Floyd Rose Install (nut help)

[cloy26]

So I'm completely redoing my Ibanez GSA60 into a shred machine, or at least I liked to pretend.

So, I have a dimarzio evo in the bridge already, and I just ordered an air norton s for the neck (in lime green but he also threw in a bright blue casing). So first, what color scheme should I do on this guitar? Lime? Blue? Purple?

Also, I am installing a FR and getting rid of the crappy stock tremolo. The actual tremolo is not my problem, it's the locking nut. Has any one ever installed one? Do I just route out into the 1st fret? I need to keep the nut touch the string in exactly the same spot as the original, correct? So it retains 25.5 scale?

Anyone have any input on it? I found a guide online and it was a little helpful, but still a little unsure.

 

[midget donkeys]

Looks like your spending alot of money upgrading a really crappy guitar. Working on guitars can be fun, but if you want the best bang for your buck I would recommend buying another guitar that already has a Floyd on it. If you look around and are patient you can find some great deals on higher end used Ibby guitars.

 

[Harry Hughes]

You can put a Floyd on it, change the pickups, but the fact it just isn't an inherently high quality and good sounding instrument makes it a big waste of money and time.
If you want that kind of body shape still, sell that and buy a 1990s S series Ibanez.

 

[MarcusGHedwig]

I gotta agree, soiling it up and all that is cool as long as it's relatively inexpensive, but considering the fact that Floyds run around $150, I dunno, doesn't seem like the best use of funds - maybe try to find a good licensed Floyd on eBay; I really like the JT580LP in my Jackson, for example

 

[cloy26]

lol. I def realize it isn't the greatest guitar. Is basswood that bad?

It's my first guitar, so I'm def not selling it. It was just lying around so I thought I could put it to use. I have a licensed fr on another guitar that I was going to use for the time being.

Should I just scrap the idea and look for an s series on ebay?



edit: The pickup is on the way. I have a jackson dxmg dinky that is also not being used, would it be better to put everything in that guitar? The evo in the bridge and the air norton s in the neck with a humbucker to single coil conversion?

 

[laszlozsolt82]

yes upgrade, or experiment wit that DXMG, it`s a lot better guitar.but i don`t know if it will be an "improvement", going from the stock EMG HZ `s to EVO,since Hz s are good pick ups,it will give you another sound for shure , not necesary a better sound, but you should try maybe you will like it more, definitely worth a try

 

[guitarguru777]

From what I know of those guitars you wont be able to install a FR locking nut on them. If you route into the first fret to install one you will change the scale length of the guitar and it will never play in tune. There is not enough wood behind the current nut to install a locking nut. Only other choice is to buy a new neck that is already set up for a locking trem.

But with all the cash you are going to spend doing that you can find a cheap used S with a Floyd.

As for the basswood body. NO Basswood isnt bad, but the crap basswood they make the low end Ibanez guitars out of is. The only Ibanez guitars that are made of quality basswood are the RG350 series and up into the Prestige series. The low end stuff is made of pieced together scraps from all the other quality guitars they build.

Sorry but your SOL with this guitar.

Take everyones suggestions get an S series with a floyd.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Dude I have that guitar (albeit HH pickup) don't waste your time.
It was my first guitar too.
Seriously, do yourself a favour,

Buy a better guitar.

 

[Notuern]

lol. I def realize it isn't the greatest guitar. Is basswood that bad?

Basswood is very uneven in quality.
Some pieces are sustain and tonal as maple, but others are less sustain and tonal then cardboard.
Sadly, its mostly the "cardboard basswood" thats being used in cheap guitars.

As far as investing in this guitar goes im going to have to say this: Go for it.
It will be a great learning experience, and if you buy another guitar to upgrade, you can pull the floyd of this one and use it to upgrade your new guitar.

Its definitely not a waste of money in the long run.

 

[ratsapprentice]

you can pull the floyd of this one and use it to upgrade your new guitar.

I'm pretty sure a Floyd wont even fit

 

[cloy26]

Dude I have that guitar (albeit HH pickup) don't waste your time.
It was my first guitar too.
Seriously, do yourself a favour,

Buy a better guitar.

I have a gibson les paul and a schecter c-7 hellraiser....

 

[guitarguru777]

Than smash the GIO on stage. At least something cool will come out of it

 

[cloy26]

does sentimental value count for nothing? haha

 

[Notuern]

I'm pretty sure a Floyd wont even fit

Didnt think it would either.. but if you have all the tools available, i still dont think its a bad idea.. worst thing that can happen is that he ruins a shitty guitar, big deal.
I still think that the overall experience and knowledge gained would be worth it.

 

[cloy26]

Got the air norton s, put it in. sounds like shit.

on the look for an s series.

(Probably going to put the evo and norton is the one I pick up, and maybe get an evo in the neck if it's h-s-h.)