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I have had three of them over the years. I agree with greentone about the superb workmanship but because of the long scale, the pickup is closer to the bridge than a 175. The JP20 sounds different as a result. A VERY nice guitar, but it has a bright tone.
Originally Posted by Greentone
Keith
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06-21-2014 10:20 PM
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Originally Posted by ecj
But...didn't Johnny Smith himself not like the Guild top of the line guitar? But didn't George Benson play one and think of it as a really fine instrument? Didn't Les Paul dislike the Les Paul SG? Then how come Bill Frisell didn't hate it too? Originally Posted by Melodic Dreamer
Contrary to some very popular beliefs, Joe Pass is not God. He was one human being who had likes and dislikes. Much to his credit, his likes were based on experience and his own personal tastes. He actually earned his opinions by playing an instrument he loved very much for many years.
There comes a point in every player's life when what you know by experience becomes more important than what you hear from others. If that's blasphemy, it is a sacrilege of immaturity. Joe Pass. Love him. If the JP20 wasn't right for him, he of all people was entitled to his opinion. That doesn't mean it's not a worthy instrument. It just meant it wasn't his idea of right for him.
They took a similar design, gave one to Pat Metheny, and he didn't really like it either, but they worked with him over the years to get it to the way he liked it and when it became a design he liked, he played it and yes, liked it. It's a guitar. If you know your own taste, you have a chance at finding/making what makes you happy; then you make music.
DavidLast edited by TH; 06-22-2014 at 03:53 AM.
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Advertized on Reverb was an Original Issue 1980, Ibanez Jp20. I reached out to the seller as soon as I saw it. I left my Phone Number. Minutes later, I answered my phone and the seller introduces himself as Gary Hines (our very own "GuitarCarver"). We talked about the guitar at length. Gary told me he didn’t like the rusty strings that were on the Guitar and he was also going to glue down a separated pickguard binding and buff out the guitar before he sent it. I was satisfied with everything I heard so I told him I had to talk to my wife and if she approved I would buy the Guitar later that evening. After promising to sell a couple of Guitars and take a bagged lunch to work for the next 15 years, she approved.
The Guitar arrived 3 days after it was shipped, an option the seller elected to use, on his own dime. He said he wanted to get it to me quicker. Folks, thats Gary Hines for ya. He is a GREAT, highly recommended seller.
Honestly, I expected a typical 35 year old Guitar to pop out of the case. When I opened the lid, I was SHOCKED to see a guitar that was obviously very cared for (or masterfully restored). I took it out of the case and inspected it with my usual ridiculously critical eye. I found 3 marks on the entire guitar. The rest of it was shiny and new just like I could never expect a 35 year old Guitar to look. Amazing. YES, I LIKE SHINEY THINGS!!!!
I plugged it in and played it. This doesn’t feel like a Gibson although it feels just as solidly built. The neck profile is very shallow and that makes it feel wider and flatter. It made my hands feel massive. Nice. I lowered the action to my liking and the guitar played true,with no buzz and with perfect intonation, throughout. Gary installed a new set of Chrome 12’s at no charge.
Gary had disclosed that the Guitar had a re-fret. Along with the re-fret, the neck received fret edge bindings, ala, Gibson. The cool thing is the refret was done by the Legendary Tommy Doyle. His work is meticulous. I remember as kid growing up in New Jersey, it was said that if Tommy touched your Guitar, that brought you one step closer to being Jimmy Page. The refret and edge binding really was perfectly done.
Much has been said about the position of the pickup on the Guitar. I can tell you from my experience, the position of the pickup does impact the sound of the guitar, In a VERY POSITIVE way. I am amazed by the sound of this Guitar. If you want warmth, Pick it closer to the base of the neck. You will get all the throaty warmth you want. If you move your picking back toward the pickup, you get warmth AND clarity. You hear all the notes in a chord, and they stay separated for a split second and then they blend together and form a symphony. The responsiveness of the guitar is probably enhanced by the Jumbo frets added but it is superb. You get the feeling that you can play anything on this Guitar. While it didn’t turn me into Joe Pass, it actually made a couple passages I ripped off from him sound better. Some of the linesthat don’t sound right on my L7c, sound exactly correct on this Guitar.
