Seeking Pro Setup of my Ibanez AF 105F in Dayton Ohio Area

**BillyBenBilly** · 10-13-2012, 07:14 PM

I purchased a used Ibanez AF 105F about 6 weeks ago and I love it and feel that I will keep it for a long time. I love the way it looks and sounds. However, the set-up is not so great. I've adjusted the bridge as low as it can go without string buzz but the strings are still pretty high. I think it needs a professional set-up and would like a recommendation for a guitar tech who will do a good job. Can anybody help me out? What would a reasonable charge be on this type of thing?

**monkmiles** · 10-13-2012, 09:13 PM

A good setup might run you anywhere around $40-$50 I'm guessing and doesn't typically take long. But I don't know your area to recommend anyone or any place. It probably just needs a truss rod adjustment.

**tedium** · 10-13-2012, 10:08 PM

One thing to be aware of with you ibanez is the neck. I just got my af125 set and had the nut replaced with a bone one and my tech said it had a bit of a kick
In the neck and he could only lower it to a certain point before it rattled. Might have something to do with the construction or maybe it was just one with a not so perfect neck. Just letting you know something to look out for.

**BillyBenBilly** · 10-13-2012, 11:18 PM

Thanks Tedium. Was the bone nut a significant upgrade in the way the guitar sounds?

**tedium** · 10-13-2012, 11:58 PM

Hard to tell really because I changed string gauge and went to a wooden bridge but I prefer the sound of bone and graphite over plastic and it does affect the tone. Another thing I did was replace and rewire the electrics that's another thing I always do , the pots and caps. That also will change your tone and for the better I feel. I think if you get a nice setup and change a few bits of hardware the cheaper ibanez hollows sound can sound pretty nice.

**Jabberwocky** · 10-14-2012, 05:04 AM

Originally Posted by tedium

Hard to tell really because I changed string gauge and went to a wooden bridge but I prefer the sound of bone and graphite over plastic and it does affect the tone. Another thing I did was replace and rewire the electrics that's another thing I always do , the pots and caps. That also will change your tone and for the better I feel. I think if you get a nice setup and change a few bits of hardware the cheaper ibanez hollows sound can sound pretty nice.

I agree with tedium. I have an Ibanez AF105NT with the twin humbuckers. If you're going to have a tech set it up, you may as well go the whole nine yards and have a bone nut installed. The metal TOM saddle is no good and heavy; I'll toss it out. The wooden saddle is great though. Have your tech fit the bridge base to the top.

Decide on whether you are going to use the bridge pickup or not. If not, I'd replace the neck pup with something boutique (Gibson Classic 57) and have it wired directly to the tone and volume pots. I'll change the stock pots too. Keep the Ibanez wiring harness and original pups for when you decide to sell it.

As for string action, I don't know what is "too high". If you're coming from playing planks or semis, my opinion is that archtop string action is set higher to drive the top. The string gauge is usually higher. Most players use at least the 0.011 set. It won't feel like a Telecaster/Stratocaster/LesPaul/DuoJet (my favorite planks). You just have to get used to slightly higher action.

Since you say that you're going to keep it a long time, it merits good parts and pups.

Bone or Tusq nuts are great. I use my Ibanez AF105NT as a test platform for pups and stuff. But mostly, I enjoy playing it and working out pieces. It is my first archtop (before I went whole hog crazy).

P.S. Oh yeah, I removed the bridge pup and now there is a mounting ring and a "sound port" where the pup used to be.

**BillyBenBilly** · 10-16-2012, 09:02 PM

Thanks everyone for your help!

**tedium** · 10-17-2012, 01:18 AM

No problems , let us know how you go, I'd be interested in what you think after you get it setup.

**0zoro** · 10-17-2012, 07:43 AM

Doesnt Dan Erlewine live and work in you town? He does alot of work with developing and marketing Stu Mac products. Ive seen a vid with him and I am sure his shop was in Dayton. He has also done a great book and vid, "how to make your electric guitar play great" or something similar. Best regards 0zoro

**BillyBenBilly** · 10-18-2012, 10:28 PM

I believe Dan's shop is in Athens Ohio, home of Ohio University. I'm actually about 2 hours or so from Athens. Not a bad idea. I should give them a call and take the Ibanez out there. Athen's is a really cool college town!

