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BTB845V tune BEADG? Can I?

Can it be done well?

  • Total voters
    21
#21
Looks like some people revived this thread before I was going to.

I recently bought a BTB845V and I'm reaaaally liking it for learning solo rep, including playing some Bach inventions and fugues. However, I really miss having a low B string and I don't think my wife will let me buy another bass any time soon. I've used my Carvin SB5000 tuned EADGC and had no problems with tuning or any string issue.

So my question is if I were to file down the nut of my BTB845V, I shouldn't have problems switching between BEADG and EADGC like with my Carvin, right? I'm just afraid of doing the deed and later regretting it.
 
#22
It is one thing to have a nut a few thou wider so you can change from, say, a 40's set and a 45's set. The strings on an Ibby have a pretty straight pull, which may not lend themselves to switching a full string over.
 
#24
Winton said:
So would you personally suggest completely switching the nut over filing down the original nut?
Click to expand...
What I am suggesting is do either/or, not both at the same time: keep the original nut for the OEM E-C tuning if that is what you prefer, or have a new nut cut just for B-G tuning, like I did, since I don't use E-C tuning. You can always try the E-C tuning in a nut cut for the B-G strings, but the E-C strings will probably rattle around in the B-G nut and not be secure.

The other option: purchase a 6-string BTB846V. Then you have all the above: B-C. There are sound bytes on YouTube.
 
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#25
iiipopes said:
What I am suggesting is do either/or, not both at the same time: keep the original nut for the OEM E-C tuning if that is what you prefer, or have a new nut cut just for B-G tuning, like I did, since I don't use E-C tuning. You can always try the E-C tuning in a nut cut for the B-G strings, but the E-C strings will probably rattle around in the B-G nut and not be secure.

The other option: purchase a 6-string BTB846V. Then you have all the above: B-C. There are sound bytes on YouTube.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your 2 cents on this!
I just talked to the repair-maintenance guy at the Tokyo ESP store and he told me that since the BTB845V has a tilted headstock, for a bass, changing to EADGC with the filed down nut won't affect it that much, especially since it also has a zero fret.

This makes sense because when I had my Carvin SB5000, I had no issue switching to EADGC tuning since the Carvin also has a tilted headstock. So I think I'll have the ESP guy file it down for me. I have the tools to do it myself but might as well have it done right since I'm thinking of my BTB845V as a long term bass.
 
#26
iiipopes said:
What I am suggesting is do either/or, not both at the same time: keep the original nut for the OEM E-C tuning if that is what you prefer, or have a new nut cut just for B-G tuning, like I did, since I don't use E-C tuning. You can always try the E-C tuning in a nut cut for the B-G strings, but the E-C strings will probably rattle around in the B-G nut and not be secure.

The other option: purchase a 6-string BTB846V. Then you have all the above: B-C. There are sound bytes on YouTube.
Click to expand...
Hey iiipopes, I wanted to ask you how's your modded but on your BTB845V doing? Is the nut still sturdy? I ask because I just went to the ESP repair shop and they said they can mod the nut to B-G but where the B string would be would make it risky because it's already barely enough for the E string. So making it for the B string would risk the nut to crack. How's your bass holding up?
 
#27
Winton said:
Hey iiipopes, I wanted to ask you how's your modded but on your BTB845V doing? Is the nut still sturdy? I ask because I just went to the ESP repair shop and they said they can mod the nut to B-G but where the B string would be would make it risky because it's already barely enough for the E string. So making it for the B string would risk the nut to crack. How's your bass holding up?
Click to expand...
I don't skimp. I had my luthier make an entirely new nut as part of the mods and upgrades. It is my #1 gig bass with my party band. The reason I didn't reply until this afternoon is that I had out of town gigs this weekend as my band gets back up to a full schedule for the summer and fall - with this bass, upgraded pickups to USA Bart CBC's in the MK5 size, EMG preamp, and D'A EXL170BT with a 130 B string tuned up to C, running through a Behringer passive DI box (less than $20 - still the best tone) into our digital Behringer board and sound system, with individual monitor mixes via cell phone app. Instead of a bass amplifier, I have a Behringer 205D personal monitor on a stand for the vocals and keys to lock in the groove, since, as we all know, there is never an issue hearing drums, horns and electric guitars on stage. This setup makes me use my eyes more than my ears to make sure I have locked in properly, since relying on ears can make you behind the beat and follow the groove instead of setting the groove.
 
