Help Need Identifying Ibanez J Custom

[Vyn]

Came across this in my travels online (not my guitar):



I've seen 1 neck through J Custom before however this is a whole different level. The pickups are EMGs (guessing aftermarket) however I haven't got a clue where to start looking for info on this one. JP-Only spot run maybe?

 

[MaxOfMetal]

My gut tells me this isn't legit, at least not an actual model. Probably a project.

If it is legit, which I really don't think so, it's an oddball one-off from some store run from either home market or perhaps elsewhere in Europe or Asia. Definitely mid/late 90's if so.

 

[Giest]

Between the low quality top and the absolutely unique 12th fret only inlay I've not seen on any of the hundreds of J Custom models I am familiar with, plus the neck through, I'd say 100% chance this is a total fake.

 

[Lorcan Ward]

I don't think its a fake with the binding and ball ends but do any old J-custom's have the top veneer on the headstock? Could be a one off custom or artist build. Maybe even a prototype.

 

[Vyn]

Cheers guys. We'll know in about 3-4 weeks, a mate of mine who runs a shop importing used instruments from Japan just bought it.

 

[jaxadam]

View attachment 111854

I don't think its a fake with the binding and ball ends but do any old J-custom's have the top veneer on the headstock? Could be a one off custom or artist build. Maybe even a prototype.

I don’t think it’s a fake either. I bought a quilt prototype very similar to this many moons ago but for the life of me I can’t remember anything about it.

 

[MaxOfMetal]

View attachment 111854

I don't think its a fake with the binding and ball ends but do any old J-custom's have the top veneer on the headstock? Could be a one off custom or artist build. Maybe even a prototype.

Fake doesn't necessarily mean "bad", but that non-Edge trem is ringing all kinds of alarm bells.

 

[prlgmnr]

The back of the upper horn looks odd

 

[Fenceclimber]

I’m just echoing everyone else at this point but that truss rod cover doesn’t look like a proper Ibanez one to me.

 

[Robslalaina]

Maybe it's simply because of the poor image quality but the fretboard seems a bit "too long" after the 24th fret, if that makes any sense. At least I've never seen this much "overhang" (probably not the right term) between the last fret and neck pickup on an Ibanez, not even on a RGT3120 I have fond memories of. Plus it looks like the binding was applied rather poorly at the end of the fretboard, bass side, by J-Custom standards. Wait and see...

 

[Emperoff]

Fake doesn't necessarily mean "bad", but that non-Edge trem is ringing all kinds of alarm bells.

This. Everything looks wrong:
- No Edge bridge.
- The pickup routing for the tabs is huge.
- Abalone binding
- Mahogany neck (Ibanez never use these for neckthrus).
- No paint fade on the neck through joint (which is typical for Ibanez neckthrus).

 

[Rachmaninoff]

I'm pretty sure this is a fake Ibanez:

1) Lower horn has a weird shape;

2) Not an Edge trem;

3) End of the fretboard, where the fretboard meets the neck pickup, is slightly slanted.

 

[Randy]

The 12th fret inlay is the only thing really weirding me out, most of the rest is explainable. I still call it a maybe.

 

[Agalloch]

Maybe it's just the poor quality of the photos, but this guitar might have the worst quilt top I've ever seen. The only other J Customs I've seen with quilt tops have had much more definition.

 

[mmr007]

I am so out of my depth. A poseur in a strange strange land. I see a green guitar.

 

[Randy]

I've seen some meh J Custom tops before particularly from the 90s

 

[Thesius]

The 12th fret inlay is the only thing really weirding me out, most of the rest is explainable. I still call it a maybe.

Yeah the only J Custom I can think of off the top of my head with an inlay there is the JCRG-21

 

[Giest]

Serial # and a five minute phone call with Ibanez would go a long way. Considering it seems to be in the wrong place and the wrong format I wouldn't hold my breath.

Edit: Also pretty sure the control routing is wrong as well.

 

[Giest]

I've seen some meh J Custom tops before particularly from the 90s

But ones with one off inlays? Also pretty sure that's a UCEW1QM, a USA custom which at least I can identify all the same.

 

[devastone]

The Schaller trem screams "NOT IBANEZ"