Questions regarding Ibanez RG set-up

[Drummerbones]

I just purchases this guitar yesterday, and all I can say is WOW. I love it...however, I'm condisering a few alteration. I wanted a guitar with the FLoyd Rose to give me more options on set up and tuning etc., though I will never use the trem. I don't do dive bombs or any of that 80's lead guitar stuff. The two things I would like to do is:

1. Make the bridge fixed instead of floating.

2. Go from .09 strings to .10's.

So here's my questions: Do I do the "smart and safe" thing and take it to a Luthier or guitar tech?

Assuming I know what I'm talking about, if I go to .10's, it will alter the amount of tension on the bridge and will thus need adjusting. The only reason I want to change the string size is because I'm used to playing acoustic and I tend to play with a heavier hand...which causes the light gauge strings to go sharp, especially around the 1st 3 frets or so. I wouldn't think this would really affect the action or the intonation (this is where the "assume" part comes in). Intonation I'm more than comfortable and knowledgable to adjust, just don't know about the bridge on a FLoyd Rose.

As for making the bridge fixed, it seems to be a very common practice that I could perform without damaging or making any permanent changes to my guitar. See this link:

http://www.diyguitarist.com/Guitars/FR-FixedBridge.htm

So what do you all recommend? Is fixing the bridge as easy as it appears, and can I adjust the bridge tension myself when going to .10's? Or is the fact that I'm questioning my ability to do this a dead give-away that I should have a "professional" do it?

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[Dani Pace]

If you have never worked on a Floyd Rose, take it to a tech who has. They are far more difficult to set up than you might think. Ibanez RG series guitars are well known for their thin, fast necks (shreaders love them) and while thin they are strong enough to handle heavier guage strings without any problem. I have 10-52s on mine. Heavier strings will also require filing the nut slots or you will have a lot of sticking problems, factory installed nuts are designed for 9-42s. A truss rod adjustment will likely be needed when you go to heavier strings, intonation will also need set. Expect to pay a little more for a set up because of the Floyd Rose, just because they take more time to set properly. With the right strings and a good set up you should be good to go and happy for a long time. One bit of advice, check the screws that hold the strap buttons often, Ibanez could have used larger screws, it would be a shame to drop a nice guitar.

 

[ermghoti]

I wanted a guitar with the FLoyd Rose to give me more options on set up and tuning etc., though I will never use the trem.

This is closely related to buying a motorcycle to make room in your attic, but never riding it.

Sell it, and buy one without a Floyd. FR's have some advantages, but options for set up and tuning are in no way among them, but rather, listed among their shortcomings.

 

[Drummerbones]

Well, I appreciate everyone's input, but I went ahead with my plan anyway with the understanding that if I couldn't set it up properly, I'd have to take it to a tech one way or the other. As for messing with the FLoyd Rose, it was no problem at all. As soon as I blocked (fixed) the tremolo, which was extremely simple to do and is totally reversable causing no damage what so ever, it made the rest of the process the same as setting up any other guitar...something I've done with success in the past. I increased the strings to .10 and luckily I have no hang-up problems at all with the nut. The way mine is designed allows for larger gauge strings with ease. The only thing I had to do was lower the action a little bit, but the truss rod did not need adjusting at all and the intonation is ballz-on. I now have the coolest guitar I've ever owned, a fixed bridge that has eliminated all of my slight tuning problems, and a guage of strings that I'm more acustomed to. In other words, I have my dream guitar in my hands.

Perhaps I got a bit lucky, or perhaps nutralizing the Floye Rose made it a snap. Either way, I'm a happy fellow.

Thanks for everyone's input...I gotta go jam now.