The Verdict, I LOVE it. There is nothing not to love. Theowner prior to Gary had obviously subdued some of the Joe Pass references on Guitar. The Joe Pass engraving is missing from the 21st fret and the Truss-rod cover was switched out for a blank one. Joe’s Signature is proudly presented inside the body and will be preserved for the life of the Guitar. This one is a Keeper. It will be in my possession along side my Johnny Smith forever. It is an incredible playing, Collector grade instrument that just might have put a cap on my Guitar buying habit for a very long time.
Pictures to follow later..Last edited by Max405; 09-09-2015 at 11:33 AM.
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I have always been a fan of the JP-20. Some folks get touchy about what they perceive to be a bright tone. I happen to think that the guitar plays and sounds GREAT. Man, oh, man is the Ibanez solidly built. NOTHING flexes under your hands when you are playing it. The tuning gears are great--set 'em/forget'em.
The JP-20 is a terrific jazz box. Enjoy it.
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Hi Joe,
Congrats on the new pick-up. I'm not familiar with that model, but you make it sound very appealing A great write up and interesting story.
Of course we can't believe a word of it until you get the pic's up
Cheers, Chris
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Greentone, You are SOOO right about the tuners. I had the same tuners on my old GB-10 and I loved them. These are ridiculously good. Originally Posted by Greentone
I have Chromes on the Guitar right now and eventually I will change them to TI Jazz swing 13's. I don't think the tone is bright, I just think it is accurate, if that makes any sense. Its a sound that includes dimension. If I want it to be a thumper, then i'll Put TI's on it and wait a month. If that's not enough then i'll exchange the Pickup out for a 57 Classic.. But I wont. I like it for what it is. Its kind of a Swiss Army Knife if you will..
Thanks Vin. I am still 2 weeks away from my "BooBoo" coming home. With a new JP and a new Tal, I am set for some exploring in the coming months.. Originally Posted by vinlander
Congratulations Joe, very happy for you we know how much you were longing for a JP20
Thanks MG. I will admit, I was S'ing bricks with this guitar making the cross country trek. It made it just fine though. Originally Posted by Marty Grass
Gary is working on a quote for me on the Rose Pickguard. I might have my other wish fulfilled..
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Change the strings to the TI 13's. They are perfect for the JP20. When I got mine, the seller shipped it with brand new 12 roundwounds and I figured that I would wear the new strings out ( why waste a new set of strings, right?). After a week of waiting, I just pulled those strings off, put on a set of TI 13's and have wondered ever since why I Waited a week. What was I thinking? Once the TI's are on the guitar, you will not even consider swapping the PUP.
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I liked the shallow neck because its wider, so actually fills out really nicely. If it was just shallow and think I wouldn't have liked it.
D'aquisto knew what he was doing.
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The neck was taken from the D'Aquisto too? Wow. I never would have thought those necks were that shallow and wide. Originally Posted by ArchtopHeaven
Great point!
JD
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Good things happen to good people !!! Being a huge JP fan I am glad that axe is now in the right hands. Being a believer in heaven I believe JP is smiling down also. On a side note don't ever let your wife talk to mine or we are both toast. You have no idea the things I must do to get a new axe thru the front door these days. Enjoy my friend.
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Joe,
I sold my JP20 around 20yrs ago and bitterly regret it. You and others
are right ,the pickup placement is of no great consequence and the
instrument has a very appealing tone quality. , very comfortable and
easy to play plus the provenance that JP himself played it when we
swapped guitars once. I must have had a mental aberration to have
sold it. The great Louis Stewart commented very positively on it during
his visit to my old Tutor. I am glad you're pleased with the new acquisition,
most certainly a keeper, sadly greatly underrated by most, but not I'm
glad to see by our fellow members here. ( a different animal to a 175 and
should not be compared with )
.
talk soon Buddy.
