Why do people hate Ibanez ?

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Author Message Smokey J Posted on Friday, August 31, 2001 - 6:18 pm:    I'll never understand it. Yes, they make copies. So does everyone else these days. What's the big deal. It could be said that they are king of the copy guitars, right? Sure there are high end copies like PRS, Anderson, etc., but for low/mid grade guitars why not Ibanez? I guess the bad rap is good in a way..it keeps prices low for people like us IN THE KNOW. Steve (Gitfiddle1) Posted on Saturday, September 01, 2001 - 4:18 am:    I think it's partly a left over from the "Jap Crap" era. Early Japanese made imports (not just guitars) were pretty shoddy. Ibanez made their reputation over here with dead-on copies that were great guitars. But, they were made in Japan and considerably cheaper than their American counterparts. So they were "Jap Crap" to most players. It's also ignorance (Are you listening, Ed Roman?). Ever notice how a large majority of guitar players don't know anything about their guitars? How many times have your heard, "Well Joe Schmoe over at (insert store name) said that brand X sucked, so I decided to get this one and he cut me a deal". And unfortunately, most guitar salesmen are guitar players. So the "Jap Crap" mentality is spread by word of mouth and "monkey see, monkey do". Another reason may be as simple as price. American society says, "You get what you pay for". Ibanez has always been a mid to low price brand. So, they've got to be mid to low quality, right? Bullsh*t! If price equals quality, then Gibs*n's offerings ought to play themselves, run the sound board, hump the gear, and serve drinks. I wouldn't have one of those heavy, clunky, awkward pieces of firewood if it was given to me. But their the "best", right? Yeah sure... Steve harry Posted on Tuesday, September 04, 2001 - 4:53 am:    Hi Steve, Smokie! Steve, I couldn't have said it better than you. Maybe you can add the fact that people always will consider copies to be worser than the originals, and they find extra proof for that theory in the fact that copies are much cheaper. And that goes in general, not only for guitars. Well, let me tell you I own an Ibanez ES 335 copy that is SO GOOD that I wouldn't trade it for a Gibs*n. And I challenge every so-called guitar expert to play 5 original Gibson ES-es and my Ibanez "copy" blindfolded. I bet a hundred bucks that he can't pick out the "Jap Crap". Harry Steve (Gitfiddle1) Posted on Tuesday, September 04, 2001 - 11:00 am:    Amen! Just put a stocking cap over the headstock first... Steve tim walker Posted on Monday, September 17, 2001 - 10:46 am:    I agree! I run a studio and I get so many ignorant guitarists in here! People spending £800 for a low end Gibson Les Paul Studio or junior, when they look like a plank and play like a brick! When they see my 70's Ibanez they say,'wow I never knew Ibanez made guitars like that!' Hmmph! we're not all trying to be Limp Bizkit y' know... Challenger Posted on Monday, September 17, 2001 - 3:24 pm:    I'd like to add something here. I believe that Ibanez has gotten a bad rap, but not without some valid reasons. The hardware has usually been cheaply made of pot metal and plated poorly, and the electronic components have been subpar. The same can be said of American companies, hence the popularity of replacement parts, and the subsequent success of their manufacturers. It's just that these issues were easier targets than the excellent woodwork, fit, and finish of the Japanese Ibanezes. Currently, the Korean models share the same 'cheapness' issue that gave Ibanez a bad reputation in the beginning. I have had to upgrade almost all of the hardware and electronics in my Ibanezes. Once done, however, they are excellent instruments. They can't maintain the value of American instruments because if they have the original hardware, etc., they don't play or sound like they could, and if they've been modified, they are no longer 'original'. It's the vintage paradox. Steve (Gitfiddle1) Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 - 2:07 am:    Challenger, What models do you have hardware issues with? I've not found that to be a problem. Nor have I had any issues with the "electronics". Steve Challenger Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 - 3:41 pm:    All of the roadstars. Some of the RGs. Certainly the copies. The trems don't stay in tune and the crappy metal does not transmit vibration to the body well. There is a lot of weight and bulk to the bridges with no appreciable gain in sustain. Putting on