Any love here for the Ibanez Jet King's? I picked one up super cheap yesterday at my fav pawn shop. I'll post some pics later, but it's the first edition JTK1, blodnish/scutterbotch finish with the rocker switches to split the hummers.
It was filthy! I've only seen 2 other guitars as filthy (both bought form the same pawn shop) as this one. Got her all spiffed up this morning and had to do a bit of work on the wiring to get it to make noise! It's going to need a new three way and probably a new jack. It has the small pots, cheap switch, jack, etc....typical electronics for these lower end imports. Since I bought it to flip, I don't want to put too much # in it, but I do want to make sure the next owner will not have issues with the electronics.
Anyway, after a good cleaning, addressing the wiring issues, a fresh set of strings and a quick set up, I love it! It plays like a dream with low, comfortable action and the intonation is great. Stock tuners are also typical import stuff...but at least they are made to look like old Keystone Klusons with the snot green knobs! The seem to hold tune very well though.
I know some series of Jet Kings have Super 58's, but I believe this one has the "Powersound" pickups. They actually sound pretty good. If I were to keep it, I'd gut it and re-do the wiring while upgrading the pups. However, it is quite tasty in the tone departments just as it is. The ability to split each pickup really add's the sonic pallet, I got some killer tone this am using both pups. I especially like the bridge on full and splitting the neck.....the reverse is also tasty and it it had individual volume and tone for each pup, you could really do some damage!
All in all this is great guitar. Cool, retro looks, nice variety of tones and superb (although some might not like the flat radius) playability. It's going to be hard letting this one go!
Several years ago, I came this close (visulise thumb and finger 1/8" apart) to buying a new Jet King that had a sparkle finish and two chromish P-90's. That was a fun guitar to play and the tone was real, real good. I've always liked the Talman models too. Cool stuff!
It was filthy! I've only seen 2 other guitars as filthy (both bought form the same pawn shop) as this one. Got her all spiffed up this morning and had to do a bit of work on the wiring to get it to make noise! It's going to need a new three way and probably a new jack. It has the small pots, cheap switch, jack, etc....typical electronics for these lower end imports. Since I bought it to flip, I don't want to put too much # in it, but I do want to make sure the next owner will not have issues with the electronics.
Anyway, after a good cleaning, addressing the wiring issues, a fresh set of strings and a quick set up, I love it! It plays like a dream with low, comfortable action and the intonation is great. Stock tuners are also typical import stuff...but at least they are made to look like old Keystone Klusons with the snot green knobs! The seem to hold tune very well though.
I know some series of Jet Kings have Super 58's, but I believe this one has the "Powersound" pickups. They actually sound pretty good. If I were to keep it, I'd gut it and re-do the wiring while upgrading the pups. However, it is quite tasty in the tone departments just as it is. The ability to split each pickup really add's the sonic pallet, I got some killer tone this am using both pups. I especially like the bridge on full and splitting the neck.....the reverse is also tasty and it it had individual volume and tone for each pup, you could really do some damage!
All in all this is great guitar. Cool, retro looks, nice variety of tones and superb (although some might not like the flat radius) playability. It's going to be hard letting this one go!
Several years ago, I came this close (visulise thumb and finger 1/8" apart) to buying a new Jet King that had a sparkle finish and two chromish P-90's. That was a fun guitar to play and the tone was real, real good. I've always liked the Talman models too. Cool stuff!
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