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Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium
Ibanez JEMJRSP
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Playability
77
Sound
82
Build
77
Value
79
Score
79
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Playability
73
Sound
74
Build
59
Value
79
Score
69
FIND IT ON:
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Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium vs JEMJRSP

Reasons to Get
Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium over JEMJRSP

Decorative Top
Poplar Burl vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2022 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Pickups Brand
DiMarzio vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Coil Tap vs None
Lowers output of humbucker coil to create a single coil sound
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Pickups
HH vs HSH
High output without hum
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Edge vs Double Locking
Intense vibratos with more features than a Floyd Rose
Fretboard Radius
15.75'' (400.1mm) vs 16'' (406.4mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Ibanez JEMJRSP over RGT1220PB Premium

Retainer Bar
Yes vs None
Assists you so tuning doesn't change when locking the nut
Pickups
HSH vs HH
High output, round sound with a single-coil for cleans
Bridge
Double Locking vs Edge
Intense vibratos without getting out of tune
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm) vs 15.75'' (400.1mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Other Key Differences
Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium vs JEMJRSP

Bridge Pickup
DiMarzio The Tone Zone vs Infinity
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
DiMarzio Air Norton vs Infinity
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Meranti
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Jatoba
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium vs JEMJRSP

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Locking
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.75'' (19.1mm)
Same neck comfortability
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm)
Same neck comfortability
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
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
Wizard
Thin neck for playing fast
Type of Frets
Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • 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 RGT1220PB Premium is probably the better product overall with its final score of 79 compared to the Ibanez JEMJRSP's 69 score, which is a significant difference.

The Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Ibanez JEMJRSP has the upper hand when it comes to.

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?

Both meet 3 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez JEMJRSP
  • 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 RGT1220PB Premium Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2022 RG series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar Burl top
  • American Basswood body
  • 7pc Maple/Walnut neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: DiMarzio The Tone Zone (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: DiMarzio Air Norton (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Edge bridge
  • Wizard III Neck-Through neck
  • 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Gotoh machine heads tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Ibanez JEMJRSP Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2018 PIA/JEM/UV series
  • Steve Vai Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Meranti body
  • Maple neck
  • Jatoba fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Infinity (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Infinity (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Infinity (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Double Locking tremolo bridge
  • Wizard III Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Ibanez 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 RGT1220PB Premium

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 JEMJRSP

Jatoba wood pattern used for guitar building
Jatoba
Meranti wood pattern used for guitar building
Meranti

Jatoba is a hard and dense wood that emphasizes the mid-lows, giving a fuller, more round sound than, for example, Mahogany. However, it also has a lot of clarity in the top end. Find out more about Jatoba.

Meranti is an affordable wood used mainly for affordable electric guitars. It's generally lighter and softer than Mahogany. Find out more about Meranti.

Winner: Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium.

Pickup Configuration

The Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium has an HH configuration while the Ibanez JEMJRSP has HSH pickups.

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.

On the other hand, HSH is a versatile pickup configuration that will give you the high output, full tone, and quiet sound of humbucker pickups, but with the possibility of using a single coil for cleaner tones. The disadvantage is that the middle single-coil pickup will have a noticeable lower volume, so you might want to adjust the height of the pickups. Another problem is that if you set the middle pickup too high, it might interfere with your picking hand.

Pickups Quality

The Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Ibanez JEMJRSP. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Hard Rock and similar genres.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium's and use them on any guitar:

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium.

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

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Tap.

Coil Tap is similar to Coil Split but it works a bit differently. Instead of completely cancelling one of the coils of the humbucker, it only cuts part of the output once activated. Some people believe this gives the split pickups a more real single-coil sound.

Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium's switch options
Ibanez JEMJRSP pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez JEMJRSP'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 RGT1220PB Premium.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 77
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 82
Ibanez JEMJRSP
Pickups 55
Sustain 80
Versatility 75
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 74

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 RGT1220PB Premium compares to the Ibanez JEMJRSP.

Country of Origin

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

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

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.

In this case, both have Locking nuts. 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.

However, only the Ibanez JEMJRSP has a retainer bar for the locking nut, which is a helpful addition. Without it, the Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium's strings will change pitch once you lock down the nut, so you'll have to make more micro-adjustments at the bridge to tune it correctly.

Winner: Ibanez JEMJRSP.

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 RGT1220PB Premium 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 RGT1220PB Premium.

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 RGT1220PB Premium's brige is a Edge. This is a double-locking tremolo system designed by Ibanez. It's a tremolo inspired by Floyd Roses but with its own design improvements, like a push-in arm, better-positioned fine-tuners for more right-hand comfortability, replaceable knife edges, and more mass for more sustain. These bridges offer tons of versatility, but they also require more work than simpler tremolos to set up.

On the other hand, the Ibanez JEMJRSP's is a Double Locking. It's an advanced vibrato system designed for extreme pitch bending while maintaining tuning stability. Like Floyd Rose systems, they lock the strings at both the bridge and nut, preventing detuning from aggressive whammy bar use.

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 RGT1220PB Premium.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium's are Gotoh machine heads while the Ibanez JEMJRSP's are Ibanez

Winner: Tie.

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.

The Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium has a Neck-Through neck joint. This neck is a lot more resistant and lets builders give the neck joint a more comfortable shape for soloing at the upper frets. The disadvantage is that they're more expensive and that if you damage your neck, you can't simply replace it like with bolt-on necks.

On the other hand, the Ibanez JEMJRSP comes with 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: Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Coil Tap Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez JEMJRSP
  • Locking Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium
Quality of materials 75
Features 80
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 77
Ibanez JEMJRSP
Quality of materials 46
Features 65
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 59

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 RGT1220PB Premium 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 RGT1220PB Premium and Ibanez JEMJRSP'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 RGT1220PB Premium Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same 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.

Both the Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium and the Ibanez JEMJRSP have a Wizard-shaped neck. This is thinner than most C-type necks. It won't get in your way if you want to play fast solos. It's not as slim as 'Super Wizard' necks, so it might fit you better if you don't like ultra-thin necks.

Fretboard Radius

Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium's Fingerboard radius
Ibanez JEMJRSP Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez JEMJRSP's Fingerboard 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.

In this case, the Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez JEMJRSP's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Ibanez JEMJRSP.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

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 RGT1220PB Premium:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez JEMJRSP:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium and Ibanez JEMJRSP 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 RGT1220PB Premium
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 100
Playability 77
Ibanez JEMJRSP
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium vs JEMJRSP
General Ibanez RGT1220PB Premium JEMJRSP
Brand: Ibanez Ibanez
Year: 2022 2018
Configuration: HH HSH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: RG PIA/JEM/UV
Colors: Brown Pink, Yellow
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: American Basswood Meranti
Bridge: Edge Double Locking tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Neck-Through Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh machine heads Ibanez
Fretboard: Ebony Jatoba
Neck Material: 7pc Maple/Walnut Maple
Decoration: Acrylic & Abalone block Tree of Life
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Wizard III Wizard III
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.75'' (19.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.75'' (19.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 15.75" 16"
Nut: Locking Locking
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: DiMarzio The Tone Zone (Humbucker / Passive) Infinity (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Infinity (Humbucker / Passive)
Neck Pickup: DiMarzio Air Norton (Humbucker / Passive) Infinity (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: Coil Tap None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1