Gave the BTB505 a set up and some Prosteels, for some reason it kinda sound dark. Are there trim pots on the preamp?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
I put a Lusithand Double NFP preamp in my BTB865SC tonight. I haven't had a lot of time to play it but my initial impression is that it opens up a whole new world of tones. Adjusting the filter of each pickup separately, plus the ability to boost the resonance, and then also blending the pickups makes for a crazy range of sounds. The only downside is that now I have two empty holes that weren't taken up by pots for the Lusithand. Anyone have ideas on how to cover/fill them without altering the bass?
Oh and I also replaced the locking output jack (which I've always hated on every bass I've had that came with one) with an XLR jack. Let the cable headaches begin!
Oh and I also replaced the locking output jack (which I've always hated on every bass I've had that came with one) with an XLR jack. Let the cable headaches begin!
Just pots with matching knobs that aren't wired to anything, aka Sklar 'producer' knobs.
Wouldn't it have been simpler to simply mod the TRS to make it non-locking?
I already had a Dingwall NG3 6, and a Z3 6 on the way, when that came out. I still bought it. It’s a good bass.
Well, fretless 1999 Ibanez Prestige BTB 1005 of the experts here, I pulled the trigger on the against the sage advice I was looking at. So I’m officially joining the BTB ranks with this beauty.
From what I can find, the bolt-on fretless is a rarity. This is my first Ibanez bass and my second fretless. I keep one at the church (where I play Sundays), so I wanted another one stationed at home for practicing.
It’s easily in 9.8 condition. I mean, the plastic placard that tells what the controls are for is still on it! The hardshell case is pristine, looks like it never came out of the closet. Obviously, this bass left the house seldom if any in the last 25 years.
The only thing keeping it from being 10.0 pristine is fretboard wear. The strings it came with were Thomastik-Infeld JR345, and those things are really aggressive, and the ’board is pretty gouged up from them. Be warned, probably not the best choice for fretless, especially if you do string-bending vibrato. I’m going to have it resurfaced.
What’s it like? I’ll start with the negatives, so I can end on the positive.
For starters, it sounds really dull for a fretless – indeed, it sounds more like a regular bass than a fretless. Doesn’t have much of that fretless “mwah.” The best way to get some “mwah” is panning to the bridge pickup, but then it just sounds thin and nasally. My other fretless didn’t sound that great when I got it either, but adjusting the pickup height and putting on some DR Sunbeams brought it to life. Didn’t work this time.
In addition, the sustain is nothing to write home about.
Absolutely hated the Neutrik locking jack. I found a Youtube video with directions on how to de-activate the locking mechanism. But I must have done something wrong, because it got me an intermittent connection afterwards. I ended up replacing the whole thing with a Switchcraft plate and standard female barrel jack.
On the positive side, it just looks great. The fit and finish are flawless, on par with my Pedulla and Tobias basses. The sweepable midrange control is a nifty feature. The overall balance is fabulous, with no neck dive – probably the best of any bass I currently have, regardless of price. And, the neck is wonderful, my favorite type – 19mm string spacing with a shallow, asymmetrical profile, ala Tobias. Those “monorail” bridge saddles are awesome – only kind I’ve ever seen where the string stays in place while you’re putting on new ones.
All in all, it’s a keeper. I’m sure I’ll enjoy it a lot once I get the fretboard issues dealt with!
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Pedulla Club #45 Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Administrator, Official Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
against the sage advice
From what I can find, the bolt-on fretless is a rarity. This is my first Ibanez bass and my second fretless. I keep one at the church (where I play Sundays), so I wanted another one stationed at home for practicing.
It’s easily in 9.8 condition. I mean, the plastic placard that tells what the controls are for is still on it! The hardshell case is pristine, looks like it never came out of the closet. Obviously, this bass left the house seldom if any in the last 25 years.
The only thing keeping it from being 10.0 pristine is fretboard wear. The strings it came with were Thomastik-Infeld JR345, and those things are really aggressive, and the ’board is pretty gouged up from them. Be warned, probably not the best choice for fretless, especially if you do string-bending vibrato. I’m going to have it resurfaced.
What’s it like? I’ll start with the negatives, so I can end on the positive.
For starters, it sounds really dull for a fretless – indeed, it sounds more like a regular bass than a fretless. Doesn’t have much of that fretless “mwah.” The best way to get some “mwah” is panning to the bridge pickup, but then it just sounds thin and nasally. My other fretless didn’t sound that great when I got it either, but adjusting the pickup height and putting on some DR Sunbeams brought it to life. Didn’t work this time.
In addition, the sustain is nothing to write home about.
