Ibanez parts - a market gap needing to be filled

[renatolevanteze]

First of all I'd like to say that I admire Warmoth. I've been dealing with custom body builders and many are unreliable, or worse. My taste in guitars is broad, as I don't consider myself a specific brand player. I praise several manufacturers for their additions to the music world. Besides owning a Les Paul and a Tele, I now am searching for a decent custom Ibanez style guitar.

The point is, it is very very hard to find a reliable builder, and many seem to encounter problems when assembling an custom Ibanez inspired model. And Ibanez takes no custom orders as Fender does.

I know Warmoth has a lot to worry about, and all its busyness comes from the fact that it does a really good job in fulfilling expectations. The Ibanez fan community is large, and characterizes itself for liking uncommon atributes in an instrument, that could represent a good market niche for Warmoth

Warmoth has a Fender based line, where it derives not only fender inspired replacement parts, but also other brand inspired parts (LP, VIP, SG, Firebird and others).

With Ibanez replacements it require Warmoth to create a whole separate line, with Ibanez specs, definately a little troublesome. However, they could use this to offer Strats, soloists and SGs with the 24-fret and other Ibanez improvements that would be inherent of the new line.

Regarding Ibanez models, most enthusiasts would require a basic shape, the RG, a superstrat shape that can be alterade in mininal details so that besides the RG, the JEM, the Universe, the PGM and the JPM models at least could be offered without considerable investment upgrades. CNC machines can apply these and other mods so as to offer options of AANJ or square heel, monkey grip, top or back routes, etc. Hardware is not a big problem, because, unlike builders, there are people who are decent sellers of rIbanez eplacement hardware.

I know there is a lot to it, and I'm unfamiliar with licensing issues if there are any, yet I'm sure that customers would be atracted since the only existing competition is very fragile, hindered by their own lack of commitement.

This sounds like a plea, and it really is.

Anyway, Wamoth is a fine example of a well administered company and I praise its constant evolution and contributions to the custom guitar community.

 

[taez555]

If you go over to  http://www.jemsite.com  I know they have tons of links to small companies that make custom Ibanez bodies, necks, etc.  Whatever wood you want, etc.

I get what you're saying about Warmoth though, there's such a higher level of professionalism, with any of these guys you always run the chance of it being some dude in his basement with a template and handsaw.

 

[erogenousjones17]

A template if you're lucky...  :doh:

 

[AGWAN]

Heck, I'd just be happy if Warmoth made a headstock that looked like it belonged on the Iceman...

though AANJ's would also be nice...

 

[renatolevanteze]

If you go over to  http://www.jemsite.com  I know they have tons of links to small companies that make custom Ibanez bodies, necks, etc.  Whatever wood you want, etc.

You're right, links can be found, but half of them have bad reviews on the vendors subforum... There is a guy from Australia that seems to do a fine work, but, as it happens to the few decent builders, he propably is not keeping up with demand and is overwhelmed by requests. That is what I wish to believe, because he is ignoring my emails, choosing who he wants to do business with.

 

[Patrick]

since the RG comes in a bolt-on style, for warmoth to offer the shape with the square or AANJ heel, they would need licensing from Ibanez becausethey would be direct copies of their bodies. Warmoth doesnt need Gibson licensing for the LP, SG, Firebird, Explorer, or V because they are different than Gibson's mass produced models because they are bolt-ons and the body shapes are slightly different (the SG body is slightly thicker than original Gibson SG's). The same goes for the VIP.

I'm sure this idea has been considered and it may not have happened because Warmoth doesnt want to go through the legal jungle for another license.  :dontknow:

 

[AGWAN]

Just gimmie a friggin HEADSTOCK!

 

[renatolevanteze]

An iceman headstock would be a great step... I guess warmoth will always have requests, I just think the Ibanez line is kind of a guaranteed success. I know licensing is tough, as they had to give up the warlock and mockinbird and VW bodies for licensing reasons (the VW could return though, since EVH is now officialy Fender), but considering that Ibanez has no custom shop or USA based factory, warmoth could provide them with their awsome service!

 

[AGWAN]

just give me an approximation of a standard ibanez Inline headstock. doesn't need to be identical, I just need an inline headstock that looks good on that body.

 

[erogenousjones17]

just give me an approximation of a standard ibanez Inline headstock. doesn't need to be identical, I just need an inline headstock that looks good on that body.

You could always get a paddle headstock and shape it yourself.  :dontknow:

While a line of Ibanez-inspired models might not necessarily appeal to me personally, I do think it's always cool to have more options.

 

[AGWAN]

Since thats beyond my skill level, I'm considering having someone do that. and as that would increase the cost greatly... it means I need to wait longer to buy my parts! >.<

 

[dNA]

An iceman headstock would be a great step... I guess warmoth will always have requests, I just think the Ibanez line is kind of a guaranteed success. I know licensing is tough, as they had to give up the warlock and mockinbird and VW bodies for licensing reasons (the VW could return though, since EVH is now officialy Fender), but considering that Ibanez has no custom shop or USA based factory, warmoth could provide them with their awsome service!

