Ibanez Lo Trs trem system nightmare- Gotoh GE1996T replacement???????

Ibanezguy

If anyone can shed some light on the following I would really appreciate the help.

Firstly I cracked the E string saddle on my prized 1998 Ibanez S470 and all methods of repair are useless given the pressure at which the lock block/vice clamps a string.
The Ibanez part number I need is 2LT22B1, which is the E/E string saddle in black. the 2LT22B2 is the A/B and 2LT22B3 is the G/D saddle. Having said that beggars cant be choosers and if I can find any saddles for the Lo Trs I will take any Lo Trs saddle and modify them.
2LT22K1, 2LT22K2 and 2LT22K3 are the Lo Trs saddles in Cosmo black- again I can still use them if I cant find black.

The other info I'm after is whether the Gotoh GE1996T trem system will fit into the trem cavity, on my S Series Ibby, and whether the other dimensions are compatible? I am getting no joy from any music shops I have tried to contact in SA and I cant believe this simple mishap is turning into such a huge mission. No one has fuck all and no one knows anything- so far ☹

I'm going nuts without this guitar, it needs to be operational ASAP. apparently the Lo Trs is a piece of shit and the Gotoh one of the best, any thoughts? :-\

Thanks in advance

ZarK

Ibanezrules.com is my go-to site/shop for all my Ibanez needs. In my experience you're wasting your time going local unfortunately.

I've checked for you and they have the part you're after in stock. Email Rich, the owner. Maybe he'd be willing to do a better price for the black TRS1 saddle. He has them in cosmo as well for about half the price.

http://www.ibanezrules.com/parts.htm#Trems

If you're looking to upgrade or replace your trem, there is nothing better than an original Edge or Lo Pro Edge trem imho. I wouldn't replace the TRS1 with anything else, personally.

Hope it helps and that your Saber will be rocking again shortly! 8)

(P.S. My first Ibby was a MIJ 1994 S470. Great guitars even in stock form.)

Ibanezguy

Thanks Zark,

I emailed the guy at Ibanezrules and he doesn't have any black saddles for the TRS1 but has Cosmo Black, which is fine I'm not going to be overly fussy at this stage.

Have you imported parts from Rich before? I will definitely try that route as it seems its the only place to get any help on the planet lol.

Nice Zark, the early Jap S is a great guitar in stock form, mine still is and has a glitter black finish, no idea what the finish is called. i also have 2 Korean S Series, an S320 and the ice blue S470 with the ZR trems.

Thanks again man i appreciate the help. ?

Cheers
Willem

Vintage-Vibe

The new Gotoh GE1996T units are amazing - but for eg. require extra routing VS a std (original) Floyd Rose trem route ... BTW Gotoh makes all the high end trems for Ibanez in Japan ...

Ibanezguy

Hey Gareth,

Yep Gotoh makes quality stuff that's why I'm wanting a GE1996T in black, do you know where I can get one? My Jap S ,that I'm wanting the Gotoh GE1996 for, already has Gotoh tuners on it.

From what I can gather the Lo Trs was not subject to Floyd patents etc and the trem cavity should take the Gotoh without modification?????? I stand to be corrected.

I'm going nuts without this guitar please someone find a fkn part for me or a GE1996 lol

morph

Do not get him to mail it to you using post. The damn Post Office is on strike. I have a R2500 item posted via USPS s that no one can tell where it is and when it will arrive.

Rather pay the extra for a courier service.

AlanRatcliffe

Ibanezguy wrote: Yep Gotoh makes quality stuff that's why I'm wanting a GE1996T in black, do you know where I can get one? My Jap S ,that I'm wanting the Gotoh GE1996 for, already has Gotoh tuners on it.

Also make sure to get a shallow block - IINM, standard blocks are too long for the S-series body (like the 5-way switch, which you have to use the specific Ibanez part).

From what I can gather the Lo Trs was not subject to Floyd patents etc and the trem cavity should take the Gotoh without modification?????? I stand to be corrected.

The patents only apply to certain parts of the mechanical design. Size, shape and materials all vary. The only way to be sure is to take accurate measurements and get a proper dimensional drawing of the bridge to compare.

Ibanezguy

Thanks Alan,

Yeah I noticed the Gotoh comes in 3 block sizes I guess the 33mm would be the right choice in my case.

The S certainly has its quirks, Gareth Travis fitted a super switch in my one S after the DiMarzio upgrade and we had to put a gasket on the cavity cover at the back to stop it sitting on the switch.

