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Posted by: Ayen Aug 7 2007, 10:31 AM

I've had my Ibanez since about Christmas, and since then, changing strings and maintaining a level bridge were a living nightmare. I'd have to tighten or loosen the springs in the back, tune the strings, lock them, see if the bridge was leveled, rinse and repeat for a few hours. Has anyone had a problem with a tremelo system like this?

Posted by: shredmandan Aug 7 2007, 10:40 AM

Oh YES!!
You get your hopes up so much when you get a floyd syle bridge and then once you have to do the smallest thing its a nightmare.Dude i had problems even putting strings on mine because you had to cut the balls and have the block tight but not to tight to hold them in.I recommened taking it to a pro and getting it set up.Once you do this when you change your strings only take one off for every one you replace.This way all the tension doesnt go away like if you took all the strings off at once.Replacing and removing one string at a time will help that problem once it's properly set back up.Floyd's are very hard to keep up with and a big hassle for me.The idea behind it's great but a headache to work on unless you know a whole lot about it.My advice is take it to get set back up,it wont cost you much at all and it will be worth it.Also dont try to drop tunnings once it's set because it knocks it all back out again.If you want it set low like C tell them that when you get it worked on and leave it that way.I tryed to drop mine to C and i would get half tunned and the other half would go right back out.Its because the way the tremolo work's and how it is set.

Shredmandan

Posted by: Pavel Aug 7 2007, 11:11 AM

The thing is - once you set the bridge level and springs tension - NEVER EVER touch them again.

Set up your guitar ONCE - so that the strings are tuned, bridge is leveled and all you want! After this - when the guitar is perfectly set up - if you want to restring it - never touch the bridge or springs again. Simply replace the strings one by one! Yes - the bridge will loose it's tension because you remove the strings - but when you put new one's and tune the guitar to a proper pitch the bridge will again align just like it was when you had a perfectly set up guitar!

Posted by: MickeM Aug 7 2007, 02:06 PM

QUOTE (Ayen @ Aug 7 2007, 11:31 AM)

Posted by: The Uncreator Aug 7 2007, 02:16 PM

When you switch strings make sure you are switching to the same Gauge as well! thicker or thinner gauges will either cause the bridge's spring tension to increase so its leaning forward out of the body, or loosed them so it falls into the body.

And when you change strings, do it one at a time, starting on the High E.

Posted by: Pavel Aug 7 2007, 02:20 PM

I start on low E and never had problems! It's actually totally the same which string you replace first!

Posted by: Ayen Aug 7 2007, 08:51 PM

Wow, I didn't expect this many replies!

The first time I restringed this demon, I had someone helping me out. They removed the bottom three strings first and I said "Hey, wait a minute, I think you just did something wrong". A few days later I went to a Guitar Tech, my bridge was at a diagnol (I didn't really know much at the time), and his price for a setup was about $90, which is why I don't really want to bring it to them.

Uncreator, I only use 9s as I'm quite used to them, and they're the easiest for me to play with.

Thanks for all the replies, I'll keep everything in mind.

Posted by: Pavel Aug 7 2007, 09:06 PM

Yeah the set-up is pretty expensive! But trust me you can do it yourself! When i had my RG and had to set it up i was scared to death and my father was helping me out but he also had no idea what he was doing so we carefully put the guitar apart and saw how everything worked - and now i am not afraid to remove the tremolo if have to fix something. So don't be afraid - there is nothing you can damage.

Btw. the color of the guitar is amazing!

Posted by: shredmandan Aug 7 2007, 09:41 PM

QUOTE (Ayen @ Aug 7 2007, 03:51 PM)

Posted by: GroovinMastiff Aug 7 2007, 10:13 PM

Hi there,
Check out this website: http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/setup/index.htm

The guy who runs it is an expert on Ibanez guitars. All the stuff I've learned about setting up my Ibanez guitar, I got from reading the stuff on the website above. It's great info., because of it, I'm able to keep my Edge-Pro trem perfectly set up, and keep my Ibanez in tune no matter how much I use the whammy bar.

Hope it helps

Posted by: Ayen Aug 8 2007, 02:17 AM

The color and the shark fin inlay are what originally drew me to the guitar. My only dislike is that it's a bit heavier than I'd like, but I still love it more than anything else.

Thanks for the site Mastiff, I'll be sure to check it out!


Edit: Site's great, Mastiff, you just saved me a few hundred bucks.

Posted by: Sircraigery Aug 8 2007, 08:20 AM

When I had my Jackson, I was having the same troubles. Sure didn't like the Lisc. Floyd Rose.

As much as I though it was crap, it turns out you just need to exercise the strings. I work for a wireline company (geographical sampling of downhole oil wells can can run 6000 meters below surface), and when we put new line on the truck it takes about 30 runs downhole to get the much of the elasticity out of the cable. So new guitar strings work much the same way. Just the whammy bar to the extremes for a couple of minutes and this should help it once you have new strings on it to keep the alignment true.

I would also be very picky about washing your hands before playing, so you can maximize your string life.

Hope this helps you......nice axe btw


I just read that website, and the first thing it mentions is stretch LOL. Well, enjoy the story anyways haha