When these were released back in late 1996 to commemorate 10 years of Ibanez Jem production, I really wasn’t an Ibanez collector so I never had a chance to buy one new. This one arrived recently in nearly new condition since it was collector-owned from day one. Ibanez really put together a nice collector’s package with the release of this one – from the engraved serial number on the pickguard to the signed certificate of authenticity. I think this successful release got Ibanez to realize that if you package a guitar as a collector’s item in the beginning, people will buy them up, and at a pretty high price point.