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Service Package Levels

For years I've only offered one level of service because I had to self warranty all instruments I sold. Now that I am an Authorized Dealer all instruments are covered by Ibanez, allowing me the flexibility to sell guitars as every other dealer does, or to offer several levels of service to meet your budget and needs. In keeping with the recent Olympic spirit I chose medal colors to represent the different levels of service available. I know there is no Platinum medal given, but, maybe there should be. Trends have to start somewhere! Of course the lower priced guitars will end up being the most expensive compared to List prices as that's just the way the numbers work out when adding up all the labor, material, and expenses involved. The highest priced guitars at the highest service level should be the closest to typical pricing, it's just the way the numbers work out. Rest assured that at every level you will be getting far more than your moneys worth, and far more than you could possibly get from any other dealer, whether it's the absolute best price for an "Inspected" guitar, or the finest instrument I can possibly ship. I have to give alot of credit to Sweetwater for at least trying, and for a mass merch they're as good as you can get [and so much better than the typical]. But their "55 Point Evaluation" here, while professionally written [although many of the 55 points are redundant] and very good marketing, does not even cover what you would receive in a standard Bronze level service package from Ibanez Rules. If you want a great website and great marketing, there is much better out there. If you want the best guitar for the best price, or the best price for the best guitar, you will not find any better than Ibanez Rules. I know you cannot buy a better Ibanez than a Platinum package anywhere else, but in case you find a better price on the entry level packages, I will meet or beat it. Why would you buy anywhere else?

Incoming Inspection - Guitar has passed incoming inspection I use to determine it is satisfactory and deemed a "good guitar". Finish, neck relief profile, hardware, plugged in to check output and make sure switch and pots are problem free, prepared and packed correctly inside and outside the case. This is far more than you get from any mass merchant or warehouse dealer, at considerable savings. All warranty work required will be the responsibility of the distributor, Hoshino USA. [see Warranty details at the bottom of the page]

Inspected & Tested - Visual inspection for any flaws to the finish, neck inspected and truss checked, top mount nut screws checked for stripped holes, sharp fret ends filled and Micro Mesh polished if needed, overall inspection, plugged in for electronics check and play testing. Play testing includes bending every string a whole step at low action to check for and correct any dead spots in the fretwork. Prepared and packed correctly inside the case and then bubble wrapped outside the case to ensure the most trouble free delivery possible. All warranty work required will be the responsibility of the distributor, Hoshino USA.

Bronze - In addition to the inspection described above, all simple adjustments and full maintenance routine [all wood to metal contacts tightened] are preformed as would be typical of any extensive setup done by your typical store tech, except it will be done perfectly by an Ibanez specialist. Strings stretched, neck relief, trem angle adjusted and knife edges lubed [if so equipped], action height set to your preference, nut height adjusted [does not include grinding nut for nuts still too high], string/neck alignment [but not side shimmed to pin the neck in place, held only by screw tension], tuners tightened, arm holder spring centered, and any paint pimples shaved from the back of the neck. Intonation is tuner set but as this usually alters the bridge radius expect some slightly high or low strings in the bridge radius. Factory D’Addario 9-42 are left on [for most guitars, Jazz boxes, Apex, 2228’s, etc. will be different gauge] or the strings are changed to the gauge of your choice. I stock D\'Addario strings in all gauges. Feel free to send your favorite strings if you prefer something else. It is preferable that your guitar be setup with the strings you will be using. Requests for custom tunings are no problem and no charge. Any warranty work required will be the responsibility of the distributor, Hoshino USA. [see Warranty details at the bottom of the page]

