The Ibanez Hard Rocker

The string goes through under the bridge, sort of like a wrap around bridge. The base plate has a wall on each side to prevent the saddle side to side movement. The knife edge is a inserted round hardened rod. The chrome plated is thick to endure years of sweat. The Ibanez Hard Rocker has quiet a unique and practical design ahead its time. Quiet a piece engineering effort shown by Japanese here. Thumbs up.

Thank you
yustech

Ibanez Roadstar II RS405

I just went through my files of repair folders, came across this. I don't think I've posted this work. This one was a job back in 2015. I'll try to remember a much details about this guitar work.

Firstly the guitar was re-fretted by someone else. I can't remember who. The owner was indeed pissed about the result he got. A lot dripped super glue all over the fingerboard. I couldn't throw in any feedback about the work during his guitar talk instead I just spoke with my ears most of the time. Its obvious there will be a tall order for the next tech(me) to deliver.

After he was done with the bantering, I put forth a few questions pertaining this Ibanez to do work. Common questions like his playing style, what does he want done,his other guitars at home etc

He told me he has an Ibanez S540 series at home but this RS405 didn't play well like his S (no puns intended). I suspected the huge difference is at the fingerboard aside from the obvious  pickups and tremolo configuration.

 After he understood about fingerboard radii and how it can affect playing style, I suggest widening the RS405 default 7.25" to 16" fingerboard radii. Lengthy leap this one would be. I never attempted this before. Despite my promise, I foresee future failure on my end. Hehe

I started with 12" sanding beam and not long after a couple of dot inlays had came off at the higher register. I consulted the client again and taking into account the thin rosewood slab so the max it can go is 12". I told him this would still be better than the dreaded 7.25". He understood the situation and agreed to settle at 12" radii.

Then comes the dot inlay work. I must confess I never done such work before. Thanks to youtube and forums, I managed to get some info about polymer clay and a new tool (oven).

The clay colour wasn't white enough to match the stock inlays. Its just have to do to at best cover my mistake. The owner was told about this and thumbs up for being a good sport. He told me I wont learn anything until I try it. Thanks again bro. Yes I agree. I need more customer like you to progress. He he

The rest of the work are general cleaning and setup. The stock(I think) pots are still in working condition. New Poly cap and Switchcraft output jack soldered. I forgot to ask the client what was the default colour. I do not know whether this is stock or sprayed over. I will do a separate post of the Ibanez Hard Rocker. Good toremolo I must say.

Unskillful tech
yustech

The Jackson JT6. A letter to Jackson guitars.

I know I'm seen beating the double locking horse to death but the top picture depict the JT6 double locking tremolo by Jackson Guitars. Before all of you go on google hunt, just read what I've written here first.

  From the ads it was probably launch in 1987 and manufactured under licence in Taiwan. The JT6 has its fine tuning knurled screw place underneath enclosing around each insert locking screw. This is smart and palm mute welcoming. Thumbs up.

All this long talk of mine could be seen just academic and far off reality. Why not we pick a user testimonial. Let’s ask this writer what he think about his Jackson JT6

Dear Jackson Guitars,

Hi, my name is Yus, In 2000 I bought a Jackson PS2. The PS2 comes with the JT500 tremolo. The default tremolo work fine as it supposed to. Few month after someone try to sell me a decade old looking used Jackson JT6 tremolo for cheap. Only the bridge outfit with some missing nuts under it. I didn’t know anything about this tremolo. The only pictorial reference I have was from the back pages of a book “Electric Guitar Setups” by Hideo Kamimoto. 

Anyway I bought the bridge. Three reasons. Obviously it’s a Jackson for any my Jackson, it’s beefy in appearance and those odd fine tuners placement. I replace the missing screws/nuts, some washer added and modded in a Schaller arm assembly.

My Korean made Performer Series 2 works fantastic and never once fail me since, as a matter of fact from 2000 to 2010 my PS2/JT6 gets whack daily for classes, product demo and personal practising. My PS2/JT6 even got played/whacked by my students and walk in customers 6 days a week for 10 straight years. I managed to sell a few guitars in the shop too. Jackson Guitars of course.

