Almost ready to give up on Jem...

keithmoore · #1 04-01-2006, 08:54 PM

I got this Jem used from a pal a year ago. Broken neck, had Ibanez install a new one. I love this guitar...fat, rock tone. But I DREAD changing the strings and tuning this thing! It's this massive ordeal that has at times taken hours...then after I get it in tune I sometimes find it goes out of tune the next day. Say, the high E is out, so I fix it, then I'm going through every string again, trying to balance the friggin bridge!

So I'm facing a "quality of life" issue with this thing. I love the tone, but to read the tech pages and hear you guys, it seems so easy...spend a bit tightening a few screws and you're in business playing until it's time to change strings again. Not working that way for me.

But I don't want to give up, this guitar feel & sounds great. So what to do? I'm thinking I need a DVD or video of proper setup and tremolo adjustment. There's one Dan Erlewine sells at the Stewart-Macdonald site. Anyone seen it? The info on this site is great, but I just can't seem to get it through the diagrams. I need to see some dude working on a Jem/Floyd Rose. Hey, maybe I should pay a local tech to teach me!

Or maybe my parts are work out? I think it's an early 90s Jem.

I just want to play. I'm doing something wrong here because I feel like I'm spending too much time tuning and tweaking.

gmeanie · #2 04-01-2006, 09:00 PM

You might want to do like eddie then and not use a floating tremolo. They go flat and sharp I have never seen one that hasn't.

keithmoore · #3 04-01-2006, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmeanie

You might want to do like eddie then and not use a floating tremolo. They go flat and sharp I have never seen one that hasn't.

Of course they go flat and sharp...but my situation doesn't sound normal. My understanding is that once you get the tuning in shape with the floating bridge the guitar pretty much stays in solid tune. But I ain't getting that.

David McCarroll · #4 04-01-2006, 09:22 PM

have a read through some of Rich's stuff on teaking Edge Trems - if you don't use the wang bar, you could always lock it with some wooden wedges - alternately, if you don't mind paying millions, you could replace the bridge with a Floyd Rose Speedloader (I think that's what they're called) - harder metal too - probably sound even better! - the TremelNo which some clever lad on this site will be selling through AllParts may also offer you a nice elegant solution.

Cheers

David

Ferrous Lepidoptera · #5 04-01-2006, 10:29 PM

There's the RGA321,RGA121... fixed bridge RG's . . . thinking about getting one of those myself.

But it is odd.... do you happen to have perfect pitch? (Maybe you're very very picky about tuning?) I find my floating bridges to be pretty decent. I don't usually change all the strings at one time, though, and I best most people don't, just out of laziness. Changing all the strings at once means they've all got to be stretched and so on... vs. just one having to be stretched at a time. And by "at a time," I mean, "on the same day."

I'm weird (and lucky) that I actually prefer the sound of "dead" strings. New strings always sound too jangly to me. They do have an aspect of the sound that is better than dead strings, but this aspect is (to me) overpowered by the jangliness which is also there, so on balance, I like dead strings bette. (Dead, to a point, of course, there's a happy medium. There's such a thing as too dead. Strings are different than people in that respect, I guess. Hmm, my mind seems to be wandering. I'll shut up now.)

vette6600 · #6 04-02-2006, 12:21 AM

i would set out to find someone that knows floating trems well (be it a local tech) and have them do it for you as you watch. if you still have the same probs, its the guitar then

fettouhi · #7 04-02-2006, 03:17 AM

Take it to a tech.

Regards

André

Andelusion · #8 04-02-2006, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferrous Lepidoptera

There's the RGA321,RGA121... fixed bridge RG's . . . thinking about getting one of those myself.

Get one. I have one and it's such an awesome guitar (RGA121) I play it just as much as my Jem if not more, I've strung it with 10s and it just rocks. Going to get a D-Sonic for the Bridge and Breed for the neck just as soon as I have some money

Quote:

Originally Posted by fettouhi

Take it to a tech.

Regards

André

Quoted For Truth.

