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The bridge on my Ibanez Artcore is of poor quality. I suspect it causes a slight rattle I'm hearing in some spots and I'm tempted to change it. That's one thing Ibanez could improve in the otherwise good-value Artcore line IMO, the same cheap parts are found up on models around the $1000 mark. I've narrowed my choices down to Gotoh or Faber. I'm tempted to go with a Faber set because of the great quality and the fact the saddles are slotted deeper than on the Gotoh and I don't want to touch any filing work myself. A full set of bridge + hardtail is worth a good chunk of the cost of the guitar itself. I'd appreciate any feedback from people who have done such mods. Are the improvements really worth it?
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07-19-2016 09:46 AM
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I'd say that depends on how long you plan on keeping the guitar and how much you're going to play it. A Gotoh bridge is pretty inexpensive at < $30 and you could have a tech file the slots probably for a lot less than the Faber would cost.
One typically doesn't get a return on investment for upgrading an inexpensive instrument but if you don't spend a lot on upgrades and keep the guitar for years because you like the way it plays and sounds then maybe that's OK for you.
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IMO, upgrading hardware (bridge, nut, tuners etc.) may result in a small improvement in sound and/or playability. However, I believe that upgrading the electronics (pickups, pots, caps) will result in a huge improvement in every aspect of the instruments performance.
I have pasted my comments from another thread on my recent maintenance pass on my '97 Epi Sheraton below.
Got my '97 Epi Sheraton II back yesterday and I am thrilled with the results of the maintenance. My guitar tech completely rewired the guitar added brand new 500k Pots and .47 mfd Caps, installed a Switchcraft p/u selector switch, and setup the instrument.
The biggest part of the repair was the installation of a new pair of StewMac Parson Street Alnico II humbuckers. These new pickups (in conjunction with the other upgraded parts) have completely changed the character of the instrument. It now sounds more "semi-hollow" than "hollow" with a bit more "bite" on the neck pickup and more "spank" and/or "Pop" with both p/u's switched on. As I've mentioned in the past, I have never played the bridge position alone, but the instrument now has a much more diverse and versatile sound than before. I've even played the bridge p/u by itself and enjoyed the resulting tone. The Parson Streets are very well defined and detailed in their response characteristics with excellent string-to-string balance and overall, a highly musical tone, closer to Charlie Christian than Jim Hall or Joe Pass. IMO, they represent an excellent and cost effective upgrade from the Epi Classic 57's that I've been playing for the last 20 years.
I have often praised the work of my guitar tech and in this instance, I think he really did an outstanding job on Sherry. I am very pleased with how she turned out and today is like a NGD or NOGD (New Old Guitar Day) for me.
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Change the bridge, keep the old one, when it's time to sell swap back to the original one!
The right tweaks and improvements on any guitar to improve its play-ability or sound is worth it.Last edited by jazzbow; 07-20-2016 at 02:48 AM.
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How much is worth for playing an instrument you're happy with?
Originally Posted by m_d
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Thanks for the replies. I was seeking confirmation because of the hyperbole of some of the comments I read about such changes e.g. "my guitar now rings twice as loud", "night and day difference" and the like.
I have no compelling reason to sell the guitar, except to change for a larger AS model, instead of the smaller-size AM I have. Even in that case, I can always reuse the new parts, as the same junk parts appear even on the AS153. So I'll probably make the swap.
That's some pretty extensive upgrades you made - for a totally unique and personal guitar. Whether or not I replace my AM with an AS model, and later on end up purchasing another, more upscale ES type guitar, I'll keep one of those great little Ibanezes around, and it will end up the same way as your Epi. Originally Posted by jazz.fred
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Perhaps look for a vintage MIJ Ibanez, Epi or other instrument which was better made. The newer lower to mid range Ibanez are not all that impressive in my opinion and experience. I'd sell the Ibanez and look for a better "frame" to work with and build on that rather than upgrades to a guitar that was not all that great to begin with.
