Ibanez Acoustic Set Up

Someone asked, "Can you share some info on how to lower the action on an Ibanez PF5NT?"
In this video we do a set up on and Ibanez acoustic steel string guitar. This is a dreadnought acoustic model PF5NT.
Time-codes to jump to scenes to save time:
0:00 Intro
0:54 neck check
2:00 Measure relief and Truss rod adjustment
5:41 String height 12th fret
7:25 Removing strings and bridge pins
8:46 Save the strings for Stella
9:02 remove bridge saddle, surprise underneath
9:54 Lower action on saddle with sandpaper
10:57 Install saddle and re-string
13:24 tune and re-check string height
14:01 Nut measurement and adjustment
15:23 Nut slots explained
16:45 Nut file choices
18:18 Filing nut slots
21:48 final nut shaping
28:15 Guitar Demo / end
Links to tools, books and accessories that really help me in the guitar shop:
Guitar Player Repair Guide. Set up specs and repair tips
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Guitar Tech Kit
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Ernie Ball Earthwood strings light
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Drill Bit Peg Winder
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Dunlop 65 polish
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Stewmac nut files
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4 in 1 hand rasp
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Thanks for watching!
As an affiliate partner, I earn from qualifying purchases. Helps keep the guitars tuned up and ready to rock.

[@danielclose7911]

Love the amount of detail. Thanks

[@TheAngryMushroom]

thank you for watching

[@davidlynch5998]

Absolutely great sir, thanks a million

[@TheAngryMushroom]

You’re welcome. thank you for watching.

[@BodieHammer]

Great video! I am in the midst of setting up my Ibanez AE that has been in the closet for some years. Retired now, so I have time and interest in learning how to make it my own. Keep up the great instructional dialogue!

[@TheAngryMushroom]

Thanks, I’m glad you had a chance to check it out. Good luck with the set up. Ibanez Guitars are well-built so you should be in good shape. Thanks for watching.

[@nyacoustics8373]

tons of great details in this video! i also like the on screen tips that are highlighted and typed. very well done !

[@TheAngryMushroom]

Thanks for taking the time to review.

[@thilinisenavirathne3997]

@@TheAngryMushroom q

[@petestaint8312]

Fantastic video! Thanks for posting. 👍

[@TheAngryMushroom]

Thank you so much

[@roberthowson4063]

Excellent video.. i like your casually style. Lots of great tips. Thanks

[@TheAngryMushroom]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@louismateo7544]

I’ve been watching videos from fender to really good luthiers but yours is more enjoyable and informative. Thank you!

[@TheAngryMushroom]

You're welcome and Thanks for the kind words. If you have a chance maybe let me know what were the good parts and what could use some improvement. Also what guitar subjects are you usually searching for?

[@danielclose7911]

Thank you, awesome!

[@TheAngryMushroom]

you are welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@johnrussels5731]

Great demo! Thanks a lot …

[@TheAngryMushroom]

Thanks so much. Super fun rescuing these guitars.

[@johnrussels5731]

@@TheAngryMushroom I will attempt to rescue mine by the help of your video ... again, thanks for the nice work :)

[@joelee24]

@@TheAngryMushroom ..

[@JS-fd6jd]

Great helpful video... So I want to ask -- What's the big deal about knocking down the top surface of the bridge nut (filing and sanding it down)( AFTER you're satisfied with your new cuts? You''re done with your cuts ... You're at or near 16 thousandths on your 1st E string first fret, it feels and plays okay, and it sounds good ... why the extra filing and sanding?... And does this answer my own question ?.... (hahahaha) ... I now have that awful sitar sound resonating from my 1st E sting when fully tuned and played open. Fretting at first, or any fret, and no sitar sound. Knocked down to Open G, playing something sweet, or bashing away the Clash's version of I Fought The Law, no sitar, no Ravi Shankar. It's only when back to standard tuning and true E and played open that I have that sitar sound. Is that a symptom of.... what?.... string not articulating ONLY off the fretboard side of the nut?...more than one articulation point?... i have a replacement set of saddle and nut on the way, just in case I buggered up this nut (which I don't think I have, at least not yet... I still have more to file down. I'm at about 20 thou for the 1st high E off first fret).

[@TheAngryMushroom]

thanks for the question. I read in Dan Erliwine’s book on guitar repair. The StewMac guy. He wrote that after getting the nut depth to where you want, level out the top of the nut so the strings aren’t sitting in a deep canyon. You want about half of the string showing in above the groove. Might help with twangy sound.

