Ibanez Joe Pass JP20

**raytor** · 01-10-2011, 11:16 AM

I have an Ibanez 1980 Ibanez JP20 signature that has 2 tone controls along with the volume and I cannot find an example of this one the web.

Does anybody know about this version? Cheers

**Drifter** · 01-10-2011, 01:12 PM

2 tone controls for one pickup? What about a volume control? If it has two control knobs and both are for tone, none for volume, somebody has changed the pots and didn't get the soldering right.

**Norman931** · 01-10-2011, 01:27 PM

While we're on the subject, I see pictures of this guitar equipped with a P-90.
How many were made like that, and did Joe ever use one?

**Drifter** · 01-10-2011, 01:46 PM

JP20 with a P90? That's big news. Are you sure it's genuine?

**Meggy** · 01-10-2011, 04:23 PM

I have a JP20 too - not selling mine! But I suspect someone must have modified the guitar to fit the P90. As for the controls, mine has just the single volume and single tone as already described - I can't imagine how 2 tones would work on a one-pickup guitar.

**Maxiumburn** · 01-10-2011, 08:08 PM

Pretty sure that was modified with p90 replacing humbucker.
The p90 choice is a poor one because it hums. The pick up is slightly brighter or clearer. But the guitar it self sounds great with the humbucker so if you try to sell it replace the pickup. Otherwise, u may not get the good price.

**amusiathread** · 01-10-2011, 08:14 PM

I think the P90 would be a perfect choice for that guitar. I've never seen one like that though. If the Ibanez JP's came with a P90, I'd definitely own one.

**SamBooka** · 01-10-2011, 09:09 PM

I would like to point out that if you look up Joe Pass on the jazzguitar.be site the JP Ibanez has a p90.

I didnt see anyone saying anyting about buying or selling a p90 JP.

I certainly would have scoured the interweb for one if I could find it as well (not that I dont like my Gibson)

**Maxiumburn** · 01-10-2011, 09:22 PM

I bought one when it first came out and it didn't come with p90's!

**monk** · 01-11-2011, 01:05 PM

While not common, some guitars with one pickup like the Epiphone and Gibson Howard Roberts models have one volume and two tone controls.

The two tones are wired so that one tone covers bass to mid and the other covers mid to treble. Using the two pots for tone give a wider sweep for the single pickup.

My Aria Pro II HR clone and most HR type guitars are wired this way.

Regards,
monk

**Maxiumburn** · 01-11-2011, 01:24 PM

Yes but the Joe pass model was not made that way!
And no modern players play the Howard Roberts guitar.
I doubt two tone controls add much to the guitars sound,
however, some freaky person might like that set up.

**docbop** · 01-11-2011, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by Maxiumburn

And no modern players play the Howard Roberts guitar.
I doubt two tone controls add much to the guitars sound,
however, some freaky person might like that set up.

The Howard Roberts model guitar is still popular, just hard to find being out of production. There were Gibson, Epi, and Japanese clones of it made. In fact last night I was checking out Small Jazz Club and the guitarist was using one and if you look around will see more. I would say such a blanket statement is not true.

**raytor** · 01-12-2011, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by monk

While not common, some guitars with one pickup like the Epiphone and Gibson Howard Roberts models have one volume and two tone controls.

The two tones are wired so that one tone covers bass to mid and the other covers mid to treble. Using the two pots for tone give a wider sweep for the single pickup.

My Aria Pro II HR clone and most HR type guitars are wired this way.

Regards,
monk

Hi Monk, Your post has explained my question, as the added tone control seems to add a mid to high range boost . This can add a really raunchy rock/blues feel but i can still return to the straight JP20 sound.
Thanks
Ray

**Meggy** · 01-13-2011, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by raytor

Yes it has a volume too. WIll post a photo tomorrow. Thanks for your reply

It does sound like it has been modded at some point in it's life raytor, although not necessarily a bad thing from a playing guitar point of view. Maybe the value will have been affected somewhat, but these are not generally super expensive guitars to buy anyway (undervalued IMO)_. I will be interested to have a look at the picture when you post it though. I do love the sound and playability of my JP20 though - I find it has the nicest neck profile of any guitar I've owned, plus it sounds terrific if you get the amp part of the equation right.

**Maxiumburn** · 01-13-2011, 05:23 PM

That neck profile is copied from the original D'aqiusto models which typically
Have super flat necks. Benedetto favors that as well,
Maybe I'll ask a luthier to give me three tone controls in the future so that one of you guys could buy it!

**marvinvv** · 11-15-2013, 07:42 PM

To all the unfortunate few (polite) who cant get a good tone out of a Ibanez JP20, well it is not because the pickup is not close to the neck, NO it is you! what is good enough for Joe is probably the best. There have been quite a few posts about this nonsense, funny because there are several top guitars with the same/similar position pickup. Joe would have asked Ibanez to simply reposition it. Joe Pass would know before anyone on the planet if it needed moving. Mister Benson & Metheny and Vai oh and Schofield, are all pretty happy with Ibanez, thats all they play. I play a JP20 with old Roland Super Cube 12" a guitar cable, 13-58 flat/w strings..... and it sounds like an organ or piano or a horn when I think like that.

