ashleypower

I think this is a bit of a silly debate...haha.

I'm a firm believer in "to each his own".

I just WANT TO. I'm fully aware that my guitar won't be "worth anything" to anybody else, but I have some sense of pride knowing that I did it.

I'm not really putting any "expensive" parts in here either.

The whole idea from the start was a Jem sort of idea...without the Floyd Rose. I just hate those things.

Now, where are you getting THAT?!?...NOWHERE! Haha.

It's a learning experience...it's fun.

Even if I had limitless funds at my disposal, I'd still do it...but maybe with better parts...haha.

ACTUALLY, the body and neck are great! The body is solid, and the neck is too.

I almost went with a natural stain, the body looked that good after sanding.

Again, I see everybody's side and respect it...but this is my side.

It's my crappy Ibanez and I'll do what I want...haha.

Thanks again guys for all your input and suggestions, I really do appreciate it.

Got my bridge yesterday!

I was pumped...until I put the bridge down and the screw holes don't line up! Greaaaat...

I'm gonna fill the existing holes and re-drill...but I have one question first.

I was gonna use the old holes as sort of a reference point.

I figure if I keep the D and G holes (if you understand) and screw the bridge down there, then drill new E, A, B, and e holes?

Does this sound like it would work?

Yeah, that's the config. that it came in.

I don't want to change the config. at all, just wondering what type of electronics to use; what's the best bang for buck.

I've been looking at pre-wired assemblies, but it's hard to come by exactly what I need. Most are for Strats or Teles.

One BIG thing that I didn't even think about now is "electronics".

Pots, input, 5 way selector...

It had just one volume, one tone, and the switch.

Suggestions?

Thanks again!

I think 1 V, 1 T and a 5 way is the way to go .

Hey guys.

I really like the look of this bridge...will it be ok for my guitar?

I checked out the string spacing...the 2 1/8" is almost identical to the 10.8mm stated here:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/GOLD-Wilkinson-WVP6-Modern-6-Screw-Type-Guitar-Tremolo-Bridge-/160696635966?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item256a44123e#ht_2892wt_952

Would the 10.8mm be the same as 2 1/8"? I just used Google to convert.

Thanks again!

One BIG thing that I didn't even think about now is "electronics".

Pots, input, 5 way selector...

It had just one volume, one tone, and the switch.

Suggestions?

Thanks again!

My first "real" guitar was a Kamen Applause superstrat thing...in other words,it was crap...I put a Tone Zone in the bridge and played that damn thing until I wore the frets flat.I still miss it..and I still have it(in pieces)

One of these days I will refret my Wizard neck,put it back on my Sabre,and take the warmoth neck from the sabre and put it on that crappy plywood body,and I will have my first real guitar back...

It really doesn't matter what it's worth,as long as it plays like you want it to...I used to be a music nerd,and now I am a guitar nerd,but I miss the days when I just played and didn't care what the guitar was made from...

I still have my first guitar too...a Series A! Strat knockoff, S-S-S, cream with a brown-cream swirl pick guard, brass nut.

That guitar is awesome...just needs to be wired up. I tried to install pickups a long time ago and totally messed it up...haha.

An RG170 isn't worth pumping all that money into it. It is a budget instrument and there will be only so much you can do. I would just replace the pickups. The money you don't spend will get you another RG!

I know it's a cheap guitar, but I like making it "my own". Turning it from the piece of junk in the corner into something that I wanna pick up and play.

I also know that for the money I'll spend, I could probably pick up a 350, which looks a lot like what I'm going for.

I HATE Floyd Roses too, so this is a good opportunity to have that 350, but now it'll be a 350 with my specs.

I understand your point, but this is just fun for me!

How important is string spacing at the bridge, how do I measure it?

Pretty important..center of high E to center of low E

Looks to be about 2 1/8"? Does that sound right? Haha.

yes, you can "slap" a PG on there....

two things tho .... it wont stick, you'll need screws. and two- ( srius face ) the cavity will need to be routed out through the front, possibly.

The PG will add thickness to the front and the switch screws won't reach , along with the path being hampered on each end.

although I think White, with gold hardware and pup rings will look very stately. Like a tuxedo kinda. all elegant n stuff. Those gold rush humbuckers I mentioned earlier come in white and they have gold adjusting screws.

That'd look sweet.

Last question for now...

How important is string spacing at the bridge, how do I measure it?

K. Looks like a good start.

Visit

http://www.guitarheads.net/

and put together a package of tuners/pups and while there, look through the 'electronics' section. Lots of cool mods to be had for cheap. The cavity in that RG has plenty of room too.