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#28
Can ask you guys what the neck is like? I just returned a SR2605 because the neck was too thin for me in first position. I'm used to playing EBMM fivers. But I'm a little guy, getting old and a shorter scale may be in my future.
FWIW, I got to play a Spector Bantam 5 a couple of days ago. 32" scale. It was pretty nice. Compressed sounding B and very even from string to string. When I went to the shop yesterday, it was gone.
 
#29
bumble yeti said:
Can ask you guys what the neck is like? I just returned a SR2605 because the neck was too thin for me in first position. I'm used to playing EBMM fivers. But I'm a little guy, getting old and a shorter scale may be in my future.
FWIW, I got to play a Spector Bantam 5 a couple of days ago. 32" scale. It was pretty nice. Compressed sounding B and very even from string to string. When I went to the shop yesterday, it was gone.
Click to expand...
The neck is 45mm wide at the nut, 1.77 inches. That is a little narrow for some folks who like a 1.875 nut. I would describe the profile as a moderate slightly shallow C shape. Do you have access to a music store? Ibanez is very consistent from model to model that takes the same 45mm/1.77-inches nut at @ 20 mm thick, many of their models feel exactly the same, except for the SR2605 you mentioned that spec's at 1/2 mm thinner. My BTB845V actually finished out a hair thicker than spec. Yes, for thumb tendons, that 1/2 to 1 mm can make all the world of difference.
 
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#31
iiipopes said:
The neck is 45mm wide at the nut, 1.77 inches. That is a little narrow for some folks who like a 1.875 nut. I would describe the profile as a moderate slightly shallow C shape. Do you have access to a music store? Ibanez is very consistent from model to model that takes the same 45mm/1.77-inches nut at @ 20 mm thick, many of their models feel exactly the same, except for the SR2605 you mentioned that spec's at 1/2 mm thinner. My BTB845V actually finished out a hair thicker than spec. Yes, for thumb tendons, that 1/2 to 1 mm can make all the world of difference.
Click to expand...
EBMM fivers are 1.75" so, yessir, they're close. Guess I'll have to hit my LMS and play a bunch of Ibanez fivers.
I found that the EBMM necks are a bit thicker/rounder and easier for my thumb to move around in first position and easier to get to C, C#. Whereas the Ibanez was flatter and that 'hair' wider nut width made it awkward.
Thanks for the reply!
 
#32
A9X said:
The main difference between the BTB and SR necks, is the BTBs are a fraction wider, and my 846v has a 400mm radius vs 300mm on my SR706.
Click to expand...
Yes, down at the 24th fret the BTB's are about 3 millimeters wider than the SR's. I measured both my 2011 SRA305 and my BTB845V. The neck at the nut is exactly the same width: 45mm. The BTB 24th fret is 3 mm wider. The neck thickness at the first fret finished out the same at @ 20 1/2 mm even though the "specs" have the SR at 21 mm and the BTB at 20 mm. The crown radius is the same: 400 mm.
 
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#34
A9X said:
Cheers. I was going off the Ibanez website for the numbers.
Click to expand...
Indeed. I agree. Yes, you do have a point about the numbers. I usually refer to the numbers as well. Then I remember that the neck is a chunk of wood that somebody leaned into the sander to finish. And with the number of bass necks finished in a day in a large factory, there is bound to be some inconsistency, even though Ibby QC overall is some of the best in the business. So nothing beats try-before-you-buy to get one that fits the particular fretting hand.

Case in point: many years ago, I was browsing my local music store and they had just gotten in a then-new-model Epiphone Alley Kat in the black finish. It had the mini neck HB & full sized bridge HB pickups, my favorite configuration. I had seen the press on the model, but dismissed it since it spec'ed a 1.69 inch width nut, which is not comfortable to me (old thumb tendon injuries). I took it down, played it for five minutes and bought it. Right there, right then. Everything about it was just right. When I got it home I measured it. It had a 1.72 inch wide nut, like Gibson's acoustic guitars, not the spec nut width. As a matter of fact, the neck felt exactly like my J-45. And instead of the spec rosewood board, it had an ebony board, which I also prefer on an electric guitar. The entire instrument looked like it was an advance model for a short-lived idea to have a "premium" version, kind of like a Les Paul Custom, which didn't make it past marketing, and may have "accidentally" walked out the door of the factory. I have seen no other guitar in the "Kat" series that has anything other than the spec 1.69-rosewood appointments. In any event, I have a guitar that is not in spec, but fits me perfectly when I have the rare guitar gig.

