intonating ibanez artcore

jzauner · #1 07-22-2010, 01:14 PM

Okay, so here's the deal. I'm playing an ibanez artcore in a show I'm in. It is this model http://www.gbase.com/gear/ibanez-artcore-asb-140-burst
Sorry, I don't have any pics. Anyways, I was able to easily get the A, D, and G strings intonated, but the E string goes RIDICULOUSLY sharp, specifically the 3rd fret, which causes a lot of problems in the sets (we go from a song that uses open e (heartbeat) to one that uses G (la bamba), and I have to retune inbetween songs. I have the bridge pulled as far back as it can go on the E string, and its still sharp. Anyone have any tricks or is this a common problem with these basses?

One side question- anyone know any generic cases that will fit it? Its such a wide bass that I can't get one that's not the factory $200 one or however much it costs. any help on either of these matters would be greatly appreciated

62bass · #2 07-22-2010, 03:30 PM

I have the same bass essentially except mine is the single cutaway. I don't have that intonation problem and had no real trouble setting the intonation when I replaced the factory strings with Thomastics. I can't think what's causing it. I'd take it to a tech and have him take a look unless someone else here has a remedy. Possibly something wrong with your E string?

I've been searching for a case myself and haven't found anything yet. I can't even fit mine in a gig bag.

jzauner · #3 07-22-2010, 04:37 PM

well I just replaced all four strings when I bought it, so never played on it before that. 2 tuning pegs were not working, and it was just an all around mess so I spent a day cleaning it and stuff. I can't think of why its doing that. The only thing I could think of is the fret is off, but its not so out of tune on the other strings.

I have an acoustic guitar gig bag that it fits in, but the neck hangs out the top, and I get nicks in the head stock. I'm thinking about just adding some extra fabric to the top or something. No clue yet, but its pretty annoying, and I only paid about $150 for the bass, so its not worth it yet to buy a case for more than I paid for the bass.

62bass · #4 07-22-2010, 09:53 PM

For $150 you can afford to put a little into the bass. I can't see one fret being off that much and only where the E string is. Has to be something else.

I guess it's possible the bridge is mounted incorrectly. Also check the saddles closely to make sure the strings are sitting properly on them.

A very thick E string requires more compensation but I've always been able to get enough from any bridge I've tried on any decent bass. I've got lots of room left on my Artcore but the Thomastoc E string is a .100-pretty light.

Do you have any problem with the string winding being a bit too short on the Artcore? The E string on the Thomastic is a little short on mine which causes about 3/16" of the silk winding to overhang the nut. I just trim it off with a razor blade and it works fine.

Does your tone control do essentially nothing like every other Artcore I've heard of? If so, there is apparently a fix which was suggested by a TBr here recently. I haven't tried it yet but when I complete a couple other projects I will.

jzauner · #5 07-22-2010, 11:55 PM

The whole e string is off a little, but not much. I was wondering about the thickness of the string, but whatever I have on there I like the way it sounds. I don't remember as that was the beginning of summer and I've slept since then. The bridge looks correct, and the strings are in the saddles correctly.

I haven't had any problems with the string winding being too short. Though I've only had one set of strings on there. And yes, tone control does NOTHING. I haven't heard of the fix, I would be more than interested in trying it out! Do you have a link? I've wondered about putting in another pickup, tone knob, etc. Anyone done any other sort of mods to these basses you want to share? overall I am very pleased with how this bass plays and sounds except that stupid e string. But I am always open to upgrades

maybe then I'll fork out the money for a case.

62bass · #6 07-23-2010, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzauner

The whole e string is off a little, but not much. I was wondering about the thickness of the string, but whatever I have on there I like the way it sounds. I don't remember as that was the beginning of summer and I've slept since then. The bridge looks correct, and the strings are in the saddles correctly.

I haven't had any problems with the string winding being too short. Though I've only had one set of strings on there. And yes, tone control does NOTHING. I haven't heard of the fix, I would be more than interested in trying it out! Do you have a link? I've wondered about putting in another pickup, tone knob, etc. Anyone done any other sort of mods to these basses you want to share? overall I am very pleased with how this bass plays and sounds except that stupid e string. But I am always open to upgrades

maybe then I'll fork out the money for a case.

