Ibanez JEM Edge Pro goes sharp above 12th fret?

[Axl H]

Hi bros,

My brother in law has a problem with his Ibanez JEM 7VWH. It has a Edge Pro trem.

When the guitar is in tune, all the bass strings match up, from open fret to 24th fret.

But when you play it on the G or B string, above the 12th fret, it goes sharp, but it isnt sharp as in tuner sharp. Imagine when you do a octave chord - say 5th fret a string, 7th fret g string - if the strings arent in tune, it makes a distinctive sound, almost like a vibrato effect. This is what happens when you play single notes on the G and B strings above the 12th fret on his JEM. It has that weird sound, where you can hear it being out of tune and doing that wobbly effect, even though it is just a single note.

Does anyone have a idea on how to correct this?

Thanks

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Ibanez JEM Edge Pro goes sharp above 12th fret?

Most people set intonation adjustments by comparing the fretted and harmonic notes at the twelfth fret.

If the notes are not "tuner sharp" then either the tuner is not very sensitive or there is something else going on.

On any floating vibrato, string tension is in constant opposition to vibrato spring tension. Heavy handed playing will put the pitches out. Next, unless you take steps to dampen them, there are sympathetic resonances going on in the vibrato springs themselves. These will be triggered by the vibrating strings. Check the condition of the knife edges and pivot posts.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Ibanez JEM Edge Pro goes sharp above 12th fret?

Does anyone have a idea on how to correct this?

Unless I can actually hear, see and touch the guitar in person, there is no way I could help you out.

The wobbly effect is called beating. The right diagnose means finding out where the secondary "offending" sound wave, that causes this phenomenon, comes from. Springs are one good guess.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Ibanez JEM Edge Pro goes sharp above 12th fret?

I wouldn't be surprised if it is the pickups being too close to the strings, especially the middle single coil. The magnetism can cause this beating as the string is basically being pulled. As you go up the fretboard the strings get closer to the pickups. The bass strings have more mass and may not exhibit the quality like the trebles do. Tell him to lower the pickups a bit and see if anything changes.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: Ibanez JEM Edge Pro goes sharp above 12th fret?

^^ Agree. Most Jems I've seen have the single fairly low, pretty much flush with the scratchplate. The Evolution single is a 12k A5 pup, so, pretty strong; and if you use light strings, the more likely they'll be bent by the magnetic field, causing the warbling/beating.

Setup on Steve Vai's Evo.