FWIW, I use the Levy's 4.5-inch padded strap to reduce the pressure (but the not the force) applied to my shoulder by my BTB:
Levy's MSS2-4 4.5
Levy's MSS2-4 4.5
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.
Alright BTB fan's and owners. I'm going to purchase a new Ibanez BTB1605 from Sweetwater and wanted to see what everyone's thoughts was on the colors. What is more appealing long term the Natural Flat or the Deep Twilight Flat? I like both and am having trouble deciding.
wintremute
mediocrity at its finest
- Oct 16, 2014
- 6,942
- 29,551
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Langstrom Carrot Farms
Have any of your BTB owners tuned a BTB33 to BEADG? What strings did you use? How did you like the results? How did the B string sound?
i like both. gold hardware, not so much. I would go with the dark one as well, as I already have a 1006 with natural finished flamed maple.
Both use the same materials, so I'd bet the weight/tone variation from instrument to instrument (even with the same finish) would be much larger than the difference between the mean values for each finish.
I use the "baritone" preset on my Eventide Pitchfactor to tune my Volo down to BEADG. Sounds very natural.
Just received word from My Sweetwater rep that my new bass is in and after inspection and setup will be shipped and in my hands by Friday.
Just received my new BTB1605 in a this morning and after putting my preferred strings on it and testing it out quickly before going back to work this thing is beautiful. Pictures doesn't do it justice. Will take a few pictures this evening and give a full report.
Cool. I'm very interested to hear how it balances on a strap, given how light your example is.
thrakkor, FWIW, my BTB33 balanced very well in stock form, and adding GB350 tuners made it even better. I'd expect most of the full-sized BTBs to be similar, but campbems' 1605 is so light, I wasn't sure what the weight distribution would be.
Does anyone in out there in BTB Land own both a BTB33 and a full-sized BTB 5-string? Is the 33's body smaller than the other 5-string's? From photos, it looks like both types have the upper horn ending at the 12th fret, which suggests the 33's body is smaller. Does anyone have photos of the 33 next to a "normal" BTB fiver?
Have you asked your Sweetwater rep? He could provide you with side by side photos if the basses are in stock.
Btw I really like my BTB33 and had the same question.
gadgetgirl, that's a good idea. I will ask him if no one here has what I need. Edit: I just recalled that Sweetwater doesn't have any BTB33s in stock; I'm having my sales rep hold the next one for me.
My BTB33 is probably my favorite, so I'm considering whether to get another to string BEADG--several people have reported good luck doing so with that bass or other 33-inch instruments--or to go for a BTB1605. I'm intimidated by the wider and longer neck on the "big-boy" BTB 5-strings, though. If the body is bigger, that would also be a strike against the full-size instrument.
By the way, is that a bichon in your avatar?
Note: The paint was chosen by the previous owner.
My BTB33 is probably my favorite, so I'm considering whether to get another to string BEADG--several people have reported good luck doing so with that bass or other 33-inch instruments--or to go for a BTB1605. I'm intimidated by the wider and longer neck on the "big-boy" BTB 5-strings, though. If the body is bigger, that would also be a strike against the full-size instrument.
By the way, is that a bichon in your avatar?
Note: The paint was chosen by the previous owner.
Last edited:
