Why won't Ibanez send Tuning Machines...

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Author Message   Garyjg Username: Garyjg Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Saturday, August 11, 2007 - 2:47 pm:    I have an Artcore AF 85 which I am "goldifying." It's a beautiful antique violin finish, but the chrome hardware didn't look right to me with that finish. I have replaced the hardware with gold colored parts. I also ordered (and received from Ibanez) an AF105 wooden tailpiece, which REALLY looks great on it! I now call it an Artcore AF85+++ All that's left to do is replace those nasty chrome tuners. Back in MAY I ordered a set of Artcore AF105 tuning machines through my local Guitar Center. I have repeatedly asked Guitar Center to check up on the order, since it STILL hasn't come in! Guitar Center says that Ibanez says they are waiting to "make" the parts. (It's now well into AUGUST!) I don't get it. Shouldn't a stock set of Ibanez machine heads be available??? I'd appreciate any clues on this. I know I could order another brand of tuning machines, but I really prefer to use Ibanez parts. (For one thing, it appears that the screw holes for the AF105 tuners are the same as on my AF85.) Thanks, Gary   Daveh Username: Daveh Registered: 7-2005 Posted on Sunday, August 12, 2007 - 6:13 pm:    You're sure GC isn't yanking your chain? They've been known to do that.   Garyjg Username: Garyjg Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 1:40 am:    Well, I do know that there is only ONE thing that we can ever be sure about, and that is that we can never be sure about ANYTHING! They BETTER not be messing with me. They already took my credit card info...   Michaelkaufman Username: Michaelkaufman Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 3:13 pm:    Why not cancel and order directly from Ibanez? mk   Chucke99 Username: Chucke99 Registered: 2-2007 Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 4:27 pm:    I have tried contacting the folks at Ibanez.com to see if I can order some Velve-Tune Pearl tuners but I get absolutely no response from them. They also aren't listing much on the site for sale anyway. Is there a trick to getting their attention, Michael? If so, please share! -Chuck   Garyjg Username: Garyjg Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - 1:18 am:    Good point. My first efforts to obtain parts from Ibanez for my "goldification-beautification" project, was to go to the Ibanez web site to order the parts. You can get the parts numbers. You can see PICTURES of the parts. BUT I could not find any way to get any pricing for the parts, or to ORDER them. It seems that you must order from a retailer. Interestingly, within a few days after I posted this "complaint" about the lengthy wait for the parts I ordered, (and more-or-less PAID for with my credit card), I was contacted (today) by Guitar Center, and informed that the parts were in. Probably a coincidence. Anyway, my "goldification-beautification" project is now complete. As of tonight I have an Artcore that is somewhere between an AF85 and and AF105. At least in terms of appearance, it LOOKS GREAT! I do also like how it plays, and how it sounds. In fact, while I love the look of the AF105's, I find it really annoying when I try to play in the higher positions on one. The space in the cut-away area is too small, but at least on my AF85+++ the PICKGUARD doesn't make it worse! It clearly is not the same caliber as my Hofner New President guitar. For one thing, (aside from it's elegance, the overall quality and tone superiorities), my Hofner has 24 frets, and the body meets the neck at the 16th fret instead of the 14th. BUT, my Ibanez is pretty darned nice for the money, and it is SEXY! Thanks for your comments and suggestions. - Gary   Talajuha Username: Talajuha Registered: 11-2006 Posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - 6:02 am:    Did you change pups or just pup covers or were covers originally gold? How do you like ACHs (Super 58 Customs?)? Juha   Garyjg Username: Garyjg Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - 12:14 am:    I just replaced the covers from chrome to "gold." I like the pickups just fine. (I THINK they're ACHs). The fun part was "potting" them in wax! - Gary   Talajuha Username: Talajuha Registered: 11-2006 Posted on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - 5:56 am:    Thanks, Gary Now we all want to see pics of your AF85+++ ACHs (ACH1, ACH2, ArtCore Humbucker n) are on Artcores which are numbered 7n to 9n (less than 100), Artcore Customs (numbers >100) have Super 58 Customs (Custom 58). I think ACHs are good (enough) pickups for the price. I have an AGS83. Is there noticeable difference in sound after wax potting. Juha   Garyjg Username: Garyjg Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Thursday, August 16, 2007 - 12:24 am:    I'll be going out of town for several days, so I'll try to get to some pics of my Artcore when I get back. Regarding the potting, I think it is a good idea to actually immerse the entire coil, as well as to "seat" the pickup inside the cover, especially when it is a metal cover like mine. The complete process (I dunked the whole thing into melted wax to completely coat and "pad" all the pickup parts, including the coil) not only protects the pickup, but reduces the likelihood of unwanted sounds emanating from the pickups. As far as tone response, I suppose it can even help that in the sense that it makes everything more secure and efficient, so you can get the most from the pickup that is possible. You might want to