I am finding ibanezrules.com a little unhelpful at this stage. :?

ZarK

I only use Ibanezrules.com for parts etc. and I've ordered from them a few times over the years. Never had any issues. Just remember you're not dealing with a massive on-line retail store... Strange that you find them unhelpful after just a few hours since making contact with them and receiving a reply?

If you can't find a decent FR that drops straight into the S which means routing would be required, I really wouldn't look any further than a Lo Pro Edge trem. Nice and sleek to match the S styling... Most of my guitars over the years where FR equipped and I have never used any other trem that comes close to the feel and stability of a correctly set up Edge or Lo Pro Edge... If Gotoh makes a trem that feels exactly the same or better, I'd go for it in a heartbeat. They cost half the price which would make them a bit of a bargain if they proved to be as stable and feel as good. Personally I just haven't experienced anything that matches the two trems I've mentioned.

Best of luck getting sorted!

Ibanezguy

hey Zark,

The reason I said the guy was unhelpful is that he just replies with one sentence answers when I sent him a detailed email with all the answers he was seeking already in black and white. Even I have already figured out that what makes each saddle different is the mounting bracket and not the locking block assembly which pivots on the mounting block with a steel pin. In other words if all he has in stock is one black A/B string saddle then I can still use it by pulling the pin and fitting it to the E/E mounting block which is still perfect. I will try him again and see if I get any joy.

Where did you source your Lo Pro Edge from? Do they come in black do you know?

Cheers

ZarK

Understood. I've also experienced the short answers from him but that is how he does it. I don't think he has plenty of time available to answer the same questions repeatedly. That's why he's made so much setup and mod information available on his site.

I order all my Ibanez parts from Rich and by researching the information he has available and asking the questions I couldn't find answers to myself, I've always been sorted out satisfactorily in the end. Prior to finding Ibanezrules.com, finding Ibanez parts and upgrades used to be quite a nightmare for me...

I think you'd have to go for a cosmo black LoPro Edge. Don't think they're readily available n black, unfortunately...

AlanRatcliffe

Yeah, blavk chrome is non ROHS, so products made for the global market never have proper black chrome. Still, cosmo black/ruthenium still look good.

Ibanezguy

ZarK wrote: Understood. I've also experienced the short answers from him but that is how he does it. I don't think he has plenty of time available to answer the same questions repeatedly. That's why he's made so much setup and mod information available on his site.

I order all my Ibanez parts from Rich and by researching the information he has available and asking the questions I couldn't find answers to myself, I've always been sorted out satisfactorily in the end. Prior to finding Ibanezrules.com, finding Ibanez parts and upgrades used to be quite a nightmare for me...

I think you'd have to go for a cosmo black LoPro Edge. Don't think they're readily available n black, unfortunately...

Well what got me kind of annoyed was when I said to him I see black is out of stock I will take the cosmo but all 6, please give me a price including shipping his reply was a short- "buy yourself a second hand complete trem' I was like wtf dude just quote me so we can do business?????? I'm not an idiot I know what I want and how to work around a problem but I need some co-operation. ?

Anyway thanks for the advice Zark and Alan, I will let you know when this shits sorted, thank fk for owning 3 S Series guitars lol I know MIDI were the Ibanez agents but there's another dead end. I've got close to buying a guitar just to get the fkn trem off it :-\

If anyone comes across a Gotoh GE1996T in black please let me know, this is my first option after which it will have to be a Lo Pro Edge in cosmo ☹

Cheers

Ibanezguy

The latest update on my Lo Trs bridge saddle.

I must have emailed every music shop in SA and the guy at Ibanezrules was not as helpful as I would have liked, I really have no idea how any businesses survive, especially in the musical service industry. One cannot even buy a full locking trem system in this country ?

I had a chat with my very helpful and motivated sister in the UK and before lunchtime on the same day she had located and paid for a new bridge saddle (17 pounds), including shipping. I await patiently and so does my beloved 1998 Jap Pearl Black S Series ? Luv ya sis.

The reason main reason I'm posting this is that I believe in supporting those that go the extra distance to try and help you out and understand that to most my broken bridge saddle didn't mean a damn but to me it meant everything and fkd up my mood for over 3 weeks. The only company or fellow muso on this planet that pulled its finger out of its arse was maxcottam guitars in the UK. Look them up, he's an Ibanez expert.