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IBANEZ ARTCORE TONE PROBLEM SOLVED !!!

#141
I got lazy and had a guitar tech do the upgrade for me. I didn't feel like messing around snaking the switch/pots back in place with the tools I had on hand. It was under $50.00 using my parts. Well worth the modification. Usable tone and a decent range of adjustment.

This mod was made to my AFB200.
 
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#142
hushnel said:
I got lazy and had a guitar tech do the upgrade for me. I didn't feel like messing around snaking the switch/pots back in place with the tools I had on hand. It was under $50.00 using my parts. Well worth the modification. Usable tone and a decent range of adjustment.

This mod was made to my AFB200.
Click to expand...
I wonder if all of these similar Ibby's had the same issue?
AGB140
AGB200
AGB295
AFB200
ASB140
ASB180
What pot did you actually have installed? Manufacturer and source?
 
#144
Bought a used Ibanez Artcore agb 140 a couple of months ago because it's such a great looking bass but was bitterly disappointed with the sound. Fitted it with nylon coated flats at first then tried fender nickel flats but it still sounded very thin and the tone control did basically nothing. I also have a Hofner Violin ignition bass and an Epiphone EB-3 bass both fitted with flats which have the warm rounded 60s tone I pefer.
I was really disappointed with the Ibanez especially as I loved its classic look but was resigned to having to sell it on until I found the post by Bassamatic.
On checking my pots sure enough they were both 500K so I ordered two 50Ks and a .22uf capacitor and tried fitting them as soon as they arrived.
Even though this was my first soldering job I managed to do it reasonably well soldering the wires exactly ad they originally were positioned and by following the tips about tying thread to the screw threads on the pots I was able to refit the pots fairly easily.
Couldn't wait to plug it in but I was disappointed to discover the sound wasn' t that much better, the tone control whilst better didn't have much range and the volume control didn't work.
I thought perhaps some of my amateur soldered joints had come apart but they were fine.
I then checked the ibanez wiring diagram provided by 83-silvebpfeil and discovered as well as having the wrong pots it wasn't wired correctly.
I changed the wiring and voila what a differece. Fully functional tone control and a rich mellow well rounded sound. I love it.
Thank you Bassamatic you're a star.
 
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#145
Scarlet Hawk said:
Bought a used Ibanez Artcore agb 140 a couple of months ago because it's such a great looking guitar but was bitterly disappointed with the sound. Fitted it with nylon coated flats at first then tried fender nickel flats but it still sounded very thin and the tone control did basically nothing. I also have a Hofner Violin ignition bass and an Epiphone EB-3 bass both fitted with flats which have the warm rounded 60s tone I pefer.
I was really disappointed with the Ibanez especially as I loved its classic look but was resigned to having to sell it on until I found the post by Bassamatic.
On checking my pots sure enough they were both 500K so I ordered two 50Ks and a .22uf capacitor and tried fitting them as soon as they arrived.
Even though this was my first soldering job I managed to do it reasonably well soldering the wires exactly ad they originally were positioned and following the tips about tying thread to the screw threads was able to refit the pots fairly easily.
Couldn't wait to plug it in but I was disappointed to discover the sound wasn' t that much better, the tone control whilst better didn't have much range and the volume control didn't work.
I thought perhaps some of my amateur soldered joints had come apart but they were fine.
I then checked the ibanez wiring diagram proved by 83-silvebpfeil and discovered as well as having the wrong pots it wasn't wired correctly.
I changed the wiring and voila what a differece. Fully functional tone control and a rich mellow well rounded sound. I love it.
Thank you Bassamatic you'r a star.
Click to expand...
I need to do this to mine!
 
#147
Scarlet Hawk said:
Bought a used Ibanez Artcore agb 140 a couple of months ago because it's such a great looking guitar but was bitterly disappointed with the sound. Fitted it with nylon coated flats at first then tried fender nickel flats but it still sounded very thin and the tone control did basically nothing. I also have a Hofner Violin ignition bass and an Epiphone EB-3 bass both fitted with flats which have the warm rounded 60s tone I pefer.
I was really disappointed with the Ibanez especially as I loved its classic look but was resigned to having to sell it on until I found the post by Bassamatic.
On checking my pots sure enough they were both 500K so I ordered two 50Ks and a .22uf capacitor and tried fitting them as soon as they arrived.
Even though this was my first soldering job I managed to do it reasonably well soldering the wires exactly ad they originally were positioned and following the tips about tying thread to the screw threads was able to refit the pots fairly easily.
Couldn't wait to plug it in but I was disappointed to discover the sound wasn' t that much better, the tone control whilst better didn't have much range and the volume control didn't work.
I thought perhaps some of my amateur soldered joints had come apart but they were fine.
I then checked the ibanez wiring diagram proved by 83-silvebpfeil and discovered as well as having the wrong pots it wasn't wired correctly.
I changed the wiring and voila what a differece. Fully functional tone control and a rich mellow well rounded sound. I love it.
Thank you Bassamatic you'r a star.
Click to expand...

