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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

The older MIJ RG550 etc are are still great to this day!

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.

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.

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 KZfaq.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

I'm a happy owner of RG521Genesis. In the neck pickup (3.5mm), i have Gibson Les Paul and Fender between Tele and Strat (on a coil split). At the bridge (2.2mm) i have shredder/rock/metal machine called Ibanez. The most comfortable guitar. The best build quality, 11/10.

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.

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.

One thing to add: The design of the JEM was heavily influenced by Steve Vai´s "Green Meanie", which was originally a Charvel San Dimas superstrat, that Vai modded extensively over the years. Among other things, he had the cutaway widened for better upper fret access, scalloped the neck and had the H-S-H pickups with the 5-way blade switching installed by DiMarzio. All things that ended up in the design of the JEM.

I have an RG in bright yellow. It was the last guitar sold by a music store in my hometown before they closed down. It was quite sad because I had done my high school work experience in that store. But at least I have a memento to remember the place! RIP Pool’s Music, Grimsby, UK! Gone but not forgotten!

My first guitar wasn't an Ibanez but the first one I ever paid for myself was a GIO and I don't think any amount of money could make me part ways with it. It holds a place in my heart since it was the first guitar I ever bought and was what kicked me into my Ibanez addiction

I've been waiting for this one Keith! The JEM is my "forever guitar", and I finally got a 1995 JEM 777 in Desert Yellow last year. Like a vintage car, it only comes out on special occasions, or when I'm feeling extra shreddy. It's surprisingly not as easy to play as my trusty Jackson Reverse Dinky, but it definitely has a feel all its own and sounds just amazing. One tidbit you forgot to mention was the JEM 2K DNA, which featured some of Steve's blood in the actual swirl paint job. Talk about innovation ;)

I have always wanted a ibanez when i was 11 yrs old. I am now i proud owner of a ibanez RG series 320fm from Japan. Im loving this amber color with flame maple top.😌

Back in 92, i bought a candy apple red RG750. It was so nice, just a wonderful guitar. Then, in late 93, i actually won a brand new Universe 7 string in a raffle. It was the black with fluorescent green knobs and pickups. The case was incredible too, rectangle with bright pink padded fuzz. I could have slept in it! Like most young guitarists, they got traded off for other gear. Today, the original Universe I had is a collectors item.

Here’s my Ibanez JEM/RG Story: I was 16 the summer of 1987 when the JEM released and my most often visited (to play the “Look at all the bad @$$ licks I learned” game) Ibanez dealer Thoroughbred Music had a LNG777 Jem #137 (if my memory serves) that I wanted sooooo bad. There was one dude, Chris Knoth I dealt with all the time. He was a great player and didn’t have to sell me to hard on that Jem. They had 90 day “Lay-A-Way” with only 10% down. I scraped up the requisite $178.00 and plunked it down on Chris Knoths counter for the dream guitar. I was pretty faithful dropping cash on that guitar every week. I had seen Chris a few times already in the middle of August when I came in to pay down my balance. I overheard Knoth talking to one of the other guys about going to see Steve Vai at the Eat ‘em and Smile dress rehearsal. When it came time to pay out I asked him what was up conversation? He told me that David Lee Roth’s dad was a Dr in Lakeland and he was doing dress rehearsals at the Lakeland Civic Center before the tour started and tonight was the last night. Ibanez was making sure Thoroughbred was taken care of since they had sold so much gear. The light bulb went off and I reminded him that I was the holder of the Jem777, #137 how about getting me in. He said wait a minute, got on the phone, came and got my ticket, pointed to my last name for my approval as he talked and waked back and forth on the phone. He hung up and said, “OK your in, go to the will call window, tell them who you are and there’ll be a ticket with your name on it. Oh and make sure you bring your ID”. Sure enough, the ticket was their, and the show was there and I got to meet Mr Vai and have been a total Jem/RG guy ever since. I even made my living dealing primarily in Ibanez RG parts on e-Bay for a couple of years.

I am so pleasantly surprised you covered this. now a Jackson soloist episode doesn't seem like a pipe dream anymore!

Thanks again for another one of your straightforward, no nonsense, informational gear videos. It is absolutely crazy in the United States right now (early June 2020), but your videos have provided me with a much needed moment of peace while watching during my lunchbreak at work. Incidentally, I met Head from Korn after a show a few years ago and he is a truly caring person and born-again Christian. He said a prayer for me for my stepmother that was nearing the end of her battle with cancer.

