Hi

I'm really sorry that you've had this experience with several Korean JTV-69s.  I played some from the very first batch into the UK back in February and have to say that they were all pretty good at that point.  I also played a US version which was superb and that changed my view of the JTV-69 which was my least favourite of the three models and quite a long way behind the JTV-59 and JTV-89 at that point.  The JTV-69 is still my No.3 in terms of styling.

I have a JTV-59 and a JTV-89 personally.   The JTV 59 is a very nice guitar but it did initially have the 3 way selector switch issue, however aside from that it is a superb instrument.   I was hoping that there would have been a JTV-89 with Floyd Rose, but if that is a possibility or not I don't know.  I am a fan of Ibanez RG guitars and the neck apart from the reverse headstock on the JTV-89 is very good and not a million miles from any of my three Ibanez RG models.

I got my 59 in mid June and then my JTV-89 at the beginning of August from D*ws*ns in Manchester a few days before the shop was trashed in the riots.

The JTV-89 in my view having been following the JTV series since the massive Future of Variax thread that was started by Rich Renken about three years ago, apart from being the cheapest JTV variant, seems to be the guitar that there have been very few problems with.  I was a little bit put off the 89 at first because of the 'ridge' in the centre of the guitar because in photographs (to me), it seems to to be quite prominent and much more so in 2D than it does in real life.

It's marketed as a 'shred' guitar which undoubtedly is something it can be used for, but it doesn't have to be used for shredding if you don't want to.  In fact I know someone who likes it for Jazz LOL

I'm just mentioning the JTV-89 as a viable option if you like a fast thin neck and maybe are not dead set on having a trem, but if (as I suspect you may be) you are also dealing with D*ws*ns they probably have an 89 in stock as well.  It might be worth giving it a try.  You may like it

I'm not trying to defend what plainly seems like a less than satisfactory batch of JTV-69 guitars as that's an issue that needs to be looked into, but just suggesting an alternative which could leave you £100 less out of pocket into the bargain.

Nick

Hey mrbluesman

I'm totally simpathetic with you. These issues seem to be VERY common on the 69's, and they're not acceptable. The problem is always regarding the tremolo and (worse) the neck. It's just an awfull neck! Very badly finished!!! You get fret buzz cause the frets aren't levelled, you get those buzzes from the nut to the pegs (I had to put a rubber band on the strings to silence them), the E strings tend to fall off the fretboard, the fretboard edges are badly polished and uneven... I mean, the neck just isn't acceptable! It spoils a great guitar! And please, don't feed me that story about the guitar being half the price for the guitar itself and the other for the electronics...I've had and played cheap guitars from factory's all over the world and this is the worst neck ever!

I'm also disappointed and would have bought a 59 instead, not to say some other guitar!

I had almost a similar experience when buying the JTV59 (2 weeks ago). The first piece they took out from the store had the Tuner knob sunk in further than it should - the start of the white label on the knob same level as the body surface. They took out another piece and all seemed okay after a quick rund-down. After I paid, the shopkeeper told me that all the JTVs he has in the shop has been with him for a year.

I carried out the setup to lower the strings. While turning some of the allen screws at the bridge, I could see some chrome flaking off. I was astonished and said to myself "Oh well ... I can live that!" which I don't think anyone should for a guitar of this price. I use both second-handed (Japanese and Korean) guitars and have 2 American Fenders.

However, I ended up using 3 string sets because the high "E" kept breaking at the tuner. After some thought - I decided to DIY and carefully filed off the "E" tuner's hole so it doesn't cut the string. It worked. I ended up playing for quite a while together with my brand new HD500.

My conclusion? Quality control ... hmmm. Now my JTV is a little relic'd (at the tuner)!