NGD: Ibanez JBM100

The Ibanez JBM100 is the signature model of Jake Bowen in Periphery. Being released back in summer 2014, I long craved for this instrument. With the relatively high price point in mind I wanted to acquire it through some gear exchange website. Sometimes bargains don't have to be looked for, but they reach out for you intrinsically (metaphysical reaction for persistent desire? who knows heh).
However, got the Ibanez back in April and already gigged on it, so let's call it an NewishGD. First, let's disembowel this fine piece of gear from the bottom up.
Body-wise the guitar comes with a Mahogany body with a maple top, outlined by a wooden(!) maple inlay. Further a LoPro-Edge, 1 volume knob, Jake Bowen's signature DiMarzio Titan pickups with gold covers and black pins, a 5-way switch and Ibanez' well-established All Access Neck Joint (AANJ) are in the list of features. I usually don't like matte finishes on guitars as greasy stains are caused by standard playing position and associated palm rubbing on the top of the guitar. However, on this version of matte black paint this phenomenon is at least a bit inhibited (gigged on this guitar already with corpse paint on - this should serve as strong enough implication).
Coming from Ibanez as my preferred guitar manufacturer, the feel on this one is somewhat.. more comfortable. Concerning tremolos, I already tried out the Edge (Original and III), the Edge Pro, the Lo-Pro (on a Universe), the Edge Zero (I and II) and I frankly have to admit the Lo-Pro on the RGA-shaped body just fits and feels nicely. To my discomfort, the volume know is placed very distantly, which should be a matter of accustoming. Further, the RGA body is a bit thinner towards the than RGs, a plus on the usability score. One should but not expect this guitar to be light, as the mahogany contributes to the relative heaviness, being significantly higher than all basswood Ibanezes I've played so far. On the other side the heaviness is somehow pleasing, implying the high quality of wood used (this is but a mere assumption, no proof). 

The neck features an ebony fretboard, jumbo frets and a pearlescent crescent inlay on the 12th fret. Further the maple binding continues on the edge of the neck. The neck is painted in the same manner as the body.
Thin like most Ibanez necks this guitar has an 18mm thickness at 1st and 20mm at 12th fret - super comfortable like most Ibanez guitars and perfect for shredding all around the fretboard.
On the headstock, the first deviation of Ibanez of its always-and-everywhere-the-same-tuners-policy can be documented. The Sperzel locking tuners may seem to be as exercise in futility as there is already a locking nut, tightening the strings down. However, string changes are way easier with the locking tuners. The downside is, of course, that due to the reduced necessity of winding the strings around the tuning peg, downtunings become a nuisance (IMHO: get a fixed bridge guitar for tuning flexibility, as readjusting a trem-bridged guitar with changed tuning is just a pain in the ass). Another pleasing feature is the inverted headstock - 80s all the way - also bound in maple!
Bonus: Output jack cavity!!! Why hasn't this already been implemented in ALL Ibanez stock models? I didn't even know this was featured on this guitar! Gaudeamus igitur!

Overall impression: A beautifully and professionally crafted guitar for the minimalism-aesthetist with an above-average wallet (hah, I'm so rich). No seriously, if one can look ahead of the maple binding and the fantastically superb outraging output jack, a used RG550, an inverted headstock neck from ebay, a set of Titan pups and a set of Sperzel tuners have a waaay lower price point (if laziness for assembly is not part of the utility function, of course):

Alternative 1:
350€ Ibanez RG550 (avg price)
115€ Sperzel Tuners (list price)
150€ Reverted neck off ebay (exaggerated price)
300€ Dimarzio Titan set w/ gold covers (estimate)
915€ finished guitar with nearly the same design vs. 2490€ for a JBM100 (Thomann.de)

Alternative 2:
Build your own JBM100 or contact the luthier of your liking for the repro-job.

In my case, the desire for this specific guitar with the specific features out-weighted the feasible alternatives of getting a similar-looking model (1) or a build (2).

Sound Test with a demo: