Packing foam under floating bridges!

[JoeT]

Nothing like buying your first floating bridge guitar to teach you how to
mess with adjusting your intonation now is there?
I just brought home my newest baby, an Ibanez AF85VLS and it is SaWeeeet!
(At least to me it's all I had the budget for and I just needed something
that I could practice Jazz on other than my Hiway 1 Strat, which, although I
love her, is not a jazz box!) Imagine my surprise when I saw a thin layer of
packing foam between the floating (unattached, held in my string tension)
bridge and the top of the guitar...

Well you have one option to remove this and that's to lessen string tension
enough to lift the bridge while someone else slides the foam out! Then go
back and check the intonation, which is still adjustable mechanically on
each string of the bridge as well as by physically moving the entire bridge.
This also makes me wonder how easy it might be to accidentally move the
bridge while playing but I guess time will tell!

I can hear already that it will need a good nut job lol. Just during
loosening the strings ( which are 9's and IMO too light for much ) I could
hear the strings pinging in the nut as they moved. If the nut is catching
9's it sure isn't going to like larger strings!

Not sure why I posted this other than to share! All the googling in the
world resulted in NO mention anywhere of how to remove this bit of foam! The
included Ibanez pamphlet, that they incredibly call a manual, failed in this
regard as well!

joe

[Test User]

Post by JoeT
Nothing like buying your first floating bridge guitar to teach you how to
mess with adjusting your intonation now is there?
I just brought home my newest baby, an Ibanez AF85VLS and it is SaWeeeet!
(At least to me it's all I had the budget for and I just needed something
that I could practice Jazz on other than my Hiway 1 Strat, which, although I
love her, is not a jazz box!) Imagine my surprise when I saw a thin layer of
packing foam between the floating (unattached, held in my string tension)
bridge and the top of the guitar...
Well you have one option to remove this and that's to lessen string tension
enough to lift the bridge while someone else slides the foam out! Then go
back and check the intonation, which is still adjustable mechanically on
each string of the bridge as well as by physically moving the entire bridge.
This also makes me wonder how easy it might be to accidentally move the
bridge while playing but I guess time will tell!
I can hear already that it will need a good nut job lol. Just during
loosening the strings ( which are 9's and IMO too light for much ) I could
hear the strings pinging in the nut as they moved. If the nut is catching
9's it sure isn't going to like larger strings!
Not sure why I posted this other than to share! All the googling in the
world resulted in NO mention anywhere of how to remove this bit of foam! The
included Ibanez pamphlet, that they incredibly call a manual, failed in this
regard as well!
joe

The foam is likely there to protect the finish during assembly and shipping.

Yes, you have to loosen the strings and lift the bridge to remove the foam.
. A good ruler should help you check the current bridge position and put
it back there. So will a little masking tape. Incidentally, you'll have
the same problem when you change strings. Once you have the bridge located
correctly, a bit of doublesided tape can be used to keep it from sliding.

Unless I misunderstand your post, you don't adjust intonation with the
wheels at either end of the bridge or side-to-side. You use the saddle
adjustment screws.

The nut may simply need lubrication. Lift out the strings and roll a sharp
pencil in the slots.

HTH
-pk

[JoeT]

Post by Test User
Yes, you have to loosen the strings and lift the bridge to remove the foam.
. A good ruler should help you check the current bridge position and put
it back there. So will a little masking tape. Incidentally, you'll have
the same problem when you change strings. Once you have the bridge located
correctly, a bit of doublesided tape can be used to keep it from sliding.
Unless I misunderstand your post, you don't adjust intonation with the
wheels at either end of the bridge or side-to-side. You use the saddle
adjustment screws.
The nut may simply need lubrication. Lift out the strings and roll a sharp
pencil in the slots.
HTH
-pk

No I wasn't referring to the height adjustment wheels. Just the fact that
you can easily slide the entire bridge out of whack regardless of the
position of the saddle adjustment screws! Plus there's no easy way to mark
the original position before removing the foam since the foam itself is in
the way <grin>. It worked out. Oddly enough although the manual shows the
position of the bridge in relation to the pickup, it gives no dimensions!
One would think that would be a bare minimum spec to provide.

Tape eh? Makes sense to stick it in place some way but wouldn't that have an
adverse effect since it would be an extra layer of material between there
much as the foam was?

I did manage to get the intonation back so it's not all that tough. Just a
little tricky!

Thanks

joe

[Clutch]

Post by JoeT
Nothing like buying your first floating bridge guitar to teach you how to
mess with adjusting your intonation now is there?
I just brought home my newest baby, an Ibanez AF85VLS and it is SaWeeeet!
(At least to me it's all I had the budget for and I just needed something
that I could practice Jazz on other than my Hiway 1 Strat, which, although I
love her, is not a jazz box!) Imagine my surprise when I saw a thin layer of
packing foam between the floating (unattached, held in my string tension)
bridge and the top of the guitar...
Well you have one option to remove this and that's to lessen string tension
enough to lift the bridge while someone else slides the foam out! Then go
back and check the intonation, which is still adjustable mechanically on
each string of the bridge as well as by physically moving the entire bridge.
This also makes me wonder how easy it might be to accidentally move the
bridge while playing but I guess time will tell!
I can hear already that it will need a good nut job lol. Just during
loosening the strings ( which are 9's and IMO too light for much ) I could
hear the strings pinging in the nut as they moved. If the nut is catching
9's it sure isn't going to like larger strings!
Not sure why I posted this other than to share! All the googling in the
world resulted in NO mention anywhere of how to remove this bit of foam! The
included Ibanez pamphlet, that they incredibly call a manual, failed in this
regard as well!
joe

Ahhh the floating tune-o-matic.. seems like overkill eh? A small sharpie to
mark it and some double face tape to stop it from sliding. Once you have it
set up, you really only need to get the two E strings in place, and then
everything else should fall right in. I wouldn't be too concerned, the
factory set up probably needed a tweak anyway.

If you play with a heavy hand, you'll find the bridge moving around. And oh
yeah, loads of fun when you change strings. Speaking of which... Those
should actually be set up with 10's not 9's from the factory. The shorter
scale (24.75 inch) will make them feel slinkier than usual when compared to
your Fender.

Cheers

[JoeT]

Post by JoeT

Post by JoeT
Nothing like buying your first floating bridge guitar to teach you how to
mess with adjusting your intonation now is there?
I just brought home my newest baby, an Ibanez AF85VLS and it is SaWeeeet!
(At least to me it's all I had the budget for and I just needed something
that I could practice Jazz on other than my Hiway 1 Strat, which,
although

I

Post by JoeT
love her, is not a jazz box!) Imagine my surprise when I saw a thin layer

of

Post by JoeT
packing foam between the floating (unattached, held in my string tension)
bridge and the top of the guitar...
Well you have one option to remove this and that's to lessen string

tension

Post by JoeT
enough to lift the bridge while someone else slides the foam out! Then go
back and check the intonation, which is still adjustable mechanically on
each string of the bridge as well as by physically moving the entire

bridge.

Post by JoeT
This also makes me wonder how easy it might be to accidentally move the
bridge while playing but I guess time will tell!
I can hear already that it will need a good nut job lol. Just during
loosening the strings ( which are 9's and IMO too light for much ) I could
hear the strings pinging in the nut as they moved. If the nut is catching
9's it sure isn't going to like larger strings!
Not sure why I posted this other than to share! All the googling in the
world resulted in NO mention anywhere of how to remove this bit of foam!

The

Post by JoeT
included Ibanez pamphlet, that they incredibly call a manual, failed in

this

Post by JoeT
regard as well!
joe

Ahhh the floating tune-o-matic.. seems like overkill eh? A small sharpie to
mark it and some double face tape to stop it from sliding. Once you have it
set up, you really only need to get the two E strings in place, and then
everything else should fall right in. I wouldn't be too concerned, the
factory set up probably needed a tweak anyway.
If you play with a heavy hand, you'll find the bridge moving around. And oh
yeah, loads of fun when you change strings. Speaking of which... Those
should actually be set up with 10's not 9's from the factory. The shorter
scale (24.75 inch) will make them feel slinkier than usual when compared to
your Fender.
Cheers

I was wondering why the world they'd put 9's on it but I figured it's so the
nut starts off life as tight as possible and people can change string size
and adjust the slots as they see fit, post purchase. Much easier to remove
material from the slots that to replace it right?

You think 10's would help with the Jazz tone I'm chasing? I was thinking
maybe 11 flatwounds but maybe I shouldn't get too carried away all at once.
lol

And you're right about that slinky feel, the 9's on this bend like butta,
even if you aren't wanting to do a bend.