If you look at the schematics carefully, you'll see, that with the exception of the pickups, everything is identical for the AGB 200 and the AFB 200. I am guessing the AGB 205, the ASB 140 and ASB 180 have the same exact issue.

I have the AGB 140, the 200, the 205 and the AFB 200. The tone control on all of these barely does anything if at all.
 
#148
Really cool to hear how this mod continues to help folks get the best tone out of these instruments. I will say that for me the problem wasn't so much the controlability of the tone as the poor quality tone in it's stock configuation and the fact that I hated the aesthetic of the mini MM bucker against the otherwise vintage looks.

I do wonder what I would have done if I'd done the pot and cap swap before ripping the guts out and putting the JC guts in. Maybe I would have love it and left it as is. Maybe not.
 
#151
Bassamatic said:
WOW! I am really pleased that my fix is continuing to help AGB owners! Every time I see one for sale, I wonder if it is because it is this same problem.
Click to expand...

I just picked up another one of these AGB140's yesterday, Bassamatic. It's a minty 05' model that was in the OHSC, never been played, not a scratch on her. I gave 3 clams for her with the case because I know (and like) what she is. My original has some roundwounds on it for a more rock. This new one is getting a set of Chromes for some old school thump. Got the parts on order to mod/fix her up.

BTW, I came across an ASB140 (double cutaway) but it just never warmed up to me. Maybe it was the style or the sunburst finish (which I just don't really care for). But now I have two "twins" that can sing a little bit differently from each other. :)
 
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#153
The thread that can never die! What a wealth of information. I received an AGB-140 today from the kind UPS man. Really impressed with it, and as soon as I won it on Ebay, I ordered 2 50k pots and a .22 cap. Since you guys have experience with this bass, I thought I'd ask you, even though I just posted a thread in Setup and Repair forum.
Is it normal for the bridge to be tilted forward a bit due to string tension, or is it cause for alarm?
Here's a picture.
20180927_182156.jpg


It came with fresh Rotosound TruBass 88 Tapes on it. Fairly high tension I believe.

Here's a link to the thread I started: Ibanez Artcore Semi-Hollowbody Bridge assessment

Thanks guys.
 
#154
That is actually the tailpiece - it just holds the strings. It may have always been that way. The screws are straight - I wouldn't worry about it Your bridge also look good to me!

Congrats on your upcoming upgrade with the new controls. You will love it.
 
#160
Well, as I sit here in my little corner of the world, waiting on the mail to allow me to make a third attempt to get 50k pots that have shafts long enough to punch through the top, another bass related order comes in. I had run across some Ibanez PF4 pickups on Fleabay. These pickups are in my beloved SRX2EX2 and a couple of variations of them were in all the Ibby SRX basses.
20181011_221925.jpg
I noticed they looked to be similar size to the Artcore pu. Hmmmm, forget those rarer than hen's teeth pots, I'll pop one of these bad boys in and see what happens. Easy peasy....
20181109_152025.jpg
Nothing is easy in this life. Turns out the PF4 (passive full range) is about an eighth of an inch longer
20181109_152305.jpg
When in doubt, Power Tools!
20181109_154014.jpg 20181109_153958.jpg
after utilizing my celebrated Oscillator in sanding mode, also a chisel, a dremel and drill bits we have a new pickup in place. Now the fun chance to use ye olde dental floss to pull the pots back in place after soldering.
20181109_161613.jpg 20181109_161637.jpg
The best part of this nifty little procedure is, it sounds great! It's like having a blanket taken off of a speaker. It really opens up the sound and makes it obvious just how much I was missing. So, a much more dynamic and articulate sound with a pickup matching correct pots. If you made it this far, thanks for hanging in there.
AGB140.jpg
 

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