For over 20 years, the Ibanez Jem has been one of the flagship guitars in the world for guitar solos and other styles of fast and creative playing styles. The Ibanez Jem 7V is the highest-end model in a long history of these Steve Vai designed guitars.
The Ibanez Jem7v is made of a very high grade of solid alder wood. The monkey grip sits at the top, as in all Jem guitars, and is one of the most notable trademarks of any guitar still on the market. An Ibanez Jem7v guitar has neutral overtones that are great for playing multiple styles of music and leaves the door open for creating countless types of tones. I love the long horns on the Jem series and the excellent access you get to the high neck.
Not equipped with a wizard, but the Ibanez Jem 7v comes with a Jem Prestige neck, which is nearly identical to the Wizard except for being slightly thicker. As with other Jem models, the 7v has 24 frets (jumbo style) and a rosewood fingerboard. The patented Tree Of Life marker flows up the neck beautifully. Maybe a little more than you need for a fret marker by a work of art nonetheless. Ibanez has really perfected the art of 5-piece lamination in their necks and the Jem Prestige’ comes with a combo of maple and walnut for added strength.
This Ibanez 7v review has covered the body and neck extensively, but how about the electronics? The pickups are in humbucker, single coil and humbucker formation and are DiMarzio Evolutions. One of the most harmonic pickups you will ever play on, the Evolution can be taken to the brink of meltdown on a high distortion channel or simply picked away at on a clean amp. They take a little getting used to because of the sensitivity but don’t let that stop you from learning. You can choose from 5 different combinations of the 3 pickups, which is very versatile.
At $2,995, give or take, the Ibanez Jem 7v is among the most elite Ibanez guitars on the market. Make no mistake though; the quality of this guitar is like nothing you’ve ever played on before. For guitar instruments like this to reach this level of superior tone and construction, a lot of research, design and design and testing have to go into the product. The Jem 7v has achieved that level.