Ibanez RG270 Bridge Upgrade Part 1

In this video, I describe how to modify the body of the Ibanez RG270 to fit an Ibanez Edge III tremolo. I also cover how to upgrade the block of the Edge III to a brass unit from FU-Tone!
Block: www.fu-tone.com
Dremel Routing Bit: www.dremel.com...
Backing Track by: Everfailed

[@1littlepunk]

And once every three full moons, a new upgrade video for the Ibanez appears

[@thomaseduard10]

i like the way you upload frequently and consistent!!!

[@Titan520]

This brass block upgrade makes a lot of sense and technically sound. The Edge 3 is actually a very good bridge and cost effective to replace. You can get them for $50 brand new. The FU-Tone brass block has a bigger footprint spreading all the pressure and load more securely through the two parts of the tremolo assembly. I highly doubt you can break any of the two assemblies, the knife edge plate and main body; it is held by three screws per side which has a good hold and pressure spread. The cost of the brass block is relatively inexpensive as an upgrade. If you consider upgrading to a Gotoh that is about $100 and it will deviate from the original branding and look. I considered the Gotoh or the Edge Pro, but it cost more. In the end, I just upgraded the block for about $40 and bought a brand new EDGE 3 spare (complete with locking nuts, studs, posts, springs, claws and mounting screws). For those saying the EDGE 3 easily goes out of tune, you are setting it up wrong. The only downside of the EDGE 3 is it ain't low profile (so are the Gotoh or the FR Original), and the pot metal block which is its weakest part. Everyone wants a Lo Pro Edge, but its too much work in routing and very expensive.

[@alanlotra8148]

I replaced in my 270 with a Gotoh (can't remember the model) was also direct swap, no need to routing....

[@grandolddrummer]

Norm Abram would be proud of you for remembering the safety glasses.

[@JCavLP]

Im happy you eventually did the video! I like how the Guitar looks now :D

[@benjamincarron9732]

Awesome videos as always, I was really looking forward to this one for a long time. The Edge III was an interesting choice though, if I was modding a guitar I would have gone with a much higher quality trem, though your upgrades to it I'm sure helped it a lot

[@MobiusGuitars]

The Edge III certainly isn't fantastic but it's a far cry better than the SLT101 that came it in haha

[@ernestopicazo189]

i love the design of the edge 3 , i just wish it had better materials :(

[@WRXjasonSTI]

Nicely done! Ibanez has made some great trems and some garbage ones, but I think the Edge 3 is decent once it's set up right with a lote of pencil lead+vaseline. I favor it for the looks and palm comfort, but I blocked mine off. My only floating bridge is a Gotoh 1996T.

[@ernestopicazo189]

WRXjasonSTI the edge 3 design is perfect, its only bad point is that it doesnt have hardened edges like the high end bridges

[@themodernguitarist]

Down the road, you should get a Gotoh GE1996T. just as good as an original Edge.

[@unknownrecords176]

Gotoh made the original Edge for Ibanez, I believe they make the low pro as well.

[@TheGearFiles]

would the GE1996T fit a route for a OFR? I have a guitar that is the same route as the OFR and want to change the bridge (it has a Lo TRS which is meh).. I don't want to have to replace studs, making it fit like the video here is fine but I don't exactly want to spend the amount of a OFR

[@unknownrecords176]

You can get the Korean 1000 series which is what I got.

[@TheGearFiles]

***** I am looking for a cheaper alternative, like the GE1996T

[@unknownrecords176]

not sure if it will fit, you will have to search google. The OFR I got off ebay cost me $100 free shipping cheaper then the 1996T

[@josefrancisco6969]

Great job

[@cypresslounge]

I was about to dig into my guitar with a multi-tool/oscillating saw, but seeing this, maybe I should slow down and get a dremel.

[@unknownrecords176]

I just put a Original Floyd Rose in my RG 270, Its was a direct swap, no routing/mods needed. I also upgraded my Ibanez RGD 320 which had the Edge III and installed a Floyd Rose , no mods, routing needed.

[@MobiusGuitars]

It's good to know that drop-in upgrades do exist. I grabbed this guitar for a whole $60 so the goal is to improve it while keeping the budget reasonable.

[@unknownrecords176]

The Floyd Rose I got was the FRO 1000 series made in Korea, same materials as the German made one only made in Korea by Floyd Rose. It cost me $60 free shipping, and was brand new. I know you paid $30 for the edge III for another $30 you could have got this and saved some time from modding the route.

