1999 DRS Ibanez RG480AH Overhaul

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Ibanez RG480AH Overhaul

Ibanez RG480AH | Owner's Demo

Introduction

This 1999 MIJ RG480AH [Serial Number F9924157] was sent in by owner Cikgu Shahrin for an overhaul. Listed below are some stock specifications, courtesy of the Ibanez Wiki.

Body

Finish: DRS [Deep Red Sunburst] 

Body Type: Solid body

Body Material: Ash

Neck Joint: AANJ

Bridge: Takeuchi TRS

Hardware Color: Black

Neck

Neck Type: Wizard

Neck Material: 1-piece maple

Fretboard Material: Rosewood

Fretboard inlays: Pearl dot

Frets: 24, jumbo

Nut: Top-Lok III

Electronics

Pickup Configuration: HSH

Bridge Pickup: Ibanez V6F

Middle Pickup: Ibanez RTS

Neck Pickup: Ibanez V6F

Master Volume Control

Master Tone Control

Five-Way Lever Pickup Selector Switch

Work Done

Work done on this guitar included a thorough clean and polish, hardware servicing, body repairs; and fret dressing. The stock electronics were also upgraded to Alpha A500K pots and a Neutrik NYS229 output jack.

Made in Japan | Serial Number F9924157

Hardware Disassembled for Servicing

Takeuchi TRS Tremolo Bridge

Takeuchi TRS Disassembled for Servicing

Hardware soaking in Multi Lube

Stock Electronics Desoldered

Wiring in Upgraded Components

Rewiring Completed

Fret Dressing in Progress

Good to Go

Cikgu Shahrin trying out his RG480AH

RC Stromm Offset Solidbody | Part Two

◀ Part One

Electronics Issues 

In Part One, we talked about neck-related issues on this RC Stromm Offset Solidbody. Now, let's take a look at electronics issues. This guitar showed obvious signs of saltwater corrosion, a very common malady for us east coast players. While the pickups were still working, control cavity components needed to be replaced. And so, a full rewire was effected with Alpha A500K pots, a generic toggle switch; and barrel output jack.

Corroded Control Cavity Components

Toggle Switch

Volume and Tone Pots

New Toggle Switch

New Control Cavity Components

RC Stromm Offset Solidbody | Part One

Part Two ▶

Neck Issues 

This RC Stromm Offset Solidbody was sent in for two reasons: it was barely playable and the electronics were shot. Let's talk about the first issue, then. Sighting down the headstock revealed that the plane of the fretboard was not parallel with that of the body. It seemed to slant in one direction [see first picture]. The owner had tried to correct this imbalance by adjusting the height of the saddles, resulting in painfully high action.

After carefully evaluating the condition of the neck, fretboard and frets; I reckoned that modifying the lateral plane of the neck heel might just do the trick. And so, I worked on crafting a suitable tapered neck heel shim from chengal wood. This was a lengthy and laborious process; but I finally managed to get the fretboard parallel with the body [see last picture]. That's all for this post. In Part Two, we'll talk about electronics issues.

Slanted Fretboard

Gluing on the Neck Heel Shim

Clamps Removed

Planing the Shim

Shim after Sanding

Neck Screw Holes Drilled

Neck Reattached

Problem Fixed

RC Stromm T-Style Thinline

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RC Stromm T-Style Thinline

RC Stromm T-Style Thinline | Audio Samples

RC Stromm T-Style Thinline | Owner's Demo

The RC Stromm T-Style Thinline featured in this post came in for some fretwork, headstock mod, setup; as well as an electronics upgrade. Fretwork was focused on rounding off sharp fret ends. Electronics upgrades included swapping the stock pickups for a set taken from a Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster. Besides this, pots were upgraded to Alpha A250Ks, the tone cap to a 0.022uF K73-16, selector switch to an Oak Grigsby; and output jack to a Switchcraft. Sadly, as the budget was insufficient for a full shielding job, all I could do was add under-pickguard copper foil shielding; on the house.

Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster Pickups

Neck Pickup Installed

Bridge Pickup Installed

Enlarging the Control Cavity

New Wiring and Electronics

A Closer View

Switchcraft Output Jack

Rewiring Completed

Fret End Work in Progress

Sharp Fret Ends Rounded Off

Headstock as Received

Sanded Down to Bare Wood

After a Couple Coats of Tru-Oil

Good to Go