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Worth it. An Ibanez Artcore has metric dimensions. You can always put the original parts back on when you sell it.
You also want to consider Tonepros, Pigtail, Graphtech Resomax, ABM Müller, Callaham.Last edited by Jabberwocky; 07-20-2016 at 05:36 AM.
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Worth it. A cheap fix, and it could well make the guitar play up to your expectations. As a general question ... I'm with Jazz.Fred. It's in the electronics that you can often get the most striking positive changes with cheaper instruments. I would add to that, doing any upgrades necessary (better nut for example) to do a proper setup.
One exception here is traditional teles. I've swapped any number of tele bridges and saddles. On cheap and not cheap teles alike. Sometimes - not always - improvements can be dramatic. Depending of course on what sounds you're looking for.
MD
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I'd say, if one regards a guitar as a working machine, a little hardware swap and a good setup can produce an instrument that in the context of a band sounds as good and plays as well as the boutique instruments we all love. All the tiny nuances that we obsess about at home or on recordings are gone once the band is cooking.
Here is a point in case: my first jazz guitar, an Epiphone Joe Pass. It is a lovely design, in principle. The pickups and electronic were poor and I swapped them against some good PAF's. I also had a bone nut installed, changed the tuners against Schaller locking minis (not in the picture) and had it set up professionally. Voila, the guitar plays great and sounds great. If I had a gig with a busy stage and a beer drinking, dancing crowd around, this is the one I would bring (in fact I do - the cover rock band I am playing with has a few jazzier tunes for which I use just this guitar).
However, if one wants to take a cheap guitar and turn into "almost" a boutique guitar the result will in all likelihood be disappointing and sooner or later one will buy the real thing to scratch the itch.
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That was my experience, I got my real deal and it stays 100% stock! Originally Posted by FrankLearns
The biggest gain I had in swapping and tinkering my cheapos, was the fact I now know how to route a top, swap pups hardware and electronics in semis and acoustics, play with the trussrod and that was worth the fun.
I already sold an upgraded Sheraton II I could not bound with the neck and now the single pup routed CC Regent and the Joe Pass will also be for sale. I already accepted the fact I won't recoup any money invested.
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Often hardware and set-up is where corners are cut to save on cost. Every instrument seems to need a pro set-up to get it to my liking and I always change parts on the instrument to make it work better for me. That is true whether I spend $500 or $5,000 on a guitar. So yes, totally worth it in my opinion.
The only time I don't make changes to an instrument is when I know in my soul that it is not a "keeper." Once I realize that, I sell it there and then.
Sounds like you really like this guitar. Commit to it and make whatever changes you feel it needs to bring out the best in you as a player. Even if you buy something else down the road, this one will become an old friend that you enjoy playing from time to time!
Make it yours!
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Originally Posted by FrankLearns
Yes !
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Not worth ! Still cheap guitar ! with new Hardward
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I do find myself regretting having put Lollar Imperials in my Ibanez Artcore AM93. I never play it, truth be told, since it feels like a cheap guitar and even sounds kinda cheap---even with the Lollars. Initially I was impressed enough with it however so that my curiosity was piqued about the Artstar series. So I bought an AS153 and installed a pair of Seth Lovers. No regrets!
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Most cheapies can call out for an upgrade, or two, or three, or four.
The chase can become pretty obsessive.
Sometimes a minor nuisance can be fixed on the cheap. My Epiphone ES 175 Premium had a bad tuner -- I changed them out and it was cheap, easy & excellent results.
On the other hand, I've chased around trying to find the perfect humbucker sound in a couple of Ibanez that was a total waste of time. And, all those $$ don't much increase the value of the guitar.
Also, changing a modded guitar back to "stock" is a thankless project.
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Another factor is whether the guitar is acceptable in all other respects. If a new bridge will make it right, do it.
