ShortScale.org

It's probably about time I make a thread for this.

Early last year I was buying something from my friend's shop and noticed this thing. I was in awe of how terrible it was... There was like an extra 1/4" layer of paint and/or nail polish covering it. It had warts you could push your fingernail into. The previous owner had even painted straight over the 5 way switch and back plates, they had masked off the neck pocket but painted so many layers and didn't remove the tape so it became hardened onto the wood.

Anyway I got the body for free, since the guitar was being parted out and IIRC he had already recouped his money on the sale of the Edge trem. He just wanted rid of this thing. Over last summer I just kept picking away at it with whatever I had around the house...under the top layer it was like textured glitter paint, then under that, red metallic, then under that, the factory black gloss paint. They thankfully never scuffed or primed the original paint. At one point I started to look for a neck - technically it would take a strat neck but due to the extended fingerboard there would be a weird gap. Most newer Ibanez necks have contoured heels that don't fit the same pocket. TBH I didn't really want this thing so just stashed it under a cabinet or something for a year.

Fast forward and I still had it kicking around. After some more digging, it's starting to look like something under all that goop so I decided to see if he still had the neck for sale...he did and I ended up getting a great deal on it.

The neck was nicer than I remembered...I came to learn this is an early 90's/late 80's RG760. Cool....I'm invested now. It's been a long time since I had a shredder, and never an Ibanez. The current plan is finish scraping the old paint and polish it as nice as possible, find an original Edge bridge, fill it with neon Demarzios, learn some Paul Gilbert licks, done.

possible Trypophobia trigger warning:

As it looks now:

Seems it's a pre-1990, given that apparently they moved the volume knob then:

http://ibanez.fandom.com/wiki/RG760

Is there a serial on it?

Either way, it looks great. I reckon keep buffing until it turns in to an E serial jag.

Bacchus wrote: ↑Wed Nov 09, 2022 10:46 pm Seems it's a pre-1990, given that apparently they moved the volume knob then:

http://ibanez.fandom.com/wiki/RG760

Is there a serial on it?

Either way, it looks great. I reckon keep buffing until it turns in to an E serial jag.

There's a 6 digit number on the neckplate, but on an Ibanez lookup that returns a 1979 but that isn't right....The headstock does look like it might have been sanded on the back where the proper serial number would be

I ordered the cheapest Edge bridge I could find...$115 and coming from Japan - it didn't come with the string blocks or arm but I think at least those things are easier to find. Also picked up some black Gotoh's from an '88 RG540 for $20...not in the best shape but neither is the rest of the guitar, and it's got a locking nut anyway so they don't have to be great.

Quick mockup of what I'm probably going for with this (closest I could get to RG was the kisekae strat builder):

Fuck yeah, Fisher Price: As Beautiful As A Rock In Telephone's Face

My reaction to the gunked on red glitter isn’t unlike my reaction to those frogs with their babies in holes in their backs.

(Shudders)

plopswagon wrote: ↑Thu Nov 10, 2022 4:02 pm frogs with their babies in holes in their backs.

(Shudders)

Why do you have to go and ruin my evening and why do I have to go and google the image despite knowing perfectly well what it looks like?

Trypophobia

Doog wrote: ↑Thu Nov 10, 2022 3:56 pm Fuck yeah, Fisher Price: As Beautiful As A Rock In Telephone's Face

► Show Spoiler

51C2daBuleS._AC_SL1500_.jpg

I used to have that phone when I was toddler NickD. I think its still in my parent's loft.

You're gonna have so many missed voicemails

Got the red off the front, I’m still polishing out some of the scratches I put in trying to remove it but it’s looking much better. Also the cosmo black tuners came in yesterday, they’re from an ‘88 rg540 but I believe they’re the same as would have been on this. Aside from one missing gear cover they’re actually in great shape for the age

I love it when a plan guitar comes together.

Looking good!

The bridge arrived from Japan way faster than I expected, it fits perfectly! The bridge pickup also arrived yesterday, and I should have the other bits by the weekend. Going to take my time polishing the body so it might still be a few weeks before it’s finished, but here’s a mock-up with too-red pickups and a too-tall pickup ring.

It might just be the before/after but I’m in love with this project

It looks great already!

Looks great! With the bridge, I'd be tempted to go with a blacked out vibe.

Ideally, they'd make a Nicksig model where every component of the bridge is anodized a different bright colour.

Bacchus wrote: ↑Wed Nov 09, 2022 10:46 pmEither way, it looks great. I reckon keep buffing until it turns in to an E serial jag.

heh
I recommend a good auto light cutting compound and a random-orbit buffer with a wool pad. You could probably get away under $50 and then you've got a setup for all future jobs too ...

With the body close to as good as it can get without compromising the finish and body (it’s also the original finish on a guitar nearly as old as I am, I think it’s doing pretty good), I decided to screw in the pickups and neck….final mock up before wiring and setting up, which will probably happen sometime in December.

New Ibanez whammy bar and new old stock 80’s/90’s Ibanez yellow knobs I splurged on a bit. They’re like the white witch hats of the 1980’s

Holy shit, that thing looks almost original now. If I hadn't seen the condition it was in before I would have just assumed this was a regular RG that you stuck some neon on.

That's quality finish work there, man.

Took me long enough but I finally wired this and set it up. Put some Hybrid Slinkies on it (9-46), Plays fantastic right away, action is low and fast, neck is straight and no dead spots. I lucked out, I was worried about it since I've never actually played it before.