Head to head
Ibanez JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature Premium vs Jackson Pro Origins 1985 Limited Edition San Dimas SD1 HS FR
The short answer is that they sit in different price brackets (Over $2,000 against $1,000 - $2,000), and the pickup layouts differ (HSH against HS). Below, every specification we hold for both instruments is lined up, with the 22 rows that actually differ marked out.
JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature Premium
White
The Vai signature, minus the Japanese price and almost none of the specification
Pro Origins 1985 Limited Edition San Dimas SD1 HS FR
Yellow Bengal, ebony fingerboard
Jackson rebuilding its own 1985, down to the bengal stripes and the Duncan pair
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Score profile
Six editorial axes, overlaid. Where one shape sits outside the other, that is where the instrument gains ground.
- Ibanez JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature Premium8.8
- Jackson Pro Origins 1985 Limited Edition San Dimas SD1 HS FR8.2
Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.
Specification by specification
| JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature Premium | Pro Origins 1985 Limited Edition San Dimas SD1 HS FR | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Ibanez | Jackson |
| Model | JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature Premium | Pro Origins 1985 Limited Edition San Dimas SD1 HS FR |
| Finish | White | Yellow Bengal, ebony fingerboard |
| Instrument | Electric guitar | Electric guitar |
| Fretline score | 8.8 / 10 | 8.2 / 10 |
| Value for money | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
| Amazon rating | 4.5 / 5 (18) | — |
| Price | Over $2,000 | $1,000 - $2,000 |
| Type | Electric guitar | Electric guitar |
| Body | JEM solidbody with Monkey Grip handle | San Dimas Style 1 solidbody |
| Body wood | Alder | Alder |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on | Bolt-on, graphite reinforced with scarf joint |
| Neck wood | Wizard five-piece maple and walnut with KTS titanium reinforcement rods | Maple |
| Neck profile | Wizard, 18 mm at the 1st fret and 20 mm at the 12th | Speed Neck |
| Scale length | 25.5" (648 mm) | 25.5" (648 mm) |
| Fingerboard | Ebony | Ebony |
| Radius | 15.75" (400 mm) | 12" to 16" compound (305 mm to 406 mm) |
| Frets | 24 | 22 |
| Fret size | Jumbo, premium fret edge treatment | Jumbo |
| Nut | — | Floyd Rose 1000 Series locking |
| Nut width | 43 mm | 1.6875" (42.86 mm) |
| Bridge | Edge tremolo with Lion's Claw cavity | Floyd Rose 1000 Series double-locking tremolo, top-mounted |
| Tuners | Gotoh machine heads | Jackson sealed die-cast |
| Neck pickup | DiMarzio Evolution humbucker | Seymour Duncan Hot Rails SHR-1N |
| Bridge pickup | DiMarzio Evolution humbucker | Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 |
| Configuration | HSH | HS |
| Electronics | Passive | Passive |
| Controls | Volume, tone | Volume, tone |
| Switching | Five-position blade | Three-position toggle |
| Orientation | Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Skill level | Advanced, Professional | Intermediate, Advanced, Professional |
| Styles | Metal, Rock, Prog, Funk, Jazz | Metal, Rock, Prog, Punk |
| In the box | Gig bag included | Jackson gig bag included |
A marked row is one where the two differ. A highlighted cell is the stronger figure where one can be judged objectively. Empty cells are specifications the manufacturer does not publish — never estimates.
Which one should you buy?
Computed from the specifications and our editorial scores for these two instruments only. It is not a general ranking.
Best value
Ibanez JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature PremiumHighest editorial value-for-money score of the instruments compared.
Most versatile
Ibanez JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature PremiumHighest editorial versatility score, backed by pickup layout and switching.
Most comfortable
Ibanez JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature PremiumHighest editorial comfort score: neck profile, radius and body ergonomics.
Best for rock
Ibanez JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature PremiumStrongest overall score among the instruments suited to rock.
Best for metal
Ibanez JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature PremiumStrongest overall score among the instruments suited to metal.
Best for the studio
Ibanez JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature PremiumBuild and tone scores combined, with credit for tuning-stability hardware that matters when tracking.
Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.
Want a third opinion?
The comparator takes as many instruments as you like, not just two, and recomputes the whole table and every conclusion as you add them.
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