Wednesday, November 6, 2024
ElectricGuitar

What an AMAZING Guitar! | Ibanez JSM20 Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar Review


Greetings everyone!

Todays video is all about the incredible Ibanez JSM20, John Scofield signature guitar coming out of Indonesia. What a fantastic instrument!

Thanks to @IbanezGermany for sending this one out! Very soon, I will also be uploading a video talking about Scofield’s tone in detail, so, stay tuned for that!

Since it’s a long one, here are some time-stamps available for you to navigate the video with:

00:00 Intro Playing
00:50 Introduction + Comparison
07:30 Storytime!
11:05 Specs
18:27 Tones
25:28 Outro

#guitar #scofield #ibanez

#AMAZING #Guitar #Ibanez #JSM20 #SemiHollow #Electric #Guitar #Review

Originally posted by UCwBYpjfKDcb3RhM_Ol_Ht3g at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnLjgpy-nXo

46 thoughts on “What an AMAZING Guitar! | Ibanez JSM20 Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar Review

  • I have been playing over 40 years (some of that professionally). My anchor guitars have always been 335’s. A little over 10 years ago, I was exposed to the JSM100, the big brother of the JSM10. It was better than all but a very few 335’s I have ever played, and certainly better than any 335’s I have ever actually owned. By far. I bought one and will probably never buy another Gibson product again. Ever.

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  • This would be way better if the review was done with a full-on Swartzenegger dialect.

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  • 1:53 I own an Eastman T486 and I really love it! A beautiful handcrafted guitar. I replaced the PUs with Amber O-Tone (no, not Spirit of 69) but the build in Seymour Duncan 59 and Jazz PUs sounded awesome, too. I didn't have or had an issue with my PUs like you had. But, glad to hear that you could fix it. Yes, there are some differences in materials (e.g. neck) and design but these are not that huge IMO. Both comes from Asia. Both are really wonderful semi-hollow guitars. The Eastman was around 1700 Euro in a local shop (got it for 1500 in the end). The Ibanez is 2579 Euro right now (thomann). You might save money here. Maybe ones decision should depend on the feeling between ones own hands (like you mentioned at 4:25).

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  • i love Ibanez semi's but i can't stand the newer models' chunky square bound neck joints . the older ones have a nice sculpted rounded comfortable heel.

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  • Krenar, on paper the JSM20 and the AS113 are very similar. You reviewed both but seemed more enthusiastic about the JSM20. Are there differences?

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  • Excellent review. I'm looking for a very comfortable, and very affordable (comparatively speaking) ES-335 style guitar, below $1500,

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  • It is a beautiful guitar, but the one deal breaker for me is that because John hates the Tri-Sound neck pickup coil tap switch, he made them eliminate it which kills the vibe of not replicating the original early '80s Artist AS-200AV. Dammit it all to hell, man, my '78 Ibanez Performer (Les Paul style) had a neck pickup Tri-Sound switch, my '82 Artist AR305AV (Sco played this model on Still Warm) has a Tri-Sound switch on both my neck and bridge pickup. If I ever got one of these, I would install a Tri-Sound switch, but in the meantime, I look towards getting the $1000 (Chinese built?) Sco Signature model which does have the Tri-Sound switch. I love the "key-stone" headstock that is like the vintage models too. But here is the thing, Ibanez AS113BS is the mode for even a little less than the less expensive Sco model. Of course, it is spec'ed with the Tri-Sound. The AS113BS shines above because it is a Spruce top!!!

    Hold the bus… This new model now has the Tri-Sounds switches?!!! THAT IS NEW! OK, I am back onboard. The new Black color option is cool because that is John's No. 2 Artist AS-200 that he seems to be touring with lately. It is a nice touch that they insert the faux-aged binding because I am sure John's is all yellowy at this point.

    TL;DR: I have loved all of my 4 Ibanez guitars (Les Paul, 2 Artists, George Benson) starting with my first one in 1978. I have gigged them all over the US and out at sea on my Cruise Ship contracts. Now that they all have Tri-Sound switches, I can endorse them all because I had all of these in my hands. The Sco, Pat Metheny, and George Benson models. They are all without exception pretty awesome.

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  • Hi Krenar. Nice review. I had an Eastman but found the neck a bit too slim for my hands. Does the JSM20 feel fuller than the Eastman? In particular at the first fret does it fill the hand or slim down? Thanks

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  • My brother Krenar i really envy to the fullest .What makeqbmy love Ibanez is the fact that they makz guitars affordable and better sounding than somz 335 like Gibson Epi etc….

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  • Awesome -I want to get a semi hollow now and so many to choose from Epi, Ibanez , Gretsch , guild, around the $1000 price range. Ibanez has great Sound !

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  • Don't spend your 1000 dollars on that Gibson inspred epiphone trash !…This guitar is 10x the value and quality..and the 58 custom pickups eats Epipjones and shits eastmans…fact

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  • Yes, sometimes we cannot tell why do we prefer some guitar over the other..
    I have a D"angelico 339 and it's great and really beautiful, supposedly very comfortable having this small shape,
    But recently i got a jazzbox with a way more chunkier neck, 16" body, rounded neck radius and I like it more, its even more comfortable to play, although it makes No Sense… there are so many factors… so many tiny details..
    Maybe you can make a video regarding 339 vs 335 size ?
    By the way what kind of pick do you use? this fat white thing.. its like 5mm + thick ????

