this has been a great site already & thanks for info/input in advance.

Have a late 80's japanese RG550 lefty, that Im thinking of having perm blocked off - I have the temp wood shim deal going now, but want to properly fill cavity/refinish then put a hipshot or preferably, a Kahler 3300 fixed bridge.

Im going to have my local luth do the work, but wondering if any one has done this or has it done? Any issues or things I should instruct him on? He is also a Buzz Feiten retrofitter, going to have that installed after the fixed bridge mod (same time)

Any input on the process or recommended fixed bridges other that Kahler?

Thanks !

Just block it with something and forget about it. Save the money and spend it on something else.

i already had it blocked off by Ithaca Guitar Works years ago ---- kind of a sentimental guitar so I wanted to do it right. I know im going to need new frets & two inch long cracks on the back of the neck near the nut bolts repaired.

Just seems like a pain trying to find another late 80's lefty RG of this quality & I have Duncans in it already...blah blah blah

So I should forget about buzz system on it, forget the fixed bridge and just do a fret job, fix cracks and keep it blocked the way it is?

Thanks for the advice - dont want to blow unneccassary money, but I love this axe

To properly convert that guitar to a hardtail will mean refinishing it. Makes for an expensive bit of work. What are you going to do about the locking nut? You don't need it anymore if you're going to ditch the Floyd. You could ditch the nut, too, and go with an Earvana. Personally, I think those are a better approach than the Buzz Feiten system.

Personally, I would fix what's broken and leave everything else the way it is.

I'd get the cracks repaired and if your not having any tuning difficulty at the moment i'd leave it as is. You could always pick up a fixed bridge ibanez if your wanting to playing with tunings etc?

Here's the link to the Project Guitar tutorial that is generally regarded as the best reference for doing a trem to hardtail conversion:

http://projectguitar.com/tut/tht1.htm

Nah, man...I'd say let him do it....he's prepared to go the whole hog on a guitar he likes. A nice fixed bridge and a new finish is like having a new guitar with a familiar feel. But why a Kahler?

Hey man I blocked my RG 560 and it's not permantent but trust me there isn't any need to go further, plus you still got a good bridge if you ever want to try using the trem or if you ever want to sale it.

I mess with tunings and all and it's still able to do whatever I need it to.

Its a tough decision since I love the axe so much---- may have to tell the guy to hold off on it. I am (all the sudden" looking at a 1990 Japanese lefty Sabre for probably less, than the price to bing this old RG 550 back from the dead

Keep the opinions coming. I figure with a need fret job and tranformation to hardtail/fixed bridg + $6-700? maybe more

Oh -- Kahler because I always thought they were so well made --wanted the best quality fixed I could find for my baby!

Google the Kahler 3300 -- looks like jewelry to me

That much for just a fret job and conversion? I know JKahrs was gonna do a guitar of mine for $425, and thats with a full repaint and everything, so talk to him about doing it

He may even be able to do the fret job and repaint as combo for like $600

I know what it's like having a guitar that you really like, but it not being quite what you need. I was actually in that exact situation once. I hated the Floyd in my RG520. Tried blocking it, still wasn't happy. I ended up making a completely new body for it. You might think about contacting one of the guys that does replacement Ibanez bodies, as the price for filling in the trem cavity and refinishing the body may be starting to approach to cost of a totally new body. Also, the refinish job is a bit of a tricky one, as it's difficult to ensure there is no visible line around the fill.

Anyway, I'm going to revise my earlier statement and say "go for it," provided you realize that you're going to be spending a decent chunk of change of a guitar that's not really worth a whole lot. The Kahler seems like a nice bridge, and the description on their website makes it seem like it would work. There are far cheaper bridges that will work just as well, however.

What color is this guitar? If its anything but black don't do it.

I'd just block it. The blocked Edge is actually rather nice and lends itself to chunky palm muting.

My blocked edge is just as good as any hardtail. You just have to block it right.