Keith makes a topic that’s not typically in my wheelhouse interesting enough that I’m now perusing the Ibanez website 😉 Came for the Tele, Strat, Champ- stayed for the Jem.

Been playing an RG for the last 16 years and I tried a lot of other guitars in the meantime, ending up selling all of them and reverting to my good old RG.

For so many years and many guitars i always considered myself a 'vintage' / classic styles guitar guy (Gibson/Fender). But after a 15 yr hiatus from playing i found myself drawn to these models and hence to this video. I was a senior in high school when they were released and even though they are now considered 'classics' i will always consider them very cutting edge. Thanks for the video.

First, Thanks for doing this. I grew up in Bensalem PA. The U.S. Headquarters of Ibanez. The guitar stores were full of RGs when I was a Teenager. I wanted one so bad in 1987 when they came out. I remember seeing them on the racks. I couldn’t afford them. The RG550 in Desert Sun Yellow. That was the one that got away. I never stopped looking for one when I got money. But... they were never in good shape and the color didn’t look the same as at the store. Until NAMM 2007. The RG 20th Anniversary. They were going to make 1987 of them world wide. I had to have one. Original specs. (cept the neck was now a 5 piece to make it stronger). It was that guitar the 14 year old kid wanted. I had a hard time locating a Desert Sun Yellow one. I settled for a Road Flare Red one. I think I got it from Musicians Friend. It came and I liked it. It was everything I thought it would be. But...... It wasn’t Desert Sun Yellow. One day I took a Subway Ride down to 48th street. I walked into Sam Ash and there it was. Desert Sun Yellow. I played it and somehow it was even better than my Red One. I got the price down a bit and bought it right there. I will never forget that bright yellow case on the Subway. But I had found it. I have had that guitar for 13 Years now. It is still my favorite guitar. (Yes I still have the red one). It is getting due for a fret job. I have never modded it. It is completely stock. I have many other guitars many are much more expensive including my J Custom I bought in Japan. It is such a great sounding guitar. It is my “EVO”.❤️❤️❤️❤️😊

I have an Ibanez RG550LTD (all black with a mirror pickguard) made in Japan by the infamous FugjiGen factory (according to the S/N it's a February 1998 build). It was a gift from my parents when I made it to university after finishing high school. 22 years have passed since then, but I still remember the conversation very vividly: My mom asked me what I 'd like to have for my success and without hesitation I said an electric guitar. "But you already have one" she noted to which I responded "So? That's what I want. Thank you". I was targeting an all white Gibson Explorer with no pickguard, but it was too expensive. I ended up paying a visit to almost all the major music stores in the city centre where I lived at the time trying superstrats when I saw the RG. Immediately fell in love with the Wizard neck and the overall looks. So, I eventually ordered it from my local music shop. As I was getting more and more into heavy music some years later I discovered that Glenn Tipton from Judas Priest (my favourite band) had a Fender Strat with similar looks (black, mirror pickguard). So another reason to love it :) Apparently, I still have the guitar. She's actually next to me together with my ESP Edwards Explorer (yeah I finally got an Explorer :p) and my PRS. Here is a photo of the family: tinyurl.com/ybbq8umk And that's my story with the RG. Thanks for the great video Keith :)

Yeeeees! You made my Saturday.

Really fallen down the rabbit hole with these videos. The way you deliver them is really pleasing to listen to and the videos are really well researched. You've definitely earned a sub 🙌

I got my first real working guitar in the mid 90s, a 1993 RG-770 which I still have and will never part with. In the end, I went with many other things as I got older, but played the heck out of that thing in what I would call it's toothpick neck. Thinking back I don't know how I didn't break it. I shelved guitar to work on my career, which of course killed my playing, but allowed me to finally upgrade the stock pickups down the road when the time came. I remember when I was taking lessons in the late 80s-90s and the JEM showed up at the music store where I took guitar lessons. My teacher and I both avid rock and Satriani fans had are jaws drop when the Jem showed up in person. We never saw anything like it, the grip, and that wicked disappearing pyramid design in the in-lays. Those absolutely flew off the shelves when they came in. The store even had one of those models made after a design of Vai's house curtains in a floral pattern. What a time.

My first guitar was Ibanez Gio RG (grg170dx). I still have it and play some times. Then I bought another RG - rg581. And its perfect guitar for me. I love RGs

this series is excellent, im an amateur luthier and these are my gospel.