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Interesting you should say that, I did not think there was such a big difference on paper between the Artstar and Artcore series except more bling. All things considered my main issue with my AM93 I think is the size as I'm quite tall. I wanted to go for an As153 but was put off by the cheap hardware, and figured I might as well pick an As93 and use the $300 difference for upgrades and for a luthier to do a nice fret job. But now you say the As153 definitely IS better... Originally Posted by jbucklin
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'When you release expectations, you are free to enjoy things for what they are instead of what you think they should be'.
(Mandy Hale)
Yeah, compare an Guild Artist Award (GAA) to my humble Epi Emp Regent (EER) and there is a vast difference. You cannot deny the quality of the GAA.
But I close my eyes as I dig into the EER on a hot summers night and rip out an arpeggio or two over a pre-recorded chord progression and I'm gone....
Would the GAA get me there any sooner?
'Expectation is the root of all heartache'.
(William Shakespeare)
I recently went on a Telecaster hunt. Visit as many city centre music shops to try as many Tele's as I can get away with without buying anything.
In my head I have the Tele sound I have striven for these past 18 months. A tricked out Squier r/wood neck 60's custom with a Charlie Christian neck and an SD bridge alnico II p/ups + 4 way switch & pio cap. Lots of little set up tweaks, wider string spacing on the bone nut and compensated brass saddles.
Every Tele I tried could not compare including a £1700 Maton T-Bird with a CC p/up!
The best playing Tele was a second Hand Affinity for £100 and the best pickup tone was a 2016 Tele deluxe @ £1600.
But would I swap any of them for my Tele?
Nope.
'Content makes poor men rich. Discontent makes rich men poor'.
(Benjamin Franklin).
'G.A.S. will take your coin and break your mind'.
(Jazzbow).
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@Jazzbow:
An excellent and insightful posr. I particularly liked the M. Hale and B. Franklin quotations.
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New hardware may not be needed if the only problem is a slight rattle from the bridge. If your tailpiece is too high or too low, that may cause some of the rattle you are hearing. It should be around a 12% angle from the bridge down to the tailpiece. Sometimes a bit of adjustment is all a guitar needs, provided none of the hardware is damaged or non functioning.
Last edited by Matt Cushman; 07-21-2016 at 09:37 AM.
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Unless tuners are worn out there's no need or benefit to replacing them. 99% of the time if your guitar goes out of tune the problem is with the nut or (metal) bridge saddles.
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I disliked the TOM bridge on my Artcore. I thought my tone was too metallic with it. I replaced it with the Ibanez OEM wood bridge, which was a great improvement. It's a bit more difficult to adjust for intonation, but worth the trouble. Originally Posted by m_d
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I have an intense dislike for the tuners on my AS93. They aren't the cause of the tuning instability it has (plays fine, but woon't keep tune day-to-day even if I haven't played it and tuned up before unstrapping). I'm pretty sure that's the neck wandering due to environmental conditions here, and can't be helped (25-30°F swings day to night in my drafty trailer, AC set to 78°F). But in getting intimate with these tuners, I don't like their low ratio, and can feel the slipshod construction as I turn them. A set of Gotohs will be going on soon, along with a Graphtech nut.
I may drop an Armstrong P-90 into the neck spot just to have that sound on tap, too. The stock pickups aren't bad, aren't great, but I can work with them.
Other than that I don't mod guitars much. When I buy a guitar, I play it. If it answers my questions rightly, I lay out dough.Last edited by Thumpalumpacus; 07-27-2016 at 03:32 AM.
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I have the same feelings about the (identical) tuners on my AM93, but tuning stability is not an issue where I live. Originally Posted by Thumpalumpacus
My "position" since my initial post is now the following: I'm going to change the bridge anyway as an experiment, but I'm no longer interested in upgrading for a higher model in Ibanez's Chinese range. The axe I really want is a Yamaha SA2200, one of the very best semi-hollows on the market, made in Japan, available where I live at a bargain price, considerably cheaper than a Gibson 335 with equivalent specs, and much more consistent. Endorsed by Jon Herington and Biréli Lagrène. A no-brainer, really. Next choice would be a used Heritage or original Guild Starfire.
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