What color are you re-doing it in?

Oh and as far as a bridge goes, keep yours and try new saddles. Routing for a FR is an option too.

You started it, the rest is up to you.

I was thinking about a dark stain, or white. I was thinking about gold hardware as well.

That brings up another question actually...haha.

Am I able to slap a pickguard on that? Some Ibanez models with pickguards LOOK like the same shape...

Pics are king.

What kind of bridge did it have?

pups n tuners depend on your budget. There's fancy locking tuners that will trim the excess string off for you and then there's places like guitarfetish and guitarheads.net that have great product for little $. The guitarheads "gold rush" pups are very warm with nice clean tone.

What's your budget, low dough or all out?

Unfortunately for now, low dough...haha, as always.

The bridge is kinda like a Strat-like trem. I'm just not sure of string spacing, things like that.

The PUPs were the H-S-H config. They sound "ok", but not to my liking.

Like I said, I like high output, but I like nice clean tones as well...I LOVE the Strat sound, but HATE the hum.

I actually just came in from my garage, did some sanding.

http://s1125.photobucket.com/albums/l596/ashleypower/Ibanez/

There's the partially sanded body, and crappy bridge and tuner.

Hey.

Recently got an Ibanez RG 170 in a trade.

I'm planning on re-finishing it, and replacing the hardware and electronics.

I'm a noob, only done a couple of small jobs so far.

What kind of bridge will I need? I'm not sure of string spacing, or how to measure it.

PUP and electronics suggestions? I'm not a "metal head" by any means, mostly 90's music, but I like high output, and nice clean sound.

AND there's tuners. Ideas?

Thanks a bunch.

Little update here...

I've just filled the cavity with copper tape, been reading that eliminates unwanted "buzz".

One question that I have is, with a multimeter, how can I check for continuity?

My multimeter doesn't have a "continuity" setting, so I'm assuming that I use the ohmmeter.

Again, I'm new to this, so what should I be looking for / doing to make sure that the tape is doing it's job (using the multimeter)?

Hey guys.

Just a minor update.

I've filled the old holes, and the new ones are drilled.

The drill press I was using doesn't give me enough clearance to drill the holes for the strings, that'll come soon enough.

The only question I have is...should the ferrules be flush, or does that matter?

Ok, here's an update.

My stuff arrived today. I took it all apart and tried to put the new bridge on.

IT DOESN'T FIT! I measured it all up before I ordered it, but no go.

The two screws on the top of the bridge line up with the existing holes, but the three on the bottom do not. They're off by about 1/2".

What now!

You can see a little bit of the top of the existing holes through the holes in the bridge.

I'm assuming that I'll have to fill these holes somehow.

Ideas? Thanks.

Yep, I think it looks good too!

Sometimes mistakes turn out in your favor.

Thanks for the feedback dudes.

I absolutely love the lefty neck!

That's one of the reasons I initially started my own "build". There just aren't many out there.

Uh oh...haha.

I put a clear "satin" finish on there...is that good enough?

Haha, thanks!

I was originally going for something like this:

But I made a mistake. I applied filler before stain, not the other way around.

I applied one can of satin finish, light sanding, and there ya go!

Here are the images Ripthorn:

Hey guys.

A couple of years ago, I bought all the parts necessary to build a guitar on eBay. I done it as cheap as possible, as it was going to be my first build.

I've been doing some work on it recently, and it hasn't turned out too bad!

The staining was TERRIBLE, I messed it up big time....but ended up being happy with the results! I actually love how it looks now.

I'm waiting on some copper tape to shield the cavity, then just to solder and it'll be done.

Here's a couple of pics (the finish is done...haha, just wanted to point that out):

1

2

Ok, another question...

I came across an American Tele neck, maple with rosewood fretboard. $80.

Do you think that this would be better than the stock all maple Affinity neck?

Ok, I'm a tard!

I found this bridge:

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Modern-Style-Tele-Upgrade-bridge-Stainless-Steel-Saddles-chrome_p_501.html

It will fit my guitar perfectly!

How does this look?

Not offended in the least!

I'm just gonna dig in and try it.

Take my time, do all my research.

This SOUNDS like a huge job...haha.

I'm gonna give it a shot anyways. If I mess up, I guess I can always take it to my local guitar store.

I will keep everyone updated on my progress.

Thanks again people, really appreciate all the helpful feedback.

This isn't my bridge, I just found this picture on Google, but it's exactly the same.