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  • What is the difference between jsm10 and jsm20? One made in China, and another one in Indonesia. Does it matter?

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  • Lovely playing but far to much reverb for my taste… 😉 ! I agree, this JSM models are amazing. I got the jsm 10 n play it every day ! In my opinon the 20 or 10 are as good or even better as the jsm100 which I used to own befor but sold since…

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  • Hello from the Philippines , great review and enjoyed your stories too. Been eying this and the am153qa. Thank you . Ps great playing

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  • Jazz guitarist most don't care about brands snobbiness…they just use what sounds good to their ears. Unlike most rockers who showoff their vintage equipment then put on some ear piercing distortion pedal…which cancelled the beautiful sound of the vintage equipment. Haha

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  • Hello Krenar. I thought I understood, from another video on YouTube, that the guitar was totally hollow. Can you confirm it or is the guitar semi-hollow, as you wrote in the title?

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  • I also have a John Scofield model (JSM10) and you are correct with regards to the only major difference being the Vintage Yellow Sunburst and the finish. I almost bought that same one you have, because it is such an incredible value, but then my dealer gave me a price reduction (never be afraid to ask) on the Sunburst, so here it plays,
    What you said about the little things, really stand out, I completely agree about the nut width, it is perfect! Any smaller and I would work for me, any wider I would have trouble with my chords. And the Art-Star Fret treatment is so comfortable and effortless, I need to look once and a while to be sure that there are frets.
    I had already owned an AS93, so I knew how good the Super 58 Humbuckers were and in this guitar they sound even better due to the build quality I'm sure. Whoever thinks that wood selection doesn't make a difference should hear my 2 guitars side by side and that will end all discussion.
    Last thing for anyone considering purchasing this guitar (whichever version), that we agree on, is how it plays. It feels better, it plays better and I believe it makes me a better player, because I never think about the guitar while I'm playing. Only the music and the sound require attention, because the JSM(10 or 20) is an effortless joy to play and experience.
    Let me compliment you on your playing. you are making beautiful choices in your chording and your voicings. The progressions are "in the pocket" and I can close my eyes and imagine a trio joining in behind you, it's that solid.

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  • excellent review , it's on my list now . I love my GB10 so I am quite sure I would love this Scofield

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  • Thanks a bunch for this review!!
    I have a JSM10 (vintage sunburst) and I can confirm everything you said:
    this is easily the best-playing guitar I own. Neck-carve is very comfortable and
    fast to play, somehow very ‚ergonomic‘ feeling. Ebony fretboard allows for quick
    vibrato and dagger-like attack. Guitar is very resonant and sustains notes for a very
    long time, even acoustically. However, pickups are the icing on the cake, so to speak:
    I had zero experience with Ibanez before buying this thing and I really had no idea how
    amazing these pickups are. They have a bit lower output than usual Gibson humbuckers
    (Burstbuckers or similar things), but they have a very rich, warm and soulful tone and
    by far the best thing about them is their clarity and note-separation for playing complicated
    chords. However complex a chord you voice, every note rings out so clearly, nothing is
    muddy in any way.
    If you play this guitar clean you obviously have a great instrument for classic Jazz sounds,
    but if you play it overdriven you can get some really nice Fusion-tones out of it, somewhere
    within the range of a Robben Ford- or Holdsworth sound.

    Only drawbacks on mine are some cosmetic mini-flaws (one minor blemish in the finish and
    a minuscule ‚dent‘ on the fretboard), but these flaws don‘t affect the sound and playability
    one bit. So, I just continue playing mine and love it more and more every day … 🙂

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  • Hey Krenar, here after seeing you in the Yamaha Revstar video with Colin @CSG. After hearing you play and realizing that I hear tone in a very similar way to you (and I also happen to have a deep Love for Jazz and Blues guitar) I couldn't help but come over and subscribe. Also, couldn't help notice you're not a Guitar Elitist, which is always a nice bonus. Thanks for the content!

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  • Great video Krenar. That guitar is luvvy jubbly. I hope you & yours have a happy Christmas ????

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  • It’s actually of your video of the Eastman T484 thats why I decided to pull the trigger on it last week. Now you make this video ???? lol????Jk bro. Im happy you have found a new guitar you truly enjoy & thanks for making these guitar reviews. Please keep making ‘em. Happy holidays bro.

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  • Kinda refreshing to learn what ticks the boxes for a jazz guitarist regarding gear(from a dumdum metalhead like me). Grats on ngd!

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  • What you describe as “envious” at 10:10 is what most suffer as GAS (gear acquisition syndrome)…and this video is not medication for that! ???? play on bro! You inspire

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  • Perfect title Sir
    My Jem Jr is my favorite instrument I’ve ever played. Ibanez
    Ibanez
    Mybanez ????????

    Reply

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