**mr. beaumont** · 11-15-2013, 08:33 PM

Pretty much same placement as a 175. Never heard any complaints about those

**SamBooka** · 11-15-2013, 10:54 PM

I would have to look at it but I thought it was about an inch closer to the bridge then a 175
if George Benson can sound amazing on a crappy Johnny Smith Ibanez copy then I think the player has quite a bit to do with how good it sounds. I played a GP 20 in Toronto about a month and a half ago and if I had not been cured of gas then I would probably be lusting after that as well

**tootZ** · 11-16-2013, 03:24 AM

I have one since three years, good money compromise for me (Gibson, even used are very expensive in France, Hofner quite rare & expensive too). When I decided to buy it I off course looked on the web after tests and so on, and of course found comments about the mic location.
I had this guitar after a new jazz Ibanez 105 (2 mics, the neck one stuck to the neck), the JP 20 was splendid (chinese against japanese factories, simple against double price!! early eighties against XXIth century).
I had feedback problems (with a little fender champ XD, very poor, trying a JC 50 & 120) at least buying a used -6 months!- Henriksen: finished with feed back an very nice tone.
I asked my luthier, and he is a very good one, about the mic location, the answer was: sure? who knows? are you happy with the sound (I planned to change the mic for a Gibson one)

**ecj** · 11-16-2013, 10:55 AM

But…didn't Joe Pass himself not like the Ibanez?

**GuyBoden** · 11-16-2013, 11:27 AM

A nice bit of info:

"Ibanez signed jazz guitar legend Joe Pass as an official endorser in early 1980. The intent was to produce a modestly priced electric archtop, which was actually reverse-engineered from Pass’ D’Aquisto of the same era. Under Ibanez leadership, the guitar would ultimately come to be jointly designed by Joe Pass and UK archtop maven Maurice Summerfield, who was under special contract to Ibanez in 1980. "

The Ibanez JP's are good guitars, especially for chord melody, but if the Ibanez is based on Pass’ D’Aquisto guitar, the position of the pickup is totally different, maybe we could ask "Maurice Summerfield" why?

D'Aquisto

**marvinvv** · 11-16-2013, 04:00 PM

Ibanez JP20 Does anybody have or contact details for Maurice J Summerfield, I have tried no luck, I would like to ask him, if Joe wanted that pup position and why etc and what he thinks, I don't think Joe Pass, M Summerfield and Ibanez would have taken this lightly as a serious amount of thought applied to this. A guitar specifically designed for one the worlds best Jazz guitarist. It would be great if Maurice would shed some light on this.

**Greentone** · 06-21-2014, 07:23 PM

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but... Here's the deal with the JP-20. I used to play one, about 24 years ago. The pickup placement is about the same distance off of the fingerboard as is the case with my ES175. However, Ibanez chose to put more frets on the neck of the JP-20 than Gibson did with the ES-175. In 1949, the ES175 appeared with 19 frets. Later, it went to 20 frets. The P90 pickup (later on the Humbucker) is in the position of the 24th fret, which is a node at which bass response is strong. Now, the JP-20 has 22 frets, going to "D," (which surprised Joe Pass on his Hot Licks instructional tape "Solo Jazz Guitar" in 1986...just watch), but it maintains the same relational position from the fretboard as the 175. Thus, the pickup is _not_ at the 24th-fret node. It is closer to the bridge than that, providing somewhat less pickup of the fundamental frequency than is the case with the ES175. I noted this when I compared the two guitars, side by side.

With all that said, is the JP-20 a less than great jazz guitar? Some folks seem to think so, Pass included, but I would disagree. I thought that the workmanship was _outstanding_ on the guitar. In particular, the rigidity and stability of the tuning gears, nut, neck angle, bridge, and tailpiece of the guitar was such that the guitar played superbly in tune and with a great, low action up and down the neck. The tone was adequately warm. The guitar was beautiful. I don't currently own a JP-20, but would, gladly.

**pubylakeg** · 06-21-2014, 07:33 PM

Just came across this thread, seems it's just been resurrected. Don't know if marvinvv still posts here but Maurice Summerfield is head honcho at Ashley Mark publishing/www.fretsonly.com, a very well known UK guitar literature publisher and supplier. Absolutely first class company to deal with.

TH · 06-21-2014, 08:29 PM

I have one. I love it. Personal taste. People will come with any explanation of why something is not right and they'll never really know what the problem is until they find the circumstances that make it perfect. For me it had nothing to do with pickup placement, it was the Super 58 pickup itself. It didn't feel nor sound good to my ear. That's me. I put a Gibson PAF in mine. For me the instrument was perfect after that. And that pickup placement? Just enough space to put a DeArmond 1100 pickup in there. For me it was never about the pickup placement. I love the edge it gave that guitar.

Lucky for me I found an instrument that came so close for my ear, and what I did made it right. "Right for me", isn't that what anybody is after?
I love these old threads. Grumpy nostalgia you can bring back to life. Yeah!
David