Lo Pro Edge Baseplate part

RogerDavis · #1 09-12-2003, 09:13 AM

Hi, does anyone know where I can buy a replacement lo pro edge baseplate. I'm in the UK and you cannot get them here, but people have mentioned in this forum that they have managed to get hold of the. Please let me know where I can get this item.

Cheers!

Jem7RB MK · #2 09-12-2003, 10:21 AM

I'd give machinehead.co.uk a ring to see if they have one,I've yet asked for something they *couldnt* get

Rob

RogerDavis · #3 09-12-2003, 11:03 AM

Tried em already cause they're good for getting new posts etc but they can't get a baseplate. They usually just phone Headstock Distribution anyway for parts, who I've contacted direct and they can't get 'em. It is frustrating! Next I'm gonna try phoning Hoshino!
Has anyone in the US been able to get hold of this part easily?
Cheers!

Jem7RB MK · #4 09-12-2003, 11:28 AM

out of curiosity,whats wrong with yours ???

Rob

RogerDavis · #5 09-12-2003, 11:52 AM

OK, well I've got a Universe and I've got the old tuning stability problem (2 neutral points). Upbend goes out, downbend brings it back in. Now I've followed ibanezrules rich's guide and I've narrowed the problem down to the knife edges. It's not the posts or the anchors cause I've got an RG7620 and actually put the tremolo off that on my Universe and tuning is 100%.
On inspection of the knife edges, I found that the straight edge was about .5 mm so I followed rich's guide and filed it down to .35. This didn't have much effect (and I followed the guide to the letter). However, in his article it states that you should hardly ever need to file the curved knife edge since this is normally sharp anyway. On mine though it was .5mm so I filed it down to .35 as with the straight edge. Now, interestingly, this made a considerable improvement.
But it is still not perfect, I can still detect a very subtle change of pitch. Using my Boss GT6 tuner, any more than 2 notches of pitch fluctuation is audible to my ears. The RG trem is stable to within one notch on the tuner and so sounds perfect to my ears. The G string on the Universe is still going out by 3-4 notches and this is audible.
So basically I'm not sure where to go from here, the knife edges are OK and the posts are OK (and yes the post lock down screws are tight, the locking nuts etc are all tight). What is annoying is that the quality of the RG's knife edges aren't as good as the Universe - yet it is OK!
So I figure that I've got to replace the knife edges. I know you can get these from Rich, but it does look like a bit of a nightmare job from what I've read and I'm concerned I will screw up the trem if I attempt this. I've also read that people have replaced the baseplate, so I think that this would be a more straight-forward solution to the problem.

Any suggestions...? Is there anything you can rub on the knife edges to improve things (eg. graphite)?

Cheers

Jem7RB MK · #6 09-12-2003, 12:03 PM

I'm really not sure,i've yet to encounter this kind of problem,i am sure somebody will know exactly what to do,but,if you do decide to get a new baseplate,i'd be seriously interested in buying the old one, (trying to get all chrome on my rg7620/uni mongrel

I did have worn out posts on my jem7mbk which with new posts stopped the problem,but it sounds as tho they *should'nt* be the problem.

I'll have a mull over and see if i can think of anything,but i'm sure replacing the knife edge's would be a cheaper option,I'm pretty mechanical minded(hgv mechanic by trade) so would'nt mind doing it for you :-)

It is an option

Rob

nuno · #7 09-12-2003, 01:01 PM

are your Universe's trem springs new or at least fresh enough?
are the screws which fasten the nut to the neck well tightened?
are the screws which fasten the neck to the body well tightened?

RogerDavis · #8 09-12-2003, 01:09 PM

Yes, yes and yes. Honestly mate I've been thru all the checks out of both the tech sections from jemsite and ibanezrules. And anyway, Ive actually put my RG trem onto my universe and it stays in tune 100% so the problem is defintely with the knife edges. Point being that I would like 2 perfect trems!
Also, it's a classic knife edge/post problem. If it was the springs or loose locking nuts I doubt the guitar could be put back in tune with a downbend after being out of tune! There are 2 neutral points exactly like Rich has mentioned on these forums many a time.

nuno · #9 09-12-2003, 02:00 PM

oh damn...
that sucks. hope you can get that darn baseplate!

Jem7RB MK · #10 09-12-2003, 02:23 PM

I'll keep my ears to the ground for ya dude,Ya never know what turns up...

Good luck and lets us know how ya get on :-)

Rob

MicJustMic · #11 09-12-2003, 02:45 PM

Sadly what you describe is quite normal.

You can have perfect posts and knives and still have the G come back a little sharp like this

I don't think anyone has yet figured out why or how to fix it.

I usually balance mine out, so that it is a cent or two flat on return from dive and a cent or two sharp on return from pullup.

My other stings remain just about perfect, only a cent off either way but it's hardly noticable while playing, even with the G going slightly out.

Mic

Rich · #12 09-12-2003, 03:37 PM

I've been fighting with an 03' VWH for 3 days, coming back sharp slightly across the board but the low E, A, and unescapeable G is too much ;/

RogerDavis · #13 09-13-2003, 06:45 AM

Thanks for everyone's input. After phoning round I don't think it's possible to get hold of a baseplate, so I am going to attempt to put new knife edges in. I can only think that I have a set of bad knife edges that are maybe too soft compared to my RG knife edges. I don't know if anyone can recommend coating the knife edges with something to harden them up?
It is annoying since apart from this my Universe (777 BK Prestige) plays fantastic. Oh well, I've swapped my black RG trem onto it and the chrome bad trem is sitting on the RG which looks a bit odd. I'm sure there should be no difference in tone or feel with a black trem on the UV but I must admit that it feels psychologically less bright than with the chrome (!), what a fussy twat I am

Cheers, Rog

Rich · #14 09-13-2003, 03:01 PM

I can only think yu've gotten then too sharp possibly. If not, and you've got the good studs do try a little Chapstick on the knives and in the stud grooves!

Jem7RB MK · #15 09-13-2003, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

I can only think yu've gotten then too sharp possibly. If not, and you've got the good studs do try a little Chapstick on the knives and in the stud grooves!

For lubrication Rich ? I always used to use a pencil,and rub a few coats of graphite on points of contact ...

Rob