Silver - This is the level that dials in the fine details that can make the difference in a good playing guitar and a great playing guitar. In addition to inspection and simple adjustments already detailed, bridge radius is shim matched to the fretboard which also corrects any string radius issues, knife edges thinned to correct thickness, arm holder tightened, locking stud mod added to all Edge Pro equipped guitars and studs upgraded to best grade studs on Edge Zero equipped guitars, nut height is set including grinding nuts still too high without shims which also allows the nut to be further lowered as the frets wear, an extra .1mm nut shim included in your tool kit, nuts bent to correct poor radius match to the first fret [milled nuts only, currently UV, Apex, and 2228 only, and will cause some powder coat or plating to flake off], neck heel pinned to the bass side of the neck pocket and alignment pinned in place using brass shims on the sides of the neck pocket [neck can still slip to the treble side as the neck screws loosen over time, keeping metal to wood contact points tight is part of routine maintenance], pickup height including replacing the foam under direct mount pickups that are too low, fretboard wood nourished with Fret Doctor. Intonation that would be tuner set in the Bronze package is strobe set comparing the open / 12th and 5th / 17th, tuning the strings as close as possible to each other. This is time consuming and there will always be spots on the fretboard that will be quite out, but this method leaves the guitar playing much more in tune to itself than just setting it at any specific note. All in all everything a guitar needs to be fine tuned into an instrument is done, except a fret level to insure perfect fretwork. Warranty work will be performed by either HUSA or Ibanez Rules at your discretion, except fretwork related claims which must be covered by HUSA. Ibanez Rules will pay return shipping during the first 3 months on any other warranty issue. To accelerate repair I can also send the parts to those that are mechanically inclined or have access to a good local tech, and cover all charges.

Gold - In addition to Silver service, the guitar will receive a fret level using a 24” Stew Mac box beam milled to some ridiculously high degree of tolerance. Cutting all the frets in unison is the only way to insure a perfectly level playing surface. If a neck has a slight anomaly in it’s bow profile that is not enough to reject under inspection, it is corrected by jig cutting the neck under stress to simulate string tension. All frets are crowned to under the 1mm crown spec, crowned fret sides polished with 400 grit, 800 grit, 00 steel wool, and all frets final polished with 0000 steel wool. The fretboard is also scrubbed with steel wool to cut off the light glaze caused by the factory polishing the fretted neck. Warranty work will be performed by either HUSA or Ibanez Rules at your discretion. Ibanez Rules will pay return shipping during the first 3 months on any warranty issue. To accelerate repair I can also send the parts to those that are mechanically inclined or have access to a good local tech and cover all charges.

Platinum – To all returning customers, this is the Level I have been providing since 2004 [IIRC!] and is fully described on this page. In addition to everything above, Platinum adds enhanced fret end radiusing and fretboard edge radiusing. Simply explained, the ends of the frets are made much rounder so they are more comfortable on the fingers, and the fretboard edge is cleaned up [factory Prestige finishing can leave this a little “notchy”] as best as possible and then enhanced by making it rounder and smoother. The fret ends are bevel filed with a fret file, the bevel is rounded using a crowning file, then sanded with 300 grit paper on a fret dressing stick. The edge of the fretboard is rounded using the fret file, then shaved smooth with a razor blade. All of it is then scrubbed with 00 steel wool, the fretboard is masked with tape, and the frets finish polished with 00 and Micro Mesh up to 6000 grit for a mirror finished playing surface. This Level has never been a necessity but IMO is the finishing touch in creating a truly superior instrument. Warranty work will be performed by either HUSA or Ibanez Rules at your discretion. Ibanez Rules will pay return shipping during the first 3 months on any warranty issue. To accelerate repair I can also send the parts to those that are mechanically inclined or have access to a good local tech and cover all charges.

No matter the level of service provided, all guitars should be checked and adjusted upon arrival. Shipping from one climate to another can cause changes to any piece of wood and wire. Neck relief and trem angle are prone to change as wood expands or contracts. Typically if these two measurements are readjusted the setup falls right back into place.

Questions?

WARRANTY - The factory warranty through HUSA is only available to guitars in the US, or shipped back to the US. The Ibanez Rules warranty does not see a border as an excuse to avoid a warranty obligation. For full specifics I'd suggest fully reading my Warranty page.