New Premium guitars no longer say they're built at the "Ibanez Premium Factory".

 

[jl-austin]

About them being black. As far as I know you can still order an RG550 in DY, RFR, and PN. In addition to a couple of Prestige models in orange, green, and DY.

If you are worried about the flashy colors going away, better pull out that credit card. I am not saying they are going away, just that the opportunity is now.

With 2020 being what it is, and me personally not particularly "happy", a good flat black guitar would be right up my alley.

 

[kisielk]

Ditch:
...
AZ

Ditch one of their most successful product lines? Doesn't seem like a great strategy

 

[MaxOfMetal]

Ditch one of their most successful product lines? Doesn't seem like a great strategy

None of what gets posted in threads like these is a "great strategy". Like, they hire folks and outside firms to pour over the data about what they should and shouldn't make.

But that's no fun.