Ibanez BTB Club, Part 2!

[Conkal]

I just bought a used BTB406QM-TB . It endured an extreme cleaning and service evening and it is as good as new!! It is in very nice looking blue/turqoise color which is complimented by the quilted maple veneer. ;-)

While searching for it i couldnt find what the string spacing was. Anything between 17 and 19 was on the net, depending on who you asked. Ibanez doesnt feature it anymore online.

I can definitely verify that it has a 17mm spacing , for any future used buyers.

 

[Nol Taylor]

Are you upgrading the 846 Volo?

If so, then I'd suggest getting the Gotoh GB350 Res-O-Lite tuners instead. Ibanez standard (non-Premium nor Prestige) series tuners, which are likely the knock off version of Gotoh GB7 tuners, turn out to be lighter in weight than the GB707. While GB350 Res-O-Lite, being the top of the line of GB series tuners, are indeed the lightest of them all.

I just want to do a few tasteful updates. The GB350's look the part, but I looks like they'll run me $250 before shipping and taxes.

IIRC, there were few older posts about swapping the knobs to wooden ones on this BTB thread.

Thanks. I'll have to do a search and see what I can find.

 

[skeeler]

GB350s can be had for under $30 each.

 

[Nol Taylor]

GB350s can be had for under $30 each.

Where? I haven’t seen them cheap anywhere.

 

[thrakkor]

my BTB406 spacing is 18mm, whereas my BTB1006 is definitely 19mm.

 

[Conkal]

my BTB406 spacing is 18mm, whereas my BTB1006 is definitely 19mm.

Does this vary depending on the Serial number? Mine is definitely 17mm . When was yours built ?

 

[thrakkor]

Does this vary depending on the Serial number? Mine is definitely 17mm . When was yours built ?

good question. i'm not sure.

according to Ibanez Guitars Serial Number Decoder - GuitarInsite

mine was built in October 2001. (factory: World Musical Instrument Co., Incheon, Korea)

I went ahead an remeasured both (string center to center) to be sure and my BTB1006 is also 18 mm. My BTB405 and BTB500 are each 19mm/0.75in. I don't think I really notice the difference between 18 and 19 mm, but I do when going smaller. for example, switching to my MK DragonFly 5 which is 16mm.

 

[Conkal]

I will check it as i as return home . My 5 string warwick is 16.5mm and i would prefer the 6 string to be norrower than that , but it doesnt mind me . It is a pretty decent bass expecially for the price i payed.

 

[lokikallas]

Odd, my BTB 5 string is 20mm IIRC. I actually thought all BTB's were 20mm wide bridge spacing.

 

[Npunk42]

When I got my 846sc it came in just as I was leaving for a gig. I was tempted to unpack it take it instead of my usual bass. I thought better of it and I'm glad I did. When I got home I started putting it through it's paces, that difference in string spacing was a big deal, I was missing a lot of riffs I normally had taken for granted. I'm used to it now, it's my main instrument.

 

[Nol Taylor]

When I got my 846sc it came in just as I was leaving for a gig. I was tempted to unpack it take it instead of my usual bass. I thought better of it and I'm glad I did. When I got home I started putting it through it's paces, that difference in string spacing was a big deal, I was missing a lot of riffs I normally had taken for granted. I'm used to it now, it's my main instrument.

I don’t know if I’m blessed in that I have big hands, but I’ve actually never noticed the string spacing differences that you guys have been speaking about. I kind of just settle in and play. Some I’ve had to work a little harder because the neck may be wider but I’ve never missed strings or riffs. I’m wondering if this is because the Stingray, various Yamahas and my 846v are similar.

 

[Aidil]

I just want to do a few tasteful updates. The GB350's look the part, but I looks like they'll run me $250 before shipping and taxes.

Your 846 Volo is a part of Ibanez Bass Wokshop series. The series consist of truly unique good basses. They deserve of head machine upgrades to the GB350s (well... obviously with the exception of the upcoming headless EHB basses, which are also part of the Bass Workshop series).

These three are also part of the Bass Workshop series and I've upgraded all of the head machines to GB350s.

The GB350 cuts each of the stock head machine weight by two thirds: the factory head machine is +/- 60 gr each while the GB350 is only 40 gr. So, having the GB350s on a 846V is essentially like taking 2 of the stock head machines off the headstock.

 

[Nol Taylor]

Your 846 Volo is a part of Ibanez Bass Wokshop series. The series consist of truly unique good basses. They deserve of head machine upgrades to the GB350s (well... obviously with the exception of the upcoming headless EHB basses, which are also part of the Bass Workshop series).

View attachment 3699533
These three are also part of the Bass Workshop series and I've upgraded all of the head machines to GB350s.

The GB350 cuts each of the stock head machine weight by two thirds: the factory head machine is +/- 60 gr each while the GB350 is only 40 gr. So, having the GB350s on a 846V is essentially like taking 2 of the stock head machines off the headstock.

The shape of the tuning key is also really nice looking.
What’s the 7 string like? Do you tune it differently?