I'll try to find that old thread from about a month ago. Because Artcore isn't in the title of that thread, it's easy to miss. But according to the TBr who checked it out with the help of an electronics buddy, the problem starts with the pickup being fairly low impedance and yet mated to pots and a cap with values suitable for a high impedance pickup. The mismatch renders the tone control ineffective and the sound rather thin. He outlined what the pots and cap should be and rewired his bass using them and reports the tone control now works as it should and as a bonus, the sound from the pickup is bigger, louder and thicker. Sounds worth it to me. Anyhow, I'll look for it today soon as I get a chance, unless someone beats me to it.

There are a number of Artcore owners on this forum with the same problem. It seems that someone screwed up at Ibanez and they didn't catch it before releasing the bass. It was discontinued after such a short time that I doubt they even know it happened, or else they've received complaints but don't care because they don't make it any more.

Regardless, it's a nice bass and quite unique with its beefy, yet comfortable neck and very high quality fit and finish. As it is though, I find I don't use it because of its rather thin sound compared to everything else I own. Everyone who sees the bass loves the look of it.

Fergie Fulton · #7 07-23-2010, 05:18 AM

Hi i use AGB200s with flatwounds, custom made due to a length issue of the windings. Picato strings do this service and it is not expensive to use.
What i find is i am better to intonate it by ear. So i tune my A string to a tuner then do the rest by ear. Adjusting the bridge if need be to help the process i tune on the open strings, octave at the 7th fret between two strings next to each other, and open and octave at the 12th on any single string. This is the way my tech sets them up when he works on any semi acoustic bass or guitar.

Taking his advice because i also found that tuners will not settle on a point so i just use my ears, if it sounds right then it is right no matter what a tuner says.
On that point i will say the new TC polytuner when working live is great because it lets me see all 4 strings tuning together and in relation to each other so allows me to to judge whether i need to adjust anything or whether it is "workable". By that i mean sometimes it will read out, i stretch my arm out to the peg and it is in before i do anything. The construction of semi acoustics by virtue of the body means the neck to bridge fixing point is not a stable as a solid body so there will always be issues. Learn to trust your ears, because as i said if it sound right it is right.

timmus · #8 07-23-2010, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 62bass

I'll try to find that old thread from about a month ago. Because Artcore isn't in the title of that thread, it's easy to miss. But according to the TBr who checked it out with the help of an electronics buddy, the problem starts with the pickup being fairly low impedance and yet mated to pots and a cap with values suitable for a high impedance pickup. The mismatch renders the tone control ineffective and the sound rather thin. He outlined what the pots and cap should be and rewired his bass using them and reports the tone control now works as it should and as a bonus, the sound from the pickup is bigger, louder and thicker. Sounds worth it to me. Anyhow, I'll look for it today soon as I get a chance, unless someone beats me to it.

There are a number of Artcore owners on this forum with the same problem. It seems that someone screwed up at Ibanez and they didn't catch it before releasing the bass. It was discontinued after such a short time that I doubt they even know it happened, or else they've received complaints but don't care because they don't make it any more.

Regardless, it's a nice bass and quite unique with its beefy, yet comfortable neck and very high quality fit and finish. As it is though, I find I don't use it because of its rather thin sound compared to everything else I own. Everyone who sees the bass loves the look of it.

Please post the link to the post when you find it. I too had heard there was a post buried in TB about this very thing but I could never find it..I have an Artcore ASB 140 that I love the way it feels but as mentioned, it doesn't have the balls I think it could have...

Thanks!

jzauner · #9 07-23-2010, 10:20 AM

I tune mine mostly by ear for this same reason as well. But I tune every instrument I own by ear, its just more accurate that way. I do have one of the clip-on headstock tuners that I have on during live gigs so I don't have to struggle to get it tuned.

Well, I am playing in a musical about Buddy Holly, and this is the most period-correct bass I could find. Their sound system is incredible and the sound guy and I spent a good while setting a nice eq on the bass, and it is PUNCHY now.

