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Bridge design on Ibanez GWB35?

G

GregBlach

Mar 5, 2009
132
0
Denmark
#1
Hi all,

Just today I went out and purchased a used Ibanez GWB35. :D According to the seller it is from 2007 (Serial# C 06111438) and is practically unused. It does look mint condition and I can't see any wear what-so-ever.

The bass need a good setup though, so I prepared for that, and while doing so I noticed something I have never seen before on any bridge, so I am curious if this is a defect on this particular bridge, or if it is really supposed to be like this. You see how the rear end of the bridge sort of lifts from the body - is this really how it's designed?:

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/Greg
 
#4
I can confirm that everything is tightened down nice and tight.

And there is no ridge.

I have taken one more pic to show what I believe is a defective bridge (looks bend or skewed to me). I find it hard to believe that the bridge would be designed this way:

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Anyone who owns a GWB35 please let me know how the bridge on your bass looks.

/Greg
 
#7
So, additional question for you guys who knows everything about the GWB series basses:

Does the GWB35 and the GWB1005 share the same bridge? When looking at the parts list ([Invalid or Expired Link Removed]) I can only find the B105 bridge mentioned, however this is for the newest-produced GWB35 basses only. Maybe for the older basses a different bridge was used, and this is the one "going bad"?

Anyone?

/Greg
 
#8
I don't know about the 1005, but I have a GWB1 and the bridge sits nice and flat, as God and Gary intended :D

Definitely not lifting off like the photos you provided.
 
#9
Hi Kesslari,

Thanks for letting me know.

I'm 99% sure this must be a 'bug' on some of the earlier models of the 35.

Btw, the pics are actually not showing how much it's really lifting - I'll see if I can take a better pics or maybe even measure it tomorrow.

/Greg
 
#10
I have the 35, the 1 and the 1005 and my 35 has the same gap you have while the others are flat.... don't really think it effects the instrument in any way and thus not considered a defect.... Consider the fact that the 35 is not made to the same build quality thus its price is no where near it's brothers....

I am happy with all three including my 35 that serves it own purpose... I wouldn't sweat it..
 
#14
Well, thing is... Unless I hear back from Ibanez that this in fact how the bridge is designed, I ''can't live'' with it. But that's just me... :)

I have asked in this thread if anybody knows if the bridge from the 1005 will directly fit on the 35 - maybe that's a solution. And I sure wouldn't mind that...

MikeBass said:
I wouldn't sweat it. But if it gets worse.....Time to UPGRADE TO A NICER BRIDGE!! :D
And where is the harm in that?!?!?! ;)
Click to expand...
 
#15
No, the 35 and 1005 do not have the same bridge.

Mine does the same thing yours does, though not nearly as much. I noticed it from day one, and I don't care. It hasn't moved any in two years, and I have other minutae to sweat.
 
#16
Spoke to the shop where the bass was originally purchased. They didn't have an GWB35 in stock, but they did have a K5. Although it is a different bridge on the K5, they said that the bridge on the K5 also lifts from the body.

I'm actually a little shocked that these bridges apparantly bends a little from the tension of the strings. To me this indicates that the bridges are not strong enough.

Will continue to try to get someone from Ibanez to comment on this.

/Greg
 
#19
Definitely a defect. It almost looks like the string tension has pulled & deformed the bridge. Hopefully it's just a crappy bridge, b/c I can't imagine any guitar being allowed to leave the factory like that. I would pass on it unless you're getting such a great deal or love the bass so much that you can justify the cost of a new bridge on top of the price of the bass.
 

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