GodBlessTexas

Hmm, it looks like Best Decals doesn't make the Ibanez ones anymore. That's a shame, as I was hoping to order two of them. I have two pre-AANJ RG 500 series necks that had their front logos removed, but still have the serial and model numbers on the back. I hear Hoshino will put new logos on for $35, but I'd rather do it myself.

Hey Mike! Yeah, I've been busy. Saturday marks the end of the soccer season, and life should get back to normal for me. I've been building a home theater at my house, which took up a lot of my time. It's functional as of now, but not where I want it to be. We're now watching Lost in HD and movies on a 112" screen. The kids love it. I'll give you a ring soon to set up a time to look at the wood.

That's a sweet deal for any decent amp. Nice! Did I mention I only paid $175 for the RG550? Yeah, that's the way it usually works for me too, but this one got posted on payday. I'm still jazzed, and really enjoying it.

Until yesterday! If you're like me, you always have friends who seem to stumble across amazing deals or once in a lifetime opportunities that you never are able to get in on. Well, yesterday I scored a dream find for me: A Very Good condition 1990 Ibanez RG550. It's been played, but it hasn't been abused: there's some minor paint chipping on the front, but it's paint and no edge damage. The hardware is a good 90%, especially the Edge trem. The pickups sound really good, and the neck is straight but with some minor maple finish wear, like an old Tele neck. It's got history, and it shows. It's also a perfect match for the Franken RG I've been building. It's a lefty 1988 RG 550 neck on a righty 1990 RG 570 body. This one will stay stock, while the Franken RG will get the standard EMG setup that I like. Anyway, I'm so psyched and wanted to share in my good luck. I think I'm going to sell off my S guitars and just keep the RG's. I'm up to 6 now, and while the S is light, the RGs with Wizard/Super Wizard/Prestige Wizard necks are easier for me to play.

As someone who buys and sells musical gear on the side of my normal job, let me tell you that no one will ever give you less than a brick and mortar music store, except maybe a pawn shop. Try ebay, or craigslist. I've had good luck with both. Craigslist may take longer than ebay, but you rarely have to deal with shipping and they don't eat your sale up with fees. I just sold my Rocktron Piranha on ebay, and after ebay listing and final value fees and paypal fees, I'm not even breaking even. Ebay will nickel and dime you to death, but you get a wider audience. Good Fender gear will go easily on Craigslist. They should have a local metro site for wherever you live. I use dallas.craigslist.org

Cool, though I'm up in the Just North of Frisco area, but I work in Richardson. What's the setup so far?

What kind of pickup is that? I don't think it's an Ibanez, as they use 3 wire humbuckers, as you can tell by the red plastic covered set of wires that's still attached to the pots in your pictures. Furthermore, I don't know anyone that uses only white and black wires on a four wire pickup. It does't mean that someone doesn't, but usually on a four whire pickup you have four seperate colors. Ibanez uses red and white for both positive sides of the coils, and black or bare wire for ground. As for just one humbucker and a volume pot, that's easy. Here you go. (courtesy of guitarelectronics.com). GBT

Awesome, thanks for the information. However, looking at the diagram for the SA260, why would they make the single coil a stacked coil when it's only used in position 4 as a single, which also activates the middle pickup? I thought the point of the stacked coil was for noise cancelling, but if that's the case then why run it with the middle coil? GBT

Does anyone know what the deal is with this setup? What are they doing differently to the humbucker to get a single coil sound that other people haven't done? They're literature says it's a patent pending technology, but they don't show more than that or go into details. Does anyone know the scoop? Edited to add: I found the wiring diagram for the SA260, which has this feature. To me, it looks like other diagrams I've seen involving three wire humbuckers. I'm not exactly sure if it's patent worthy. GBT

I'm just reaching here, but when you don't have a proper speaker or load on the speaker output jack, doesn't that cause the power output transformer to overload and become damaged? I believe every tube amp/power amp I've ever owned has said not to turn it on without having the speaker plugged in for this reason. If that's the case, isn't it possible that the transformer overloaded and you got voltage on the input? As I said, it's just a guess and likely wrong. I'm talking outside of my area of expertise. GBT

And, there is also the compensated nut systems out there to fix the problem. I'll have to try the tuning method mentioned on the Ryan page. GBT

Do you have any troubleshooting or electronics experience? I'd look for a book on how to troubleshoot electronics without a schematic. I picked one up at a used bookstore for $2, and it was nice to have. Unfortunately it deals with some specific issues on mostly older technology, but some of it can be applied to newer tech. GBT

Either way, a pedal may be your only choice other than replacing the pickups. If the stock electronics make the guitar sound too bassy, then there's not much you can do. Replacing the pots for higher values or changing the tone capacitor may help (I'd remove the tone pot entirely from the circuit, but that's me), but if it doesn't then you're stuck with the pedal or replacing the electronics. Or dumping the guitar. GBT