My Jem stays in tune for at least a week, that's with heavy playing and relatively decent strings after a proper tune up.

kirk · #9 04-02-2006, 08:27 AM

I won't try to talk you into blocking your trem, nor will I tell you to buy a fixed bridge equipped guitar - that's just silly.

You never mentioned your level of playing experience, so I am assuming that you may have little - or at least little with a FR equipped guitar. I'm sure everyone's initial experiences with a FR trem were frustrating. Give it some time.

I'd recommend taking it to a shop to get a great setup. Then it's all maintenance from there out. Give it more time.

keithmoore · #10 04-03-2006, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirk

I won't try to talk you into blocking your trem, nor will I tell you to buy a fixed bridge equipped guitar - that's just silly.

You never mentioned your level of playing experience, so I am assuming that you may have little - or at least little with a FR equipped guitar. I'm sure everyone's initial experiences with a FR trem were frustrating. Give it some time.

I'd recommend taking it to a shop to get a great setup. Then it's all maintenance from there out. Give it more time.

Good point...I've been playing guitar for twenty years, but this Jem is my first Floyd. Been on a Strat before that. Blocking the Jem doesn't seem right. I mean, it's made for whammy madness!

Off to the tech...

nightfiend14 · #11 04-03-2006, 04:16 AM

what kind of jem is it?

nickcoumbe · #12 04-03-2006, 04:41 AM

I have the same issue, and 5 guitars with floyd derivatives.

I found a good tech, and I get him to do all my string changes and setups. It saves me an average of 4 hours on each one. Because I do so many with him it costs me considereably less than you would think.

I have tried a few myslef recently and I am getting better, it is probably just down to practice.

kirk · #13 04-03-2006, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickcoumbe

I found a good tech, and I get him to do all my string changes.....

Now this could turn into an expensive endeavor...

Jaden · #14 04-03-2006, 08:46 AM

have a really good geeking session on the web and especially Rich's site. http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/setup/index.htm
or specifically for tuning issues:
http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/setu..._stability.htm

dont give up on a great guitar mate - make it work.
after all, it took me 15 years to get my first ibanez RG working EXACTLY as I wanted it and that was after trying local techs and giving up on them. eventually Rich's site had everything I needed (except for patience) to sort the problems.
good luck old son.

S-man · #15 04-03-2006, 11:07 AM

A few things.

Do yourself a favor and change one string at a time.

Stretch (properly) each string as you change it.

Make SURE the trem angle is correct. Adjust the claw with springs in the rear cavity of the guitar behind the plate. The trem should be parallel with the top of the guitar.

Make sure the trem posts are tight.

Make sure the neck is tight.

Make sure the nut is tight.

Make sure all the tuners at the head of the neck are tight.

Make sure the saddles on the bridge are tight.

After all of that...Maybe check the knife edge of trem. Are they sharp? or perhaps a little chapstick is needed there (really!chapstick).

Read the setup stuff on rich's site.

Don't give up. Floating trems are a balancing act. String tension vs. Spring tension. Once you have them balanced, and nothing else on the guitar is moving, it should stay tuned. Once you get it setup. you shouldn't have to fool with it unless you change string gauge or brand (sometimes).

Anytime you significantly change the tension of a string, it IS going to affect the remaining strings. This WILL happen even on a guitar that is properly setup.

What gauge strings are you using?

Who knows it could be something other than the trem. You could always temporarily block it to see if the problem goes away. Then you know for sure what to focus on.

BTW...If your guitar has Locking trem post make sure the the little allen screw INSIDE the posts are loose before you adjust them and that they are tight after you are done.

Another idea....next time it goes flat... tighten the claw for the springs, a little, before you retune.

Anyone that plays a floating trem guitar NEEDS to know how to set up the trem. You will be a better player for it. Can it be frustrating....yes, but worth it. I can easily restring and tune my guitar in a hour. It should not take 4 hrs. If it does you are doing something wrong or the guitar is not setup properly.

Sorry if I repeated what others have said or if I am giving you info that you already knew. I have had my Edge for 16 years no prob.s. Though, I can remember wanting to smash it a couple of times in the early years ( I would never actually do that). Good Luck.