**BillyBenBilly** · 10-18-2012, 11:23 PM

So how did it turn out? What were the improvements that accompanied the chaged nut and set up?

**tedium** · 10-18-2012, 11:48 PM

I wanted to get it properly setup and I had a few issues getting the stings lower and I also wanted to change string gauge. I think the nut made a big improvement I Like the sound of bone well worth changing, i'm going to put a Bareknucles P90 in theis week end.
As it turned out the neck had a kick in it and the tech got it as best as he could . It plays alot better now.

**tedium** · 10-19-2012, 02:54 AM

Just to add a bit more there is a lot of debate about the material of theNut but I think you get a much better tone from bone or Tusq nut compare toplastic.

The material is a lot denser which allows better tone transfer. The way Isee it is a vast majority of top high end guitars use bone or somethingsimilar, cheap guitars use plastic, also if you are changing string gauge it isbest to get the whole guitar set up right , especially if you’re not confidentin doing it yourself. If you get the setup right it will improve the guitarstone , playability and get the best out of the guitar. To be honest you cantake quite alot of the cheaper guitars and spend a little money swapping outpickups and electrics and then get it setup right and you have one very good guitar.

**tedium** · 10-19-2012, 02:56 AM

Also a non plastic nut will improve sustain and clarity.

**PTChristopher** · 10-19-2012, 06:52 AM

I suppose we all understand that Tusq is a synthetic, what some would call a plastic. It is marketed to be a synthetic ivory substitute. Ivory nut blanks have been out of fashion and availability (for good reasons) since the late 70's.

For an acoustic saddle, many notice a reasonably significant difference between styrene (or other "plastic"), Tusq (a synthetic), and bone (harder than styrene or Tusq by quite a bit).

For a nut, the main difference is wear. "Tone" is only affected (and only slightly affected) on open string notes.

Likewise, sustain is only affected on open strings, and again, only to a small extent and only in some cases.

The density of Tusq vs. styrene (or other plastics) is really not a practical issue on a guitar nut.

Making a nut from Tusq is somewhat easier than making one from bone. Tusq cuts easily and has the uniform density of an engineered material. Bone is considerably harder and can vary considerably in density.

It is somewhat rare to find a guitar with nut slots that are really well cut (width, shape, angle, rear exit profile) and not too high.

All in my opinion.

Chris

**tedium** · 10-19-2012, 08:40 AM

Yeah your right to a point . I honestly think that my bone nut is better to my ear. So as long as you don't play open strings you should've fine. The tusq is no plastic , well it's not the same as the cheap plastic nuts they put on the ibanez also the art ores if I recall correctly are set for a 10's meaning the if you go to 12's like I did the slots aren't correct. I feel when doing a correct setup with a different gauge string from what the factory set you should look at the nut and if it requires adjust just change it .

**tedium** · 10-19-2012, 08:56 AM

Tusq is great as well not against tusq at all

**SamBooka** · 10-19-2012, 10:29 AM

PT.. how about a PLEK machine for NUTS?

**PTChristopher** · 10-19-2012, 11:09 AM

I have not seen one do it, but the Plek system can do nuts. I have not spoken to them in maybe 18 or 24 months, but they do offer hardware and control for cutting nut slots.

This may only be available on their production (targeted toward factories) system; I am not sure.

Chris

**MikeConner** · 10-19-2012, 11:25 AM

One consideration in making a new nut is the string spacing. IMO, the Ibanez factory setup using the plastic nut is just the bare minimum (as I usually expect from a factory), but the string-to-string spacing is not to my liking. This is a nominal 1-11/16" nut width, and the 1st and 6th strings are set in from the fretboard edge by more than necessary (0.130"), and this also results in a very tight string-to-string spacing (0.23").

A new nut allows this to be adjusted and the string slots can be tuned for smoother operation and optimal height. I used 0.090" inset from the edges and got a 0.260" string to string spacing.