The only mod I've made to the bass so far was removing the screws holding the pickups in (mine were STRIPPED. spent 20 minutes just getting them out), and putting small springs in to boost the pickup just a little higher, which made the sound a lot beefier. I am getting really excited to see how the other member rewired his! I'm gonna try that next.

62bass · #10 07-23-2010, 10:57 AM

Okay, I just spent some time trying to find that thread which was in the Pickups forum. I can't go back far enough to find it and am useless doing any other type of search. Can someone give us a hand finding it?

It's about May 23rd or just sooner that it started. Can't remember the title of the thread but here is a quote from one of the posts that I saved. Maybe it'll offer a clue to find the lost thread. This quote does detail what needs to be done to fix it but doesn't include the other posts about the result of the fix. I dimly recall the thread's title had something to do with getting the pots through the f hole cutouts on a hollow body. Anyhow, here is the thread--

"I found many reviews were the user said the same thing - that the tone control "didn't do a whole lot" and that the sound is middy.

I think that we have solved the mystery. I spent an hour talking with my genius engineer about this. He is an instrument and amp specialist by the way.

The very low resistance and impedance of the pickup is the problem. The typical bass pickup is 10x higher. This MAY have been the intention of Ibanez as the low impedance pup will pick up less noise, but they forgot to scale the rest of the circuit to match.

To make it work properly the pots need to be changed to 50K and the cap to around 0.22. However, he said that he would recommend changing the pickup instead, since he has never seen anyone make a good, low-impedance pickup.

Therefore, I am going to start looking for a Bart or something else that fits. I think that the pup is 39x140mm.

I wish that there was an easier fix, but there you have it. This is such a nice looking and playing bass that I feel it will be worth it to make the modifications.
__________________
Don't make me send the flying monkeys after you!"

timmus · #11 07-23-2010, 11:05 AM

AH HA! Here it is...

IBANEZ ARTCORE TONE PROBLEM SOLVED !!!

as soon as I had a bit of the script, I just searched on Ibanez Low Impedance and it popped right up...

62bass · #12 07-23-2010, 11:14 AM

Thanks Timmus. That's a different thread about the same thing. I didn't realize there was that thread also. I must have missed it.

Anyhow, there should be enough data now to try that fix. I do plan to do it to mine as soon as I can free up some more time for it. I've got a couple other projects on the go at the moment.

If someone here tries it out please post about it and let us know how it went.

timmus · #13 07-23-2010, 11:20 AM

I'm going to definitely try it but won't get a chance for several weeks...we have a bunch of gigs coming up in the next two weeks and with that and I'm on forced OT (50 hours/week) until at least labor day, I don't have much time for myself...I rarely play the Artcore anyway, mostly because of the tone issue, but if this fixes the problem, I may end using it more...
When I get a chance, if no one else has found it by then, I'll poke around a bit more and see what I come up with .

Fergie Fulton · #14 07-23-2010, 11:22 AM

I am going to look at mine again, i like the sound i get but as i said i have a pair of AGB200s and i always feel one is better than the other and just put it down to me, but maybe there is more to it.

62bass · #15 07-23-2010, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmus

I'm going to definitely try it but won't get a chance for several weeks...we have a bunch of gigs coming up in the next two weeks and with that and I'm on forced OT (50 hours/week) until at least labor day, I don't have much time for myself...I rarely play the Artcore anyway, mostly because of the tone issue, but if this fixes the problem, I may end using it more...
When I get a chance, if no one else has found it by then, I'll poke around a bit more and see what I come up with .

Great Timmus. Thanks for the help. Looking forward to hearing about the fix when you do it.

jzauner · #16 07-24-2010, 11:11 AM

I'll definitely try it, but I myself have a few projects lined up at the moment also. I have another few basses to finish first, and I have to keep working on my project car (65 VW bus), or it will never be finished. Anyone else find the link to the other thread? I'm thinking about just changing pickups instead of the pots. I do like the pickup when its tweaked through the sound system we use for the show, but I think if they can un-tweak it just a bit, and it sounds better on my own amps, I'm happy with that!

I wish we had videos of before and after. or of 3 basses played back to back that one had a changed pickup, the other had a changed pots, and the other stock. if only I had 3 of these. hmm