Ibanez BTB Club, Part 2!

[DuckSoup]

Hey guys!

I have a BTB745 and I'm looking to purchase my first set of strings and replace my factory strings.

Currently I'm looking at the D'Addario EXL170-5's. But I've heard that I may need to go for Super Longs instead of just Longs.

D'Addario says that the long will fit up to a 36" scale length, but does anyone here have experience with those? I'm having a ton of trouble finding winding lengths and stuff for the strings.

Is there any harm in getting strings that are too long and just cutting them down to size?

 

[Rojd]

I have EXL-170 5's + .032 that came on my 35" LTD B206SM, and they barely get 2 wraps, and should have at least 4. I think they're too short and ESP should've pur super longs on. I'm going with NYXL 32130 Super longs. There are differing thoughts, but I feel 35" scale should have super longs, imo.

I plan on getting a btb 747 soon, and plan to use the same 32130 super longs.

 

[Aidil]

Hey guys!

I have a BTB745 and I'm looking to purchase my first set of strings and replace my factory strings.

Currently I'm looking at the D'Addario EXL170-5's. But I've heard that I may need to go for Super Longs instead of just Longs.

D'Addario says that the long will fit up to a 36" scale length, but does anyone here have experience with those? I'm having a ton of trouble finding winding lengths and stuff for the strings.

Is there any harm in getting strings that are too long and just cutting them down to size?

You can use any D'Addario Long Scale sets on BTBs. These should be abundantly available. Their winding length is 37.1" which is long enough for your BTB. While D'Addario Super Long Scale sets have 38" winding length, which is also usable on some BTBs, mostly those with older Mono-Rail II bridges which take the string's ball end deeper inside the bridge, at least deeper than the MR-IV and MR-V bridges. Since your BTB is equipped with MR-V bridges, then the Long Scale set is enough.

I think the EXL170-5 set is the factory installed strings on that BTB745 of yours. I'd suggest using taper wound for the low-B string, by getting a 4 string set and an additional 130T single string.

Having too long string's winding length is bad if only the thick part/the speaking portion of the string got wound on to the string's tuning post. This applies usually on the low-B and low-E strings only, while the tapered part of the string (covered with or without silk) can be cut short as needed.

 

[DuckSoup]

For anyone else curious, the D'Addario's Long Scales will just barely not clear the nut on a BTB 745. The tapered part hangs over just a tiny bit.

The Super Longs fit great. The thickest part of the string doesn't end up around the tuning peg, and it has about an inch or inch and a half to spare.

 

[sirdude23]

You can use any D'Addario Long Scale sets on BTBs. These should be abundantly available. Their winding length is 37.1" which is long enough for your BTB. While D'Addario Super Long Scale sets have 38" winding length, which is also usable on some BTBs, mostly those with older Mono-Rail II bridges which take the string's ball end deeper inside the bridge, at least deeper than the MR-IV and MR-V bridges. Since your BTB is equipped with MR-V bridges, then the Long Scale set is enough.

I think the EXL170-5 set is the factory installed strings on that BTB745 of yours. I'd suggest using taper wound for the low-B string, by getting a 4 string set and an additional 130T single string.

Having too long string's winding length is bad if only the thick part/the speaking portion of the string got wound on to the string's tuning post. This applies usually on the low-B and low-E strings only, while the tapered part of the string (covered with or without silk) can be cut short as needed.

I just bought a 745 from MF and it had a tag that indicated it came with the NYXL's

 

[Aidil]

For anyone else curious, the D'Addario's Long Scales will just barely not clear the nut on a BTB 745. The tapered part hangs over just a tiny bit.

The Super Longs fit great. The thickest part of the string doesn't end up around the tuning peg, and it has about an inch or inch and a half to spare.

View attachment 3248681

Thanks, DuckSoup. So now we know that the latest 35" BTBs, those with Mono-Rail V bridges, cannot use D'Addario Long Scale (37.1" winding length). My previous post mentioned that I can use D'Addario Long Scale based on my own experiences with BTB685SC and BTB7.

D'Addario FlexSteels Long Scale (37.1" winding length) on BTB685SC:

Currently strung with Dunlop Super Bright Marcus Miller (37.25" winding length):

Elixir Long Scale (36.5" winding length) on BTB7:

Reason that these two don't need strings with 38" winding length (D'Addario Super Long Scale or others) is that they aren't equipped with Mono Rail V as DuckSoup's BTB745, but Mono Rail II (BTB685SC) and Mono Rail IV (BTB7) instead. Turns out the MR-II bridges take the ball end only 1.1" away from the saddle point and the MR-IV bridges take the ball end only 1" away from the saddle point, while the MR-V bridges take the ball end 1.5" away from the saddle point. So, those new Ibanez basses with MR-V (and MR-5S) bridges require longer winding length strings than those with previous MR bridges.

MR-V bridges:

MR-IV bridges:

 

[PawleeP]

How can this BTB cost less than a premium?
this thing looks rad! p
Invalid Link Removed

 

[lowfreqman]

How can this BTB cost less than a premium?
this thing looks rad! p
Invalid Link Removed

Pickups and wood selection are really the main difference. The premium models have Aguilar DCBs and wenge/purpleheart/maple necks. I am not in-love with the Ibanez pre-amp in my premium. I may replace it with a Pope Flexcore or Aguilar OBP-3.

 

[PawleeP]

Pickups and wood selection are really the main difference. The premium models have Aguilar DCBs and wenge/purpleheart/maple necks. I am not in-love with the Ibanez pre-amp in my premium. I may replace it with a Pope Flexcore or Aguilar OBP-3.

i thought the premiums had nordstrands in them? p

 

[PawleeP]

Thanks, DuckSoup. So now we know that the latest 35" BTBs, those with Mono-Rail V bridges, cannot use D'Addario Long Scale (37.1" winding length). My previous post mentioned that I can use D'Addario Long Scale based on my own experiences with BTB685SC and BTB7.

