Ibanez Montage? (Acoustic Electric)

[Mongo]

Somebody should PLEK one of these things and let us know how it comes out.

I'll offer mine for the procedure if someone wants to cover the expenses. 

[creekhed]

I don't think a PLEK job would be worth the cash on this particular instrument unless they came up with a computer program to set up the F.A.S.T. neck adjustment.

[Mongo]

The PLEK requires manual intervention on the adjustments (action, intonation, truss) according to the results of its analysis. I would expect the FAST to be just another adjustment to be done according to the scans. Once the best angle was determined relative to the bridge height and the relief is set, then the cutters do their magic....

Granted, I don't expect to ever have an opportunity to one of my guitars on a PLEK.

[gpercy1]

Notch filters-according to the instruction sheet I got (I posted it in the Ibanez.com forum for Montage) dialing the notch filters all the way counterclockwise turns them off...

[gpercy1]

Hey Mongo (not his real name...)

Do you have any specifics on how to adjust the FAST neck? What does each of the Hex nuts do (big one and little one?) All it says on the instruction sheet is to have it adjusted professionally, which sounds more SLOW than FAST....

Thanks in advance,

[jeffsailor]

The large nut secures the neck to the body (don't loosen under string tension). The smaller inset nut acts as a micro-tilt.

js

[Mongo]

Do you have any specifics on how to adjust the FAST neck? What does each of the Hex nuts do (big one and little one?) All it says on the instruction sheet is to have it adjusted professionally, which sounds more SLOW than FAST....

It's actually a pretty simple system. I should have taken some pics when I had the neck off. Basically, the neck has a bracket that hooks into a bracket in the neck pocket. This is near the heel end of the neck where it enters the body. The neck pivots on this bracket. The large bolt is used to lock the neck tightly into the body. The small hole has a set screw way down in the hole that is used to raise/lower the end of the neck. This changes the angle of the neck as it pivots on the bracket.

What I did was loosened up all of the strings and then put a capo on them around the 5th fret. This kept them from unwinding from the tuners. I then pulled all of the pins out of the bridge. I coiled up the strings together so they were neatly near the capo. At that point I loosened and removed the large bolt from the back of the body. The neck came right off in my hand. I could then see exactly what was involved in the FAST system. Its value is in its simplicity.

Adjusting the set screw allows for easy changes to the neck angle which affects the action. I don't expect to be dinkering with this alot. I see it as another tool for getting a good setup. A setup will dial in the action properly by setting the bridge height but this can give an angle option not available on fixed neck guitars.

I put it all back together (no changes made to the set screw) and the neck was exactly the same as before I disassembled it. I think you could look at yours the next time you change the strings with little worry about effecting its adjustment. Or just capo the strings like I did and take a gander now.

I spent some time trying different adjustments on the neck just to see the effect it had. Each time I first backed off all of the string tension, then loosened the locking bolt. I gave the set screw a 1/4 turn clockwise to raise the neck height. I then tightened up the lock bolt and tuned the guitar up to pitch. It didn't take much to get the strings right down on the fretboard. Too low to be playable. I loosened it all up again and tried some adjustments going counterclockwise with the set screw (tightening the lock bolt and tuning back up to pitch each time). I was able to find a setting that gave me the lowest action possible without buzzing any fretted notes.

It's really as simple as that. The neck pivots on a bracket and the height is adjusted by the set screw.

I'll take some pics the next time I pull the strings off.

[Mongo]

Notch filters-according to the instruction sheet I got (I posted it in the Ibanez.com forum for Montage) dialing the notch filters all the way counterclockwise turns them off...

Thanks for posting the instruction sheet.
I hope eventually someone posts a good scanned copy of it.
Ibanez DEFINITELY should have included that with the guitar.

I see where the notch filters say the the "Minimum position is Bypass". That's good to know. I was specifically wondering about the value of the Phase switch. I see now that it is intended as a first effort in order to counter feedback, prior to notching any frequencies.

What I thought was most interesting was that the Mixed output also incorporates an amplifier cabinet simulator in the circuit. Considering the diversity of cabinet profiles available, that must have been a fun task to finalize a decision on...

[Mongo]

Here's some excerpts from an Ibby catalog I found on their web site.
The full catalogs are to big to attach here, but here's a link to them.
http://www.ibanez.com/catalogs/

There's also some references to the Montage in the '2008 Ibanez Mini Sampler (English)' catalog.
They omit the KOA MSC750NT in that one.

The jpg's are from the '2008 Acoustic Guitars & Basses' catalog.

[creekhed]

Just got my 650VV...
I LOVE this guitar. For the money these guitars are a STEAL!

[stew3003]

I bought my Montage (vintage violin 650VV) two weeks ago from a small music store in Houston, Tx. It was the only one they had ...and I think the only Montage in Houston. By the way, it did not come with a case? The neck intonation was perfect, but the action was a little high and there was a little too much bow in the neck. I took the guitar immediately to a guitar luthier and had it set up with D'Addario EXP15 (extended play phosphor bronze acoustic guitar strings 10s - .010). I wanted the action of these lighter strings; 10s rather than the 12s the guitar came with. Adjusting the truss bar took the bow out of the neck, also the nut was cut down and the nut slots cut deeper. The truss bar and nut adjustments greatly improved the action. All of this cost me $25. I already had the strings. So far I love the variety of sounds from the guitar and the outstanding looks. . I've used it once "live" at my church and it sounded great. There was a little humm with the distortion, but the notch filters took most of it out. 

MONGO ..I see you you used the FAST (Fast action setup technology). I see the large bolt with allen (hex) in the center, on the back of the guitar..  That seem to just loosen or tighten the neck.  Where is the screw to adjust the action?
 
GPERCY.. DR Zebras - how do the sound of these compare to the D'Addarios EXPs?

[Mongo]

MONGO ..I see you you used the FAST (Fast action setup technology). I see the large bolt with allen (hex) in the center, on the back of the guitar..  That seem to just loosen or tighten the neck.  Where is the screw to adjust the action?

Stew,

Very close to the large allan bolt that locks the neck in place, there is a small hole (with the small black plug). The small allan wrench provided goes down deep into that smaller hole to turn a small set screw which adjusts the pivot angle. Be sure the string tension is backed off and then loosen the locking bolt. At that point you can turn the small set screw (clockwise to raise the neck/lower the string height, or, counterclockwise to lower the neck/raise the string height).

[stew3003]

OK, I see the small hole.  No plug in mine.  Probably someone removed it when it was on display in the store.  .  Also, I was not provided an allen wrench.  However, I tried the smallest one in my tool kit (see picture) and it seems to fit.  What did you set the action at the 14 th fret. I'm at ~1/8". THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.

[Mongo]

I haven't really dialed in the action yet. I just set it so it was at it's best. The guitar still needs an initial setup, but I have yet to get a case. It's staying home until It can travel safely.

I pulled the plug out of mine since I expect it would get lost on it's first outing.

[stew3003]

I had an Epiphone 335 Hardshell Case I bought from Musician's Friend for $69 a while back for an Oscar Schmidt OE-30.  I think the cases are $89 now.  I had to make a cut in the lining, take out the padding (styrofoam) under the padded wedge and stitch up the lining.  After that it fit the Montage perfect.