The same thing with the bass: I liked the feel of my SRA305 neck, but the 34-inch scale became uncomfortable. So I found a BTB845V that had as close to a lower fret neck feel as I could find to my SRA305, and so I could feel more comfortable on the 33-inch scale. I'm sure there are BTB845V's out there with a slightly thinner neck. So I hope each person on this thread finds one to fit, give or take a millimeter here and there.
 
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#35
iiipopes said:
Indeed. I agree. Yes, you do have a point about the numbers. I usually refer to the numbers as well. Then I remember that the neck is a chunk of wood that somebody leaned into the sander to finish. And with the number of bass necks finished in a day in a large factory, there is bound to be some inconsistency, even though Ibby QC overall is some of the best in the business. So nothing beats try-before-you-buy to get one that fits the particular fretting hand.

Case in point: many years ago, I was browsing my local music store and they had just gotten in a then-new-model Epiphone Alley Kat in the black finish. It had the mini neck HB & full sized bridge HB pickups, my favorite configuration. I had seen the press on the model, but dismissed it since it spec'ed a 1.69 inch width nut, which is not comfortable to me (old thumb tendon injuries). I took it down, played it for five minutes and bought it. Right there, right then. Everything about it was just right. When I got it home I measured it. It had a 1.72 inch wide nut, like Gibson's acoustic guitars, not the spec nut width. As a matter of fact, the neck felt exactly like my J-45. And instead of the spec rosewood board, it had an ebony board, which I also prefer on an electric guitar. The entire instrument looked like it was an advance model for a short-lived idea to have a "premium" version, kind of like a Les Paul Custom, which didn't make it past marketing, and may have "accidentally" walked out the door of the factory. I have seen no other guitar in the "Kat" series that has anything other than the spec 1.69-rosewood appointments. In any event, I have a guitar that is not in spec, but fits me perfectly when I have the rare guitar gig.

The same thing with the bass: I liked the feel of my SRA305 neck, but the 34-inch scale became uncomfortable. So I found a BTB845V that had as close to a lower fret neck feel as I could find to my SRA305, and so I could feel more comfortable on the 33-inch scale. I'm sure there are BTB845V's out there with a slightly thinner neck. So I hope each person on this thread finds one to fit, give or take a millimeter here and there.
Click to expand...
And this is what I was wondering about the SR2605 I'd just returned. I'd played other Ibanez basses in the past and this one felt different right out of the box. As soon as I picked it up I thought that it was very different and just couldn't get on with it.
Case in point, I used to own an '05 StingRay 5. It's neck was thinner than any I'd played before or since. But it had a slight thickening around the 1-3 frets that tapered and made it a breeze to play. The fret work was absolutely perfect and the edges were rolled - so nice! Unfortunately, the bass also weighed almost 12 lbs. so, with my weight lifting days behind me and encroaching age, it had to go.
You know… it says a lot for the person on the line who's doing the final sanding, etc. that THEY can have huge effect on how a production instrument plays.
 
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#40
iiipopes said:
I don't skimp. I had my luthier make an entirely new nut as part of the mods and upgrades. It is my #1 gig bass with my party band. The reason I didn't reply until this afternoon is that I had out of town gigs this weekend as my band gets back up to a full schedule for the summer and fall - with this bass, upgraded pickups to USA Bart CBC's in the MK5 size, EMG preamp, and D'A EXL170BT with a 130 B string tuned up to C, running through a Behringer passive DI box (less than $20 - still the best tone) into our digital Behringer board and sound system, with individual monitor mixes via cell phone app. Instead of a bass amplifier, I have a Behringer 205D personal monitor on a stand for the vocals and keys to lock in the groove, since, as we all know, there is never an issue hearing drums, horns and electric guitars on stage. This setup makes me use my eyes more than my ears to make sure I have locked in properly, since relying on ears can make you behind the beat and follow the groove instead of setting the groove.
Click to expand...
Hey iiipopes!
Just an update, I got a custom made nut for my bass and so now it's tuned BEADG and I like how it's playing! It's great how it's 33" and that much easier to play.

I had a question about the pickups that you switched it to, the USA Bart CBC. How has it changed your tone and volume? The Bart BH2 sounds nice but I feel like it doesn't cut through that much, even in recording. I'm not sure if raising the treble knob alone helps. Do you have a recording of your BTB845V with the new pups?
 

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