I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

[Frantic_Rock]

I never thought of myself as stupid. But proved myself wrong today. WAAY WRONG.

I cannot believe it. Just traded in BOTH my 1986 Kramer F6000 AND 1990 Charvel 475 Deluxe for a "2001" JEM 7V WH

And I didn't even look at the bridge! It's a licensed floyd. Not low pro, or edge pro.

The serial number, when googled pops up exact match in ibanezcollectors.com 50 page discussion on counterfit jems. And there are pictures there of my exact serial number.

Guys this is for your sole entertainment!!

I hope you can look at this idiot and feel better about yourself. Or at the least - have a laugh.... I still cannot believe my stupidity.

 

[Frantic_Rock]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

More fake ibby eye candy:

I'm really surprised at how good these counterfits have gotten.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

Ah ****, man. That sucks!

What's up with the dude who traded it to you? Why not just get your **** back?

My buddy got ripped on a fake JEM back in '05. Even though this has fake written all over it, it was much worse looking than yours so don't feel too bad.

Looks like their fakes are pretty inconsistent. One neck is missing the lines on the back in those pics and the stamp is in a totally different spot. Turrible.

 

[StratFreak]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

If it makes you feel any better, if i was interested in getting a JEM, i would have fell for that fake, damn they made that so close to the authentic ibanez ones.

 

[LonePhantom]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

I'm sorry for your bad luck, but there are a number of tell tale signs.

Did you do the trade in person? I'd go back and demand your stuff back. I'm sure trading counterfeit goods is a crime and the person who traded it could get in some serious trouble.

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

Pic of the output jack?

Might as well use it to play fake Steve Vai covers.

 

[Frantic_Rock]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

Yeah he really was a nice and friendly guy. I hope he agrees to trade me back. He will be bummed out though. If he doesn't, then i am screwed, but i'll have the lesson learned.

The signs so far are:

1. The bridge is completely wrong. Should be an ibanez style pro series bridge, like my RG2570
2. The serial number obviously. Since it comes up in google.
3. That toggle kill switch - not sure where that came from. (none of the jems have that).
4. Obviously should have a Team J Craft stamp on the back. And the placement of the serial number is wrong. Should be parallel to the tuners (slanted).
5. The scalloping quality on the last 4 frets is bad. The scallops should be dead on perfect. But mine are hazy, and were done in a hurry. The wood is not polished there, and the depth of the scallop is inconsistent across the 4 frets, and across strings.

For sure - too many clues to even name... I just hate how impulsive i am. Oh Look a JEM... Droooools... Sells his kids....

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

It doesn't even have a locking bridge on it LOL!

Honestly man, people have been building fake Jems for as long as I can remember. If you can't your stuff back and it plays and sounds good, just roll with it. Just don't be a doosh and try to pass it off to someone else as a Jem. There's lots of original Edge bridges on Ebay. If you're screwed, you're screwed. Might as well make the best of it. It's not a bad looking guitar, It's just a fake.

 

[Frantic_Rock]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

Here's the output jack.
Obviously the strap buttons are wrong too.

I was just kind taken back by how clear it was - i ignored everything else. It may in fact have real dimarzio evos, or just copies of them.

Atleast people can learn from my mistake. And google their serial number. I've read that some clones actually have low-pro and edge-pro bridges that are very hard to distinguish from real ones.

 

[ErikH]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

A true Ibeenhad. LOL. Sorry about your misfortune but I had to say it. Hopefully the guy will fix the situation. A fake is a fake.

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

The signs so far are:

1. The bridge is completely wrong. Should be an ibanez style pro series bridge, like my RG2570
2. The serial number obviously. Since it comes up in google.
3. That toggle kill switch - not sure where that came from. (none of the jems have that).
4. Obviously should have a Team J Craft stamp on the back. And the placement of the serial number is wrong. Should be parallel to the tuners (slanted).
5. The scalloping quality on the last 4 frets is bad. The scallops should be dead on perfect. But mine are hazy, and were done in a hurry. The wood is not polished there, and the depth of the scallop is inconsistent across the 4 frets, and across strings.

2. The serial number starts with a C. That's not a Japanese Ibanez serial number.
4. I don't think they were doing the Team J Craft branding in 2001.
6. The bolts that hold the lock nut should be back-mounted.
7. I think a skunk stripe and no volute would be correct for a 2001.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

Ouch

Sorry man

 

[Hurricane]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

Man , sorry to hear that , what they

" touch "

you for on this debacle ?

EASY BLOOD :

Hurricane Ramon

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

:saeek:. Hopefully you can get your scratch back.

There's lots of details on the guitar that are off, like the AANJ, the contour of the scratchplate near the bridge on the bass side (pointy on real ones), headstock shape, bridge pu too far from the bridge.

It pays to be studious about details these days when buying high profile guitars like these.

 

[arellanon]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

Ah dude I hope you can get your stuff back!

Damn I hate these fake pieces of s**t!

:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:

 

[JeffB]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

Suckage. Hope it turns out well for you.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

I guess just chalk it up to lessons learned. Ive been wanting another JEM for awhile now and this sort of thing makes me very wary it.

 

[gman128]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

I'm sorry mate, but if you saw this guitar in person and then actually traded your stuff for it, then you don't know your ibanez.

The bridge has to be to most obvious giveaway. Any idiot knows that all the JEMs in 2000s had either the lo-pro edge or edge pro bridge. This abomination of a trem looks like a gold plated POC you'd find on a jackson JS series or ESP m-50.

Serial number is way off the mark - Japanese Ibanez always start with an F - for Fujigen.
The tuners - ibanez branded ones on a JEM! - hahahaha. They should be gotoh.

I mean, and hate to make you feel worse for your poor observational skills, but if I gave a picture of that guitar and a picture of a real early 00s JEM to a 10 year old they'd be able to spot the difference.

If I were in your shoes I'd be reporting the guy that sold you that, and even before that, check if the guy who has your 2 real guitars even knew that the one you now have was indeed fake!

 

[CTN]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

damn man, that is weeeeeeeeeeeeeak!!!!

Hope you get your Kramer and Charvel back

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: I can't believe it. Bought a fake JEM. God I'm REALLY STUPID

What's the small 3-way toggle for?