Learning Tone Seeker Posts: 247
Joined: 30-March 21
From: Nova Scotia, Canada
I finally ordered a couple mods for my Jem Jr. I have the white model. I went with a pearloid pickguard and a Gotoh GE1996T gold bridge. From what I could gather online, this bridge seems to work well save for possibly needing to keep original posts. Has anybody here happened to try this bridge on the Jem Jr. and if so what was your experience? Thanks in advance for any information.
Learning Tone Seeker Posts: 247
Joined: 30-March 21
From: Nova Scotia, Canada
QUOTE
If you don't need to change/fix posts then all should be fine. Changing post distance isn't something too hard but not for beginners.
I personally didn't play it but my luthier talked positive about it as being both budget and a quality trem. .
Thanks Mertay, appreciated. The stock trem still plays pretty good although it's a little stiff. I've heard good things about the gotoh also. Better metals and floats very nicely. I also really like the gold on white look. Guess I'll have to look at changing out the machine heads soon too, lol.
Aside playability I'm sure you'll notice a slight but nice change in tone too. Because of the better alloy and denser block the mid.s will likely sound a bit more balanced.
Learning Tone Seeker Posts: 247
Joined: 30-March 21
From: Nova Scotia, Canada
QUOTE (Mertay @ Jun 10 2021, 02:39 PM)
Aside playability I'm sure you'll notice a slight but nice change in tone too. Because of the better alloy and denser block the mid.s will likely sound a bit more balanced.
Nice. Pickguard arrives tomorrow, bridge next week. I'll post up some before and after shots once I get everything done. 👍
GMC:er Posts: 25.297
Joined: 23-December 09
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
One thing to keep in mind if you ever plan on selling is that no matter what you do to it, it won't be worth much more than a stock version of the same guitar. If you over upgrade a lower end RG you will never get the money back out of it. If you plan on keeping it forever, then that's another matter. If you ever do sell it, I'd say put it back to stock and see what other used versions go for and that's the actual price. I can't tell you how many over upgraded Ibbys I see every day with folks asking double what they are worth. it sounds like you like the guitar so if it's a keeper then upgrade your heart out!
QUOTE (FreePizza @ Jun 10 2021, 10:05 AM)
Thanks Mertay, appreciated. The stock trem still plays pretty good although it's a little stiff. I've heard good things about the gotoh also. Better metals and floats very nicely. I also really like the gold on white look. Guess I'll have to look at changing out the machine heads soon too, lol.
Learning Tone Seeker Posts: 247
Joined: 30-March 21
From: Nova Scotia, Canada
QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Jun 10 2021, 10:21 PM)
it sounds like you like the guitar so if it's a keeper then upgrade your heart out!
Yep, crazily I have been playing this guitar almost exclusively since I picked it up. I honestly didn't think I would like it this much. I can't bring myself to sell a guitar either, lol.
Thanks Mertay, appreciated. The stock trem still plays pretty good although it's a little stiff. I've heard good things about the gotoh also. Better metals and floats very nicely. I also really like the gold on white look. Guess I'll have to look at changing out the machine heads soon too, lol.
Threre's plenty of factors affecting bridge stiffness Mainly the type and number of springs and the strings gauge you use. There are also "point zero" systems. I had not much experience with teh jem itself but I do service lot's of Ibanez guitars. I think that their zero point system makes the bridge quite stiff. It's a compromise. From one side we have better tuning stability on bends but from the other side some of the fluency in whammy bar motion is gone.
Sometimes reducing the number of springs to 2 and using something really serious like Gotoh PSP springs will give great results.
Learning Tone Seeker Posts: 247
Joined: 30-March 21
From: Nova Scotia, Canada
QUOTE (Darius Wave @ Jun 22 2021, 09:49 AM)
Threre's plenty of factors affecting bridge stiffness
Sometimes reducing the number of springs to 2 and using something really serious like Gotoh PSP springs will give great results.
Thanks Darius. Even the fine tuners (after being oiled) are grindy and feel pretty cheap. Rather than waiting for the bridge to wear and start giving me problems, which from what I've read is almost inevitable, I think I'm just going to drop this in. It arrived last Friday.
Mainly the type and number of springs and the strings gauge you use. There are also "point zero" systems. I had not much experience with teh jem itself but I do service lot's of Ibanez guitars. I think that their zero point system makes the bridge quite stiff. It's a compromise. From one side we have better tuning stability on bends but from the other side some of the fluency in whammy bar motion is gone. 
