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Ibanez Mezzo Upgrade Path

#21
just an update first I put Labella HBB standard gauge beatle bass flatwound beatle bass strings on, the black silk starts about 1/2 inch after the nut, so worked perfectly, be careful with the bridge pickup checkout dimensions I think the route is 91mm instead of 94 mm, like a fender Mexican Bass. The stock preamp is not good ordered a EMG BTS passive system preamp, once I get it installed will update
 
#24
Alright, so she's done for now...

Seymour Duncan Steve Harris P-Bass
SD Hot Stack Jazz
SD STC-2 Preamp
D'addario Flatwounds
Grover Tuners

It's a fun, light, easy to play machine. The P-bass pickup is a tad noisy (I have mostly humbuckers so it's just something to get used to), but sounds great.

There wasn't really anything wrong with the stock tuners, but I was compelled to replace them. Now I wish I did a little more research, because they could benefit from a different ratio.

I cracked the finish on some of the holes while enlarging. Bigger knobs would cover it, but I'm not particularly concerned.

I also just rescued a Epiphone EB-3 bass (heaviest and longest bass I have now) and playing them back to back is fun.



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#25
Kev1955 said:
just an update first I put Labella HBB standard gauge beatle bass flatwound beatle bass strings on, the black silk starts about 1/2 inch after the nut, so worked perfectly, be careful with the bridge pickup checkout dimensions I think the route is 91mm instead of 94 mm, like a fender Mexican Bass. The stock preamp is not good ordered a EMG BTS passive system preamp, once I get it installed will update
Click to expand...
Finished, the EMG GZR PJ set fit, had to wiggle the Jazz pickup in it was very tight, With the GZR set, BTS and Flats sound really really good, clear no fuzz or warble in the sustain couldn’t be happier.
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#26
Kev1955 said:
Finished, the EMG GZR PJ set fit, had to wiggle the Jazz pickup in it was very tight, With the GZR set, BTS and Flats sound really really good, clear no fuzz or warble in the sustain couldn’t be happier.
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Click to expand...
Just an update, I didn’t really care for the blend so changed to V-V Knobs and the BTS bass and treble controls, for my preference much better tone. Wish list a better bridge. Then stock bridge isn’t bad, but I would like to be able to line up the strings better; however the bolt pattern is unusual and I don’t know what will work yet. Also, put Rotosound RS 77M (medium scale) flats on them, really nice tone.
 
#29
I'm glad I found this thread... got my Mezzo this week and used it - stock - this morning with the church band. I also had a chance to play it alone for a bit on Friday. The P pup seems OK to me. The J pup seems a bit weak in comparison and it hums...

So, we have a T coil in the church - uses an induction coil to send a signal to people with some hearing aids... and the J bass picks up the signal from the loop. Caused serious feedback with one of the vocal mics and of course, everything that went through the loop - everything - also came out my amp. So, I couldn't use the J pup at all. I need to replace it... ASAP.

So, my measurements show the pup to be the short J size shell (neck size) with the ears being placed closer to the L size J pup (bridge size). That seems to be the consensus on the Mikro thread as well. I thought it has the same pups... Those folk seem to either enlarge the cavity for the ears or pop the cover off the pups and use the Ibanez cover on the replacement pickups... It sounds as if you folk have been able to shoehorn L size pups into the cavity. Is that correct? Could those of you who have replaced the bridge pup do some measurements to help me make some choices?

FWIW, the Dimarzio Ultra Jazz and the Bartolini B-Axis have caught my imagination. I'd appreciate hearing about any pups you've been really excited by.
 
#30
So... you two were able to fit the normal bridge size Geezer and the Duncan Hot Stack in the rout without modding it at all? that is heartening.

I ordered the Dimarzio Ultra Jazz bridge pup so we'll see whether it fits without surgery. If it doesn't, then I'll need to decide whether to do surgery or not... or if I should return it and get the neck version... I'll report back when I know.
 
#31
A normal J bridge pickup fit in my TMB-30 with a little help (it has the same stock pickups as the Mezzo). Wrap some coarse sandpaper around a small square dowel, and sand the edges of the cavity until the new pickup fits. The ears will line up fine.
 
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#33
I installed a Dimarzio Ultra Jazz bridge today. It needed more than a tiny bit of sanding so out came my rotors tool. I wasn’t sure about the color code for the wires and guessed wrong... when I strung everything up, the J pup was out of phase with the P. Opened it back up and re-soldered the J pup. Sounds great. Dead silent.

The P pup was still significantly louder even though Dimarzio says the Ultra J is one of their loudest bass pups. Lowered the P and raised the J and seem to have a reasonable balance now. FWIW, I like the stock P pup and will likely leave it. I may swap the pre one of these days for an Audere and maybe not... we’ll see how it goes.

I play with the church band on Sunday so we’ll see how it sits in the mix, but I’m expecting good things.
 

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