This is my first humbucker guitar. I gotta say it's a joy to plug into the
Blues Jr and power up with the volume down on the Guitar and hear....
Nothing...

joe

[Clutch]

"JoeT" <***@today> wrote in message news:YuWdnRZHN9yW3ZXfRVn-***@comcast.com...
<snip>

Post by JoeT
I was wondering why the world they'd put 9's on it but I figured it's so the
nut starts off life as tight as possible and people can change string size
and adjust the slots as they see fit, post purchase. Much easier to remove
material from the slots that to replace it right?

Could be they've started rolling out the 9's, or maybe the place you bought
it from put a fresh set on. Who knows. I know I accidently put 9's on an
Ibanez Artcore I had last year, and they stayed on for about 30 minutes.
Couldn't stand it. I was entertaining a Burns Brian May just for messing
around at the house with (all those switching options, and the Burns
Tri-sonics.. oh yeah), and then found out they are a 24" scale and can only
be set up with 9's. I dunno how May does it. More power to him.

Post by JoeT
You think 10's would help with the Jazz tone I'm chasing? I was thinking
maybe 11 flatwounds but maybe I shouldn't get too carried away all at once.
lol

There are so many string options out there now. Flat, half flat, mixed gauge
sets with light tops and heavy bottoms, or heavy tops and light bottoms...
Experiment and check it out some. I found the Artcores I had (AF75D and
AS73) were great with 10's but I was going for a more blues/rock kind of a
vibe with both of them. The 11's might be more where it's at for you though.
A cheap way to experiment is www.webstrings.com decent strings at a great
price with free delivery in the US on orders over $12. A good selection of
mixed gauges and flats.

Post by JoeT
And you're right about that slinky feel, the 9's on this bend like butta,
even if you aren't wanting to do a bend.
This is my first humbucker guitar. I gotta say it's a joy to plug into the
Blues Jr and power up with the volume down on the Guitar and hear....
Nothing...
joe

My strat has EMG's because I couldn't stand the hum. I just picked up a
guitar with P90's.. ahh there's not like that 60 cycle hum with some high
gain thrown on it..

Those Artcore pickups can be almost Gretsch like with a bit more chime and
midrange than say Gibson PAF's but really not either. Might work for you,
might not. They are okay for their price point, but a serious replacement
pickup would really put that guitar over the top. They are a great platform
to build from when working with a tight budget. I only sold mine because I
was going after some discontinued Guilds and figured they could be replaced
the easiest.

Congrats on the new guitar!

[JoeT]

Post by Clutch
<snip>

Post by JoeT
I was wondering why the world they'd put 9's on it but I figured it's so

the

Post by JoeT
nut starts off life as tight as possible and people can change string size
and adjust the slots as they see fit, post purchase. Much easier to remove
material from the slots that to replace it right?

Could be they've started rolling out the 9's, or maybe the place you bought
it from put a fresh set on. Who knows. I know I accidently put 9's on an
Ibanez Artcore I had last year, and they stayed on for about 30 minutes.
Couldn't stand it. I was entertaining a Burns Brian May just for messing
around at the house with (all those switching options, and the Burns
Tri-sonics.. oh yeah), and then found out they are a 24" scale and can only
be set up with 9's. I dunno how May does it. More power to him.

Post by JoeT
You think 10's would help with the Jazz tone I'm chasing? I was thinking
maybe 11 flatwounds but maybe I shouldn't get too carried away all at

once.

Post by JoeT
lol

There are so many string options out there now. Flat, half flat, mixed gauge
sets with light tops and heavy bottoms, or heavy tops and light bottoms...
Experiment and check it out some. I found the Artcores I had (AF75D and
AS73) were great with 10's but I was going for a more blues/rock kind of a
vibe with both of them. The 11's might be more where it's at for you though.
A cheap way to experiment is www.webstrings.com decent strings at a great
price with free delivery in the US on orders over $12. A good selection of
mixed gauges and flats.

Post by JoeT
And you're right about that slinky feel, the 9's on this bend like butta,
even if you aren't wanting to do a bend.
This is my first humbucker guitar. I gotta say it's a joy to plug into the
Blues Jr and power up with the volume down on the Guitar and hear....
Nothing...
joe

My strat has EMG's because I couldn't stand the hum. I just picked up a
guitar with P90's.. ahh there's not like that 60 cycle hum with some high
gain thrown on it..
Those Artcore pickups can be almost Gretsch like with a bit more chime and
midrange than say Gibson PAF's but really not either. Might work for you,
might not. They are okay for their price point, but a serious replacement
pickup would really put that guitar over the top. They are a great platform
to build from when working with a tight budget. I only sold mine because I
was going after some discontinued Guilds and figured they could be replaced
the easiest.
Congrats on the new guitar!