Bravo! loved this Short Ibanez history episode. Though I play my various American guitars more often today. I still own my early 90's Black RG550 and Desert Yellow RG550. In 87 I was 20 and didn't have the scratch to pick up the Jem so settled for the next best thing, the RG550.

When the RG came out my world was flipped upside down. I would visit this music store almost daily and stare at the RG550s and Jems. My parents co-signed a loan for me for one of their rare late 80's USA custom shop models, I was hooked. I've gone more traditional on the past years, but I find myself craving a high end RG again. Amazing guitars.

My first electric guitar was an RG 220 B my dad bought for me in a pawn shop when I was 16. Over the years, I've taken it apart and relegated it to a dusty corner of my rack as I've gone from a more "heavy metal" to "indie" style in the music I enjoy, but while I've sometimes been frustrated by the lower-end components, the quality and workmanship continue to amaze me. The fit of the neck into the body belie the low cost of the guitar, and the rosewood fretboard has aged beautifully despite my neglect. I'm currently re-assembling it with a few tweaks and look forward to rediscovering the joy of my first forays into the world of rock guitar.

I bought an RG570 when it first came out. I had no interest in metal and if I'd done my research would have probably been happier with a plain old Strat to play my 3-chord punk/alternative. But I still have that guitar 30 years later. It isn't worth much but it represents more than 30 years of this intermediate plunking around on electric guitars so I don't get rid of it.

Loved it! I'm an Ibanez fan and your short history of Ibanez video was fascinating. Great job!

87 was a good year for Ibanez, the Jem/RG, Radius and S, those old MIJ Ibanez's are amazing, my Radius is my first true love

What a great video, for all of us ibanez amateurs and for the instruments and music industry history. This is the kind of Channels we have to help grow. I’ve playing guitar for 16 years, all the way in the beginning when I had the chance to have an RG in my hands right away I knew this is the type of guitar that I need, I played around with the cheap ones rg350 rg370 Rg420 for few years, and saved money with what I earned playing with these for to finally be able to buy one of my dreams, the Jem77brmr the bad horsie edition which is a GEM! that was one hell of a guitar, few years later I switched to Js1000 cause I always thought the neck would suit my hands better, but in the end i prefer way better the wizard and super wizard necks, so I took me about 16 years of playing to realise and be sure that for my hands it’s the Rg prestige and the Jem. The ideal compromise for me would be a Jem with satch dimarzio pickups PAFPRO and FRED, or a js1000 body with these pickups and a Jem neck. Not sure anyone will read my comment though 😂 but as musician and even a human being, my story is that ibanez is really part of my life, even half of my life literally since I’ve spent the second 16 years of my life playing on Rg’s and Jem’s Musically yours

That was outstanding Keith! As an old blues guy, I've never seen or had an Ibanez in my hands, and new very little about them. I do now, thanks to you! Hope you and yours are safe and well! --gary

Thank you for this video. Fujigen’s “ge” is supposed to be pronounced like guess’s “gue.” Anyways, I bought white JEM in 1996 when I was living in Japan. I still have it.

"...a follower, a copier, no longer'. I love that line. I've watched this video many, many times and I always find that inspiring. Thanks for a fantastic summary of Jem history, Keith. Keep up the great work! I was a latecomer to Jem ownership. I got my first in 2012 and then realised what I had been missing. I now own 12 different Jems, an AT10P and a couple of RGs. I also own the same White Universe 7 string you show in the video. Not quite a complete collection but all great guitars. There's still time for more...

This sort of narrative separates the ordinary from excellence. Simply put what a way to bring about one to walk to a music shop in pursuit of an iconic guitar.

My initial thought was ‘how much can there really be to say about the Jem?’ As usual you delivered a thoroughly researched video that kept me fascinated the whole way through and gave me a new appreciation for the subject. Way to go Keith!!

Thanks Keith, Personally, I'm a huge fan of mid/early 80s Roadstars(II). I consider them the grandfathers of the gem lol.

My man, any episode that you mention Meshuggah and Korn in deserves all of my upvotes. Also, I just bought a mint UV777P from late 97, basically first or second run.

My first guitar was an Ibanez starter pack that I got for a birthday, around 2001. It featured an RG-style model, and many players mentioned in this video inspired me, and a lot of things here bring me back to that time! The nostalgia is strong with this video, looking at the Jem & RG models! Mine didn't end up making me play like Steve, but it did start me down a long and perpetually rewarding path I'm still walking today. Always love these videos; thanks for posting!

I’m a fender guy but I thoroughly enjoyed this Keith. Another Home Run.