[@MobiusGuitars]

***** But what fun would that have been? ;-)

[@unknownrecords176]

lol. true. Keep up the great vids :)

[@MobiusGuitars]

Thanks man!

[@5urg3x]

The Edge III really isn't that bad...It's kind of low profile (no fine tuners sticking up in the back, at least not as much as the original edge or OFR) and with the brass block it becomes even higher mass.

[@Ibaneddie76]

I DON'T KNOW WHY PEOPLE DON'T LIKE EDGE 3'S I LOVE THEM, FOR CHEAP TREMS THEY ARE AMAZING, THEY NEVER GO OUT OF TUNE AND THEY ARE FULLY FUNCTIONAL. I BUILD GUITARS AND HAVE A LARGE IBANEZ COLLECTION INCLUDING MOST OF THE JEMS, PGMS, AND OTHER HIGH END MODELS AND THE GUITAR I PLAY THE MOST IS AN RG 350DX TOTALLY STOCK I JUST SWAPPED THE PICKUPS FOR EVOLUTIONS AND THAT GUITAR RIPS. NOT SAYING ITS BETTER THAN A JEM BUT I KEEP IT HANGING UP AT MY TATTOO SHOP SO I CAN PLAY AFTER HOURS BEFORE IO GO HOME AND WORK ON WHATEVER GUITARS IM WORKING ON IN MY GUITAR SHOP. GREAT BRIDGES FOR THE PRICE, WAY WAY BETTER THAN FLOYDE ROSE SPECIALS. IBANEZ HIGH END TREM SYSTEMS ARE FAR SUPERIOR TO ANY OTHER TREMS ON THE MARKET INCLUDING OG FLOYDS, NO COMPETITION.

[@douglasspriggs97]

eddie julian ball bearing trems rip ibanez has it down

[@HBSuccess]

PS - they do make a base for the Dremel. Way more control if you're freehanding it

[@MobiusGuitars]

I actually have the nice plunge router Dremel base from Stew Mac. However, I figured most people watching this wouldn't have access to something like that & I wanted to show that it's possible to do without a base.

[@firhanrizani96]

I thaught 270 have no pickguards and pick configuration is HSH. Or you modify it? Edit: Yes I see the hole for electronics at the back of the guitar.

[@RetroFan1992]

I find the edge 3 never stays in tune! Has more than 1 zero point

[@rowlandstraylight]

RetroFan1992 check the knife edges are sharp and that there are no burrs on the posts. Adjusting the post height with the system under tention can cause damage.

[@tyler_bt3326]

RetroFan1992 did you stretch out the new strings enough?

[@reubenginsburg2012]

so when do you think pt2 will be out? we talking a month, or 2, or 6... I can't wait to see how this ends up!

[@MobiusGuitars]

Hopefully before next week haha

[@lazrbeam117]

that shirt, can I please buy it off you! I lost it in the laundromat after we spoke about the tour where we got them lol, if then okay lmfao

[@lazrbeam117]

if not then okay lmfao*

[@MobiusGuitars]

lol, sure man. Mine is a Medium, what size you need?

[@lazrbeam117]

I am a medium as well :)

[@rsacramento1977]

I have a S270 and I wish to change the tremolo too. Will I have the same problem ?

[@anime536_8]

i was wishing you would just do a 'lions claw' on the back part of the bridge routing, so you could pull it up like a JEM

[@MobiusGuitars]

Haha, not a bad idea!

[@xklopan]

legit question but why purchase a cheap trem then fit expensive brass parts to it? I see deals on original edge trems on eBay quite often.

[@MobiusGuitars]

That's a valid question. Honestly, I had an eye out for a new trem & stumbled upon the Edge III. The point being that just about ANY bridge is better than the nonsense that came on this guitar. As for the brass block, I was curious to check out FU's stuff so I decided to include it on this project.

[@xklopan]

Axe Hacks well I can tell you that the brass blocks made a difference on my original edge trems, the guitar doesn't sound as thin and it also added sustain. It took a little bit of top end away but I was fine with that.

[@harveythompson3161]

what is wrong with the original trem to me the not cutting the ball ends off to me seems far less tedious

[@Titan520]

By any chance.. would you know if the EDGE 3 can replace my japanese Lo TRS? I am pretty handy with a Dremel tool. Nice videos by the way..

