Resurrecting an Ibanez GSA60

[Blakeman]

Well, I had an old Ibanez GSA60 sitting around my house collecting dust, and I figured I might as well try to turn it into something useful.
I didn't mind the way it played, but I didn't really like the way it looked our sounded.
As a result, I decided I wanted to replace most of the hardware and electronics, and give it a refinish.

I've never done anything like this before, so it's gonna be a good learning experience for me, I think.

I began on the refinish about two days ago, got it sanded down and begun the staining today. So far so good.
Here's some pictures:

Full shot of the guitar before doing anything to it:


Body with hardware and electronics removed:


Sanded down body:


First coat of stain:



P.S. Help me decide which pickups to choose for it here: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?256132-Pickup-Suggestions-for-a-HSS-Ibanez

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Resurrecting an Ibanez GSA60

I am going to follow this thread very Closely. I have SA 120 that i put a JB JAZZ set. What tone are you looking at? And All the best, have fun, and don't RUSH. I did a refinish on my old cheapo Flying V a few months back. I posted that out here. How many piece is that body btw?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Resurrecting an Ibanez GSA60

Interesting project. That cheap vibrato bridge has to go. Check the position of the vibrato pivot point inserts relative to the centre line of the guitar body.

 

[Blakeman]

Re: Resurrecting an Ibanez GSA60

I am going to follow this thread very Closely. I have SA 120 that i put a JB JAZZ set. What tone are you looking at? And All the best, have fun, and don't RUSH. I did a refinish on my old cheapo Flying V a few months back. I posted that out here. How many piece is that body btw?

I play prog/tech metal. Huge fan of bands like The Contortionist, The Safety Fire, Between The Buried And Me etc etc.
Thanks man, I don't plan to rush it. It's been pretty fun so far.
Are you asking how many pieces of wood are joined in the body? Looks like 2 as far as I can tell. Could be 3. I'm sure the join lines will be more apparent as I come closer to finishing the finish.

Interesting project. That cheap vibrato bridge has to go. Check the position of the vibrato pivot point inserts relative to the centre line of the guitar body.

I totally agree on the bridge man. I was actually considering an Evertune, but it'd be a bit much for me to install myself I think.
If I did go down that way, I'm sure I could get someone to install it for me locally around here.
If I don't roll with an Evertune, I'm not sure what else I'd get.

 

[Blakeman]

Re: Resurrecting an Ibanez GSA60

Bit of an update on this build.
I've finished the finish (pics to come)
Also figured out what I'm going to do for the bridge. I'm going to buy a Schaller Vintage Tremolo which has matching dimensions (where it matters, anyway) to the crappy bridge that was in this thing.
It'd be too difficult to explain in text, but I'm going to turn it into an actual fixed bridge without the need for the claw, springs, trem block etc. No routing or woodwork needed either.
I've worked out that the top of the bridge will actually cover up the big offset hole in the body quite nicely and it will look completely natural.
I'll take some pictures as I'm installing it all explaining how and what I'm doing.

 

[Artie]

Re: Resurrecting an Ibanez GSA60

I'm going to keep an eye on this too. It might inspire me to finish my own GSA60 project. Yours definitely started off in life better than mine:

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Resurrecting an Ibanez GSA60

I am very interested with what you do with the bridge, and how it works out. I love these Ibby SA series.

 

[Blakeman]

Re: Resurrecting an Ibanez GSA60

So it's been a while since I've updated this thread.
I haven't been able to get any of the hardware for it yet, still waiting to have some
spare spending money. However, I did complete the finish a long time ago, so
I'll post some pics. Pretty damn happy with how it turned out in the end to be honest.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Resurrecting an Ibanez GSA60

Looks very Nice. I like it. As I said before go slow and enjoy it. don't rush.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Resurrecting an Ibanez GSA60

looks way better... good job!

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Resurrecting an Ibanez GSA60

Right on, that looks pretty good! Is that basswood? Good to see that knot isn't really visible anymore.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Resurrecting an Ibanez GSA60

They are agathis Joe.

That was actually my first guitar but I sold it because it was just so dead sounding. Not saying all of them were like that, just mine. How do you like the neck man?

Also, that finish is unbelievable. I love it. Nice work.

 

[Blakeman]

Re: Resurrecting an Ibanez GSA60

Thanks for the kind words guys!
They are indeed Agathis. Not the best tonewood from what I've read and experienced, but I never remember this sounding dead.
In any case, replacing all the hardware and giving it a completely new set of pickups will probably breathe a lot of new life into this axe.

I really like the neck Andrew. It feels pretty similar to other Ibanez necks that I've played - relatively thin.

I plan on getting an Ibanez decal for the headstock, sticking it down and adding another layer of gloss finish, I think. That way it doesn't look like a brand-less guitar.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Resurrecting an Ibanez GSA60

Why not make your own decal? It is fun and you can do that while waiting for stuff to arrive.

 

[CzxCz]

Re: Resurrecting an Ibanez GSA60

What did product did you use in staining the body? Looks awesome!

 

[CookSDR]

Re: Resurrecting an Ibanez GSA60

Looks good man!

 

[Wattage]

Re: Resurrecting an Ibanez GSA60

that looks really good

 

[Dimeboy]

Re: Resurrecting an Ibanez GSA60

Well, I had an old Ibanez GSA60 sitting around my house collecting dust, and I figured I might as well try to turn it into something useful.
I didn't mind the way it played, but I didn't really like the way it looked our sounded.
As a result, I decided I wanted to replace most of the hardware and electronics, and give it a refinish.


P.S. Help me decide which pickups to choose for it here: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?256132-Pickup-Suggestions-for-a-HSS-Ibanez

((((((Hey would an active pickup;Ahb-1 blackout go with this on the brigde)))
I ve been thinking to change the middle and bridge pick up too