The Ibanez U Bar

[Manurack]

Pics first because y'all are probably thinking "what the fuck"



Freak On the Leash music video.




It was released on the Ibanez K-7 KoRn signature guitar after Steve Vai gave it the a okay to release a seven string under a different name with Ibanez.

I was just watching the music video for 'Freak On A Leash' by Korn on my 60" Samsung Smart TV and saw Head utilizing the U Bar.

Has anyone ever jammed on a K-7 and used it?
I'd love to jam on one. That last picture doesn't have the U bar on it, so here's one with a K-7 with the U bar.

This is actually Munky's signature 7 string with the 69 and stars inlays on the fretboard with the U bar.

 

[odibrom]

If I remember correctly, the U-Bar was designed in order to prevent the micro tuners to be jammed when pressing them for wahmmy FXs with the LoPro Edge bridge. With the U-Bar, they (Head and Munky?) could do it without the risk of detunning their guitars. It's all there is to know, I guess. It was their (Korn) suggestion and Ibanez simply implemented it.

The U-Bar was firstly used on LoPro Edge trems, and in this last pic on the EdgePro one. It's a coll gadget I guess, but I also never messed with one... Head's Ibanez are again equipped with LoPros...

 

[Grindspine]

I was lucky enough to play some APEX 200 guitars a few years back. On my guitars with original Edge bridges (more whale-tail Floyd style, not lo pro), I tend to grab the back of the bridge for subtle trem effects. I am a huge fan of the idea, the problem is that you pretty much have to get some type of Korn signature model guitar to use a U-bar; most of those guitars have been discontinued at this point.

 

[c7spheres]

I had one on a K7 a when they first came out. They're cool if you're like me and not much of a whammy user but they get in the way of my hand trying to do palm mutes and stuff. I'm a person that plays with their hand/fingers splayed out rather than in a fist. If you're right hand is fisted a lot it probably won't get in the way much. I didn't like my K7 though and got rid of it real fast. It just was't comfortable like my 7620's at the time though it should have been almost identical.

 

[ikarus]

Pics first because y'all are probably thinking "what the fuck"

This is SSO son, we know the u bar...

 

[ZXIIIT]

Korn? lol, that's a dumb name, band will def never go anywhere

But really, the U-Bar is great if you're not into heavy tremolo use, as mentioned above, it does sit high above the saddles, which gets in the way of palm muting, I ended up replacing it on my old K-7.

Both Head (ESP) and Munky (still with Ibanez) use guitars with evertune bridges, so the U-Bar is more than likely done for after the K-7 20th anniversary model.

I attempted to make my own DIY U-Bar with a Floyd Rose tremolo on my RG7620, but ended up breaking the arm, so I just have a tremolo with 2 arm slots now, lol.

 

[IwantTacos]

Could probably jimmy a bent piece of metal that rest on the other side of the trem and have u bar functionality.

 

[Grindspine]

All being said above, my RGDR3127s has a lo-pro. If I ever end up finding a U-bar bridge (lo pro with an extra hole for the other part of the U-bar) I would not object to swapping bridges. I do really like the idea of the U-bar because I only grab the back of the bridge for subtle effects. I have never been comfortable with having a full bar hanging out of the bridge, even with tension adjustments so that it does not swing.

In summary; yeah, we know the U-bar. The U-bar is cool, but rare with pretty specific use scenarios.

 

[c7spheres]

Korn? lol, that's a dumb name, band will def never go anywhere

But really, the U-Bar is great if you're not into heavy tremolo use, as mentioned above, it does sit high above the saddles, which gets in the way of palm muting, I ended up replacing it on my old K-7.

Both Head (ESP) and Munky (still with Ibanez) use guitars with evertune bridges, so the U-Bar is more than likely done for after the K-7 20th anniversary model.

I attempted to make my own DIY U-Bar with a Floyd Rose tremolo on my RG7620, but ended up breaking the arm, so I just have a tremolo with 2 arm slots now, lol.

I'd love if Ibanez made a LoPro U-Bar that immediately bent towards the back of the bridge so it'd be out of the way.

Could probably jimmy a bent piece of metal that rest on the other side of the trem and have u bar functionality.

I've thought about this but opted not to destroy anything so never attempted it, but if you look at the under side of the LoPro there's actually holes already made for the U-Bar, even before the U_bar came out. I image it's for lefty models or something, but all that'd be needed is an bar insert/collar and to drill out the top of theh plate to the hole and a U=Bar would slip right in. Then you'd have to find a U-bar for sale or have one made.

 

[ZXIIIT]

I've thought about this but opted not to destroy anything so never attempted it, but if you look at the under side of the LoPro there's actually holes already made for the U-Bar, even before the U_bar came out. I image it's for lefty models or something, but all that'd be needed is an bar insert/collar and to drill out the top of theh plate to the hole and a U=Bar would slip right in. Then you'd have to find a U-bar for sale or have one made.

Cheap tremolos are good for that

 

[cardinal]

It was a very cool idea and when I had some variation of the Apex, I liked it a lot. To me, it's more comfortable for subtle vibrato tricks than using a traditional bar.

Only problem is that I couldn't do that flick/dump/squealing harmonic Dimebag-thing without a real tremolo bar. Would be nice if could somehow do both.

As it is, I prefer just a normal bar and try not to hit the fine tuners if I grab the Floyd for more subtle stuff.

 

[soldierkahn]

Head's Ibanez are again equipped with LoPros...

Isnt Head an ESP/LTD artist now?

 

[Fantomas]

I have an original K7 and the U bar is actually quite usable if you don't need finesse. You can just bang on it to get some effects but in the end a regular tremolo gives you a lot more range to play with. Still a nice idea though.

 

[Adieu]

Isn't it basically for light palm bends?

 

[ZXIIIT]

It's for non-heavy tremolo use and more for slight bends/accents, Head & Munky's guitar's were probably setup with a lot of springs to keep tension, watch Head @ 22:27

 

[Manurack]

Isnt Head an ESP/LTD artist now?

Yeah he left Ibanez and joined ESP a few years back. His ESP Sig has an Evertune and Fishman Fluence pickups.

 

[odibrom]

Isnt Head an ESP/LTD artist now?

Yeah, can be that way, I don't follow Korn much so I must have swapped their names... lol on me, hehe

 

[soldierkahn]

Yeah, can be that way, I don't follow Korn much so I must have swapped their names... lol on me, hehe

wasnt trying to be mean or anything, i just got excited that maybe i missed out on a new release or somethin lol. i was like.... "Since when is ESP/LTD using LoPros....?" lol

 

[StevenC]

I've thought about this but opted not to destroy anything so never attempted it, but if you look at the under side of the LoPro there's actually holes already made for the U-Bar, even before the U_bar came out. I image it's for lefty models or something, but all that'd be needed is an bar insert/collar and to drill out the top of theh plate to the hole and a U=Bar would slip right in. Then you'd have to find a U-bar for sale or have one made.

I actually had my Edge apart for cleaning today and noticed this. Definitely for lefties, but as mine is a reissue I wonder if this is the same on Edges from the 80s and early 90s.

 

[c7spheres]

... I wonder if this is the same on Edges from the 80s and early 90s.

It is. Even old 7620's have it, so it was around before the U-Bar unless there was some other model with it other than the k7's.