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Ibanez JBM9999
Ibanez RG5120M Prestige
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Playability
72
Sound
73
Build
77
Value
59
Score
74
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Playability
73
Sound
82
Build
80
Value
73
Score
78
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Ibanez JBM9999 vs RG5120M Prestige

Reasons to Get
Ibanez JBM9999 over RG5120M Prestige

Release Year
2022 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
JBM vs Super Wizard
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickup Mods
Parallel Split vs Multi-Voicing
Connects pickups in parallel to brighten tone
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Number of Frets
27 vs 24
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.709'' (18mm) vs 0.67'' (17mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.75'' (19.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Bridge
Fixed vs Lo-Pro Edge
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Reasons to Get
Ibanez RG5120M Prestige over JBM9999

Decorative Top
Ash vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Number of Frets
24 vs 27
Warmer neck pickup
Neck Profile
Super Wizard vs JBM
Thinnest neck you can get for shredding
Pickups Brand
Fishman vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs Parallel Split
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.67'' (17mm) vs 0.709'' (18mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.75'' (19.1mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Bridge
Lo-Pro Edge vs Fixed
Intense vibratos with more features than a Floyd Rose
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
73 vs 59
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Ibanez JBM9999 vs RG5120M Prestige

Bridge Pickup
JBM9999 custom vs Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
JBM9999 custom vs Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Birdseye Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
R6 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez JBM9999 vs RG5120M Prestige

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
17'' (431.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Ibanez RG5120M Prestige is probably the better product overall with its final score of 78 compared to the Ibanez JBM9999's 74 score, although not by a lot.

The Ibanez RG5120M Prestige wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Ibanez JBM9999 in every aspect.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Ibanez JBM9999 is the better choice.

The Ibanez JBM9999 meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez RG5120M Prestige meets only 3. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez JBM9999
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez RG5120M Prestige
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Ibanez JBM9999 Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2022 JBM series
  • Jake Bowen Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 17" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Maple/Walnut neck
  • Bound Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: JBM9999 custom (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: JBM9999 custom (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Gibraltar Elite bridge
  • JBM Bolt-On neck
  • 27 Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Ibanez RG5120M Prestige Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2019 RG series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 17" Fretboard Radius
  • Ash top
  • African Mahogany body
  • Maple/Wenge neck
  • Bound Birdseye Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Lo-Pro Edge tremolo bridge
  • Super Wizard Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Gotoh machine heads tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Woods Used in the Ibanez JBM9999

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

Woods Used in the Ibanez RG5120M Prestige

Birdseye Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Birdseye Maple
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of maple.

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Winner: Ibanez RG5120M Prestige.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

The Ibanez RG5120M Prestige pickups from a more specialized brand than the Ibanez JBM9999. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Heavy Metal and similar genres.

We found the same or similar pickups to the Ibanez RG5120M Prestige's online:

The Ibanez JBM9999's pickups are Passive while the Ibanez RG5120M Prestige's are Active.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

Winner: Ibanez RG5120M Prestige.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

The Ibanez JBM9999 gives you 5 switch options while the Ibanez RG5120M Prestige gives you 3. This means that the Ibanez JBM9999 gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The Ibanez JBM9999 offers Parallel Split.

The Parallel Split feature allows it to split and connect some of the pickups in parallel. When wired in parallel, the result is a very bright tone. This is the wire technique used in most Stratocaster guitars, and it's what gives them their signature transparent and clear sound. This is because the pickups' inputs and outputs are wired together, which reduces the signal's travel distance to the output jack.

On the other hand, the Ibanez RG5120M Prestige comes with the following: Multi-Voicing.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

Ibanez JBM9999 pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez JBM9999's switch options
Ibanez RG5120M Prestige pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez RG5120M Prestige's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Ibanez RG5120M Prestige.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez JBM9999
Pickups 60
Sustain 85
Versatility 65
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 73
Ibanez RG5120M Prestige
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 74
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 82

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Ibanez JBM9999 compares to the Ibanez RG5120M Prestige.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Japan.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Ibanez JBM9999 has a Black Tusq XL nut. TUSQ nuts are usually the highest quality you can get. Black TUSQs are made from a special slippery material that helps the strings get back to its original position (one of the keys to tune stability).