[@JS-fd6jd]

@@TheAngryMushroom Thanks for the response . Your vid here and also Randy Schartiger's w/ a entry-level Savannah are most useful w/ regard to measurements. I cured my issue. Not certain which caused it. The replacement bone saddle I installed which I assumed was 74 mm as specified in the adv was in fact somewhat shorter... about 71 .5 or so... and had slipped fully toward the treble side. Fixed/shimmed that with slices of wooden matchsticks at both ends, now it won't move. Also refined the cut of the nut for the treble E making sure to maintain the angle of the headstock so there is now only one true articulation point. Now Ravi Shankar sitar has left the building. I was 9 years w/o owning a guitar or even picking one up. 7 weeks ago again realized the urge to play. Rescued in a 'hardship' sale a entry-level Alvarez Regent Ac/ele from a father selling it for his son who had some challenges. Got replacement bone nut and saddle (2 sets) for it. Then also rescued a entry-level Rogue (intended now to be my dedicated Nashville-strung piece) from a woman who had two nicer pricier guitars which she wasn't playing, someone had given her the Rogue saying "here, this is a beginners guitar, lighter strings, should be easier." She didn't play that one either. Stored w/ string tensions loosened, flat on its back, it developed a down-bow. And 3rd string had cut into the plastic saddle. So it was not playable and barely tunable. Replacement saddle and nut on that were perfect fits, easy-peasy. (ain't no 45 dollar guitar no mo). On the Alvarez, the original plastic nut was not as easy to get off, and the replacement nut is a bit too tall. I should have noticed it before I glued it in, but didn't, assumed that since things were easy and straight-forward on the Rogue that that would also be the case for the Alvie. Lesson learned. So now I'm forced to work on those nut slots. Thanks again.

[@TheAngryMushroom]

Digging the stories of guitar rescues. Sometimes I don't glue the nut down since I most likely will be fussing with it later. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your guitar adventures. I feel like the Alvarez is worth fixing up. Can we look forward to some video clips of your guitar rescues? @@JS-fd6jd

[@JS-fd6jd]

BOTH were worth fixing up. I was doing a short recording of how the Rogue sounded Nashville-strung for the lady i bought if off, and something -- out of I-don't-know-where -- just poured out. My brain, my intellect, was not involved in a 'decision' to 'do' what flowed out. It just happened, without conscious thought. It just happened. On ... or FROM ... a 'beginners' guitar that I paid 45 bucks for that was not playable. No, not thinking now of any more 'rescues.' Or videos. You and others doing YOUR videos own the turf and are making the 'rescues' possible. But now... going all-in and spending 15 bucks for a set of bone (replacing plastic) bridge-pins for both of these!

[@br5439]

How much should it cost for a music store to do this?

[@TheAngryMushroom]

Prices vary so much from shop to shop. Not always is your lowest price the best option. Call your local music stores for recommendations for setups and repairs. Check the shop reviews online. To help narrow down the job you might need, use the chapter list in this video description for talking points so they don't try to up-sale you. Things like lowering the action, adjusting the truss rod, or re-shaping the nut.

[@guiart4728]

Isn’t the saddle too short to lower already? Doesn’t it need a neck reset?

[@TheAngryMushroom]

A neck reset is a good recommendation. Beyond my experience level so far. I was able to make it playable with what I learned from books and online without destroying the guitar. Good idea for a video. My first neck reset. Appreciate the comment and thanks for watching.

[@roberteweil]

It looks as if you are pushing the strings too far down into the bridge holes. You do not want the end of the string jammed onto the bottom end of the bridge pins. You want the ball end of the string to be pressing on the bridge plate, which is on the bottom of the bridge on the inside of the guitar. You do this by only inserting the string into the bridge pin holes about an inch and then inserting the pin partially into the bridge pin hole, and giving a tug on the string. You are looking for that point where the string slides up, locks on the bridge plate, and then the bridge pins can be inserted all the way in. If the string is correctly installed and resting against the bridge plate, you can actually take the pin out of the hole and the string will stay securely in place even with the bridge pin out. In your video, it appears that you have the ball on the end of the string all the way down to the bottom of the bridge pin. This not only keeps the string from properly vibrating, but will most likely bend and warp your bridge pins.

[@ronniepirtlejr2606]

Super glue and baking soda will Harding instantly & will look better.

[@TheAngryMushroom]

This sounds good, will try it out. Haven’t heard of this one. Thanks!

[@TheAngryMushroom]

Works great on the mandolin nut that needed new slots. Awesome tip, thank you.