2007 Ibanez GRG270 | Part 5

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Mismatched Fretboard and Bridge Radius

This GRG270 features a Floyd Rose-licensed double-locking tremolo bridge. The owner told me that he'd had the original locking nut replaced at a local music store. Underneath this were makeshift cardboard shims. 

Good to know that nowadays we don't have to resort to cardboard anymore, as the Japanese have come up with brass shims of various thicknesses. I also noticed that one of the tremolo springs was deformed and needed to be replaced.

The fretboard radius on this GRG270 was measured at 16 inches. Strangely enough, the curve of the Floyd Rose saddles did not match this. String height was wildly inconsistent. For example, the the High E and D saddles were at the same height. 

Checking the numbers on the bottom of each saddle confirmed my suspicion that someone had incorrectly installed the saddles. The correct saddle/string configuration would be 1/High E, 2/B, 3/G, 3/D, 2/A and 1/Low E. After dismantling the Floyd Rose and reinstalling the saddles in the correct configuration, I'm pleased to say that the curve of the saddles now matches that of the fretboard. 

Cardboard Locking Nut Shims

Japanese Locking Nut Brass Shims

Deformed Tremolo Spring

16" Fretboard Radius

Irregular Saddle Curve

Dismantling the Floyd Rose

Correct Saddle Configuration

Saddle Curve is now 16"