The Resurrection of Ernie

LazNovak

LazNovak

New member
Hey guys.

Here's another guitar that needs a bit of help. It's a 1990 Ibanez RG 570 body (basswood) with a custom, all maple Warmoth neck.

The neck is KILLER but needs new frets badly, it's almost fretless. I'm looking to go stainless steel.

The bridge (original) is blocked but I'd like to unblock it and upgrade it. I'm not sure which floyds are the "best".

The pickups are homemade by a friend of mine but they're really not that great so I'd like to change them all.

For a while I had the Al Di Meola in the bridge, a JB in the neck and stock middle.

So, what would you guys do if this were your guitar?

 
Re: The Resurrection of Ernie

It has an Edge bridge? Leave it, that's pretty much the best.

For the pickups, what are the current ones lacking, what amp are you playing through, and what style of music?
 
Re: The Resurrection of Ernie

lol The Resurrection of Ernie is actually an old Majesty (Dream Theater) instrumental.

Yeah, that's an old school edge. I always had problems with the bar being too loose in the socket.

These pickups are lacking everything. I don't know what he did but they're just not cutting it. He was an amateur at best. It was one of the first sets he made.

I play progressive metal. For recording I use LePou plugins with LeCab2 and various IRs. Live, it's a suped up, 50 watt, JCM800.
 
Re: The Resurrection of Ernie

I do have some familiarity with the LePou plugins (I use Le456 and Legion plenty). Any medium-hot pickup will work with the right IRs.

If the pickups are sounding a little thin, a Tone Zone in the bridge will thicken it up, and an Air Norton in the neck will balance pretty well. Steve's Special should also work pretty well. You could always go with one of the various Petrucci sets of course. I think I liked the D-Sonic the best out of all of them. (Although he did use a Steve's Special earlier.)

I do recommend trying an overdrive first though. TSE and Ignite both make some great free Tube Screamer VSTs, I use one of those on just about every track. You may just need to hit the amp a little harder.
 
Re: The Resurrection of Ernie

dominus said:
I do have some familiarity with the LePou plugins (I use Le456 and Legion plenty). Any medium-hot pickup will work with the right IRs.

If the pickups are sounding a little thin, a Tone Zone in the bridge will thicken it up, and an Air Norton in the neck will balance pretty well. Steve's Special should also work pretty well. You could always go with one of the various Petrucci sets of course. I think I liked the D-Sonic the best out of all of them. (Although he did use a Steve's Special earlier.)

I do recommend trying an overdrive first though. TSE and Ignite both make some great free Tube Screamer VSTs, I use one of those on just about every track. You may just need to hit the amp a little harder.
Click to expand...

I use the LeGion with a Tube Screamer plugin on leads. I have a JP6 so I'd rather do something different with this one. And I have a Jackson Soloist with an Air Zone and Air Norton which sound awesome through the 800.

What Duncans would you recommend?
 
Re: The Resurrection of Ernie

The thing is, you'll be hard pressed to find a better trem at a comfortable price.
 
Re: The Resurrection of Ernie

I used the Tone Wizard from the SD web-site using your specs and here are the options it gave:

Bridge: TB-14 Custom 5
SH-13 Dimebucker

Middle: SSL-5 Custom Staggered
SSL-4 Quarter-Pound Flat

Neck: SH-1N '59 Model
SHPG-1N Pearly Gates
 
Re: The Resurrection of Ernie

Black Winter set with a Quarter Pound in the middle. If the frets are shot in the neck, why not just get another Warmoth neck from their discount bin?
 
Re: The Resurrection of Ernie

Demanic said:
Black Winter set with a Quarter Pound in the middle. If the frets are shot in the neck, why not just get another Warmoth neck from their discount bin?
Click to expand...

True, compare the price between that and a refret. Of course if the neck itself is a keeper then said point is moot.
 
Re: The Resurrection of Ernie

Demanic said:
Black Winter set with a Quarter Pound in the middle. If the frets are shot in the neck, why not just get another Warmoth neck from their discount bin?
Click to expand...

I like the sound of that for the pickups but the neck is amazing and it's custom to my specs. I actually called Warmoth and told them what I wanted.
So, it's kind of like my signature neck lol.

The Tone Wizard is pretty cool but should give more options.

If I can't find a better trem at a comfortable price what is a better (best) trem at an uncomfortable price?
 
Re: The Resurrection of Ernie

Ibanez bars have little white plastic collars on them, and they get worn over time. You can replace them or just order a new bar.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/ibanez-2le21b-tremolo-arm

You can also do this as a temp fix. Remove the plastic collars, paint a little fingernail polish in the grove (where the collar goes), and then reinstall the collars. The polish will slightly increase the bar diameter there, and make the fit a bit more snug.

Also make sure the bar receiver has not loosened over the years.
 
Re: The Resurrection of Ernie

I actually lost the bar. I'll just order a new one and have the guitar set up and see how I like it.
 
Re: The Resurrection of Ernie

It would look awesome with a new gotoh and a custom pickguard with a HS configuration. I would do a mint graphic on it that would compliment the maple fretboard.
 
Re: The Resurrection of Ernie

That is an excellent bridge, there's no need to replace it. Looks like a pretty cool axe.
 
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