On the other hand, the Ibanez RG5120M Prestige comes with a Locking nut. Instead of a regular nut, this guitar has a locking system that will lock down the strings at the nut, preventing it from getting out of tune. It removes one of the disadvantages of tremolo bridges, tune stability.

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

In this comparison, the Ibanez RG5120M Prestige is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: Ibanez RG5120M Prestige.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

The Ibanez JBM9999's brige is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Ibanez RG5120M Prestige's is a Lo-Pro Edge. Similar to the original Edge bridge design by Ibanez, but with a lower profile (more discrete and less likely to interfere with your picking). It comes with the same improvements over Floyd Rose tremolos as the Edge: push-in arm, replaceable knife edges, more sustain, smaller saddles, and more. These bridges offer tons of versatility, but they also require more work than simpler tremolos to set up.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Ibanez RG5120M Prestige.

Tuners

The Ibanez JBM9999 has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Nevertheless, the Ibanez RG5120M Prestige has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.

Winner: Ibanez JBM9999.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez JBM9999
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Parallel Split Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez RG5120M Prestige
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez JBM9999
Quality of materials 61
Features 70
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 77
Ibanez RG5120M Prestige
Quality of materials 75
Features 75
Quality Control 90
Build Quality 80

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Ibanez JBM9999 Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 43mm (1.693'').

This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 6-string guitar. It offers a good balance of string separation at the nut. It's the size that most guitarists prefer as it gives them just enough space to play open chords without muting the strings, but without spreading the strings too wide and making bar chords difficult to perform.

Scale Length

Ibanez JBM9999 and Ibanez RG5120M Prestige's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Ibanez JBM9999 Neck Profile
Ibanez JBM9999's neck profile
Ibanez RG5120M Prestige Neck Profile
Ibanez RG5120M Prestige's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Ibanez JBM9999 has a C type of neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

The Ibanez RG5120M Prestige, on the other hand, has a Super Wizard neck. Ibanez is famous for this neck shape. They're similar to C-shaped necks, but they're even thinner. Some people like it because it gives them all the free room they need to play fast single notes (shredding). But some people prefer a thicker type of neck they can grab and rest their hands more comfortably.

Fretboard Radius

Ibanez JBM9999 Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Ibanez JBM9999 and the Ibanez RG5120M Prestige have the same fretboard radius of 17". This fretboard is one of the flatter ones you can find. It's 5 inches flatter than a Les Paul, and 7.5 inches when compared to a Stratocaster. It's a fingerboard made specifically for playing single notes fast on the fretboard (shredding).

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Ibanez JBM9999:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez RG5120M Prestige:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez JBM9999 and Ibanez RG5120M Prestige Frets Size
Both have a similar Jumbo fret size

Both have a Jumbo fret size. This is one of the tallest frets you can get. You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. It will give you the best sustain and all types of chords will be easier to play. However, you can end up changing the pitch of your notes if you press too hard, which is something people used to feeling the fretboard do when trying Jumbo frets for the first time.

Final Playability Scores

Ibanez JBM9999
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 80
Playability 72
Ibanez RG5120M Prestige
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez JBM9999 vs RG5120M Prestige
General Ibanez JBM9999 RG5120M Prestige
Brand: Ibanez Ibanez
Year: 2022 2019
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan Japan
Series: JBM RG
Colors: Blue Blue
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood African Mahogany
Bridge: Gibraltar Elite Lo-Pro Edge tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads Gotoh machine heads
Fretboard: Bound Ebony Bound Birdseye Maple
Neck Material: Maple/Walnut Maple/Wenge
Decoration: JBM special Off-set Mother of Pearl dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: JBM Super Wizard
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.709'' (18mm) - 12th Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) 1st Fret: 0.67'' (17mm) - 12th Fret: 0.75'' (19.1mm)
Frets: 27 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 17" 17"
Nut: Black Tusq XL Locking
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: JBM9999 custom (Humbucker / Passive) Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: JBM9999 custom (Humbucker / Passive) Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Parallel Split Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 0 1