Ibanez RANT

[Tunaman]

So I have a SR3000 Ibanez prestige for about 10 years now... cost about 1K new.

I remove the strings while camping as they were dead & went to put on a new set a few days later. I come to find out that the Mono-rail I saddles have small metal pieces that the string anchors on... they fell out... they aren't attached to the saddle.

Why are these pieces not connected to the saddle in any way? Why can they just fall right out? I lost 3 so I try to contact Ibanez to get parts... no response to emails, no phone number, no aftermarket parts on any website... I find a number on Ibanez forum finally.

They want $60 per EACH saddle... it would cost me $180 + shipping for 3 little metal pieces in the saddle

http://wwww.ibanez.com/parts/2003_PA...2BB2MR241.html

Ridiculous... poor service, poor design, terrible website... won't buy Ibanez again

Now what to do to get my strings up on the bridge?

[KeithPas]

You can buy almost the exact same saddles off ebay for much much less.

[Swin]

sorry to hear about your situiation mate but really why would you be out camping with a prestige bass and taking strings off & so on??? And not changing them asap but leaving it for days??? I would never take any high end instrument out into the bush for camping! that's what cheapies are for!

And i take it that this is the first time in 10 years that you've changed your strings? - otherwise hopefully you would know to be careful with the monorail bridge saddles. If you still want the instrument i would suggest paying the $$$ and realize not to take your prestige camping.

[Tunaman]

Originally Posted by Swin

sorry to hear about your situiation mate but really why would you be out camping with a prestige bass and taking strings off & so on??? And not changing them asap but leaving it for days??? I would never take any high end instrument out into the bush for camping! that's what cheapies are for!

And i take it that this is the first time in 10 years that you've changed your strings? - otherwise hopefully you would know to be careful with the monorail bridge saddles. If you still want the instrument i would suggest paying the $$$ and realize not to take your prestige camping.

No EXCUSE for poor design bro... I have a headphone amp & like to play. Of course the redesign of the mono-rail doesn't have loose pieces on a bass that can fall off. It would be nice to have a company offer reasonable prices for parts, how about a website that works.

Heres the Link on your site: http://www.ibanez.com/parts/START_HERE.HTML

Click on the banner that says Order Parts Now...
That hasn't worked in over 2 years... check your own forums.

How about finding a phone number on your site to talk to a human being. There isn't one.

How about responding to the contact forms... Nope theres even a cop out on your site about having too many to respond too.

I don't care where I bring my bass. Thats NO excuse for any of the above... and its wrong to burn customers on this site that spend over 2 grand on YOUR products...

Own up for your failures instead of railing on me dude

[Swin]

by the way, we have them in stock for $45AUD over here, with the exchange rate and all...it might work better for you.

[Swin]

Your'e experience is with the US site/ service...it's different in every country.

all i'm trying to help you understand is that you are saying that YOUR carelessness is ibanez' fault... so we should change our designs to aid in people's lack of common sense? why take your bridge apart and leave it opened for days while moving around in the bush where any small part can be lost??? would you do the same with a drumkit or a guitar or keyboard that had small parts that can be lost???

At the end of it all we are here to help but you lost the parts, its not a design flaw and you would have known about it if you either read the manual with the bass or found out from changing strings previously.

[Tunaman]

Originally Posted by Swin

Your'e experience is with the US site/ service...it's different in every country.

all i'm trying to help you understand is that you are saying that YOUR carelessness is ibanez' fault... so we should change our designs to aid in people's lack of common sense? why take your bridge apart and leave it opened for days while moving around in the bush where any small part can be lost??? would you do the same with a drumkit or a guitar or keyboard that had small parts that can be lost???

At the end of it all we are here to help but you lost the parts, its not a design flaw and you would have known about it if you either read the manual with the bass or found out from changing strings previously.

Strings are meant to be changed, regardless of where the bass is... pieces in the saddle shouldn't fall out without being anchored PERIOD and then not be available to purchase as parts... THAT is a lack of common sense. I didn't touch the bridge. I removed the strings while outside & immediately moved the bass into my case in the car... the pieces were SO loose they fell out in a 25' walk to the case.

Your assumptions about my actions are speculative and wrong... the problems with Ibanez website, parts, design and service are FACTS

[Swin]

don't worry about it then dude....if you can't figure it out you might as well sell the bass and get something with a simpler bridge that you won't have to stop and think about.