check out this much more detailed, complete and informed discussion... http://www.guitarnuts.com/technical/electrical/ind ex.php - Gary   Garyjg Username: Garyjg Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Monday, August 20, 2007 - 7:48 pm:    Here's my sexy, goldified AF85+++ -Gary   Paulv Username: Paulv Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 8:05 am:    Gary: The mods you did look great. I'd love to put the wooden tailpiece on my 2000 AF-120. Would you know the mounting screw dimensions (center to center)? Also,the measurement from the top of the guitar down to each screwhole. I'd like to change the tailpiece without adding any extra holes. Thanks, Paul   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 11:41 am:    According to the Ibanez.com parts list they are in stock at Hoshino USA. 5AMH35AG 57.00 USD   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 11:44 am:    But it look sto me now that you got them so disregard the above post.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 12:10 pm:    Gary: Snazzy! Reminds me of my old AF200.   Garyjg Username: Garyjg Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 4:06 pm:    Thanks! I just wish I could upload a better pic resolution. It doesn't really capture the beauty of the woodgrain/finish on this guitar, and how nice the overall "chemistry" of the parts are now. It REALLY looks soooo much nicer with those tuning machines, gold hardware, and wood tailpiece. I almost replaced the knobs with the wooden ones from the AF105 also, but I decided that I like these ones just fine. About the tailpiece mount. See if this helps... I didn't measure from the actual screw holes. (I didn't take the tailpiece off.) I measured from the center of the + of the screw heads, as accurately as I could, but it isn't rocket science! When I mounted mine, I had to tweak the holes ever-so-slightly with a drill. Below is the link for checking out the parts numbers etc., and the parts info provided there... https://cs.hoshinogakki.co.jp/i-public/faces/Login00.jsp Hardware Tail piece Parts No. / 2TP1H04G Description / VT04 TAILPIECE ROSEWOOD/GOLD Note. Tailpiece VT-04 (Gold) - Gary   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 5:00 pm:    Gary: Send me your original image files, as an email attachment, and I'll take a look at them to see   Garyjg Username: Garyjg Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 12:02 am:    John, My computer is not set up to auto-link for e-mail when I click screen names here. I would need your address first. If you'd send yours to me, I'll then send image files with reply. Thanks, - Gary   Garyjg Username: Garyjg Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 12:17 am:    Oops, I just noticed in my graphic above, that I forgot to include the distances from the top of the guitar down to the screws! Again, I measured to the center of the + in the screw heads, and it is not as exact as it would be for the actual screw HOLES. Having said that, the center of the screw on the right side of the graphic is 8mm down from the top, while the screw on the left is actually 9mm from the top. (My tailpiece seems to be just a tiny bit angled, but you'd not notice until you measure the millimeters.) Both of the lower screws are 2cm lower than the upper ones. Hope this is good enough to help. - Gary   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 8:10 am:    Gary: I sent you a message. If it makes it thru (AOL can be a real pain about letting non-AOL emails thru) just reply with your files as attachments.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 12:10 pm:    Here's a larger picture of Gary's AF85:   Garyjg Username: Garyjg Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 1:37 pm:    Thanks for posting the larger pic! It's easier to see the nice grain and finish on this guitar. There's some spots that look like scratches in that pic, but the finish is actually "pristine." Those marks must be reflections from the room, since I used a flash for that shot... Thanks again, - Gary   Sweep Username: Sweep Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 7:34 pm:    Gary, That's a beautiful looking guitar. Great job. Sweep   Paulv Username: Paulv Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 8:16 am:    Gary: Thanks for the info. My AF-120 has three screws holding the tailpiece down and since I don't want to make any permanent changes the AF-105 tailpiece won't work. Again, beautiful job your guitar. Paul   Garyjg Username: Garyjg Registered: 8-2007 Posted on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 10:18 am:    Paul, If you really like that tailpiece, (like I do) maybe there is a way to install it withOUT changing the GUITAR screw holes. IF, two of your guitar's three holes align with the two holes in the tailpiece mount plate, it might be possible to sufficiently mount by simply adding a new hole to the TAILPIECE plate. That way you don't alter the guitar, but only the different tailpiece. It might bother some people to know that the holes aren't quite "normal" on the plate, but who normally sees the plate anyway??? For one thing, it usually is covered up by the strap mount. Just a thought. There are other nice wooden tailpieces. If you are willing to take the time, you should be able to find one that lines up... - Gary PS - My Hofner archtop also has three holes for the tailpiece plate, but even though it's a really nice piece of ebony, I (personally) don't think it'd look as nice on the AF120 as it does on the Hofner.

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