Stetsbar added to AR425

maxtheaxe · #1 06-11-2018, 01:50 PM

I'm sort of catching up on some projects I've had spinning for a good long while. I just added this Stetsbar to my Ibanez Artist. I would have done so a long time ago, but in this case, it was necessary to drill into the top of the guitar to install wrap-around type bushings...I had some trepidation around that.

The trem works quite well, stays in tune, allows me to drop into open tunings without any readjustments and will play in tune if a string breaks. This has about the same pitch-change/travel as a well-set-up Strat trem.

Also, since I regard locking tuners as an absolute requirement with most trems, I've replaced the stock tuners with Gotoh 510 locking tuners. Unfortunately, the unit doesn't cover up the holes & dents from the old cloud tailpiece, so I've ordered one of those to put on under the end of the Stetsbar. As before when I added the Bigsby to my SG, the extra weight on the back end corrects a slight balance problem this guitar neck diving.

Before...

after...

Poppa · #2 06-11-2018, 02:45 PM

Beautiful Artist you have. I've heard good things about the Stetsbar. Very cool!

Steel and wood · #3 06-11-2018, 06:59 PM

Great job, looks great!

Song · #4 06-12-2018, 06:38 AM

Looks good! Don't ya just love alt tuning on an electric?

seannx · #5 06-12-2018, 08:47 AM

Looks very cool. How does the alt tuning feature work?

maxtheaxe · #6 06-12-2018, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seannx

Looks very cool. How does the alt tuning feature work?

Basically, when the trem is used, the entire trem-plate on top of the baseplate moves...it moves the tailpiece and the bridge as one unit.

When this is set up for dive only, you can still up-trem a little bit, but mostly it just dives (which is how I set my Strat) and the tension on the trem plate itself doesn't change, so...broken string, open tunings, no effect on the tension, unlike the balancing act on a Strat, where the whole thing goes out of whack if you change tunings or break a string.

BTW, it also stays in tune if you do bent double stops or notes...it doesn't flex the bridge.

jwguitar · #7 06-13-2018, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxtheaxe

I'm sort of catching up on some projects I've had spinning for a good long while. I just added this Stetsbar to my Ibanez Artist. I would have done so a long time ago, but in this case, it was necessary to drill into the top of the guitar to install wrap-around type bushings...I had some trepidation around that.

The trem works quite well, stays in tune, allows me to drop into open tunings without any readjustments and will play in tune if a string breaks. This has about the same pitch-change/travel as a well-set-up Strat trem.

Also, since I regard locking tuners as an absolute requirement with most trems, I've replaced the stock tuners with Gotoh 510 locking tuners. Unfortunately, the unit doesn't cover up the holes & dents from the old cloud tailpiece, so I've ordered one of those to put on under the end of the Stetsbar. As before when I added the Bigsby to my SG, the extra weight on the back end corrects a slight balance problem this guitar neck diving.

Before...

after...

That is an interesting mod to an already great guitar. I actually always wanted one of the Japanese Ibanez Artist guitars. I have a Yamaha SG700s which is very similar. But wow that is a beautiful top on your guitar.

maxtheaxe · #8 06-13-2018, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwguitar

That is an interesting mod to an already great guitar. I actually always wanted one of the Japanese Ibanez Artist guitars. I have a Yamaha SG700s which is very similar. But wow that is a beautiful top on your guitar.

Thanks! When they came out with this re-issue it was a must-have for me, since I stupidly sold my 1978 Artist 2612 (I think), and regretted it later; that one had the same tri-sound switching but it had the hotter Super 80 pickups, Gibraltar hardware, etc. I can't claim that these MIC re-issues are as good as the old MIJ originals, but they got about 95% of the way there.

They still make a current MIJ version of this, which I've never had in my hands, but they're quite a bit more money (about $2500.00). I would expect one to be just that much better. I only paid $400.00 for the one I had in the 70s.

The vintage ones also come up on Reverb frequently...I may break down & buy my old ax back one of these days, but I'm in a guitar glut right now & must refrain for a while. If I do, the Stetsbar will bolt right on it with no mods, unlike this new one.