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View Full Version : Customization help for Ibanez RG1527


Lestat
08-24-2007, 09:01 AM
Hey guys,

I'm in the midst of doing my first custom job on an Ibanez RG1527 Prestige and need a bit of technical help. As of now I'm just coming to the end of the refinishing process, and once that is done comes the wiring which is where things get tricky.

Now, I've read accounts of a couple people who have customized this guitar, and the general concensus is that it is much easier to wire in new pickups to a three-way switch (rather then the 5-way switch the guitar comes with). Even if the difficulty were the same I still think I'd prefer a 3 way because I can't picture myself using 5 different coil combinations with only 2 humbucklers.

So my questions are, where can I get a 3-way switch? And how can I replace the 5-way switch with it (since the 5-way was simply a slit in the guitar and 3-way's all seem to require a circular hole)? Am I going to have to route my newly finished guitar? Are there certain kind of 3-way switches that can just fit into the slit of the old 5-way?

Also, what is a good website I can visit to find more detailed specs on Ibanez guitars, like what kind of pots (250k, 500k?) are in there right now? (Yea, I don't get a chance to post much, so when I do I try to get ALL my questions out at once...Sorry for the long winded post).


-Dave

Robotechnology
08-24-2007, 10:09 AM
They have 3-way blade switches that fit exactly in the place of the 5-way blade switches. My Jackson Archtop Pro has one of these 3-ways. Secondly, before you completely discount using the standard Ibanez 5 way setup, try an Ibanez thru a good amp first. I LOVE the 4th position, which is the neck humbucker in parallel. It gets equal play with the full on neck position, sometimes even more playtime to be honest.

movingpictures
08-26-2007, 09:47 AM
Visit the Jemsite for alot of Ibanez info...

cube
08-26-2007, 11:38 AM
Ibanez ships with 500 K pots on the hunbucker gtrs
what color did you paint it?

Lestat
08-27-2007, 11:42 AM
White...I definitely wasn't a fan of the sparkly purple...I'll probably post some pics in the guitars in general section once i get it wired and working (assuming it works first try...so probably not for a while)

erikm5150
08-28-2007, 01:48 PM
there are 3 way switches that fit perfectly.
i use them on my ibanez's -- get a CRL 3-way switch (fender brand or ernie ball brand -- they're both good).
no routing, just drop right in.
i actually have 1 unopened one that i can sell -- pm me if you're interested :)

they look like this :
http://www.bestguitarparts.com/guitar-part/11/3-Way_Switch.htm

and yeah, go to jemsite for more talk on ibanez, and the pots are 500k

Jon Silberman
08-28-2007, 02:06 PM
All I can add is I'm blown away by the level of knowledge here. Great suggestions!

Shredcow
08-28-2007, 08:20 PM
I'd second testing out the ibanez 5-way switching... or giving it another/longer shot.

Ibanez has very nice switching for its H-H 5-way switches... and you can't replicate that wiring on a normal 5-way: either you get the Ibanez switches (which arent' very sturdy) or you get a megaswitch (24-lug, or the ones stew mac has)...

That said.

Since you're already refinishing... why not just fill up the 5-way slot and put a 3-way toggle like those on Les Pauls? I find the 3-way toggle a faster way to switch around.
Or heck, just have 1 vol control and use the tone pot hole for that 3-way toggle. Slap a sticker (or something) over the 5-way switch slot.