Ibanez's in general were of great quality. Their necks are my favorite. Dangerously thin. I noticed around 2014 or 2015 the quality kind of went down a bit. The Artcores are my preferred ES-335 variants beating out the Epiphone Dots.

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.

I have recently found a love for the gem. Perfect timing!

I first noticed Vai as the Devils minion that takes in Lighting Boy in the movie Crossroads and I’ve bern a fan since 🤘🏼

Great review! It's Fujigen (hard G, as in "get").

My first electric guitar was an Ibanez RG550 that I bought at music go round ($175 in 1996, I was 13) I knew nothing about guitars at the time just that it looked cool and I could almost afford it (Thanks Mom & Dad) I played it every day until someone broke the neck on it. Again I was young and tried to fix it myself but was never right again. I eventually sold it to a friend who wanted to learn to play. Only wish I still had it so I could fix it properly and play it again.

I bought a blue floral JEM77 about 2 years ago and it’s the best guitar I own. It’s pretty much ended my search for the perfect guitar.

Vai used the 7 string on "Slip of the Tongue" with Whitesnake.

*It's ironic that the Jem has become more iconic and far more successful than the Barretta, the guitar that inspired Ibanez to say, "We need a rockstar to do for us what Eddie Van Halen has done for Kramer..." In all honesty, that's a good thing though. I was never a fan of one pickup, 22 fret guitars... The three pickup 24 fret Jem, who's bridge can pull sharp as well as push flat, is a far more versatile instrument... Basically, the Jem can do everything the Barretta can, but the Barretta can't do everything the Jem can do... The only minor exception being that the Jem's Edge Floyd is free floating, while the original Floyd on the Barretta, being dive only with a hard stop, does provide a bit more bridge stability, which helps for tuning stability when palm muting, using double stops, going to Drop D, etc..., but with the addition of one of several tremolo stabilizers that are available on the market to a Jem, then even that one small advantage is removed...*

I had my hands smashed by a heavy car door when I was 17 and it led to my quitting guitar for about age 23 to about this year at age 36. All guitars I kept encountering were always fat necks with tiny little frets that made my neck hand hurt more than holding a pick. Three years ago a friend suggested I try an RG because they have super thin necks and XJ frets I haven’t looked back since. I’ve slowly started my rebuild into playing guitar and the pain isn’t as awful as it was with epiphones, fenders, squiers and schecters. I love the 7 string and 8 string versions too and honestly I can’t wait to get better and buy those too. These RG models have really brought back my love for playing

In 1974, I bought my 2nd guitar; an Ibanez SG. It was SO GOOD! It was on the rack next to a Gibson SG and the Ibanez blew the Gibson away. It played so much better and looked cooler too. I had that guitar until the mid 80s when I sold it. I kick myself every day now for the last 20 years. I would do anything to get my old SG back. She was my darling. It would also be worth a butt-load today too. Today, my Ibanez collection has grown with a few Jems and 4 RG's. I've played a lot of guitars but Ibanez has always felt better in my hands. I have Strats, Gibsons and a Carvin DC series (awesome guitar in its own right) and a few PRS's. I always come back to my Ibanez's.

Great! Next you should do Eddie's Ernie Ball Music Man and Wolfgang guitars.

How about another metal head brand. Do a history on Jackson or Schecter!!

My first real guitar that my parents bought for me in 3rd grade was an Ibanez RG320, it's bright transparant yellow with a beautiful flame maple veneer. I learned nearly everything I know about playing and working on guitars because of that instrument. It's been nearly 2 decades now, I of course still have it in the stable with a few other nice instruments and it remains one of my favorite and most important guitars in to me and to my playing. Thanks for this video Keith, like all of them, it was a great one!