The MP-1 is nice, but i like the Rocktron Piranha more. That's probably because of the built in HUSH circuitry on the Piranha. Do any of the mods cut down on how noisy the MP-1 is? GBT

Do you happen to take credit cards? GBT

What do you plan on using it for? Just playing at home? 10 watts is probably overkill, at least on a tube amp. If you're thinking of playing out, then you need something a little more powerful. I like my Mesa 2:50 stereo tub power amp a great deal. It's the updated version of the 50/50. I've seen both go on ebay for $400 or so. The 50/50 is a more balanced tonal output (Think Mesa mkIV) than the 2:50, which was voiced to handle a rectefier sound. The Mesa 20/20 is nice too, if you're looking for a lower power amp, but it's still plenty loud. GBT

I'm a GHS Boomers fan, so I've used the Medium (11-50) or TNT (10-52) Boomers sets. However, lately I've been quite happy with the Zakk Wylde Lo-Tune set (11-70). The low end is very chunky, but stays in tune reasonably well. GBT

That is incorrect. The only Squire bodies made of plywood is the Bullet series, which are the $99 and under guitars. The Affinity, Standard, and Deluxe series all use solid wood bodies. GBT

Since you point out Squire bodies, it's important to note that they are thinner than their Fender cousins, and that type of difference can have an impact on tone. GBT

You can do it, but I'd personally want a baritone scale guitar for tuning down that low just to keep proper string tension. I do Drop C on an RG with a 25-1/2" scale, and the C string never stays in tune. With a longer length, there would be a little more tension on fhe guitar. Ibanez did some 27" scale length baritones, but I don't think they make them anymore. I think the only baritone they make now is the Mike Mushok model, which is a 28" scale length. GBT

This is what I have in my S470DXQM. I like it a lot. The 81 can be harsh in the bridge, but is a little more rounded in the neck without being as fat. The 85 in the neck can be overly fat, but is brighter without being harsh in bridge. Also, a lot of those MA metal bands (Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying, Shadows Fall, etc.) are using their guitars w/ EMG's into Maxon OD9's and then into Krank Amps. Both of the guitarists for As I Lay Dying are using this setup and their guitars are mahogany Les Pauls. As others have pointed out, when you're playing with all that in the signal chain, body wood doesn't matter that much. It's not completely irrelevant, but it's taking a back seat to an overly driven signal. If you're not trying to get earth crushing gain, then wood matters more. If it were me, I'd go mahogany with maple cap or just mahogany. All of my Ibanez guitars fall into one of those two (My S series are all mahogany, and my RG is a mahogany body). GBT

If it comes from China, it's 99.99999999999999999% of the time a fake. Ebay doesn't do anything about them because they want the listing fees, but the site is completely flooded with fakes, especially in the guitar section. GBT

That's a BL200. I've never played that particular model, but the Blazers I have played have been pretty nice. Have you played it? Do you like the feel? If so, try talking the guy down and buy it. From what I've read, they're great except the electronics. If it's got Mex Strat pickups, that's a step in the right direction. $200 US is pushing it though. I'd pay $125-150 for it without much hesitation myself. But if it doesn't feel right to you, I'd pass. GBT

