Ibanez Jem article
Common Ibanez Jem Mistakes to Avoid
The same handful of avoidable mistakes trip up Ibanez JEM owners again and again. Here's how to sidestep every one of them.
I've watched more than a few Ibanez JEM owners make the same avoidable errors, usually within the first few months of ownership, usually with a slightly sheepish look afterwards. None of these mistakes are stupid — they're just easy to miss until someone tells you. So let me tell you.
Mistake: Treating It Like a Fixed-Bridge Guitar
The double-locking tremolo genuinely changes how you should approach string changes, tuning and setup. Trying to change strings the way you would on a hardtail guitar, without properly unlocking the nut and understanding how the fine-tuners interact with the locking blocks, is the single fastest way to end up frustrated and slightly out of tune for weeks. Learn the actual process, ideally shown once by someone experienced, rather than guessing your way through it.
Mistake: Ignoring Spring Tension Balance
The tremolo's spring tension needs to balance against string tension for the bridge to sit correctly and stay in tune. Change string gauges without adjusting spring tension, and you'll fight the guitar every time you touch the bar, or find it drifting out of tune more than it should. This is routine maintenance, not a fault with the instrument — treat it that way.
Mistake: Assuming Every Ibanez JEM Has the Same Spec
"It's a JEM" tells you surprisingly little on its own. Body wood, pickups, fretboard material and even the exact tremolo model have changed across different generations and price points, right down to the gap between a flagship Japanese-made model and a more affordable JEM Jr. Buying, selling or comparing based on the family name alone, without checking the specific model designation, is an easy way to over- or under-pay.
Mistake: Confusing an Ibanez JEM With an RG
They share real design DNA — Steve Vai himself has called the RG basically a JEM without the handle — but they aren't the same specification. Assuming parts, pickups or even general build quality transfer directly between the two ranges can lead to disappointment or a wasted purchase. Check the actual guitar, not the family resemblance.
Mistake: Skipping Professional Inspection on a Second-Hand Buy
Given the tremolo hardware, the neck joint and (on some models) the Monkey Grip cavity, a used Ibanez JEM has more places for hidden problems to hide than a simpler guitar. Cracks around the tremolo posts or neck joint, worn knife edges, and non-original electronics are all things a quick glance in bad lighting will miss. Get it properly inspected before you commit to anything above pocket-money prices.
Mistake: Attempting Scalloped-Fret Technique Without Adjusting
Some Ibanez JEM models include scalloping on the highest frets, which changes how much your fingertip contacts the fingerboard. Applying your normal fretting pressure without adjusting can make notes sound sharp or feel unexpectedly different under your fingers. Spend deliberate time getting used to a scalloped neck rather than assuming your existing technique transfers unchanged.
Mistake: Chasing a "Limited Edition" Without Verifying It
Fluorescent original finishes and numbered runs carry real collector value, which unfortunately also makes them a target for misrepresentation in private sales. Verify serial numbers, documentation and provenance carefully, ideally through a reputable dealer, rather than taking a seller's word for a special edition's authenticity.
Mistake: Storing It Without Care for the Neck
A guitar this reliant on tremolo balance and neck relief doesn't love being left in extreme temperature or humidity swings, or leaned against a wall for months at a time. Store it properly cased when not in use, keep an eye on neck relief through the seasons, and don't assume the double-locking system makes it immune to the same environmental issues that affect any other electric guitar.
Quick Reference
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Treating it like a fixed-bridge guitar | Learn the proper locking-tremolo restring process |
| Ignoring spring tension | Rebalance spring tension whenever string gauge changes |
| Assuming one fixed spec | Check the exact model designation, not just the family name |
| Confusing JEM and RG parts | Verify compatibility rather than assuming shared DNA means identical specs |
| Skipping inspection on used buys | Have anything above pocket money professionally checked first |
The Bottom Line
Every mistake here comes from treating the JEM like an ordinary, low-maintenance guitar rather than the technically demanding, spec-varied instrument it actually is. Learn the tremolo properly, verify the exact spec before you buy or sell, and get professional eyes on anything second-hand and valuable. If you're still building the fundamentals, our beginner's guide is the right starting point, and our full guide to what actually makes a JEM a JEM fills in the deeper technical picture.
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