Nicely done Keith. I have met and conversed a few times with Steve Vai around the time he was with David Lee Roth and just started using the Ibanez Jems. He was doing a Guitar Clinic in Tampa FL at a store called Thoroughbred Music. The Owner Elliott Rubinson had one of the most Popular Music Stores in the South East with Thoroughbred and was a Major Seller and was a Exclusive seller of every Big Brand you can think of. Elliot arranged for several Brands to do have Music Clinics with many artist. Steve Vai was one of them. I even have a Autographed Photo of Vai pro of him Holding the Jem in Black and White and is still on my Wall. (Elliott Rubinson is the one who brought back Dean Guitars which is HQ here also in Tampa and his son Evan is now in charge of Dean). I never been a Fan of the Jems and RG's but the Necks were very slim and played easily. Same for the Virtuoso Players Gilbert, Reb Beach, Satriani, Vinnie Moore etc. signature models never appealed to me like the Clones and the Double Cut artist Arch Top late 70's early 80's. How ever the Jem has had an amazing sales history no doubt. Steve Vai was a very nice and down to earth person the few times I met with him. He even shot the Video for The Audience is Listening here in the Tampa Bay Area in an area called Plant City. The one model of the JEM not seen was the Black with the Floral pattern and Rose Vine inlays. It;s sad that many of the Artist Series Guitars are our of reach price wise by so man. Sure years later we got the lower end ones which are not in same league by any means nor are the key parts not as well constructed imho. Steve Vai and his new evolution Jem the PIA is even more out of reach cost wise. Anyways that's one of the Jem Stories, still not a huge fan of a Jem but did finally like the looks of the White with the Gold Hardware and White DiMarzios.

I swear by RG's. I have 4 electric guitars and 3 of them are RG's.

Should it be Ibanez be pronounced as " ee BA nyez " since the name is derived from a Spanish name?

Fantastic video. Thanks for the all the work you put in!

Before the AT series Andy Timmons was the artist used in promotional material for the RT series. They were made for only a couple years in the early 90s due to grunge bringing back interest in vintage spec instruments. I have a RT 450 which has an alder body, 2 pt trem with a steel block, maple neck with tge viper profile which is closer to a strat and rosewood fretboard with locking tuners. Higher end models have a flame maple top. All of them feature a crazy looking tortoise shell pickguard (mine was replaced with creme pearloid before I bought it unfortunately) and have the same RG body shape

New FWW day, and Led Zep releasing celebration day. Is this a dream?

I love Ibanez, got 8 of them. My very first one is the flat black 2011 XH300-BKF Halberd, a HUGE and heavy all-mahogany metal beast, have to use a bass gig bag to carry it about! Then got a 2003 SZ520QM-BBL, a beautiful blue quilted maple Fat Strat that is great for blues. Next is one of my faves, an all-original black 1986 RG450-BK that has it's original factory HSC, sales brchures, warranty card, allen wrenches and trem bar spare parts! It's a very versatile guitar, but I'm hesitant to play it much due to it's extremely good condition for it's age. So I got a black 2013 S420-BK which is currently my #1. Oddly altho it's in even better condition than the vintage '86 RG450, I liked it so much that I'd play it (altho I'll cheerfully murder anyone who even touches my Axe)! It too is a very versatile guitar! However perfect it may be, my modder's urges wanted to mod a S-Series, so I got another S, a transparent gray 2012 S570DXQM-TGB that came to me sans pickups. Plopped more than a few different sets pups into it, and still experimenting with different pups on it to this day! Then acquired a steal of a deal on a scarlet metallic 2006 ARX100, a 'fat SG' which unfortunately hadn't much time before I got distracted by the next Ibanez. An uber-rare 1989 RG565R in candy apple red. It was the PO's #1 for decades and showed it. Sadly, needed serious resto work when I first got it (and such work is quite expensive in Hawai'i). I'm slowly working on it, spread over time as money permits. And finally I just picked up my first Ibanez bass: a 6-string (yes six) SR406NT, I figured starting with a 6-string might be easier on me to learn when tuned to the bass equivalent of the guitar's E Standard tuning. I call it the B Standard, since it's the same fingering as E, just lower B to B tuning. :)

Great video! You included pictures that had a black cover over the trem. This device was a very ingenious hand rest that connected to the trem. It allowed Steve, or anyone, to place their picking on the bridge without causing the warped note(s) effect, but it also was connected where Steve, or any player could still pull the bar up. Ibanez was told that the device had a patent dispute and was quickly pulled off of the guitars. There was an article decades ago if I remember correctly that mentioned all of this but that owners could write Ibanez and get the device free if they had bought the guitar. Sad, as whomever owned the patent never found a company to license the invention.

I've been following Ibanez since the mid '80s and everything from that time forward in this video is dead on. So now it's 2020 and I still have my 1989 RG550 and a 2002 JEM DBK. I really enjoyed this video. Thank You five watt world.

I was a working guitarist...traveling and playing Top40/oldies cover tunes mainly in hotels in 1988. I had owned and played Ibanez Roadstar already for several years. I could not afford a Jem, but I found an RG550 used on consignment in a music store in Gadsden, AL. It played and sounded magical, and had everything I needed. I never sold it and still have it. It still plays and sounds amazing although it is a bit of a beater after all these years. Great guitars! I still look at Jems with lust...I want the JEM70V in surf green but they are now getting rare and expensive.

