Locking Trems and Parts - Who do you suggest?

Contra · #1 04-21-2002, 02:16 AM

I am building 3 custom Ibanez guitars: 1 RG, and 2 Universes.

So I need 3 locking trems, springs, locking nuts, claws, etc... Who do you suggest to purchase these items from? I heard stew mac sells cheap phony knock offs, is that true?

I have 3 pictures of the type of trem arm I'd like to fit into my locking bridge, but I get a message that says my pictures are too big, should I just shave of some excess and squash it a bit in paintbrush?
I'd just like someone to verify if its a Lo-TRS type arm.
I was looking at egdes and lo pro's on a site that shows Ibanez bridges (courtesy of Sevenstringer) and the Lo-TRS arm "hole" was in the shadows.

I once had an RG with this arm and I like that bridge over all other Ibanez's I've played, mostly because I can lock the arm into whatever position I want, where as Edges have limp arms, and thats not good for me. I'm almost positive it was a lo-trs, it was a RG470 I THINK...

Any help would be great, Thanks pals. hopefully I'll have those pics up soon.

The arm is just about identicle to a Floyd Rose Original Arm with the adjustable nut at the screw in part if that helps...

(Edited by Contra at 1:21 am on April 21, 2002)

Project Guitar · #2 04-21-2002, 02:58 AM

I'm pretty sure I can help you out. Email me with the different sizes and colors you want.

(Edited by becalvert at 2:04 am on April 21, 2002)

lmf · #3 04-21-2002, 07:05 AM

Have you checked the Ibanez manuals at:

http://ibanez.com -> U.S.A. -> Support -> Manuals ?

There's a PDF file at that page, "Electric Guitars w/ Locking System", look at that. It gives a brief description and have some pictures. But from your description it sure sounds a lot like a Lo-TRS. From the instructions:

"Insert the tremolo arm into the arm socket and turn it clockwise until it stops. The rotation torque of the arm can be adjusted by turning the arm counterclockwise. Lo-TRS and TRS tremolos are equipped with a arm stop position screw located on the bottom of the tremolo block and can be adjusted by tightening the screw."

Contra · #4 04-21-2002, 11:46 AM

Lo-TRS it is. I need one 6, and two 7's complete. Thanks guys.

yurich · #5 04-21-2002, 03:54 PM

you're settling with Lo-TRS???? I got practically the same thing and trust me, you do NOT want a TRS. go e-mail Rich at IbanezRules or Brian at Unversal Jems and get an Edge

Contra · #6 04-21-2002, 05:49 PM

Quote:

snakepit on 2:54 pm on April 21, 2002
you're settling with Lo-TRS???? I got practically the same thing and trust me, you do NOT want a TRS. go e-mail Rich at IbanezRules or Brian at Unversal Jems and get an Edge

Well it is either a Lo-TRS or a Floyd original.

I like to have the bar set in a certain position. That is why I don't want an edge.

Why does everyone hate Lo-TRS trems so much? Do they go out of tune alot easily or something like that?

My Lo-TRS was fine on my RG except for the little rectangular blocks that you clamp the bottom of the string were very soft and changed shape. So I had to hammer them back into correct shape.

yurich · #7 04-21-2002, 05:57 PM

goes outta tune in like 5 minutes, soft metal EVERYWHERE (blocks, saddles, and most importantly, knife edges). If I were you, I'd get OFR, no question about it

Contra · #8 04-21-2002, 06:07 PM

Are there any negative setbacks by using a floyd instead of an Ibanez trem on a Ibanez?

Does Ibanez make any other locking trem with the screw on bar "equipped with a arm stop position screw located on the bottom of the tremolo block and can be adjusted by tightening the screw." ?

OFR style...

CrossingStar · #9 04-21-2002, 07:38 PM

I once read a post - I don't remember if it was here or another forum - a guy wanted the same thing as you, a bar that held it's postition. But he used an Edge with an Allparts bar(like a Floyd bar). He said it required slight modification but worked perfectly. I remember this because that has always been a beef with me about Edges and I was going to try but haven't got around to it.

toshiro · #10 04-21-2002, 09:29 PM

That would probably be me.. :biggrin:

All three of my Edge trems have been modded with the thumb-screw Schaller trem arms.. *You have to remove all the original bar mounting parts, then sand out the hole in the trem slightly..

Then all you need is the new bar and mount(available from F*nder) and one longer screw(the one that holds the mount to the trem) to mount it. It needs the longer screw, because the baseplate of an Edge is thicker and slanted, and the suppied screw is just a little short..

Only buy the F*nder, Allparts, or straight from Schaller bar assemblies though, as these are machined well, while the Might Mite stuff made in Korea won't hold up to any real use(or even stay tight for that matter)..

I like this bar better for a number of reasons, it stays in place, it's shorter, more curved, and (because of the Edge's baseplate angle) sits lower to the body..

Contra · #11 04-22-2002, 12:30 AM

Sooo much work

Can I buy one already modded from you? 3 maybe?

toshiro · #12 04-22-2002, 02:28 AM

Um, those are on my only 3 guitars..

It's not near as hard as it sounds. Just a bit of work, and some patience.. I went into it blind, never having heard of it done, and it's turned out fine every time.. If you want to go this route, I'll see if I can't grab a digital camera and work up some decent pictures of the process, from start to finish.. With a more detailed description, of course.. :biggrin:

Project Guitar · #13 04-22-2002, 03:41 AM

If you do that would you send it to me? I'd like to use it as a tutorial on my website. I'll give you full credit of course =o)

toshiro · #14 04-22-2002, 04:26 AM

Sure, sometime this week I'll 'brorrow' my boss' digi-camera and rip my 570 apart..

JESTER700 · #15 04-22-2002, 08:50 AM

I did this but with an OFR bar - the early Kramer kind that doesn't have the threaded collar. *Worked OK, but didn't have enough length to put the nut on the underside. *It relied on the baseplate threads themselves for stability, and when it started to slightly loosen I thought "uh-oh" and removed it (AFAIK, those threads are not steel).

I had a Schaller bar that I liked at first, but the 2 little pins under the collar that keep the bar from moving wore a spot in the collar so that it would be tight everywhere BUT where the bar usually was positioned. *Those pins are flatter on the Jackson/Schaller I have now, so maybe this won't happen - I'll have to check it out.