Absolutely hated the Neutrik locking jack. I found a Youtube video with directions on how to de-activate the locking mechanism. But I must have done something wrong, because it got me an intermittent connection afterwards. I ended up replacing the whole thing with a Switchcraft plate and standard female barrel jack.
On the positive side, it just looks great. The fit and finish are flawless, on par with my Pedulla and Tobias basses. The sweepable midrange control is a nifty feature. The overall balance is fabulous, with no neck dive – probably the best of any bass I currently have, regardless of price. And, the neck is wonderful, my favorite type – 19mm string spacing with a shallow, asymmetrical profile, ala Tobias. Those “monorail” bridge saddles are awesome – only kind I’ve ever seen where the string stays in place while you’re putting on new ones.
All in all, it’s a keeper. I’m sure I’ll enjoy it a lot once I get the fretboard issues dealt with!
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Pedulla Club #45 Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Administrator, Official Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
against the sage advice
I really don't understand why Ibanez hamstring their basses with sometimes 'meh' pickups, at least in an unusual size. Ibby sell a bajillion guitars and they use their own PUs, but at least they're standard sizes and they can be easily swapped out for something you prefer. Why not the basses? If they were EMG standard they'd sell a lot more basses as they can be subbed for EMG, Bart, SD, Lace etc. My cheapest 6er, the SR206 has EMG45 sized PUs, but my BTB and higher range SR 5s and 6s (ditto the BTBs) use an odd size. Sure they're close to P2, but they're not the same and P2 sizes are far less common. /rant.
Best of luck with the resurfacing and the electronics. One of my SRs is getting routed for EMG45s (from MK sized) and another is getting 916 Super Ferrites in P2 (ordering soon). 916 also make a PJ set for the BTB5s in MK. No affiliation, but the owner posts here. I'm trying them as I have EMGs, Alumis, Nords and Fishman, Mk1s and BH2s and wanted something different whilst I experiment with my own PU designs and pres.
Agreed. I've owned a lot of expensive boutiques, including 3 Series Alembics, and I've shown my BTB846v to a number of non musos and non gearhead musos and they've been complimented for the FnF. The electronics I can easily sub out, but you can't change that, and for the price, I'd never buy another boutique, unless I become very rich, got one for a serious bargain or it was so, so much better that I couldn't live without it.
Best of luck with the resurfacing and the electronics. One of my SRs is getting routed for EMG45s (from MK sized) and another is getting 916 Super Ferrites in P2 (ordering soon). 916 also make a PJ set for the BTB5s in MK. No affiliation, but the owner posts here. I'm trying them as I have EMGs, Alumis, Nords and Fishman, Mk1s and BH2s and wanted something different whilst I experiment with my own PU designs and pres.
Last edited:
must see pics!!! drop the action down until the strings are on the other side of the fingerboard and make the relief flat, you will get your mwah
Well duh, as long as I've been "Talkbassing" you'd think I'd know that! Here ya go.
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Pedulla Club #45 Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Administrator, Official Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Hi can somebody help me?... I have a a BTB 676 ( mk2 18v preamp) without switch, i need to know what value have the VOLUME POT and what type is this "A" or "B"?... Thanks
Well duh, as long as I've been "Talkbassing" you'd think I'd know that! Here ya go.
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Pedulla Club #45 Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Administrator, Official Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Your post kind of freaked me out a bit. At first I thought I was looking at a Yamaha TRBX605, just like the one I just sold. I also had a BTB675 and also sold it recently. Missed it and bought a BTB 1825... and should have just gotten another one. I don't know what Ibanez was thinking when they put a hard, sharp edge at the top of the body?
@WayneP @Snert and all posters here, I have a 1999 BTB 705 OL (DFR pickups, vari-mid) and just created a thread with samples in the Pickups/electronics section that might interest you and all BTB owners here. You might have valuable info or opinions to add:
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/onboard-preamp-sucking-tone-with-samples.1661861/
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/onboard-preamp-sucking-tone-with-samples.1661861/
Hey! I'm looking for an Ibanez BTB 456QM (2006-2007) model. If anybody has one that they're looking to let go of, please PM me. See link below for reference:
www.basschat.co.uk
Also, are there any other Ibanez bass groups on TalkBass?
Thanks for any help!
Ibanez BTB456QM 6 String Bass with TI Flats - SOLD
Ibanez BTB456QM 6 String Bass with TI Flats Loads of bass for the money, especially the neck which plays really well and IMO is as good as the neck on basses costing 4 times as much. Fitted with a fairly recent set of Thomastik-Infeld flats, plus a full set of spare strings (mostly used older one...
www.basschat.co.uk
Also, are there any other Ibanez bass groups on TalkBass?
Thanks for any help!
