1998 RG 570 upgrade tips

plugger · #1 08-26-2008, 08:31 AM

I've just bought a 1998 RG 570 which has V7 S1 AH2 pickups (comes with the uninstalled original V8 pickup).

The guitar body is a bit rough cosmetically, and the Floyd Rose looks a bit rusty (the bridge looks like the intonation screws have never been touched and maybe rusted in place LOL) and may need a new arm, but it appears to be complete and sound apart from that.

Any opinions on upgrades for sound/playabilty on these models? It has the AANJ neck, so my guess is that the neck will be wizard II profile? The tremolo looks like a lo-pro edge -- would that be correct for this year and model?

Any advice on this guitar appreciated.

plugger · #2 08-26-2008, 12:00 PM

Or would it be a super wizard neck? It's got the bubinga skunk stripe...

nuno · #3 08-26-2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plugger

Or would it be a super wizard neck? It's got the bubinga skunk stripe...

IIRC the Wizard-II has no bubinga stripe in it, so my guess is it's a Wizard. i also remember that the only RG570 with the Wizard-II neck was the 560CT (alder body + maple top version, came out in 1995 only). the trem's supposed to be a LoPro, but you can tell it better than anybody here as you can see it by yourself: if it's a low profile it's a LoPro, if it has a high tail it's a standard Edge

but, if it's a Wizard-II, then it's an RG507.

plugger · #4 08-26-2008, 01:04 PM

On Ibanezrules.com, the 1998 catalog states that the RG570 had a wizard neck, whereas some other models that year had the wizard II neck. They list the specs for the two types of neck at the end of the catalog, and they look right: the wizard is a little narrower and flatter than the wizard II.

But there is no mention of a "super wizard". When did the term "super wizard" come into use? Is a wizard spec neck with a skunk stripe a "super wizard" by definition?

nuno · #5 08-26-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plugger

But there is no mention of a "super wizard". When did the term "super wizard" come into use?

i think it's about '97.

Quote:

Originally Posted by plugger

Is a wizard spec neck with a skunk stripe a "super wizard" by definition?

exactly.

plugger · #6 08-26-2008, 01:20 PM

OK, thanks for clearing that up. Wizards are confusing!

Here's a pic that shows the trem -- looks lo-pro to me... or a very badly set-up original Edge!

waddya think?

Oh, and the color according to the 1998 catalog would be "Iron Pewter", rather than black (the 550 came in black that year, but the 570 only came in the pewter, a gold, and a green.)

plugger · #7 08-26-2008, 01:43 PM

Oh, and here's a close up the trem -- a bit rusty. I hope those intonation screws are going to come loose! The bridge doesn't seem to have a sensible compensation pattern, which is why I suspect it's never been properly intonated.

GuitarBizarre · #8 08-26-2008, 01:46 PM

Edit: Answered before me...Oh well...

That bridge looks very VERY badly maintained...

GLG421 · #9 08-26-2008, 05:51 PM

Looks like an Edge, and a trip to visit Rich for a minimum of a new set of intonation screws. I'd get some new knife edges, string lock screws, String lock blocks, and maybe even saddles.

marianozz · #10 08-26-2008, 06:14 PM

Dismantle the bridge and let everything soak in WD40 for a couple days. Then clean it with a little wire brush, or better yet, a dremel. Make sure you get all the WD40 out while putting it together, and it should come out pretty good.

Dimarzios, a good cleaning and set up and you have a fine guitar there man, congrats

**elcid** · #11 08-26-2008, 09:57 PM

Handle, swirl, vine.

thunder7 · #12 08-26-2008, 10:35 PM

that indeed is a badly setup original edge tremolo.ive owned quite a few. the knife edges are probably damaged already if the tremolo was played with that setup for a long time. jemsite has great articles on how to properly setup an edge. most people set it up like the original floyd rose not understanding the edge chassis is not straight like the OFR its angled. i also suggest replacing the saddle screws. hope that helps!