[John01W]

Pics of my new RGA

Hello folks. Just wanted to add these beautiful pics of my new RGA121VLF. I think I got lucky on this one as far as how it looks, the maple top's grain is very nice.. Overall this guitar rocks, but I'm having some problems.

First off here's the link(be sure to click full size to get best view):

http://community.webshots.com/album/400791275hKeApp

Ok notice on the pic named "1", the angle of the neck to body, is this normal for these guitars(seems to be at an angle if you will notice)? I'm having really bad problems keeping this guy in tune at all. I stretched the strings, tightened the screwed on the tuning keys... this guitar will NOT stay in tune(I do stretch my strings properly). It sounds so wonderful, but it's not set up either since the factory... It feels sort of tight, will not stay in tune...

During tuning and bends, I do get the ping on the nut sound like the strings are catching on the nut. Nut lubrication(ok no pun intended guys) is a big part of the problem I think.. Could someone help me out please....

Thanks so much.

 

[SidewinderINC]

well, the neck on my RG is a little like that, but not that much. so i wouldnt be too worried about that.

i'm afraid i cant help you with the other problems

awesome guitar though, i do prefer the blue flamed finish though

 

[John01W]

well, the neck on my RG is a little like that, but not that much. so i wouldnt be too worried about that.

i'm afraid i cant help you with the other problems

awesome guitar though, i do prefer the blue flamed finish though

Thanks so much, those pics don't do it justice lol... I'm taking better ones... I gotta figure out how to use that digital camera better(you figure if I could steer my guitar rack I could work a camera better LOL). I actually liked the VLF one better, but I have a sweet spot for those types of finishes hehe(didn't like the dimarzios either, I would have ended up changing them).

I left the "1" pic... which shows the neck angle.

Does that mean that the neck is shimmed or something? I know the RGA has a different arched top so who knows...

I'm off to try some better pics for you guys... Rich over at Ibanez rules was super kind enough to offer me the advice of tightening everything up, but I'm no tech...

I will say the neck angle is has seriously too much bow and the bridge set low at the same time.

 

[fettouhi]

Sweet .

Regards

André

 

[ed]

"Ok notice on the pic named "1", the angle of the neck to body, is this normal for these guitars(seems to be at an angle if you will notice)?"

That is actually normal for arch-top guitars. The reason for the angle is so you can have
a playable action. You wouldn´t get the bridge low enough if the neck wouldn´t be angled.

 

[Flobanez]

Nice.

 

[sniperfrommars1]

IF it does have a shim it may be slipping or something along those lines. You really having tuning stability problems on a fixed bridge like that? You said the neck is way overbowed? Possible that the trussrod is at full releif this would make hte neck just move back and forth at will. I havent dealt with these new guitars im sure they have somewhat of a natural angle.

 

[darren wilson]

Are you winding your strings carefully around the tuners? (Just in case it's something you've overlooked.) How the strings are wrapped doesn't matter so much on guitars with a locking nut, but if you've got a hardtail or just a guitar with a standard nut, you need to wind your strings very carefully around the tuner posts so you get no overlap. This will minimize slippage at the tuner posts.

I also try to wind as little string on the post as i can. On the five highest strings, i start with one wrap above the hole in the post and then i like two or three wraps below, which pinches the loose end where it comes through the post.

 

[Drew]

Yeah, that neck angle is fine - I actually shim up my non-arched top guitars a little bit - say, 50% of that - just to give the trem a little more play and to allow for more trem height adjustment.

For nut lubrication.... do you get these "pings" coupled with a rapid change in pitch? If so, try "drawing" in the nut slot with a good graphite pencil. Should do the trick... if not, have a good tech reshape the nut grooves for you.

Darren's advice is spot-on, too - it could very well be the strings shifting on the tuning pegs.

-D

 

[John01W]

OK folks, good news. I took the guitar in to have it looked at at the store I got it at(great store with a very good tech), and the nut was just wasn't set up.... He had it for little more that an hour... he adjusted the neck of course, but special attention MUST be made to the stock nut.... the setup he did on the nut TOTALLY changed the feel of the whole guitar...

It now plays slinkier than ANY floyd, edge I've ever played.... stays it tune... with the stability of the fixed bridge(love this bridge)

He said the neck angle was perfect..... he said.... There was the flamed top blue model there, that I had to compare it to.. and IMO after his setup it wasted it(probably wasn't set up, it was awesome,my teck took care of it great)... I think the non-gloss ones may even sound more alive... or maybe it's just this guitar....

I know that my dealer has had long relationship with Ibanez(they got one of the 24 made RGspecial1s(the black and white swirl proto), a guy bought it just as I was picking my baby up(that prototype rg was killer looking).

There were a couple of bumps on the back of the neck that he said he actually got them off with the truss rod cover lol... can't tell they were ever even there...

This guitar sounds HUGE, and plays better than any of my floyds(still love my edge loaded rgs hehe)

I'm so happy, I think I got pretty lucky with the quality of the top too...

This guitar smokes.... sorry folks to gush... I'm so happy... I got it down to action low it's like playing air, and the bends are really slinky and so much better on the fixed I'm in heaven lol.

If you get one of the RGAs make damn sure you get the nut set up right, if you don't it won't stay in tune and play like a dog... This guitar is awesome..

Thanks for the tips guys, I did get that ping and change in pitch before(after the setup it's 99% better) He informed me that the nut was already graphite on the RGAs which shouldn't need much lubrication if any... but I think I may try a dab of nut sauce(no pun intended)... I so much appreciate your responses(I love this place!!!,, ok I'm a newbie member here, but you guys stilll lended a hand, thanks fellas)