a new bridge was like getting a new guitar. The hardware always pits and oxidizes badly over time. Also, they were metric; replacement was always a hit-and-miss proposition. If you were lucky, the local guitar shop had spare parts somebody (like me) got rid of. Slapping in a Seymour Duncan gave you a Jackson-quality guitar for hundreds less. The hardware and electronices work - they are just not premium grade and worthy of the rest of the guitars. Also, the reliability and replaceability of the parts are issues. You can always find Gibson- or Fender-style parts in a guitar shop. Have fun finding a saddle for an '82 RS1000 in less than two weeks, if at all. I always chose to eliminate that possibility before it became an issue, and have been glad for it. It's nice to just change standard parts rather than coping with the ever-changing designs that an evolving company deploys. Sometimes simpler is better. I do not fault Ibanez for trying - I just didn't want to be the Guinea pig for those designs. Steve (Gitfiddle1) Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 - 6:11 pm:    An Edge does not stay in tune? Brass and steel are "crappy" metals? I currently have 9 Roadstars, an SF470, and an AM300 and have no "pitting" or oxidation problems with any of them. None of the Artists I have owned had a hardware problem. Metric hardware is a fact of life, deal with it. I've not had any problems finding metric hardware at my local hardware store. Slapping an aftermarket pickup in a guitar does not improve the quality. It simply changes the tone, for better or worse. I found an entire replacement bridge for my RS1500 in a few weeks. Replacement parts and/or parts guitars are plentiful if you spend a little time looking. I don't understand why you own and play Ibanez guitars, since you seem to have so many complaints with them. Steve Kirk Posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2001 - 12:04 am:    Ah Steve, Let it go dude. At least he's an Ibanez fan. Besides, I'm buying up half the parts he rips off his "vintage" buys. Hey Challenger! Got any parts for a super 70's LP or SG? Ooh, and I'd love to get my hands on a deluxe lyre vibrola in chrome! Peace, Kirk Steve (Gitfiddle1) Posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2001 - 2:49 pm:    *Grins* Steve Aki Rintamäki Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2001 - 5:49 am:    :o) Yeah, people can have many minds about Ibanezes. To me NOT being a Fender or a Gibson is an important issue on guitars. I would hate to like a guitar that every single guitar player looks up at. Old Ibanezes are not very valuable or too wanted here in Finland, thats why I get them so cheap.. ;o) I use old Ibanezes, Carvin amp and a Bill Lawrence Swamp-Ash Strat, Absolutely the best Strat I have ever played. Not the perfect one ofcourse. Perfect would be a CN-250 equipped with two Kinmans and a HB (CN-230? ;o), or with two minibuckers and a Kinman at the center. Anyway, I love brands that are not seen in every music store used and new, and barely even heard of! My 5-string bass is handmade very cheap by a luthier student, and it is absolutely the best bass for me (I didn't like Tobias, Alembic or Neuser too much). I am very proud every time I take it out of the bag, and I can atleast think of people going "oooh.. what IS that guitar?!". I paid ~700$ (as much as new Peavey Classic 30 and a hard case for a guitar?) of a bass hand made only for my needs. That is something! And I'm looking forward to get my modified-body Fender Am Dlx strat (I got it for VERY cheap, it was wrecked) equipped with two minbuckers and a Kinman and finished with a way Fender has never done. Then People WILL go "oooh, I didn't know Fender made that kind of strats too!", and I proudly say: "They did't, I did!" :o) -Aki. tim walker Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2001 - 9:45 am:    I have to say that my Gibraltar bridges are worn and pitted, but I've never owned another guitar long enough to make a comparison on that score. I've played LOTS of guitars in the last 20 years and my Musicians and Artists are easily the best in terms of feel, sound, features and playability. More & more of my studio customers borrow my guitars to record with, cos they beat the pants off their own. Also most people are stunned by my guitar sounds on my own recordings...and I only use a cheap Marshall Valvestate, I'd NEVER change any Ibanez electrics. Just my opinion... John30182001 (John30182001) Posted on Thursday, September 09, 2004 - 12:55 am:    not me

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