 

[Aidil]

The shape of the tuning key is also really nice looking.
What’s the 7 string like? Do you tune it differently?

Nope, I use them all in their standard tuning. BEADGCF on the BTB7 and ADG+EADG on the SRAS7.

Tried BEADGBE on the BTB7 some times after I got the bass, which was like a full octave lower 7 string guitar, for a month or so, to see whether it would be nicer tuning for playing guitar shaped chords, but it only led me in getting the Ibanez SRC6, which is the real deal for playing guitar shaped chords on a bass. I reverted the tuning back to B to F.

And no, I don't have any intention to change the tuning to F#BEADGC either. I tried having .175 low F# string on my late 6er few years ago. It didn't work out, so I'm done experimenting with low F#.

One problem of the 7 strings is reaching and fretting the lowest (closest to our head) string on its higher registers due to the wide fretboard they are having. Another one is muting the unplayed of such many strings required another level of practices. The other one is its 35" scale length is actually more ideal for the lower strings and not so much for the higher ones, as they've become twangy sounding (less meat). So, it is why I imagined having a 846V like yours but tuned to EADGCF would be much desirable for playing bass as well as chordal works.

 

[Nol Taylor]

Nope, I use them all in their standard tuning. BEADGCF on the BTB7 and ADG+EADG on the SRAS7.

Tried BEADGBE on the BTB7 some times after I got the bass, which was like a full octave lower 7 string guitar, for a month or so, to see whether it would be nicer tuning for playing guitar shaped chords, but it only led me in getting the Ibanez SRC6, which is the real deal for playing guitar shaped chords on a bass. I reverted the tuning back to B to F.

And no, I don't have any intention to change the tuning to F#BEADGC either. I tried having .175 low F# string on my late 6er few years ago. It didn't work out, so I'm done experimenting with low F#.

One problem of the 7 strings is reaching and fretting the lowest (closest to our head) string on its higher registers due to the wide fretboard they are having. Another one is muting the unplayed of such many strings required another level of practices. The other one is its 35" scale length is actually more ideal for the lower strings and not so much for the higher ones, as they've become twangy sounding (less meat). So, it is why I imagined having a 846V like yours but tuned to EADGCF would be much desirable for playing bass as well as chordal works.

I wanted to see what the 846v sounded like tuned a whole step. Wasn’t a good idea lol . I believe Roland Guerin tunes his EADGCF. I could be wrong.

 

[Aidil]

I believe Roland Guerin tunes his EADGCF. I could be wrong.

Yes, I read so too.

 

[songwriter21]

Anybody familiar with the limited edition BTB’s that were made in Japan around 2000? Thanks!

I am...had an '02, and am getting an earlier model this or next week sometime. What do you want to know?

 

[Shanannigan]

I recently purchased a 2014 BTB 676F. It plays great, other than a few minor high spots.

However, I think I'm having an issue with the pickups. The G-string is really weak compared to the others. I've read that the MK2 pickups had an issue with the 6 string and 5 string being mixed up, resulting in a weak A on the 5 stringers. I couldn't find anything about a weak G on the 6 stringers though. So I'm wondering if this is something that others have come across.

I was planning on replacing the preamp with an OBP-3, I already have one in my 686SC and like it. However, if the pickups are an issue then I want to upgrade those first.

Does anybody recommend H66Cs? Or are there alternatives that someone would recommend?

 

[lokikallas]

I recently purchased a 2014 BTB 676F. It plays great, other than a few minor high spots.

However, I think I'm having an issue with the pickups. The G-string is really weak compared to the others. I've read that the MK2 pickups had an issue with the 6 string and 5 string being mixed up, resulting in a weak A on the 5 stringers. I couldn't find anything about a weak G on the 6 stringers though. So I'm wondering if this is something that others have come across.

I was planning on replacing the preamp with an OBP-3, I already have one in my 686SC and like it. However, if the pickups are an issue then I want to upgrade those first.

Does anybody recommend H66Cs? Or are there alternatives that someone would recommend?

Nordstrand make drop in replacements too apparently.

 

[Aidil]

I recently purchased a 2014 BTB 676F. It plays great, other than a few minor high spots.

However, I think I'm having an issue with the pickups. The G-string is really weak compared to the others. I've read that the MK2 pickups had an issue with the 6 string and 5 string being mixed up, resulting in a weak A on the 5 stringers. I couldn't find anything about a weak G on the 6 stringers though. So I'm wondering if this is something that others have come across.

I was planning on replacing the preamp with an OBP-3, I already have one in my 686SC and like it. However, if the pickups are an issue then I want to upgrade those first.

Does anybody recommend H66Cs? Or are there alternatives that someone would recommend?

Amongst drop in replacements for Bartolini MK2/BH1 pickups (Bart H66C, H66CBC, H662J, H66J, H66P and H66S), yeah, probably H66C, being it's one of Bart's Original Bass series, would best fit for fretless applications.

I've tired using a pair of Bartolini CBC (Bart's Classic Bass series) on my SRF705... unpleased with the sound in humbucker mode, better when in single coil mode.