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The replacement may be OK - you just can't tell until they start to show the cracks. My advice would be to fit the replacement, but keep a careful watch on it. Only if it develops cracks should you take alternative action.
Originally Posted by rodolfoguitarra
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08-26-2014 12:09 PM
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After thinking a lot, I decided to put the metal tailpiece....it sounds a little brighter, which is better in my opinion...I had to fill the 5 old screws holes with wood putty and make 3 new holes. After all, we can only see one hole, because the tailpiece covers the others (it was one of the things that I did not want)
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AF151 with replacement pickguard and tailpiece.
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I'm having the same problem with an Ibanez AFJ957 seven string. I wrote to Ibanez and unfortunately the best they could do was supply a replacement tailpiece of the same type. (which developed the same problem) I'm currently using .012 chrome flats with a .077 seventh string but most Ibanez Jazz archtops come with .011's. Apparently their tailpiece design can't handle the tension of heavier sets which is a shame because these are jazz guitars.
Finding a replacement tailpiece for the 7 string is even harder because I can't use an off-the-shelf 6 string trapeze, and finding a 7 string trapeze is next to impossible.
Last edited by SJB; 09-12-2014 at 04:54 PM.
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The transformation of my AFJ91 is now complete. Being forced to replace the tailpiece by the metal fatigue problem, I also swapped the pickguard for an ebony one, plus new ebony knobs.
It sounds different too - whilst I had my tools out I swapped the pickup - as I was born in'57 which makes me now .....er....57....it had to be a Gibson '57 Classic.
The main difference seems to be in terms of output rather than tone. I have had to drop the 57 a couple of mm below what the Super 58 Custom was set at, just to avoid feedback, even at very low apartment friendly levels.Last edited by newsense; 09-23-2014 at 03:21 AM.
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It looks like Ibanez (Hoshino) did not anticipate that someone would use .13s (mediums) on that archtop. The entire guitar world has moved to skinny strings in the last 50 years. Too bad--there is a lot of tone in those medium and heavy sets.
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Aren't those flanges above the top (through which the pin is inserted) supposed to be in line with the entire metal piece? They shouldn't be bent towards the direction of the nut. This "pull" is why the cracks appeared. There is insufficient metal to handle the load. The unit should be thicker, IMO.
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The metal thickness would be OK if the design were better.
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[/QUOTE] Originally Posted by Greentone
Aren't those flanges above the top (through which the pin is inserted) supposed to be in line with the entire metal piece? They shouldn't be bent towards the direction of the nut. This "pull" is why the cracks appeared. There is insufficient metal to handle the load. The unit should be thicker, IMO.
as I told earlier in this thread, this TP isn't designed very well. There is no porblem with the material itself, if ask me.
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Sorry to revive this old thread, but I have good news. Ibanez will send you an improved replacement tailpiece for free. I just got mine. They admit it was a poor casting, and they have redesigned it. They sent me a new one even though I am way past the warranty period.
I discovered this by trying to use the parts store to order a replacement: Ibanez parts catalog
I found the part, but could see no way to place an order. So I emailed [email protected] asking how to place the order, since mine was breaking. I got a response saying there was a manufacturing issue and they would send me a new one under extended warranty. I just needed to mail them a photo of the serial number and a photo of the breaking tailpiece. They sent it out the next day from PA via FedEx. Part # 2TP12A0020.
It was easy to install--same hole spacing. It does look slightly different. Here are some photos.
In these photos, old is on the left, new on the right. The old one has a bevel at the bottom, the new one doesn't. The old one has sharper edges, the new one has rounder edges. The metal part on the new one looks like better metal, and has more of a bend in it near the hinge (to wrap over the edge of the body).
I think you could probably attach the old wooden cover to the new metal arm if you wanted to.
These two photos show the new tailpiece installed.
Last edited by Greg Holmberg; 04-25-2017 at 09:16 PM.
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Thank you very much for this information. I sent an email to the address you mentioned. Since my tailpiece was breaking back in 2014, I replaced it with a generic one because I couldn't find a wooden one with the same measures.
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Greg,
Thanks for the great info. I just sent Ibanez an email with the required photos; their reply was very quick, and it will be shipped free of charge within the next couple of days. I really appreciate your info., because I thought I was stuck with a faulty tailpiece.
Chuck
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This is the fourth tailpiece on this guitar, including the original. Two have broken and one I just didn't like. I like this one, and it appears strong. Ordered from ALLPARTS Music Corp.
Last edited by zigzag; 09-29-2017 at 12:34 AM.
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Really good that Ibz acknowledged the manufacturing fault (eventually)
But I wonder if the chap with the 7 string
will get a redesignef replacement too ?
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I own one of these fine guitars, too.
Similarly, the tailpiece simply broke in half, and I recognized that the metal underpiece was some cheap material that had no business on this guitar. So, I replaced it with a trapeze type tailpiece and changed the pickguard with a black one. Also, I had the pickup re-wound to enhance the sound. All-in-all, I am very pleased with the outcome of all this.
Ibanez should have known how this would play out and used better materials. Given the price of the instrument and being aware that corners had to be cut to keep it low, I am happy to make the upgrades myself.
Great design and marketing alone do not enhance the company image of one of the leaders in the field of reasonably priced guitars. The instruments need to be reliable through and through.
Ron V.
CCT USA
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