Putting a Lo-pro 7 on a fixed bridge Ibanez, worth it?

[beyondcosmos]

Over the last couple of years I've wondered if it would be worth it to retrofit a Lo-Pro to any of the following guitars:

-Ibanez RGR752AHBF (ash body + darker fretboard + reverse headstock = tasty combination)
-Ibanez RG8527FX
-Ibanez XPT707FX

With that third one I know there would be a necessary fretboard re-radius needed as the Indonesian models come with a 400mm radius, not prestige-level 430mm radius. That being said, I've seen pictures floating around of what I believe to be this exact model of the Xiphos with either a Lo-Pro 7 or an Edge Pro 7 (both of which are built for a 430mm fretboard).

Is this worth throwing time and money at? I don't have the equipment to do it myself so I'd be taking it or shipping it to someone patient enough to do the job for me.

 

[bostjan]

IMO, no. What's your expected budget for this?!

 

[tedtan]

Also, do you really use a trem? I mean like Jeff Beck or Steve Vai? If it’s not that integral a part of your playing, its probably not worth the effort or expense.

 

[beyondcosmos]

Definitely have started using it more over the last 3 or 4 years but not to the level of those guys.

 

[beyondcosmos]

Since the main one that I was considering was the Xiphos 7, I'll answer specifically to this. I know it would be in excess of what that guitar originally MSRP'd for. I'm not thirsting over it, it's just an idea I've floated in the past. I also know that the odds of me becoming wealthy enough to own 10 Ferraris are stronger than the odds of Ibanez ever producing a Prestige 7 that has both a thru-neck design + a Lo-Pro 7 while not being some artist-exclusive model or ridiculously overpriced model. I checked what they were asking for that thru-neck 50th Anniversary RGA7 and while I think it's an amazing guitar, I have a hard time believing it's truly worth that much.

tl; dr, it's a ridiculous idea but still more feasible than Ibanez doing it themselves for normal customers.

 

[beyondcosmos]

Whoops... was meaning to reply to first tedtan and then bostjan with those comments.

 

[ZXIIIT]

It's worth it to you if you're going to use it and enjoy it, I'm also looking at doing the same thing on my own with a $30 no brand 7-string floating tremolo, so might be a bit biased here lol.

Cost-wise, unless you already have a donor LoPro, they are selling from about $250 - $300 just for the tremolo, locking nut is an additional $40 if you get an Ibanez one (I would get a Kahler one) added to the cost of paying a shop for routing the cavity/locking nut, installing the tremolo and setting it up, ends up being a bit.

There have been people on this forum that have converted fully floating tremolo-equipped guitars to hardtails, so it depends on how much you like the guitar,

 

[nickgray]

The price of trem + work is going to be $700-800 I think, maybe even a bit more. Just get a used Prestige.

 

[beyondcosmos]

The price of trem + work is going to be $700-800 I think, maybe even a bit more. Just get a used Prestige.

I'm just after something as similar as possible to a thru-neck Prestige 7. It's a bit of an unhealthy fixation for me, but it is what it is. I've owned a number of used Prestige 7s, truly my favorite spec on a guitar minus the bolt-neck. I once had a Jackson SLAT3-7 (one of the last batches of guitars from the Japanese factory before they shut it down in like, 2009/2010) and I was considering having its fretboard shaved down to either 16" or 17". To me, that's the closest thing possible to a thru-neck Prestige 7 with a double-locking trem that I could get without spending money on a full custom.

I understand it's a huge case of cherry picking but hey..... everyone's got their weird thing.

Just to explain where my thinking is coming from: I've seen that original Xiphos 7 on sale for under $800 at different times in the past, so even having that price on top of the cost of the tremolo package and work done would be a win in my eyes over what would likely cost close to $3,000 to have custom built by a boutique manufacturer.

 

[beyondcosmos]

The price of trem + work is going to be $700-800 I think, maybe even a bit more. Just get a used Prestige.

But to your point, the tried and true 'buy a used prestige' route really is one of the best solutions, I of all people should know based on how many times I've done it.

 

[Crash Dandicoot]

I fretboard swapped a 7620 for maple with offset dots. Totally illogical, unnecessary and costly. Very similar Prestiges with that spec exist even (now, anyways). Guess what? I have a really cool 7620 and I'd do it again.

If you really want it, go for it. You've acknowledged the costs and general negatives. If that doesn't deter you, make it happen. I'm a strong advocate for the 'fuck with your guitars and find out' approach - live your inner EVH.

 

[Thesius]

Yes carve that bitch up

 

[RevDrucifer]

If it’ll flick yer bean, do it up.

Not everything has to be cost effective or rational to everyone else. At first I thought you wanted to add a Lo-Pro to a guitar and fix the Lo-Pro in place like a fixed bridge, my answer would have been the same but it wouldn’t have been rational to me.

Sometimes a substitute or not exactly what you wanted just isn’t want you wanted and you won’t be satisfied until you do it. It’s entirely how worth it is to you.

I can tell you this from experience; a buddy offered to sell me his UV last year for $1200 and I passed because of the Edge Pro bridge. That was the last time I’ll ever have the chance to buy a UV for $1200 and I fucking passed on it for something I could have routed myself for a Lo-Pro and had one of my dream guitars.

Do it.

 

[MaxOfMetal]

Big mods like this are more about your skills, resources, and expectations.

Like, I have a handful of Lo-Pros just sitting around, a small shop to work in, and experience with this sort of guitar surgery, so I'd do it no problem if there was a guitar I felt needed a Lo-Pro (hint: it's all of them).

But if you're on a budget, don't have any tools, and haven't ever done anything like this it's going to be a bit more difficult than grabbing a six pack on a nice afternoon and going for it.

 

[Asdrael]

Those days I go by "if it puts a smile on your face just do it". It's very rare that a good fixed Ibanez model doesn't have a trem version though but I guess you found the few exceptions

If I remember correctly though, you could shim the LoPro saddles to have them match a different radius using the same shims as the locking nut shims, just cut down to size. So no need to touch the fretboard there if you want to avoid it. Just get the whole job done by a good luthier that knows his way around LoPros (just give him a LoPro guitar to set up and see the angle the trem ends up with... usually a telltale sign).

 

[Neon_Knight_]

I'd say your better off spending the money on another guitar, rather than modifying one of your existing guitars.

You shouldn't have any difficulty finding a used Prestige 7-string RG. If neck-thru is really important to you, and you like your Xiphos, a new XPTB720 is also a decent option.

 

[tedtan]

If it‘s truly your white whale, then maybe it’s worth the cost. But check out the XPTB720 linked above first, and if you end up going for it, make sure you find a luthier or tech that knows what he’s doing.

 

[aesthyrian]

No, not worth it. Don't let me stop you though.

 

[CapinCripes]

As much as I feel that the lopro is the single best fulcrum trem ever made and I love me some some stupid sticks. I'd only bother with a guitar that's already been trem routed. You may find you liked it better before because of the sheer mass of wood that comes out of the guitar. Not exactly reversible.

 

[ZXIIIT]

You could also use a ZR 7, that way you never have to replace any knife edges, I did it on a 1991 RG560, worked out well, sorry for the terrible video,