NAMM 2010: Ibanez Joe Satriani acoustics, JS2400
Perhaps one of the more surprising Ibanez offerings at NAMM this year was the pair of Joe Satriani signature acoustics. While he’s used acoustic guitars in the studio for years, Joe’s not exactly the first name that comes to mind when you think ‘acoustic,’ but he’s been playing a prototype of this new model on stage with Chickenfoot lately, and the guitar is now in production. Here are my pics from NAMM (that’s the JSA10 on top and JSA5 on the bottom).
Ibanez Unleashes New Joe Satriani Signature Acoustic Guitars
January 28, 2010
Already world famous for its JS line of Joe Satriani signature electric guitars, Ibanez this year embarks on a shimmering new acoustic adventure with Joe, with the new JSA acoustic guitar. Joe says his JSA acoustic “feels great, plays great and sounds wonderful. And, in all black, it looks so cool! It has outstanding projection and an impressive dynamic range too, with a powerful clear tone essential for live performance. The JSA acoustic has a full and balanced sound that’s perfect for strumming, soloing, or delicate finger picking. It has good access to the upper frets, and the electronics make anything you play sound clear and natural.”
JSA signature acoustics arrive in two models, the all-solid construction JSA10BK and its more affordable version, the JSA5BK. JSA10BK features a solid Engelmann spruce top and solid rosewood back and sides. The JSA5BK combines a solid Engelmann spruce top with mahogany back and sides.
Both JSA models feature fine Fishman pickup/preamp electronics, chrome Grover tuners and black high gloss finish and come equipped with D’Addario® EXP™ coated strings.
Ibanez also launched the 24-fret JS2400 which Joe mentioned in my interview with him back in June. Here’s what Joe had to say about it at the time.
“It’s a really cool thing. I’ve always liked the idea of having those frets up there but I never wanted to move the humbucking pickup. That’s always been the problem because the humbucking neck pickup really only works where Gibson stuck it on the Les Paul. To me, that’s the spot, and once you start moving it back towards the bridge it starts to become horrible-sounding. Other guitars that have had the 24 frets and they move that pickup, it’s like, you may as well get rid of it, you know? So I was determined to solve this. And what saved us was the DiMarzio Pro Track. Ibanez got this thing right up against the last fret. It’s amazing how they were able to do it. It’s got a little bit more generous cutaway to the body so you can get up there and play up there. We’re still experimenting with the bridge pickup. I’m thinking it might be a Norton, one of the pickups I designed along with the FRED and the Mo’Jo with DiMarzio. Steve Blucher at DiMarzio is a wizard, so when I say I designed the pickups, that’s a euphemism for me requesting something (laughs). I say “Steve, can you just give me something that goes, like, ‘KKRRR-RURRRR’?” and he goes “Okay. Gimmie a couple of days.”
Specs include basswood body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard, original Edge bridge (by the way, the Edge is now standard on all Prestige JS models – woohoo!), DiMarzio Mo’ Joe bridge pickup and DiMarzio Pro Track neck pickup.
Here’s Ibanez’s page about the JS2400, while this page includes a video featuring Joe talking about the new axe.
6 Responses to NAMM 2010: Ibanez Joe Satriani acoustics, JS2400
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Hi! I'm Peter Hodgson. I write for Gibson.com, Australian Guitar, Australian Musician, Mixdown Magazine (including my instructional column, 'Unleash Your Inner Rock God,' which has been running since 2007), Blunt, Beat (including their weekly hard rock/metal column Crunch) and The Brag. And I'm Assistant Social Coordinator with Seymour Duncan.
I've been playing guitar since I was 8 years old, and I've been writing for magazines since I was 18. I've also worked as a guitar teacher (up to 50 students a week), a setup tech, a newspaper editor, and I've also dabbled in radio a little bit. I live in Melbourne, Australia, and my hobbies include drinking way too much coffee, and eating way too much Mexican food.
You can check out my guitar playing at Bandcamp or on YouTube, and feel free to email me at iheartguitarblog@gmail.com
To me there is only so much you can do with an acoustic.I love acoustic's don't get me wrong but all in all its going to be basically the same. Looks good though.
Great Job on the JS 2400! Sure must have been challenging to come up with this… Joe I am sure you can put it to good use, like very few musicians can.
Casket, that's a pretty ballsy thing to say (and that's what I like about your comments)! In terms of acoustic design check out some of the great stuff Taylor's been doing recently, or Cole Clark. Or Breedlove. Or Rainsong. Or Baden. In terms of players there's Tommy Emmanuel, Michael Fix, Adam Miller… and those are just some of the awesome Aussie acoustic guitarists. The Ibanez Satch acoustics might not be overly adventurous (and Satch's acoustic playing isn't particularly noteworthy compared to his electric stuff) but there's always room for uniqueness.
Peter, I know there are some phenomenal acoustic players out there. Thats not what I was saying. I'm just saying, go into a random guitar center/music store and 90 percent of the acoustics are almost exactly the same.While electrics are way more varied in many ways. I will check out what those companies you mentioned are doing.
I don't believe I have said anything about the JS2400 yet. I'm very happy that EDGE is now standard on all prestiges.
no way. check out deans new line of acoustics. is it just me or do all electric guitars look the same? is there anything that has not been done to an electric guitar?
any ways everyone knows that acoustic guitar players kick ass. watch some one that has played electric their whole lives try to play an acoustic.they cant because you actually have to play it. but watch an acoutic guy kick ass on electric