Author Topic: How do i get my guitar fixed? (Read 6667 times)

indysmith · « **on:** March 28, 2006, 05:28:58 PM »

Here's the deal - The new ZR tremolo on the Ibanez S-series Rocks my Socks....when it works. I've had it for two years and i'm just about to have to send it back for the second time. First (for any of yu familiar with this system; everyone else just ignore the following sentence) one of the stud that the zero point system springs are attached to spontaniously came out, screwing things up out in the back there. This is while the guitar is still under warrenty - and i hadn't read any other stories about problems with the ZR, or even heard anything negative about it.
On a couple of strings, played open, the saddles in the bridge used to sort of buzz a bit if you played them REALLY hard. This didn't worry me in the slightest, as i never played that hard and i figured its probably normal...
However later on (after restringing) this buzzing has got more and more obvious; it's not being amplified or anything that terrible - but i can feel it and hear it from the bridge - it drives me INSANE. so anyway, thats another problem.
Problem 3... Yesterday i noticed my intonation was a bit out, and i followed the instructions in the manual (never having changed intonation on a double locking system before) - and the saddle bolt that needed to be loosened in order to alter the intonation was in so stupidly tight that the allen key and the bolt i was trying to undo both now have round holes where twas once hexagonal. NOT GOOD. i can't get this pin out to replace it - i don't know how it can be fixed to be honest - but i'll have to send it back to them again unless any of you guys have a better idea. This time i bet they'll make me pay since its out of warrenty aswell...
I'd be kind of upset to get rid of the ZR as it is a bloody good trem, and i like many of its features (the ball-bearing pivot and the zero-point system rawk), but seriously - it's being a right shitee to be honest - two breakages and an ongoing buzzing in two years of playing. It's not as if it's being abused either- i only use it for the occasional divebomb, and i'm only playing in my room - it hasn't even been gigged many times.

Basically what I'm asking is in the title - Would either an OFR or an old Ibanez Edge trem retrofit into my S1675FM Prestige, because I'VE HAD ENOUGH of this cr@p that i don't need. Things breaking is about the only thing in the world that gets on me tits, and i know that an OFR or an old Edge won't break so often.

Sorry if this post is a bit long for a pretty simple question - but i feel if you've read it you've probably been educated about the ZR and its perils so i don't feel too bad for wasting ur time...
thanks a LOAD guys. Indy x

dave_mc · « **Reply #1 on:** March 28, 2006, 06:33:58 PM »

I have no idea.

Could you post the measurements of the ZR? size of the posts, distance between the posts, things like that, and the size of the route?

Other than that, I'd contact rich at www.ibanezrules.com since he sells ZR's and edges.

indysmith · « **Reply #2 on:** March 28, 2006, 06:39:27 PM »

where do i measure? :? hmmm i'll ask rich actually - thats a pretty good idea.... who would know better? :lol:

dave_mc · « **Reply #3 on:** March 28, 2006, 06:42:33 PM »

well, there are routing templates for the OFR at www.floydrose.com, so that should tell you where to measure, lol

indysmith · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2006, 08:25:14 PM »

doesn't look like it'll fit a floyd. I AM SO $%&#ING PISSED OFF RIGHT NOW. Why don't people make stuff that works?! I always take so much care of my guitar gear, and yet it still breaks. nothing actually bothers me more. Smite me, o mighty smiter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :shock:
Back to ibanez it is... $%&#!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm going to fone them up and yell at them SO hard tomorrow - i know its not their fault personally, but i'm not $%&#ing paying to have them repair this piece of shite again. they either do it for free or i'm going to find them to kill them with it.

dave_mc · « **Reply #5 on:** March 28, 2006, 09:51:22 PM »

^yeah, i have an ibanez with a pos lo-trs trem. Luckily it'll take an OFR/Gotoh/Schaller, although i have to get the studs drilled out.

Sorry I can't be more help...

indysmith · « **Reply #6 on:** March 28, 2006, 09:54:16 PM »

Quote from: dave_mc

^yeah, i have an ibanez with a pos lo-trs trem. Luckily it'll take an OFR/Gotoh/Schaller, although i have to get the studs drilled out.

Sorry I can't be more help...