Well thank you very much for all that input! Yes I am very happy to have
gone ahead and taken the leap. What I didn't figure on was the immediate
desire to "upgrade" not only the Artcore but my Strat as well! I think I'm
set for guitars for some time to come... lol
And thanks for the link to webstrings.

joe

[Clutch]

Post by JoeT

Post by Clutch
<snip>

Post by JoeT
I was wondering why the world they'd put 9's on it but I figured it's so

the

Post by JoeT
nut starts off life as tight as possible and people can change string size
and adjust the slots as they see fit, post purchase. Much easier to remove
material from the slots that to replace it right?

Could be they've started rolling out the 9's, or maybe the place you bought
it from put a fresh set on. Who knows. I know I accidently put 9's on an
Ibanez Artcore I had last year, and they stayed on for about 30 minutes.
Couldn't stand it. I was entertaining a Burns Brian May just for messing
around at the house with (all those switching options, and the Burns
Tri-sonics.. oh yeah), and then found out they are a 24" scale and can only
be set up with 9's. I dunno how May does it. More power to him.

Post by JoeT
You think 10's would help with the Jazz tone I'm chasing? I was thinking
maybe 11 flatwounds but maybe I shouldn't get too carried away all at

once.

Post by JoeT
lol

There are so many string options out there now. Flat, half flat, mixed gauge
sets with light tops and heavy bottoms, or heavy tops and light bottoms...
Experiment and check it out some. I found the Artcores I had (AF75D and
AS73) were great with 10's but I was going for a more blues/rock kind of a
vibe with both of them. The 11's might be more where it's at for you though.
A cheap way to experiment is www.webstrings.com decent strings at a great
price with free delivery in the US on orders over $12. A good selection of
mixed gauges and flats.

Post by JoeT
And you're right about that slinky feel, the 9's on this bend like butta,
even if you aren't wanting to do a bend.
This is my first humbucker guitar. I gotta say it's a joy to plug into the
Blues Jr and power up with the volume down on the Guitar and hear....
Nothing...
joe

My strat has EMG's because I couldn't stand the hum. I just picked up a
guitar with P90's.. ahh there's not like that 60 cycle hum with some high
gain thrown on it..
Those Artcore pickups can be almost Gretsch like with a bit more chime and
midrange than say Gibson PAF's but really not either. Might work for you,
might not. They are okay for their price point, but a serious replacement
pickup would really put that guitar over the top. They are a great platform
to build from when working with a tight budget. I only sold mine because I
was going after some discontinued Guilds and figured they could be replaced
the easiest.
Congrats on the new guitar!

Well thank you very much for all that input! Yes I am very happy to have
gone ahead and taken the leap. What I didn't figure on was the immediate
desire to "upgrade" not only the Artcore but my Strat as well! I think I'm
set for guitars for some time to come... lol
And thanks for the link to webstrings.
joe

Tinkering is often an indicator to early on-set GAS (Gear Acquisition
Syndrome). I have a lifetime affliction. I do not believe any cure exists..
with the sole possible exception of marriage. That seems to cure a lot of
people.

Thinking your set for guitars for a while is obviously denial. Tomorrow a
tele will call you when you pass a music store.

Ask Jim Anable about GAS (or just a summary of his gear). He's a classic
case :)

Cheers!

[Remove NOSPAM to reply]

Post by JoeT
This also makes me wonder how easy it
might be to accidentally move the bridge
while playing but I guess time will tell!

I've got a '50s Kay archtop acoustic with a moveable bridge...I took it
on a camping trip and my brother played it. He's pretty aggressive with
his right hand and he knocked that thing completely out of whack without
realizing how he'd done it. It was so funny...he's jamming along and
then Boom!!!...everything's out of tune. That bridge was almost
sideways, and I was cracking up big time.

My guitar's so old that there are marks (I say it gives it some
character) all over the top, so I just have a couple of pencil lines
where the bridge is supposed to be. I'm not sure you want to do that on
your new guitar, though. :)

~Rich
See my gear at the link!
http://community.webtv.net/one4rich/RichsGuitarPage