I could've sworn Ibanez has a custom shop in LA. But it's for endorsees only, like all ibby customs

 

[renatolevanteze]

There was a Custom Shop at LA, but I think it no longer exists. They produced, back in the 80s and beginning of the 90s, guitars for the common public, know as "USA Custom" . Today the only special custom shop line is the Japanese Made "J Custom" models. But they don't build to specs as the Fender custom shop does, they offer special predetermined models only.

 

[GMGM]

I've made the same requests. I've had to resort to custom builders - most of whom have no business in this industry. I ended up spending (happily) more than double what it would have cost from Warmoth (that is, if Warmoth cared to offer such features). All I ever wanted in life was an Ibanez Jem that was disguised as a Fender. Here's my custom neck on the body of an Ibeanez RG2EX1. Next up will be a custom RG body fitted with single coils and vintage style trem and pickgard.

Warmoth is apparently happy with the strat. Don't expect much in the way of Ibanez/AANJ/etc. I would find it ironic if Ibanez threatened any licensing issues, considering they built their name on copied guitars.

My custom RG...

 

[elfro89]

First of all I'd like to say that I admire Warmoth. I've been dealing with custom body builders and many are unreliable, or worse. My taste in guitars is broad, as I don't consider myself a specific brand player. I praise several manufacturers for their additions to the music world. Besides owning a Les Paul and a Tele, I now am searching for a decent custom Ibanez style guitar.

The point is, it is very very hard to find a reliable builder, and many seem to encounter problems when assembling an custom Ibanez inspired model. And Ibanez takes no custom orders as Fender does.

I know Warmoth has a lot to worry about, and all its busyness comes from the fact that it does a really good job in fulfilling expectations. The Ibanez fan community is large, and characterizes itself for liking uncommon atributes in an instrument, that could represent a good market niche for Warmoth

Warmoth has a Fender based line, where it derives not only fender inspired replacement parts, but also other brand inspired parts (LP, VIP, SG, Firebird and others).

With Ibanez replacements it require Warmoth to create a whole separate line, with Ibanez specs, definately a little troublesome. However, they could use this to offer Strats, soloists and SGs with the 24-fret and other Ibanez improvements that would be inherent of the new line.

Regarding Ibanez models, most enthusiasts would require a basic shape, the RG, a superstrat shape that can be alterade in mininal details so that besides the RG, the JEM, the Universe, the PGM and the JPM models at least could be offered without considerable investment upgrades. CNC machines can apply these and other mods so as to offer options of AANJ or square heel, monkey grip, top or back routes, etc. Hardware is not a big problem, because, unlike builders, there are people who are decent sellers of rIbanez eplacement hardware.

I know there is a lot to it, and I'm unfamiliar with licensing issues if there are any, yet I'm sure that customers would be atracted since the only existing competition is very fragile, hindered by their own lack of commitement.

This sounds like a plea, and it really is.

Anyway, Wamoth is a fine example of a well administered company and I praise its constant evolution and contributions to the custom guitar community.

i have an ibanez prestige neck for sale on ebay if you want to give that a look.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ibanez-Prestige-Guitar-Neck-RG2550E-/230497712626?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item35aabbf9f2

 

[dNA]

Does anyone know if ibanez is building most of their bolt-on guitars to the same specs? Are the necks and pockets the same dimensions from model to model and from year to year?

i would have loved to get a replacement neck for an ibanez SA I had years back. It sounded great and I love the look and feel, but the neck was just awkward. not really too thin or too thick. just.. not particularly fun to play.

 

[elfro89]

it would be great if warmoth offered such a thing, But I beleive the problem lays in liscencing rather then it being difficult to build. i remember asking about a music man shape and stuff and they told me ernie ball was gonna charge them $50,000 for a liscene to build them for 1 year, and they said the custom throughout the year wouldnt be anywhere near enough for them to make a large enough profit.

When you buy a replacement part you expect it to be as good a qaulity as the origional. If you pay £50,000 for a liscence to copy the shape then your gonna need to sell AMAZING parts in large qauntities to get a good return. The cheaper the liscence then the easier it would be to make a return on it. Ibanez have been plagued with shitty copies being passed as the real deal on ebay they even have a message on their site about it.

The owner is probably a bellend anyway, they would probably be threatened if warmoth started making ibo's cause they would probably be 100 times better then the real thing. just like the fenders they do  :icon_biggrin:

 

[Alfang]

I'm currious to know, does warmoth pay fender a yearly fee, or a per piece fee  ie....$20.00 per neck or whatever

 

[AutoBat]

or quite possibly both

 

[elfro89]

well if its anything like the ernie ball its probably yearly.