Thats okay mate :lol: sorry i got so angry. i don't like things breaking, especially not my PC, my clothes, and my guitar all on the same day - gets me stressed.

dave_mc · « **Reply #7 on:** March 28, 2006, 10:38:20 PM »

^ no worries, I was commisserating with you, I'm pissed at Ibanez too for putting such a cr@p trem on my otherwise great guitar, so they could save £10.

Scabs.

:D

indysmith · « **Reply #8 on:** March 28, 2006, 10:46:51 PM »

All i can find on the internet about the ZR tremolo is positive. People really seem to LOVE the trem. I'm thinking maybe i just got a dead one? well - that's wishful thinking i suppose, lol. It really is a superb trem when it works - anyone who tries it wants one... hmmm i guess i should have been skeptical and cautious about spending a lot of money on a guitar with a fairly new-fangled bit of kit...

dave_mc · « **Reply #9 on:** March 29, 2006, 05:24:26 PM »

^yeah, i know, a lot of people love the ZR. Sounds like you just got a bad one.

On UG, i put a list of all the good double-locking trems in a sticky for the n00bs to help them, and I included the ZR.

If i were you I'd contact your shop and see what they say. Don't be defensive, or aggressive, just state what's wrong, that it's out of warranty (isn't it?) and see what they say. If they're nice, and offer to fix it, problem solved.

if you've got a dodgy one (i.e. bad from the start) you're entitled to a new one whether or not it's out of the guarantee, afaik (check with the office of fair trading though, i'm not 100% on this)- something along the lines of "goods not fit for purpose". It'd be useful to get this info before going near the shop, so that you can argue (if you have to) with the confidence of knowing you're right.

I always start out super-polite, so that it's THEM forcing me to argue if they get nasty. try to make them look like the bad guys, lol- at least then if and when you do have to argue, you can do it with a clear conscience, lol.

indysmith · « **Reply #10 on:** April 01, 2006, 09:33:12 PM »

argh i really don't know what to do. I actually REALLY NEED to play guitar - i'm so bored without it. I've emailed Ibanez (well; Headstock Ditribution), who have completely ignored me for like a week), and i've emailed GAK (where i got it from) and they said to fone some guy called steve their "guitar expert" who will talk me thru setting up the guitar, and failing that they've told me to "take it to your local shop, and they will set it up for you" :? I don't want to set up the $%&#ing guitar - i want a new tremolo you iiiiiiidiots. It seems that after my warrenty's gone noone's interested in helping me out and i'm stuck with a guitar that doesnt bloody work. Any ideas of what to do in this situation please guys?
If i had transport i'd just drive down the brighton show them the guitar and ask em to fix her AGAIN. but it isn't that easy - i'm only 16... and my dad's a busy, angry man, lol. my mum will be too tired or something, haha
P.S. i called "steve"'s number, but apparently he won't even be in til tuesday. EURGH

dave_mc · « **Reply #11 on:** April 01, 2006, 10:30:11 PM »

wait and see what "steve" says.

Then contact your office of fair trading, or check out their website (i assume they have one).

38thBeatle · « **Reply #12 on:** April 02, 2006, 12:05:40 PM »

Indy , I have dealt with GAK many times( they are only 25 miles from me) and they are usually quite helpful tough sadly some of the older guys have gone so maybe, in the year or so since I last went there, things have changed. If you do go there the re parking is awful but there is an NCP car park a little way up the road so PM me for directions if you can calm the old man down enough as Brighton traffic will do nothing for his blood pressure.

indysmith · « **Reply #13 on:** April 02, 2006, 12:38:14 PM »

Quote from: 38thBeatle

Indy , I have dealt with GAK many times( they are only 25 miles from me) and they are usually quite helpful tough sadly some of the older guys have gone so maybe, in the year or so since I last went there, things have changed. If you do go there the re parking is awful but there is an NCP car park a little way up the road so PM me for directions if you can calm the old man down enough as Brighton traffic will do nothing for his blood pressure.

haha thanks man. Ohhhh I've been there before to get this guitar fixed, lol. It keeps breaking. it's convincing the old man that its worth 4 hours in the car AGAIN to get my guitar fixed AGAIN that will be the problem... Yeah GAK have been useful in the past, however - this time they're just annoying me,

indysmith · « **Reply #14 on:** April 02, 2006, 12:39:24 PM »

...actually this might sound weird but do yu know of any airfields nearby? he'd love any excuse to fly me down to brighton, haha.