I stop playing my PS2/JT6 in 2010 because the frets had worn out. After I put up my own guitar repair shop and picked up re fretting skill in 2011 my Jackson was back in service to this day. I notice some area on the top plate has de form a bit. Well, after 17 years of joyful hard palm muting, you think? He he. For sure something got to give. I sincerely have no complain about this as it’s inevitable.

I know now the top is not steel but at least quality brass/copper/zinc. However the knife edge, saddles, inserts and locking threads in the JT6 are still in great condition. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Currently in my 40's, I’m taking it easy with my playing style and the JT6. I had sold the Schaller trem arm to one of my customers. No more dive bomb or hard palm mute metal. Just oldies from Nirvana, Bob Marley with a grain of distortion none the less. I am for the most part grateful to have this JT6 in my 20's during my aggressive years as a guitar salesman, guitar tutor and metal player wannabe. I hope you find some of the above information useful for future reference. Before I end this letter I would like to give another thumbs up (left hand) and thank you Jackson guitars.

Together in letter/entry are few pictures of my dependable JT6.

Regards

Yus

Petaling Jaya.Malaysia

So Jackson, hows that for a testimonial? From a real trem abuser. How about bringing back JT6 in place of the dreaded Floyd Rose Special? Let that guy in North Hollywood CA have all the troubling FRS crates. I think we all know who. 

We hope to see the return of the JT6 as early as summer NAMM 2018 or the latest by 2019 January NAMM Show. We believe the JT6 bridge unique design will be a proprietary advantage over the mediocre. Furthermore this is not some untested piece of metal.

The JT6 could be your new gem stone redeeming its past lost battles and obstacles. I’m sure most Jackson lower to mid tier owner would feel proud to have it. Never mind about your past great sounding pickups and the JE1000 series mid boost electronics. I can understood the big dabble those would be to return. For me Jackson JT6 in any Jackson guitars is a true Jackson product beyond reasonable doubt.

Provided that someone from the previous/current management did not sell the JT6 design rights to Black Cherry, you know, the maker of Hollow Points? At a glance, both does look similarly placed with only one design difference. Jackson should take a look at those old records just in case.

Okay, now  you can google it.

The double locking tremolo two points

The previous Floyd Rose Special post has attracted me to the two spot at the double locking system. I never gave it any thought before until I looked at several trem design in the net.

These two points are very important as they get abuse the most aside from the tremolo profile, proper weight distribution, ergonomic use and setup.

Currently there's two contact style I dug from the net.

They are

1. Discrete metal style.

I supposed a couple of hardened and annealed steel/titanium bits/billets are impregnated/inserted/pressed into the base plate. Another type of Brass/Zinc/whatever soft metal is use for the base plate to retain the historical correct tone.

2. One metal do all style

The whole base plate might receive a hardening and annealing process or just the 2 fulcrum point partially hardened.

Personal experience. I can say I have seen both style from a couple of brand surpassing 15 years of good service. However I have 

some questions about the Discrete metal style

Should the blade edge broke then a replacement set is available? Yes/No?

If no then will the base plate available for replacement instead? yes/no?

The detachable screw on knife edge on Hantug trem gave assumption that replacement are available? Yes/No?

Is the metal treatment technology still lacking that this is still considered the best way? Yes/No?

some questions about One metal do all.

Is it possible to hardened soft metal e.g.brass,brass etc to be as strong as hardened steel? Yes/No?

Will it last more than 15 years too? Yes/No?

The Floyd Rose Titanium was launch 7 years ago but I noticed the Titanium base plate is already available for sale to the public.

Is Titanium so strong yet brittle in  nature? Will those knife edges deform within 5 years or under 10 years of service? Yes/No

I didn't see Floyd Special base plate available. I'm guessing its stronger than Titanium? Yes/No?

Has metal treatment technology advanced that this is considered the best way? Yes/No?

Thank you

yustech