Mild GAS, but on hold because of a question about the hardware

Bob-Dubery

I was looking at quite a nice old-ish instrument today. I felt a twinge or two of GAS but apart from having to explain things to the wife there was one aspect of the hardware that made me wonder if this wouldn't be an expensive purchase because of repairs that would have to be done.

So here's two shots of the bridge. It seems a little worn and I'm especially concerned about the stud/screw on the bass side of the bridge.

Am I looking at a problem here?

Gearhead

I wouldn't worry about that screw there. Even if it is stuffed, there are plenty of aftermarket studs for a few ront.

aubs1

"Mild Gas" ...... hahahaha....... You got GAS, or you don't got GAS, Bob!

I agree with Gearhead ...... that looks like normal wear to me ...... no problemo.

Did you plug it into an amp? If so, what does it sound like?

VellaJ

Just looking at that bass side screw, I'd be a bit worried about the intonation. Why is it adjusted to the extreme? Surely it should be roughly in the same sort of line as the others? ?

Gearhead

I believe there is a saying in English: never take for malice, that which is adequately explained by stupidity.
Applied to this case: one should not think a bad adjustment on second hand gear is necessarily to hide a flaw (except for high action, agreed).

MIKA-the-better-one

The singer from a band called the Tidal Waves uses the exact same guitar..... and it sounded pretty good...... Get it

Bob-Dubery

VellaJ wrote: Just looking at that bass side screw, I'd be a bit worried about the intonation. Why is it adjusted to the extreme? Surely it should be roughly in the same sort of line as the others? ?

No. You'd generally expect a little more length on the 6th than the 1st string. Even us acoustic players know that.

singemonkey

Is it an Artist? Solid flame top?

Keira-WitherKay

i know those guitars well from my younger days.. damn Bob i think you should buy it or if not pm me the details....... ? i'm serious..... depending of course of the asking price.... i seen a lot of those 2nd hand but outrageously priced........ they not that great that i would pay too much for it but i could use one of em... they good for jazz ........ and thats a classic finish

Bob-Dubery

singemonkey wrote: Is it an Artist? Solid flame top?

Yeah. Don't know the exact age but it's an artist, and an old one. The 300 model (not the same as the current 300) with the split humbuckers.

Nice guitar. Don't know how serious I am.

costafonix

these are cool guitars, i wouldn't worry about the hardware, u could always change it later. As for the intonation, maybe it was just set up wrong?,,,,go get it Bob,

singemonkey

Looks like a great option for a quality electric Bob. If it plays nicely, then anything can be done. If it doesn't, you just want to make sure that the truss rod isn't maxed out which happens on some old guitars that have been difficult to get into playing condition. That'd be an expensive fix, I think.

But the bridge can always be replaced, as can the tailpiece - and you're not talking a lot of money.

My advice would be to get that thing and put a humbucker sized P90 in the bridge for both raunch and subtle fingerpicked stuff.

And according to the specs seen here:

http://s93105080.onlinehome.us/Ibanez-Catalogs/catalog/1983-84r/20.jpg

It's got a flame top (although they might be conveniently leaving out that it's veneer) and has an ebony board. Sounds like a class guitar to me.