Installing the Backstop

WMerkert · #1 11-22-2006, 02:05 PM

Today i got an original Ibanez Backstop and now i want to install it to my VWH. I use the instruction i got here in the tech area. The problem is, my english is bad and so i can't understand everything. Point 1 of the instruction says:.........Turn shaft length adjustment knob clockwise while holding shaft stopper knob in place. Turn the knob until the tip of the shaft is even with the end of the base plate. What base plate is meant here???? The second is this rubber thing didn't come with. Is that necessary or not ?
Hope you can help.

**GilkyBear** · #2 11-22-2006, 04:23 PM

Wolfgang, the base plate is the bottom of the unit, the big flat piece of metel that everything sits on. Don't know about the rubber thing though, sorry. You just want the "arm" to be right on the edge of the unit, not sticking out past it, not before it, but right on the edge of the unit.

WMerkert · #3 11-22-2006, 05:47 PM

Thanx Gilk, i'll try it tomorrow, its too late now.

nuno · #4 11-23-2006, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WMerkert

The second is this rubber thing didn't come with. Is that necessary or not ?

nope, you can use your Backstop without the rubber pad.

WMerkert · #5 11-23-2006, 02:08 PM

Ok, now tried out a lil' bit now all works fine. Thanx again.

buddroyce · #6 11-23-2006, 03:52 PM

Use a piece of thick duct tape inplace of the rubber pad(no joke). It's really there to keep the feet from wearing down.

**GilkyBear** · #7 11-23-2006, 04:50 PM

Wolfgang, I have a question now that it is up and running. I have heard that the backstop will prevent the other strings from going flat when doing a bend. But when you bend a note, it pulls the tremolo block away from the backstop right? So how could it prevent that? Or is the backstop actually attached to the trem block?? I don't know if I am misunderstanding this, but anyway, you have it on your VWH now, bend a note, let me know, would ya? Thanks Wolfgang.

WMerkert · #8 11-23-2006, 05:36 PM

It only works for one tone bendings not for one and a half tone bendings, don't know why, maybe my bad setup.

**GilkyBear** · #9 11-23-2006, 05:40 PM

Interesting. Thanks for the speedy reply. I have heard that it also improves the tone and sustain a little, any difference to your ear or is it just an Eric Johnson thing?

guitarsalad14 · #10 11-23-2006, 11:45 PM

To make a difference in preventing strings to go flat during bends, you have to set up the backstop so it pushes against the trem block and the trem block pushes against the backstop

**GilkyBear** · #11 11-24-2006, 07:28 AM

Yes, BUT, when you bend a note, it would depress the trem, pulling the trem block AWAY from the backstop, thus giving it no affect on stability is what I am wondering. Unless it is actually attached to the trem block, which I don't think it is. They are in contact, but not physically attached, see what I mean? So I don't know how it would help in that regard, but I have heard that it does help, so I'm just wondering if it is true, and if so, how?

The Euphor · #12 11-24-2006, 07:37 AM

From what Guitarsalad says. The tremolo doesn't stand on point zero. When the trem block and the backstop presses against each other, the slightest bending will not cause the other strings to go flat. The springs still have a positive energy, and when you bend a string, you add energy to the other side.

Springs vs strings.

The strings will only go flat when you add more energy than the springs contain. Oh, my english is too weak for this...

A two kg paperweight will take X amount of power to move.
A four kg paperweight will take 2X amount of power to move.

With the backstop and tremolo block against each other, you are looking at the "four kg paperweight". Bah, I give up.

nuno · #13 11-24-2006, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Euphor

Oh, my english is too weak for this...

i think an english mothertongue couldn't explain it better...

**GilkyBear** · #14 11-24-2006, 11:03 AM

Let me explain it this way. Imagine a door that swings both ways. You stand on one side and put your hands on it. If someone pushes it towards you, you can provide resistance, but if someone pulls it away from you, you can't do a thing about it. Is the backstop not the same?? It can provide resistance when it is being pushed, but during a bend, the trem block is depressed and pulled away from it, so it can not do a thing, unless it is actively attached to the trem block, like the trem springs are, which the backstop is not.

**GilkyBear** · #15 11-24-2006, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Euphor

A two kg paperweight will take X amount of power to move.
A four kg paperweight will take 2X amount of power to move.

Yes, but if you put the paper on top of the paperweight, it's affect is zero, because it's power is being expended on the wrong side, much like when you pull the trem block AWAY from the backstop, it may as well not even be there, right?

I guess my point is this,
The backstop can only PUSH, not PULL, so when the trem block is pulled away from it, ie during a bend, it's affect is zero. Am I going crazy here or what?