[Asomodai]

Hello all.

I have just received a second hand Ibanez RG350DXZ from a shop in the UK.

I have been checking over for faults and I have found that the ZPS bar is at a crooked angle. Doesn't appear to be affecting the tuning so much, but I am worried about what would happen over a period of time with the plastic mount warped as it is and with the trem not hitting the bar evenly.

Does anyone else have a crooked bar like this? Is it really that big of a deal? I do actually like the ZPS system so I would like to keep it.

If it is a deal breaker then I can return it to the shop for a refund (But need to make a decision fairly quickly.

Cheers!

 

[sepulchrave]

It is clear that the pilot hole for the lower ZPS catch frame retaining screw has been drilled further back than than the upper one, this is easily fixed by plugging that hole and redrilling the pilot hole in the correct position, however it does not affect the function since the frames and trem block still catch the bar correctly so the system will work properly.

I agree that it offends the eye and I would correct the alignment in the way described.

 

[Asomodai]

It is clear that the pilot hole for the lower ZPS catch frame retaining screw has been drilled further back than than the upper one, this is easily fixed by plugging that hole and redrilling the pilot hole in the correct position, however it does not affect the function since the frames and trem block still catch the bar correctly so the system will work properly.

I agree that it offends the eye and I would correct the alignment in the way described.

Do you not see how the bar and the trem block itself is not aligned though? Redrilling for the plastic frame wont correct the uneven alignment.

 

[sepulchrave]

Do you not see how the bar and the trem block itself is not aligned though? Redrilling for the plastic frame wont correct the uneven alignment.

If you move that lower catch frame towards the neck slightly then only that end of the ZPS bar will move forwards, thereby correcting the misalignment. How can it not?

 

[Asomodai]

If you move that lower catch frame towards the neck slightly then only that end of the ZPS bar will move forwards, thereby correcting the misalignment. How can it not?

You mean the black frame part? Its bolted onto the plate below it. which is attached to the rest of the trem unit. I cant really redrill the plate. I am not sure I understand where you are coming from

 

[sepulchrave]

You mean the black frame part? Its bolted onto the plate below it. which is attached to the rest of the trem unit. I cant really redrill the plate. I am not sure I understand where you are coming from

When the frame was installed at the factory it was misaligned because the lower pilot hole for the woodscrew was drilled in the wrong place but it was installed anyway.

If you remove that lower woodscrew, plug the hole and re-align the frame correctly before refitting the screw it will fix it.

 

[Asomodai]

When the frame was installed at the factory it was misaligned because the lower pilot hole for the woodscrew was drilled in the wrong place but it was installed anyway.

If you remove that lower woodscrew, plug the hole and re-align the frame correctly before refitting the screw it will fix it.

That would straighten the plastic frame out, but it wouldn't force a parallel alignment between the trem block and the ZPS bar. Otherwise It would already have done that. I believe either the pins that go into the trem plate from the plastic are misaligned, or the whole plate is misaligned.

Sorry if I am wrong!

 

[sepulchrave]

That would straighten the plastic frame out, but it wouldn't force a parallel alignment between the trem block and the ZPS bar. Otherwise It would already have done that. I believe either the pins that go into the trem plate from the plastic are misaligned, or the whole plate is misaligned.

Sorry if I am wrong!

You're not wrong, I'm obviously not explaining it properly.

The only thing preventing the ZPS bar sitting straight is the misalignment of the two black plastic catch brackets, the lower bracket in your picture is sitting noticeably further back than the upper bracket, the only two fixings holding that bracket are the countersunk screw fixing it to the metal plate which you can see protruding from the front of the bracket and the woodscrew through the tab at the back, it is that woodscrew which is incorrectly positioned and by tightening it into place the bracket has been distorted pulling the ZPS bar further back and causing the misalignment.

Simply remove that woodscrew to see if the bracket can move into the correct position.

 

[Asomodai]

You're not wrong, I'm obviously not explaining it properly.

The only thing preventing the ZPS bar sitting straight is the misalignment of the two black plastic catch brackets, the lower bracket in your picture is sitting noticeably further back than the upper bracket, the only two fixings holding that bracket are the countersunk screw fixing it to the metal plate which you can see protruding from the front of the bracket and the woodscrew through the tab at the back, it is that woodscrew which is incorrectly positioned and by tightening it into place the bracket has been distorted pulling the ZPS bar further back and causing the misalignment.

Simply remove that woodscrew to see if the bracket can move into the correct position.

I am afraid it makes no difference. It is still in the crooked position, there is no wiggle room in the wood screw route, I could widen that route to let the plastic go straight, but it wont fix the problem. I believe it is the counter sunk screws that are misaligned. That or the plate is crooked.

 

[sepulchrave]

I am afraid it makes no difference. It is still in the crooked position, there is no wiggle room in the wood screw route, I could widen that route to let the plastic go straight, but it wont fix the problem. I believe it is the counter sunk screws that are misaligned. That or the plate is crooked.

It is possible that the countersunk screw has been bent, they are very soft, perhaps the unit was dropped prior to installation and it wasn't noticed.

I guess you'll have to release all the springs and unscrew the entire plate complete with the brackets to inspect it.

Something ain't right.

 

[Asomodai]

It is possible that the countersunk screw has been bent, they are very soft, perhaps the unit was dropped prior to installation and it wasn't noticed.

I guess you'll have to release all the springs and unscrew the entire plate complete with the brackets to inspect it.

Something ain't right.

I took the lot apart. However I couldn't unscrew that particular countersunk screw. Even with the correct screwdriver it wouldn't budge and started stripping the screw head. I reckon the screw must be bent as there is a slight gap between the plastic and metal which doesn't exist on the other side of the plate. Without a new plate I think this is going to be the way it is.

So the question is, do I live with it or return the guitar? :/

 

[sepulchrave]

I took the lot apart. However I couldn't unscrew that particular countersunk screw. Even with the correct screwdriver it wouldn't budge and started stripping the screw head. I reckon the screw must be bent as there is a slight gap between the plastic and metal which doesn't exist on the other side of the plate. Without a new plate I think this is going to be the way it is.

So the question is, do I live with it or return the guitar? :/

That's a question only you can answer, if the guitar is brand new then it has a fault covered by the Ibanez warranty, if not then it doesn't.