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It must be 20 years ago that I've played a JP20 but I still remember it well. I was literally shocked how easy it played and how well it sounded. It always makes me happy reading a nice JP20 story like yours. And I'm glad that one more JP20 has found a custodian worthy of it. Congrats & enjoy!
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Here ya go
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More..
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And another..
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Backie...
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Finally...
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She's in stunning shape. You no doubt bought the best one on the market, and at a first rate price!
Congrats brother Joe!
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Ha! Originally Posted by ESCC
I played it a little bit last night. It really sounds sweet. Because I usually play directly over where the pickup currently sits, I have to move my picking hand up a little (and keep it there). It will take some reps to get use to, but it won't be a problem. I will work on a clip for you guys. Its only fitting that I do a Joe Pass number on it..
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Joe Pass played the JP20 with his fingers between the neck and the pickup. IMO, that is the sweet spot for getting the best tone out of these guitars.
It is good that we have this thread out there so people who do an internet search can read the truth. The opinion of a top notch jazz guitarist like Joe DeNisco regarding the JP 20 is of far more value than the opinion of countless hack guitarists who have condemned this guitar without having actually played one over some percieved wrong pickup placement ( in actual fact the pickup placement is almost in the same spot as a Gibson 175).
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SS, I am glad I got one. I hoped it would turn out exactly the way it did. Originally Posted by Stringswinger
I owned one in 84 or 85 (way before I understood what its purpose was) and when I couldn't play Eruption or Race with the Devil on a Spanish Highway on it, it was launched. So I can understand how some folks have a prejudice towards the design without ever having played one. But in our carved out heavenly little world of Archtopians, we should get it and this great forum helps us when we don't.
Your other comment was so nice, I cant even repeat it, because I don't feel worthy. However, I will be getting T-Shirts made with your words emblazoned on them and I will force my wife and my son to wear them around the house every day... That meant a lot especially coming from you SS.
Joe D.
PS, I ordered my Ti13's today.
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Joe a complaint from SS/Marc is a high honor as he has monster chops but IMO you deserve a big thumbs up as does Marc. I have a huge respect for you both as guitarists but more importantly as good honorable men. I have known some very great musicians that were flat out pompous jerks with egos bigger than the Grand Canyon. Once someone thinks they have arrived I flee from them and their music. Even Johnny Smith near the end of his life said he was still trying to learn to play the guitar. He said he was much better at fishing and flying planes and thought his guitar playing was quite mediocre. I enjoyed reading GB's autobiography. He also was very humble about his chops and quick to praise everyone else. Give me a humble man like Tal any day of the week. Walks onto the stage and blows off your socks and than thanks you very much and walks off.
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Yes, I know that about our boy SS. Originally Posted by vinnyv1k
I look up to him a lot.
That was beautiful what you said too..
I am really glad I got this Guitar. It opened my ears to sound.
You have to play it and live with it before you can judge it.
I also respect the opinion of those who have owned them and would rather have something else. That's cool. A Guitar is a very personal thing.
Thanks everyone. You guys make this the best place on the internet.
Sincerely, Joe D.
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Joe you are totally right that guitars are a personal taste... I would say guitars are just like women. One man's queen is another man's....um...well you know.
I have no truck with those who have tried the JP-20 and did not like it. My problem is with those who have only seen pictures of one and make negative pronouncements about it. That is silly to say the least.
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I totally agree with you. Sometimes, just to fit into conversation some feel compelled to add there presumptions into the mix. In a face to face conversation I guess that's acceptable but in an online forum, Presumptions don't just disappear.. That's why I don't get involved in 7/8ths of the posts here. I am not smart enough to talk about tube amp mods, The value of guitars from 1912--1970 and Archies Friday night, Guess what Guitar this is Contest".. Originally Posted by Stringswinger
I learned my lesson a long time long ago when I commented about the crank up bridge on a D'Aquisto and I got my head handed to me about it. I was told it was a tailpiece, even though it was that very necessary object that is in between the tailpiece and the nut.. Haven't forgotten about that one..
JD
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