D'Addario FlexSteels Long Scale (37.1" winding length) on BTB685SC:
View attachment 3249293

Currently strung with Dunlop Super Bright Marcus Miller (37.25" winding length):
View attachment 3249292

Elixir Long Scale (36.5" winding length) on BTB7:
View attachment 3249289

Reason that these two don't need strings with 38" winding length (D'Addario Super Long Scale or others) is that they aren't equipped with Mono Rail V as DuckSoup's BTB745, but Mono Rail II (BTB685SC) and Mono Rail IV (BTB7) instead. Turns out the MR-II bridges take the ball end only 1.1" away from the saddle point and the MR-IV bridges take the ball end only 1" away from the saddle point, while the MR-V bridges take the ball end 1.5" away from the saddle point. So, those new Ibanez basses with MR-V (and MR-5S) bridges require longer winding length strings than those with previous MR bridges.

MR-V bridges:
View attachment 3249298

MR-IV bridges:
View attachment 3249297

So it sounds like one would want to steer clear of a bass with MRV saddles? p

 

[lowfreqman]

i thought the premiums had nordstrands in them? p

I think Ibanez still use Nordstrands in the SR premiums, but they changed to Aguilars for their BTBs.

 

[Aidil]

I just bought a 745 from MF and it had a tag that indicated it came with the NYXL's

Good info. Although I still have doubt if it's based only from the tag. Cause when I got my SRC6 Crossover Bass, it has a tag that says Elixirs, while I knew and then I search to reconfirm that Elixir has never had Bass VI strings.

The only available info regarding the NYXL is that Ibanez strung their latest BTB builds with NYXLs, but only the Premium ones. No info about it's being used also as factory strings on the standard BTBs such as the 745.

So it sounds like one would want to steer clear of a bass with MRV saddles? p

That the MR-V bridge takes the string longer behind its saddle point doesn't necessarily make it as the bridge that must be avoided. In fact, it is better than the MR-IV bridge as the MR-V bridge would allow the string's ball end to be rotated as needed when fixing a twisted string, whereas it isn't possible with the MR-IV bridge.

 

[RenoDave]

NBD
Received this from the elves in the brown van today.

 

[MikeOnBass73]

Any leaked info or photos of 2019 Ibanez basses out yet?

 

[LordHar]

Any leaked info or photos of 2019 Ibanez basses out yet?

Only information that I found so far is that Gary Willis gets a 30th(?) anniversary model, and the new catalog will be released worldwide on 1/1/2019.

 

[Michael Jewels]

Renodave, your bass is so nice!

Much good luck with it.

Mine, a 2005 model has Barts, and has a very warm sound.

How does yours sound with the Aguilar?

Mike

 

[RenoDave]

Renodave, your bass is so nice!

Much good luck with it.

Mine, a 2005 model has Barts, and has a very warm sound.

How does yours sound with the Aguilar?

Mike

Mike it sounds warm but in a different way. The tone is very clear and clean. I like the way it sounds even with the preamp bypassed.

 

[Scarysharkface]

More D'Addario Half-Round tone from a recent gig. We get a solo at around 4:20.

Invalid Link Removed

John

 

[MikeOnBass73]

NBD
Received this from the elves in the brown van today.View attachment 3250973View attachment 3250976

Great bass man. Enjoy! Hoping and looking forward to new 2019 premium 6 string models.

 

[8liter]

Hey BTB people. Showing off my 575FM that I picked up here in the classifieds. I've been in the fire academy for the last 4-5 months so now I'm getting back into playing now that I have some free time. It's a beautiful piece that has been modified. It has a set of Nordstrand DC's and a Nordstrand 3b-5a 18v preamp with push-pull passive/active and push-pull mid frequency. Overall it's a tone monster. The DC's cause a good size gap but that's nothing some high-density foam can't remedy.

This thing is just drop dead gorgeous and I can't I snagged it for next to nothing because of the pick-up gap. Oh well

Pics of what I like


My issues with the bass now
When I bought it, it was set up using a .158 low string for F# tuning and the nut was filed to compensate. I bought a standard set of DR Hi-Beams (.125 B) for it but have run into some noise issues. Basically the low string rattles. No matter how I have it set up. The truss rods adjust fine (although the bass side truss is tight) and I've tried my best to compensate with bridge height, but I can't get the low B to stop rattling. I've noticed this with the other strings as well, but it's not as prevalent.

Now that it's been almost a year it's passed its test as a sure-fire keeper. Before I bother giving it a fret job and modding it, I have to figure out this noise issue. I assume it's the nut not being able to keep tension, but I'm open to any insight from the gurus here. I have my eyes set on this - product-detail

One thing I'd love to change on the bass is the hardware. I'm leaning towards black Hipshot ultralights on the headstock and swapping the knobs to some light plastic replacements. I'm not digging the mismatched metal knobs and they are heavy. I'm thinking maybe I'd save around a pound or so. I'd also love to swap out the bridge hardware to something darker but in all my researching I haven't found a single replacement set of these bridges anywhere. These pieces are just absolutely filthy and the adjustment pieces are rusty and crusty. Has anyone powder coated their bridges? It's a not a deal breaker for me, but the bass is just so pretty I hate to distract the eyes away from the wood.

Alongside the neck are some decently sized finish cracks. I've read that a drop of lacquer can cure those, so I'll try that out. Otherwise, it's just the usual wear. The frets are in desperate need of cleaning and polishing. I plan on going over every single one.



Merry Christmas/Happy Honda Days everyone!