Ibanez BTB Club, Part 2!

[Aidil]

Well I decided to keep him. Took the protective film off the pups today and will lay a thorough setup on him tonight.

I love the growl. Love how stable the neck is - I never have to retune. Love the BH-1s. The weight is very manageable. And it's becoming comfortable.

Don't like the input jack. That has to go.

View attachment 2944251

Yours has BH2 pickups (or BH2-6 to be precise).

Great that you love them, cause the Bartolini BH2 pickups come in various sizes in conjunction with the string numbers. Bartolini website said there's no USA Bartolini replacement for them yet, except the 5 string version which can be replaced directly with their MK5 pickups (and I think maybe also any of P2 size pickups, so there are plenty of direct replacements for it). Whereas, the BH1s (and previous MK2s) have finally gotten USA Bart replacements made just last year or two years ago.

I was looking at bass amps the other day and they had a new BTB745, which I guess is the updated version of the 675 and it was significantly lighter in feel than my BTB675 which is almost 9.5 pounds. Ibanez must have done something to relieve the weight.

That Neutrik jack is really something, no? Takes two hands to unplug. You're more likely to rip the cable out of the plug than rip the plug out of the guitar. It's taken some getting used to, but I don't mind it like you do.

agree with the Neutrik output jack, it's just need some getting used to. In time, it could be done with one hand quite easy and fast.

I would leave it as it is cause it's a standard in all BTBs, maybe since the earliest builds. So, taken it off would make it as if not original.

 

[Phlipper]

I literally hate the jack. If I can find a replacement this weekend I'm breaking out the soldering iron.

Yeah ... BH2s I like em. Trying to decide if I like em more than Mk1s.

 

[Phlipper]

Ok, been up since 0500 playing and working thru my theory stuff ... I've decided I like them more than the Mk1s that either came in my other basses or were put into my other basses. I like the way they are growly when plucking hard and using a lot of vibrato, but smooth when plucking directly over the pup with the meaty part of the finger. They remind me of the older Ibanez CAP pickups that I still have in my fretless. But the Mk 1s in my other two are close enough in tone and volume that I don't feel the need to change them out. The stock Ibanez pre is good enough to balance out the three pup models I now have. I've always been picky about guitar pickups. But with bass, I find that variations in hand positioning or plucking techniques make almost as much difference as electronics. So I'm easy to please.

I've been working on the thumb float for a couple days now and it is already becoming natural. Really starting to dig the BTB. I do have to throw a bandaid on my left index finger to soften where that wide ass board tends to irritate the inside of the last joint.

Really liking it so far.

 

[Phlipper]

I just pulled the strings for a cleaning and setup. With any new instrument I clean it and condition the board. Tighten keys and posts, lube the bridge threads, pull the knobs and clean the pots, etc. Lube the nut. Then intonate and set it up to play like the rest.

I must say, the fit and finish/build quality is excellent. All the parts operate perfectly. Nothing is misaligned. Frets appear perfect. Very impressed.

 

[vindibona1]

Ok, been up since 0500 playing and working thru my theory stuff ...

I'm interested in what "theory stuff" you're working on.

I've decided I like them more than the Mk1s that either came in my other basses or were put into my other basses....I've always been picky about guitar pickups. But with bass, I find that variations in hand positioning or plucking techniques make almost as much difference as electronics. So I'm easy to please.

I think I have Mk2's in my 675. Bartolini doesn't seem to have much information. You have Mk1's and the 745 that I played the other day has BH1's (I think). Like you I'm super fussy with my guitar pickups but don't know squat (yet) about bass pickups. All I know is that I'm super happy with the Aguiliars I put in my Squier 4 string. Can someone please educate me on the Barts?

I've been working on the thumb float for a couple days now and it is already becoming natural. Really starting to dig the BTB. I do have to throw a bandaid on my left index finger to soften where that wide ass board tends to irritate the inside of the last joint.

