MBG wrote: ↑Thu May 08, 2025 12:14 pm
Hi everyone, I'm just resurrecting this topic to save me from starting a new one.
I have an Ibanez Artist AR300 guitar that I'd like to mount the Stetsbar tremolo on. The Stetsbar is a retrofit tremolo that fits standard Tuneomatic bridge + tailpiece holes. While Ibanez AR300 does have a standard TOM bridge, its tailpiece is anything but standard.
Long story short, I need to have the guitar body drilled for TOM tailpiece holes so that the Stetsbar could fit. Can anyone recommend a good luthier in Christchurch that could drill these for me?
PS. The guitar in question is not a high-value MIJ from 80s, but a lower mid-range MIK model from mid 2000s. Hence, I don't mind drilling a hole or two into it, as long as it's tidy.
MBG wrote: ↑Thu May 08, 2025 12:14 pm
Hi everyone, I'm just resurrecting this topic to save me from starting a new one.
I have an Ibanez Artist AR300 guitar that I'd like to mount the Stetsbar tremolo on. The Stetsbar is a retrofit tremolo that fits standard Tuneomatic bridge + tailpiece holes. While Ibanez AR300 does have a standard TOM bridge, its tailpiece is anything but standard.
Long story short, I need to have the guitar body drilled for TOM tailpiece holes so that the Stetsbar could fit. Can anyone recommend a good luthier in Christchurch that could drill these for me?
PS. The guitar in question is not a high-value MIJ from 80s, but a lower mid-range MIK model from mid 2000s. Hence, I don't mind drilling a hole or two into it, as long as it's tidy.
Rusty @musicworks has been very good for me,he had a big backlog with alan's departure from the scene but appears to have worked his way through a lot of it.
MBG wrote: ↑Thu May 08, 2025 12:14 pm
Hi everyone, I'm just resurrecting this topic to save me from starting a new one.
I have an Ibanez Artist AR300 guitar that I'd like to mount the Stetsbar tremolo on. The Stetsbar is a retrofit tremolo that fits standard Tuneomatic bridge + tailpiece holes. While Ibanez AR300 does have a standard TOM bridge, its tailpiece is anything but standard.
Long story short, I need to have the guitar body drilled for TOM tailpiece holes so that the Stetsbar could fit. Can anyone recommend a good luthier in Christchurch that could drill these for me?
PS. The guitar in question is not a high-value MIJ from 80s, but a lower mid-range MIK model from mid 2000s. Hence, I don't mind drilling a hole or two into it, as long as it's tidy.
Can you please update that list? Alan Farrow has retired in Christchurch. There's a relatively recent arrival to Christchurch, a guitar tech called Jason Herbert. I don't know his contact details though. I think some people here have had work done by him.
The list is updated.
Let me know when you get the details for Jason.
Can you please update that list? Alan Farrow has retired in Christchurch. There's a relatively recent arrival to Christchurch, a guitar tech called Jason Herbert. I don't know his contact details though. I think some people here have had work done by him.
The list is updated.
Let me know when you get the details for Jason.
Jason can be contacted on 027 478 5832, currently overseas, returning back mid May.
Can you please update that list? Alan Farrow has retired in Christchurch. There's a relatively recent arrival to Christchurch, a guitar tech called Jason Herbert. I don't know his contact details though. I think some people here have had work done by him.
The list is updated.
Let me know when you get the details for Jason.
Jason can be contacted on 027 478 5832, currently overseas, returning back mid May.
MBG wrote: ↑Thu May 08, 2025 12:14 pm
Hi everyone, I'm just resurrecting this topic to save me from starting a new one.
I have an Ibanez Artist AR300 guitar that I'd like to mount the Stetsbar tremolo on. The Stetsbar is a retrofit tremolo that fits standard Tuneomatic bridge + tailpiece holes. While Ibanez AR300 does have a standard TOM bridge, its tailpiece is anything but standard.
Long story short, I need to have the guitar body drilled for TOM tailpiece holes so that the Stetsbar could fit. Can anyone recommend a good luthier in Christchurch that could drill these for me?
PS. The guitar in question is not a high-value MIJ from 80s, but a lower mid-range MIK model from mid 2000s. Hence, I don't mind drilling a hole or two into it, as long as it's tidy.
Just as well you put the PS bit in, had a wtf moment initially
MBG wrote: ↑Thu May 08, 2025 12:14 pm
Hi everyone, I'm just resurrecting this topic to save me from starting a new one.
I have an Ibanez Artist AR300 guitar that I'd like to mount the Stetsbar tremolo on. The Stetsbar is a retrofit tremolo that fits standard Tuneomatic bridge + tailpiece holes. While Ibanez AR300 does have a standard TOM bridge, its tailpiece is anything but standard.
Long story short, I need to have the guitar body drilled for TOM tailpiece holes so that the Stetsbar could fit. Can anyone recommend a good luthier in Christchurch that could drill these for me?
PS. The guitar in question is not a high-value MIJ from 80s, but a lower mid-range MIK model from mid 2000s. Hence, I don't mind drilling a hole or two into it, as long as it's tidy.
Just as well you put the PS bit in, had a wtf moment initially
No worries, I'd never do such monstrosity to a MIJ model! They're becoming more rare as the time goes by.
However, the MIK ones I don't mind. Here's a photo of someone else doing the similar thing (and I kinda dig the looks):
Did you ever look into the Duesenberg Les Trem?
I have 2 on different guitars and they work brilliantly and require no drilling at all on a stop tail guitar.
Although if your preferred Trem is the Setsbar then ignore my suggestion, I’ve never played a Setsbar so can’t comment on the differences.
Reg18 wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 2:40 pm
Did you ever look into the Duesenberg Les Trem?
I have 2 on different guitars and they work brilliantly and require no drilling at all on a stop tail guitar.
Although if your preferred Trem is the Setsbar then ignore my suggestion, I’ve never played a Setsbar so can’t comment on the differences.
The problem with Artists is that they don't come with a standard tailpiece (pic below as an example). So either one would require drilling. But of those two, I prefer the feel and range of Stetsbar over Duesenberg. I also own a Stetsbar, and had it mounted on a different gat; while I only had limited experience with Duesenberg.
