rg and zr trem

badger6 · #1 06-01-2004, 08:34 PM

Does anyone know it they plan on putting the zr trem on the rg series at any point in the future. From everything that I have read, the zr is the way to go as far as trems go, but I need 24 frets and like the rg body better. Anyone out there that has the new edge or edge II and a zr, how would you compare and rate them. It seems to me that from what I have read about the zr trem that ibanez would put them on guitars throughout the whole ibanez line. Also, I have 2 rg's with wizard II necks, is there a very noticeable difference from the original wizard neck. Seems that I played on a few original wizards back in the late 80's or early 90's, but I don't recall much from that long ago. I'm gonna go to try to play a zr trem if I get time, but my TRS trems are on '98 models and don't keep in tune at this point (knife edges are gone), time to upgrade anyway. Gonna have to buy one with or without trying the zr first though. Any help would be appreciated.

thanks
Badger6

cusplaya · #2 06-01-2004, 09:15 PM

No info on the trem from me, and all I have played on is a wizard but I believe the wizard II is about 2mm thicker. This would give it a slightly rounder feel I think. The wizard feels almost completely flat to me compared to my LP neck.

MicJustMic · #3 06-02-2004, 02:57 AM

Wizard II necks are 2 mm thicker from fretboard to back, a little rounder in the back too (depending on the final sanding done) and the fretboard is slightly more curved. Almost not enough to notice, but it's there.

I've only played around with one ZR trem, in a guitar wal-mart, and the salesman was nice enough to let me have a wrench so I could stretch the strings and tune it properly.

(I hate Crates, but you have to love those built-tuners)

After almost an hour of playing with it I was very impressed. It came back to pitch EVERY TIME, up, down, sideways.

Beating on it . . . (the guys in the store didn't like that).

No real flutter, but you could bend a double stop on the top two strings AND play an open string, or a whole chord, and it was still in tune.

It felt different though, hard to really convey what I mean, not better or worse, different.

Stiffer, but I think that's just the trade off for the stability with the "back stop" like design.

I'd like to see an RG or two with it, since I'm like you. I don't like the S guitars at all, but I really thought that trem is a step in the right direction.

I just wish it looked less like something you see in an engine and more sleek, like the Edges look, and I think a pop in bar would work on there too. :-)

Mic

badger6 · #4 06-02-2004, 04:14 AM

Don't get me wrong, the s body is very comfortable and sleek, a dream to play. But I just hate the 22 frets as opposed to 24, the big ugly black plastic cover over the 5 way switch and the location of the output jack ,it should be on the edge of the body like the rg series. If those 3 things were fixed I would have 2 or 3 of them. I just think that the zr trem should hold up better in terms of maintanance and tuning stability. I mean no knife edges to worry about, built in intonation tool, and better tuning capability. That right there puts it ahead of the pack and solves all the problems inherent with the floyd since its birth. I can get used to a different or stiffer feel without much trouble. And as for being ugly, it does not look as good the edge or maybe a schaller, but looks a hell of a lot better than some of the crap out there. If this thing adds the best of a kahler and a floyd all in one, then they better have some sort of patent on the thing if they can get one. By the way, not to get off topic, but speaking of kahler, did i really read somewhere recently that they were getting back to making their trem sometime soon. Or did I drink too much and dream about it. Have a good one.

Artist · #5 06-02-2004, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badger6

If this thing adds the best of a kahler and a floyd all in one, then they better have some sort of patent on the thing if they can get one.

I believe they do, and I believe that's also why it isn't (currently) available on it's own, to install yourself.

germX · #6 06-02-2004, 09:45 AM

the ZR whammy is tops when it comes to tuning issues. i love it for that but it's rather unfortunate that it adds considerable weight IMO to the guitar it's in- the S-series. i'm a fan of the S-series but this whammy prevented me from owning another S-guitar... if your life depends on the whammy & staying in tune, the ZR is a worthy investment.

Societysucks · #7 06-03-2004, 07:50 PM

I believe Ibanez are allowing people to buy ZR systems for thier own custimisation, and if this is true it would be a valuable investment into any RG Guitar. RG trems are great don't get me wrong, but the ZR Feels so good. It returns with such a smooth action..... sexy.

I can only imagine a ZR trem on an RG 3020. It would be so nice.

Ibanez should just ditch the Edge Pro and upgrade thier lines to ZR -

viva la ZR!!!!!!!!!!!

as for the Wizard 2 to wizard comparison, I own a 1980's Roadstar 2 and the new necks just feel nicer to me. Nothing against the original wizard, they just don't cut the mustard in my eyes.

MicJustMic · #8 06-04-2004, 12:06 AM

What are you reffering to when you say "new" necks?

Wizard necks are still around, they are on the 500+ models, "Super Wizard" is the three piece Wizard.

Wizard is the 17 mm thick at the nut neck. MIJ

Wizard II is the 19 mm thick at the nut neck. MIK

I don't know what neck the 80's Roadstar 2 had, I never had the chance to fondle one of those. :-)

Mic

MicJustMic · #9 06-04-2004, 12:08 AM

Actually, 17 mm at the first fret, not the nut, mis-typed. :-)

Mic

badger6 · #10 06-04-2004, 01:53 AM

Like I said earlier, does anyone know anything about kahler and if they are gonna try to make a comeback. I swear that I read that somewhere. If they could get on some guitar lines, I think that they would still make an impact, even in todays market. I still don't know why they quit in the first place. Although I do remember that floyd rose sued them for something, and I think that they lost the lawsuit. But that shouldn't have shut down the whole operation. I remember back in the 80's, kahlers were actually rated higher than the floyd and had a good share of the market, and they had conciderable artist and manufacturer support. Maybe the Kramer deal had something to do with it. Anyway, any info about kahlers return to the market would be a help, but the zr is probably the way to go. You never know though, kahler may come out with something that is even better than the zr. And at least you could buy it aftermarket.

ChrisReedSmith · #11 06-05-2004, 01:57 PM

What about the 421? WizII neck MIJ. I like the Wizard II MUCH MUCH better then the wizard. Feels much more stable and theres more grip. There may be a small few instances where the Wiz I may help, like playing a song which a assload of barre chords. But I'm more of a riffer anyway so its cool.

I would guess reason they put the ZR on the S is because of the weight. S series guitars tend to be considerbly lighter then RGs IMO. Even though general consensus is mahogany is denser and heavier the basswood, which is also true.

I friggin love how in depth we all get on this forum. If all of my customers were like you guys I'd love going to work so much more.

MicJustMic · #12 06-05-2004, 02:25 PM

I was just using that as an example, the way Societysucks worded his reply, to me anyway it seems like he thinks Wizard = old(er) necks, Wizard II = new(er).

I could be wrong though. :-)

Mic

Societysucks · #13 06-05-2004, 09:07 PM

I'm aware of the many wizard neck variations lol, for instance the Super wizard on the S prestige, I am infact refering to an older kind of wizard neck used on the the Roadstar 2 series in the 1980's which to be doesn't feel as good as ther "new" wizard and wizard 2 necks.

I can however see how my post could have coused some confusion lol

rg and zr trem

anyone know bout kahler