And I thought my 5 string 675 was wide. I can't imagine what a 6 string feels like. If my neck were rosewood I'd be rolling the fingerboard edge like I've done with most of my electric guitars.

I just pulled the strings for a cleaning and setup. With any new instrument I clean it and condition the board. Tighten keys and posts, lube the bridge threads, pull the knobs and clean the pots, etc. Lube the nut. Then intonate and set it up to play like the rest.

I must say, the fit and finish/build quality is excellent. All the parts operate perfectly. Nothing is misaligned. Frets appear perfect. Very impressed.

View attachment 2944807

The top on your axe is simply stunning. Is there a recommended product for polishing/maintaining these guitar tops? Is that a Korg CA 40 I see in the background?

 

[Aidil]

I think I have Mk2's in my 675. Bartolini doesn't seem to have much information. You have Mk1's and the 745 that I played the other day has BH1's (I think). Like you I'm super fussy with my guitar pickups but don't know squat (yet) about bass pickups. All I know is that I'm super happy with the Aguiliars I put in my Squier 4 string. Can someone please educate me on the Barts?

Bartolini MK1 vs BH-2

 

[Scarysharkface]

Got it and have played it a total of maybe a couple of hours at this point. I like it a great deal, but it's going to take some time getting used to the extra string.

John

 

[vindibona1]

Got it and have played it a total of maybe a couple of hours at this point. I like it a great deal, but it's going to take some time getting used to the extra string.

View attachment 2948975

John

Beautiful instrument. Does that top wing make it heavy (heavier)? What do you think it weighs?

 

[Scarysharkface]

Beautiful instrument. Does that top wing make it heavy (heavier)? What do you think it weighs?

The literature lists the single-cut as being 10lbs 8oz if I recall, and the double-cut as 10lbs 4oz.
I let a friend play it and he swears it's lighter than his Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass.

John

 

[MikeOnBass73]

Got it and have played it a total of maybe a couple of hours at this point. I like it a great deal, but it's going to take some time getting used to the extra string.

View attachment 2948975

John

Just really commit to only playing the 6 string bass for a few months and you will adapt. I did so 17 years ago and never looked back.

 

[ToS]

My BTB-705-OL is heavy-ish to me. And Im using it with a wide (9cm) non-padded leather strap. My questions:
- What are the recommended strap widths, is 9cm wide enough?
- Is padding a big help?
- How important is the padding thickness and material (foam, gel, other)?

Putting the bass on feels like getting-on those rigid skiing boots, or rollerblade boots, or a very thick and heavy leather jacket.

 

[Zomb13]

My BTB-705-OL is heavy-ish to me. And Im using it with a wide (9cm) non-padded leather strap. My questions:
- What are the recommended strap widths, is 9cm wide enough?
- Is padding a big help?
- How important is the padding thickness and material (foam, gel, other)?

Putting the bass on feels like getting-on those rigid skiing boots, or rollerblade boots, or a very thick and heavy leather jacket.

I use Levy's [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] on my BTB570fm and my ATK's. Plenty of padding, they stretch, and I barely notice the weight of my basses while using them.

 

[Scarysharkface]

I'm using a Planet Waves wide padded strap on all my basses now. It helps.

John

 

[Aidil]

My BTB-705-OL is heavy-ish to me. And Im using it with a wide (9cm) non-padded leather strap. My questions:
- What are the recommended strap widths, is 9cm wide enough?
- Is padding a big help?
- How important is the padding thickness and material (foam, gel, other)?

Putting the bass on feels like getting-on those rigid skiing boots, or rollerblade boots, or a very thick and heavy leather jacket.

I say 9 cm ought to be adequate. My heaviest BTB, the 7 string one, is 11 lbs. These days I use padded straps only, even with my 7 lbs 4 oz SR. They are all from Gruv Gear:

The DuoStap Neo for my heaviest, since it distributes the weight to both shoulders;

And the SoloStrap Neo 4.0" (10.16 cm) for basses (and also SoloStrap Neo 2.5" (6.35 cm) for guitars).