I thought I posted in here at work. I guess I forgot to hit submit. When I joined back in December of 2004, this is what my rig looked like: Tacoma DM9 acoustic. Broken Olympic brand BC Rich Warlock clone. My first electric from 1988. Needed to be rebuilt, which is how I found this place. Sad, huh? I had pretty much given up guitar completely when I sold all my gear after being laid off from Enron in 2001, and then again at three other jobs until April of 2004 when I found another full time job. Then Dimebag was shot, and while I don't know why, I just felt the urge to play again. So, I went to Guitar Center and picked up a Squier Affinity Strat and a Line 6 Guitarport. My setup now looks like this (recen changes noted): Guitars: - Ibanez 2003 S470DXQM w/ EMG 81/2/85 - Main axe, standard tuning. - Ibanez 1998 RG520QS in dark blue. Stock S7/S8 pickups, though I have an EMG 81/85 set for it. Blocked trem, drop C tuning. - Ibanez 2004 S470DX - Factory 2nd due to a headstock binding flub, but other than that it's perfect. Standard tuning. - Ibanez 2000 S470 - Standard tuning. This one may be sold, as I don't play it anymore. - Squire Affininty Strat - This guitar is my testbed for fun stuff and has had every type of pickup in the last year. Currently sporting an EMG S set, but I'm taking them out and putting in some Mex Strat pickups and giving it to my little brother who wants to learn how to play. - Tacoma DM9 acoustic. The best bang for the buck in a US made guitar before Fender bought them. - 1976 Ovation Matrix. Made the same year as me. Unique one piece aluminum fretboard/frets. I liked to play the D chord on it a lot 18 years ago, and you can tell due to the impressions in the frets there. Unrepairable without significant machine work, so it needs a new neck. Ovation has said they'll consider replacing it under warranty! - Olympic brand BC Rich Warlock clone. My first real electric guitar. Laminate body, but I love it. Currently needs the bridge post redrilled after being filled a year ago. Bass: 2001 Fender Mex Jazz Bass. "Reliced"/beat up by the previous owner. Scored at Guitar Center for $150 after tax. Found a Jazz Bass parts lot on ebay for $35 that had an EMG J-set and all controls in it. Sold the Mex Fender pickups for the same amount, so it was a net gain for me. Needs a serious refinish, but playes beautifully and sounds awesome. Effects: My rack: - SKB 8 space ATA rack - Furman RP-8 Power Conditioner - 1 space - Line 6 POD XT Pro. My main tone source. Super versatile. - 2 spaces - Rocktron Piranha tube preamp. Still trying to work this into my signal chain. - 1 space - BBE Sonic Maximizer 882i - 1 space Stomp boxes/floor stuff: - DOD Performer 555 Distortion - 1980's vintage. High gain fun. - Digitech XP-100 Whammy/Wah pedal. Unfortunately it just got run over in the garage after I finally got it working. I still don't understand how it got there. The casing is destroyed, but the circuit boards appear OK. I'll try and transplant it, or buy an original/re-issue of the better one if I miss it. - Digitech RP-100 for practicing away from home. - Behringer FCB 1010 MIDI foot controller. Amps/Speakers - Peavey Rage 158 - Guitar input broken, but I have the stuff to effectively troubleshoot it now. Well, except time. CD input works fine, so I can use it as a power amp, though with no volume control. - Peavey 5150 212 combo - Just sold this last weekend to a total EVH freak. He brought his Wolfgang with him to test it out. I already miss it. - Mesa Boogie 2:50 power amp. It's in the SKB rack listed above. - 2 spaces - Rocktron Velocity S112 Speaker Cabinet w/ one 12" speaker. All that stuff above was bought in the last year. I never realized I had so much stuff until I wrote it all down. Now I understand why my wife gets mad when I get new gear. It doesn't make me play any better, but it sure makes me enjoy playing/practicing a lot more than before. Stuff I've had/sold since joining: - 2003 Tom Delonge Fender Strat in black. MINT. Sold to collector/Blink 182 fan for twice what I paid for it. - 1996 Mex Strat. Huge mistake selling this one. It was nearly perfect, and I miss playing it. - Four Ibanez RG320DXQMs - All parted out after I realized they were worth more in parts than in my collection. - 2000 Ibanez RG520QS in dark brown. Parted out. Mistake, but I needed funds for other stuff. - 2003 Ibanez S470BK. Parted out. - 2001 Ibanez S470FL. Parted out. - 2001 Ibanez SCA220B. Recently sold on eBay. - 1999 Ibanez RG570 that I got as a project guitar that had been spraypainted black. I cleaned up all the parts and sold them. - The previously mentioned Peavey 5150 Combo. The best distortion tones I've ever heard, but insanely loud. Nearly caused me to get a divorce when my wife saw it, and she's a musician herself. - Behringer Bass V-Amp Pro. Some nice bass and guitar tones there, but it didn't hold up to the flexibility of my POD XT Pro. With the POD XT Pro being almost 5 times the retail price, that shouldn't be a surprise. - GuitarPort. Neat device, and great tool for the starting/starving guitarist. I sold it when I got the POD XT Pro. Stuff I want: - Ibanez Prestige S2020X - Ibanez Prestige S1520 mahogany. Pre-2003 model w/ Lo Pro Edge - Ibanez Prestige S1620 Bubinga/Mahogany. I hate middle pickups, and I love the ZR trem. - Ibanez Prestige RG1620 - Ibanez Prestige RG3120 - Ibanez Prestige RG1527 7-string. - A nice Fender Strat or comparable. - A nice Tele - TC Electronics G-Force - Eventide Ultra Harmonizer - A 1 watt tube power amp. - Mesa 20/20 power amp. - Too many amps/preamps to mention beyond those two. Actual dream guitar? A 24 fret Sabre. I only know of one that exists from the factory, and it belongs to Mick Thompson of Slipknot.

What you're referring to is intonation. It's a pain on a Floyd Type floating bridge, but it just takes time. 1: Plug your guitar into the tuner. 2: Play the open string and tune to pitch. 3: Fret the tuned string at the 12th fret. It will be flat or sharp. 4: If the note is sharp, then move the saddle slightly away from the neck (extending string length). or If the note is flat, then move the saddle slightly towards the neck (shortening string length). 5: go back to step 2 and repeat until the string is in tune open and at the 12th fret. With a strat style bridge, it's easy because you just use a Phillips head screwdriver to move the saddle forward or back. With locking or double locking trems, you have to detune the strint, unlock the saddle at the allen nut, move the saddle forward/backward, and then retune. It's a complete pain. Dan Erlewine shows a tool in one of his setup books that looks to make it easier, but I've always done it by hand. GBT