Hiya,
Firstly, all over google I see plenty of examples of 1999 BTB basses and it seems some had narrower nut widths and string spacings than we're normally associating with btb designs. However it's just heresy - I don't personally know if they really exist, but there are plenty of people claiming they do.
So you could possibly be right about having a 1999 model.
Secondly, and way more cool imho, is that I now own one too! I picked up a 5 string 405QM off CL a while back. Needed HUGE things done to it as it was nearly unplayable... and I'm still working on it and have a ways to go, but it's already VERY cool.
I'll take pics once I'm at home (time permitting).
running it's serial I get this:
Your guitar was made at the
World Plant, Korea
April 2001
Production Number: 3097
So that's a good starting place.
Problems (known so far) are these:
- action was insanely high (like 1/2" at top frets).
- strings were dead (which made it hard to know if it was worth buying... but I took a chance)
- strange finish problem under b string between the pickups... I'll have to show you guys when I get the pics done. looks like a flaw in the finish that seems like it's below the clearcoat.... not sure how that got through QA. maybe this was a reduced price blemish model.... it's pretty dramatic though.
- the dual concentric mid controls are snapped off (which TOTALLY sucks... nobody seems to sell the right dual pot locally, will have to hope I can order one from ibanez and wait weeks for the damn thing). Fortunately it works as is and sounds really good, but I can't use it seriously without that obviously. there's nothing to turn so I can't play with the best feature of this bass's electronics :-( boohoo
- the neck was either too straight or possibly bent slightly convex. after lowering action like mad at the bridge half of the frets became unplayable. now I know why the bridge was raise so much. Too bad a real tech never got his hands on this thing before now though.
- even after loosening truss rods (which didnt' need much before the nuts got loose... which concerned me at first but got much better after letting the neck sit under string tension for a couple of days) there is still a buzz on some strings when fretting the first fret and playing. not open, and not 2nd fret played or higher (for the most part). So either fret 2 is too high or fret 1 is too low.
- lots of pot noises and scraping sounds when turning them
- the locking jack isn't exactly a great quality jack electronically-speaking... lots of issues with placement of the patch cord to get it to speak and not pop. will have to open it up and clean or adjust it.
- the bolt on neck seem slightly mis aligned in it's pocket - the b string, by the top frets, is nearly off the fingerboard (right at the edge) and the g string has far too much room over the board up high on the neck.
- the B string sounds different, less good, even in the first few notes (that only a B can hit). THis is after putting on a new set of elixirs (the only 5 string set I could find in stainless steel at my local shop that day). I don't normally buy elixirs but didn't expect the B to sound inferior to the other strings. I've tried lowering the B (it's as low as possible almost now) and it still is slightly quieter than the rest and not as interesting sounding. This may, of course, be due to the strings being misaligned over the pickups with the crooked neck socket mounting job, but it seems unlikely to be the main problem unless the bridge pieces themselves are what were mounted crooked (every one of them!?) rather than the neck being crooked. I highly doubt that though, so strings near bridge should be pretty close to correct position, and they look pretty centred over pickups to me at a quick glance.
Sorry for long list and wordiness. I like this bass but don't love it just yet. If the B can sound better then I might just love it. What do you guys think? elixir B sucks? it's likely not string height. the crooked neck joint? (I'm assuming that is the problem I described with string over fingerboard positioning, don't know for a fact though) I'm going to have to take the neck off and see if I can re-attach it so it is better lined up. that sucks, but what can ya do. other ideas?
I normally play DR strings (on my musicman american sub 5) and the B strings are perfect sounding on those... maybe I should pickup a set of those for this bass. But I could easily spend as much as another bass on strings alone if I keep replacing them while I work on it, so I think I'll hold off until other known physical repairs are done.
It IS a nice looking great sounding good playing bass. no where near as compact or fast as my musicman or my cort GB, but it's cool all the same. thing is, my MM sub is fretless, my GB is 4 string. I want a 5 string fretted too, very versatile if possible. Hoping this can become that bass.
Cheers All,
Don