[animal52]

Originally Posted by Swin

don't worry about it then dude....if you can't figure it out you might as well sell the bass and get something with a simpler bridge that you won't have to stop and think about.

Dude, stop... just stop. You're supposed to be customer service and you're making the situation way worse.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that since every other bridge in existence doesn't have parts that fall off the bass when you change the strings, the OP is justified in his dissapointment with the design.

To the OP, don't give up on Ibanez. They're great instruments. I'd spend the cash getting a new bridge installed, and then play the *&^% out of that bass.

[John Wentzien]

[Tunaman]

Originally Posted by Swin

don't worry about it then dude....if you can't figure it out you might as well sell the bass and get something with a simpler bridge that you won't have to stop and think about.

How much would I get for a bass that doesn't work that I invested 1K into? Great help man... Glad to see you guys stand by your products.

If you're here to criticize me thats of no help. This site is for people to help each other & be constructive.

Truth be told I think I'm stuck going to a machine shop & trying to replicate the part if possible... unless someone else offers some HELPFUL ideas.

[7StringBassist]

i see the op's pov

1k is a lot of money into a bass that should last as long as him no excuses
try ebay for sure even sometimes the classifieds here or allparts might have um

[Swin]

Originally Posted by Tunaman

How much would I get for a bass that doesn't work that I invested 1K into? Great help man... Glad to see you guys stand by your products.

If you're here to criticize me thats of no help. This site is for people to help each other & be constructive.

Truth be told I think I'm stuck going to a machine shop & trying to replicate the part if possible... unless someone else offers some HELPFUL ideas.

see my earlier post bro...i said i can get you sorted cheaper than the us markets, but just don't keep bashing ibanez saying its our fault. It's not.

as i said before...

1. your customer service issue is with the american distributor...they don't have much in the way of online contact numbers or emails, they want you to go through an ibanez dealer - its called not cutting out the guy that pays your salary. Thats why we try not to go customer direct if it isn't needed.

2. It's not a design fault, if you really have a problem with this...change the bridge. Bashing on the brand will get you nowhere.

3. I offered a solution that might work for you, once again - i have the saddles in stock and our rrp is already lower + the exchange rate will save you $$$ and you have the proper original parts again.

it's not like you have a bass thats totally out of production and your'e missing bits, your lucky its a SR and not a musician bass!

we have the parts, you know where to find us....and now you know more about the bridge to save you next time.

[arginator]

Do you really think he'll buy them from you now?

[Tunaman]

Originally Posted by arginator

Do you really think he'll buy them from you now?

Seriously...

Not to mention... I have to buy parts from Australia? Really? 4 Saddles for a bridge in the US would be $240 PLUS shipping? Whats the whole bridge cost $500? Wild

I tried ALL the parts stores online... Ibanez has NO outlet that I can find after 2+ hours of searching.

This guy just keeps beating on me... Ibanez should offer DECENT service to their customers... thats what I'm mad about man... thats what this is about. Dead links to part stores, no numbers on the website, no responses to emails...

Its wrong to ALL customers and its not okay just because I lost some pieces.

[calebbarton]

Originally Posted by Swin

see my earlier post bro...i said i can get you sorted cheaper than the us markets, but just don't keep bashing ibanez saying its our fault. It's not.

as i said before...

1. your customer service issue is with the american distributor...they don't have much in the way of online contact numbers or emails, they want you to go through an ibanez dealer - its called not cutting out the guy that pays your salary. Thats why we try not to go customer direct if it isn't needed.

2. It's not a design fault, if you really have a problem with this...change the bridge. Bashing on the brand will get you nowhere.

3. I offered a solution that might work for you, once again - i have the saddles in stock and our rrp is already lower + the exchange rate will save you $$$ and you have the proper original parts again.

it's not like you have a bass thats totally out of production and your'e missing bits, your lucky its a SR and not a musician bass!

we have the parts, you know where to find us....and now you know more about the bridge to save you next time.

i guess i wont be buying ibanez anymore either.

[MooseLumps]

Asbestos suit... ON!

[calebbarton]

lol

[John Wentzien]

[Albatross]

this is the craziest thing i have ever heard.
why are the pieces so $$?