Great video! I always look forward to these coming out.

A Vai fan over 30 years and an Ibanez fan since then. Thanks for this informative video. I really enjoyed it.

Thanks Keith! You keep cranking out what you do and I'll keep watching for as long as you do it

Always look forward to a new addition to the ' short history' series - Informative , authoritative & entertaining - A great enduring resource - Thanks

I've always wanted an Ibanez, and once I save up enough money, I think I'm going to get an RG seven string to compliment my Yamaha TRBX305 bass. Beautiful guitars with beautiful sound and range.

Fantastic video. I've been anticipating this one! I absolutely love my RG.

Fantastic as always. Please don't stop doing these.

Still, my go-to guitar. My 1990 Lipstick Red RG 560. I will never put her down and she will be in my Casket when I go!

This was so enjoyable to watch. Nicely done!

These videos are such a pleasure to watch and listen to. It has a well-researched podcast feel.

Another quality session - thank you.

Really interesting video as always. These short histories are anything but short in content and attention to detail. Thanks a lot!

I so love your videos!!! You answer questions that I didn't know I had

This was sooooo awesome, thanks for share this knoledge with all of us, it's great for a new year learning things.

Another killer video Keith. Ibanez always finds a way back into my collection and will always hold a special place in my heart. There’s something about an RG that just feels like home.

Fantastic. Filled in many gaps in my Ibanez knowledge. Thank you for This!

Carving Your OWN History Keith as your documentaries are Stellar. Crisp, Insightful and carving a Groundswell of Interest in every product Presented. Thank You .

Love the work that was put into making this video.

Hey Keith! A little out of your timeline... In 84 I graduated Electronics School and landed a job with Wang Labs working on their mini computers. They sent me to Lowell Mass for 6 weeks of training. They gave us a big check for Per Diem the first day. I found a little music store just over the line in New Hampshire that had Ibanez guitars. The owner was awesome. Play what you want. The Ibanez RoadStar IIs were what I felt I could afford. I played others that are lost to time. What I really liked about the RoadStar was the neck. My best friend let me borrow his 59 telecaster for a while. The RoadStar reminded me of that, and was just awesome to play. The blue one came home with me! It was my first real electric guitar. It's been through a bit of trauma with a router, adding a second pickup. First a gold Lace Sensor, then EMG 89s. I took a big chip out of the finish some years ago. When you put it in the case, close the latches. You may not remember later! It lives in the case right now. I have 20 others to play (sorry Keith!) so it's waiting for a renewal. My plan has been to fill the trem cavity and maybe the pickup cavities and decide on what pickups are going to live there. I can drop a AAAAA veneer on it. It's been the guitar that has evolved over time. Ibanez has made, and continues to make wonderful guitars! Thanks to the video!

My nephew had an Ibanez guitar and I loved to play it. I've been through my share of guitars, Fender Telecaster, Hagstrom III and an old Truetone I had in high school. I wish I still had the Fender & the Hagstrom III. I now have an Ibanez of my own (a Strat copy). After taking physics in college I learned the formula for frequency and the relation to string length. At the time I thought only Ibanez had the adjustable string saddles to increase/decrease string length according to the physics formula for frequency. I wish I still had my Kustom 150 amp head with a bass speaker cabinet which had 3 fifteen inch Altec Lansing silver cone speakers. I loved that amp--rolled and pleated black. Live and learn. I now have a Crate 150 amp head which I hook up to 2 columns of stereo speakers one on top of the other. Each set of speakers are 8 ohms each so I had to wire them in series, then the pairs are wired in parallel. The Crate allows me to play in stereo as it has stereo output. Love that amp. Cheers from eastern TN

Being a guy with one acoustic guitar this video changed my perception of Ibanez. I like the picture of Steve Vai from the movie Crossroads.

I went into a music store back when I was 14 and saw for the first time the Jem desert yellow model in this video, but alas I did not have that kind of money to buy one. Then at 19 at another music store I saw a second hand RG560 hanging on the wall which I fell in love with and still have it to this day, now I'm 47. Though it has always been a dream to walk into a store now, and see an old Jem desert yellow hanging there for me to buy. Though out of all the guitars I have owned over the years no neck has ever been as thin and shred tastic as the Rg560 of mine. Love the channel, this was a really good video, enjoyed it very much :)

Man this channel is great,your laying down history for generations upon generation,I only wish I had this knowledge when I was younger