[@MobiusGuitars]

Looking up pics of the Lo TRS, it doesn't look like it'd be a drop-in at all. In fact, you'd probably have to follow this video exactly to pull off the swap, I.E. LOTS of routing.

[@Titan520]

I bought a cosmo black edge 3 along with the fu-tone brass block for my Xiphos' replacement as it is worn out. I did try to fit it in the cavity of the LO TRS and you are right. I will need a bigger and wider routing hole through the body. I planned on swapping it because my tremolo anchors were worn out and LO TRS anchors are hard to find as they are no longer in production. However, I was able to discover that the Tremolo anchors of the EDGE 3 is a direct fit and replacement to my LO TRS. It was a blessing in disguise. Now, I no longer have to upgrade my LO TRS. It could have been nice though, I feel the EDGE 3 with the brass upgrade to be much substantial despite what they say about tuning stability. I believe it is how the tremolo is properly setup, my LO TRS stays in tune quite nicely.

[@PiauiGtr]

Waiting part 2 o/

[@kraze9889]

Hey why do you prefer brass instead of steel? Just curious...

[@FernandoGonzalez-jo1lr]

Can you share where did you get the Ibanez Edge III for that price? I´m looking for the same upgrade you did and would like to get one of those

[@micaelfernandes2406]

cade o proximo video estou esperando ancioso cara

[@crow666ification]

its possible to change from an edge to a wilkinson style bridge? Im tired of the locking nuts... or change the tuning machines to locking TM will be a good solution?

[@MobiusGuitars]

Not sure what you mean by "Wilkinson style bridge" Wilkinson is just a company & makes all sorts of parts. If you're tired of the locking nut & want to convert the guitar to have a dive-only tremolo, check out Part 2 of this video. You'll see that I install something called a Trem-stopper. With something like this installed, you could just remove the locking nuts, replace the tuning machines with locking units (for better tuning stability) and rock that setup!

[@rowlandstraylight]

IamLiam Check the post spacing on the wilkinson you want to use. Also check the depth of the trem block, the wilkinson trems fit full depth strat bodies, but do not fit thinner guitars. Note also the S series has a shorter trem block (due to the body being super-slim), I don't know exactly how thick the RG is, I dont have one to hand right now.

[@daleweber2579]

I would've went with original Edge pro.

[@5urg3x]

Hey mate, if you get a chance to respond -- I have an RG and I want to adjust the height of the pickups...But they are direct mount. So I was thinking of getting some weather stripping from Lowe's or something...and then using that to control the height of them. Is this a good idea?

[@MobiusGuitars]

YES! The foam rubber weather stripping has become my go-to material for putting under direct mount pickups.

[@5urg3x]

Yeah that's what I ended up doing. It works great! Thanks for responding (eventually...:O).

[@MobiusGuitars]

Sorry for the long delay, been stupid busy lately haha

[@shonka]

Where did you find a Edge 3 trem for $20

[@MobiusGuitars]

Local used music store chain here in the bay area called Starving Musician.

[@thenickpaper2000]

i have an Edge 3 and i want to replace it with a lo pro. do i have to do some job to the Guitar?

[@ernestopicazo189]

Grover Gio yes, you would be better with an edge pro and the locking studs from ibanez rules, it is a direct fit for the edge 3

[@thenickpaper2000]

Luis Ernesto Picazo thanks! i've tried an Edge pro and i think it's a pretty good bridge :-)

[@Titan520]

IMO, just go with the brass block and buy yourself a spare EDGE 3. It is cost effective and you retain your axe in it original trim. The bock upgrade does give a better tone and sustain. However, you can go Edge Pro which is low profile, but cost more, even the used ones are pretty expensive.

[@thenickpaper2000]

I've seen that the lo pro is the low profile model and the pro is a different model

[@Hzuuuu]

Why am I only seeing like less than 10 videos from you?

[@trentf4891]

I thought the edge III was one of the worst ibanez trems. Nevermind, budget is always a consideration and the original bridge was poop.

[@Ibaneddie76]

THE EDGE 3 IS AMAZING I WANT A LIST OF WHY IT SUCKS, JUST ANOTHER THING WHERE SOMEONE REPEATS WHAT SOMEONE THEY THINK IS COOL SAYS.

[@santhosh82hv]

Hi Where did you buy this from ?

[@MobiusGuitars]

Craigslist!