Good padded straps like these aren't bouncy when worn. So, don't just take any padded strap.

 

[vindibona1]

I realize that everyone has their preferences. But personally I don't get padded straps. A non padded strap distributes the weight evenly across the width of the strap. To me, padding on a strap allows a concentration of pressure where the strap compresses. I recently moved back to a padded strap on one acoustic guitar because it just went the best cosmetically. But even on lighter guitars I prefer wide plain straps. I'm happy with the plain wide straps on my basses weighing 9 and 9.5 pounds respectively. Just me, I guess.

 

[Phlipper]

I really expected an adjustment due to the weight since I'm old as hell and have bad shoulders from years of weightlifting, riding motorcycles with ape hangers, picking up fat patients, etc. But I'm using a plain old reg width strap and have gone two hours at practice without an issue.

I have been rehab'ing a shoulder injury in the gym from hitting a deer on a Superglide two years ago then making it worse at work. I guess I've healed better than I thought I would.

Now if I could get my lower back straightened out ...

 

[Phlipper]

I'm interested in what "theory stuff" you're working on.

The top on your axe is simply stunning. Is there a recommended product for polishing/maintaining these guitar tops? Is that a Korg CA 40 I see in the background?

I've always just used lemon pledge on my guitars and basses. I'm a fanatical cleaning nut but that works for me on poly, nitro, and open finishes.

The theory stuff ... I played lead guitar in bar bands for 30 years barely knowing the names of the chords. But I got into jazz last year so I've started trying to learn from start to finish. There are guys here with a ton of knowledge but they usually get over my head asap so I stay lost. Then I try to dumb down my questions and ask parts of it at a time. But I still get lost when the answers are over my head, or worse, get called a troll. Lol. So I finally bought the Cap - Theory for Bassists and I'm hoping that will help. The goal is to eventually stop relying on my ear solely on both guitar and bass.

Edit - I should have mentioned that while I'm waiting for the A Cap book I've switched back to the guitar and am slowly working thru the free music theory download from a member here at TB.

 

[Aidil]

I realize that everyone has their preferences. But personally I don't get padded straps. A non padded strap distributes the weight evenly across the width of the strap. To me, padding on a strap allows a concentration of pressure where the strap compresses. I recently moved back to a padded strap on one acoustic guitar because it just went the best cosmetically. But even on lighter guitars I prefer wide plain straps. I'm happy with the plain wide straps on my basses weighing 9 and 9.5 pounds respectively. Just me, I guess.

Previous of using padded straps, I used several non-padded leather straps, also 10 cm. It might be able to distribute the weight across the width, but my complaint was, due to the extra width, it didn't form like the shape of my shoulder especially with the collarbone, whereas padded straps embrace my shoulder better.

 

[Scarysharkface]

I say 9 cm ought to be adequate. My heaviest BTB, the 7 string one, is 11 lbs. These days I use padded straps only, even with my 7 lbs 4 oz SR. They are all from Gruv Gear:
View attachment 2950548
The DuoStap Neo for my heaviest, since it distributes the weight to both shoulders;

View attachment 2950549
And the SoloStrap Neo 4.0" (10.16 cm) for basses (and also SoloStrap Neo 2.5" (6.35 cm) for guitars).


Good padded straps like these aren't bouncy when worn. So, don't just take any padded strap.

I've been looking at those for my Alembic (~12 lbs) but just haven't been convinced enough to order one since the only person I've seen use one is John Patitucci. I guess I need to check one out up close.

John

 

[iamdwill]

Got it and have played it a total of maybe a couple of hours at this point. I like it a great deal, but it's going to take some time getting used to the extra string.

View attachment 2948975

John

I've had the same bass for almost a year now. It's amazing. The 6 string definitely takes getting used to but from a 9 year 6 string player, the adjustment time isn't that long. One tip, don't get comfortable and use the 6th string as a crutch to not move up and down the fret board. Alot of new 6 users do it and its limiting.