The intonation on my Ibanez premium SR 5 string bass with the MR5S bridge is a real pain in the A. I took it to a reputable tech, had a new setup, new set of Roto 66's put on, got it home, let it acclimate for a few hours, checked the tuning, intonation, with a Peterson Strobo Stomp HD, played lightly for about an hour before the B and E strings intonation went out. The ADG strings were pretty rock solid then they eventually went out . Tried micro adjusting the intonation screws, nothing. Went on the internet, it seems there's been a history of tuning/ intonation problems with their mono rail bridge's. Somewhere, maybe here, someone said the bridges are set too far back from the neck. I called Ibanez and they said try longer intonation screws, or a different mono rail bridge system. I don't think longer intonation screws in the MR5S, is going to help. The saddles are already at the forward end of their travels, they wouldn't fit, or will be hanging out the back end. I bought this bass for the great neck, the Nord singles, and the 16.5 mm string spacing. Now I have to decide whether to get a Schaller 3D5 bass bridge that's adjustable, it has 16.5 mm spacing, or look for an adjustable mono rail bass bridge, that's similar to the MR5S, but with longer intonation screws. If I go the mono rail system route, I'll probably need a bass plate to cover up at least some of the screw holes left over from the MR5S. I really like this bass, I want to keep it, just want to solve the problem and bring the frustration level way down. Please feel free to offer any suggestions, that worked for you, or think will solve this problem. It will be greatly appreciated. Thanks to everyone in advance.
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IBANEZ MR5S BASS BRIDGE
- Thread starter tongue hairdo
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Intonation "went out"? Not disagreeing with the other components as I've had the same issues. I can't get the intonation spot-on from the git-go but it did not get worse with time or handling.
Riis
Riis
Turnaround
Commercial User
Intonation changing from a relatively recent setup is usually an indicator that the witness points were not set on the stings at the bridge and nut. This is something that is very often overlooked.
Like Turnaround said. It is also suspicious that the saddles are all the way forward, classic indicator that the string seating needs attention.
That would be my first course of action. Even if the intonation is off, it should be consistent and not waver as described. IME, the staggered monorail array overcompensates. No way I’d ever attempt to install tapered-core strings.
Riis
Update: I checked/ performed some minor tuning/intonation adjustments with the Strobo Stomp HD and nearly everything seemed to be running slightly flat or fairly flat yet again. My ears are not great, but their not horrible either. I also own the strobo clip HD. So I decided to do adjustments with that just to compare, and now everything is pretty much spot on, every note up and down the neck. I checked it again with the Strobo Stomp HD pedal and the tuning stability is still slightly off compared to the Strobo Clip HD. Like I said my ears are not great but I could barely detect any notes running flat to begin with. Everyone knows that clip on tuners are based on placement and vibration. When using the Strobo Stomp HD, I'm trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong. The volume on the bass was about half way up, I plucked softly just above the neck pickup, and the readings were running flat. Screwed around with the pickup balance knob, still flat. Changed where I was plucking, soft to more aggressive, still flat. The bridge saddle positions looked normal. I'm just happy that this thing is playable. I'm going to have a friend come over with his bass and guitar and see what happens when he uses it. Any ideas, what is causing the difference in readings? It's obviously me, something I'm doing or not doing. Just glad that I get to play. Thanks for all the advice/ comments.
You are checking 12th harmonic vs 12th fretted, correct? Don't have a clip-on but I use a couple of Petersons. A couple of strings are ever-so-slightly flat with the saddles fully forward. It's aggravating but not as much as the compensation required on my NS Radius 5.
Riis
Riis
Yes, the 12th fret harmonic and the fretted 12th are matching. Played normally for 2 hours or so last night, ( an infrequent luxury, I'm sure many can relate to), checked the tuning/intonation up and down the neck, everything is pretty spot on. Like I said, I'm just happy to be able to play. I'm sure, it's something that I'm doing or not doing that is causing the problem. I've got a friend coming over this weekend with his Fender Jazz and Strat, to mess around with the Peterson Strobo Stomp HD, and Strobo clip HD. He's also bringing his TC Electronics tuner. Maybe we'll figure it out. The only saddles that are nearly fully forward are the B and E strings, the other saddle positions look normal. Thanks again for all the help.
Tapered strings make things worse. Did you re-set witness points at the nut, as well?
Riis
Thx for the verification. Conventional wisdom holds that taper-core strings intonate well ahead of their full wrap counterparts and you’ve run out-of-track. My 34” 1405 does the same but outcomes are passable but that’s with standard roundwounds.
Riis
The B / E and A are taperwound, the strings intonate flat (not very much but we can hear it) and the D and G are near of the perfection. My problem now, I live in France and my first choice is Dingwall strings with the same gauges, 45-55-80-100-130 and taperwound because d'Addario don't sold bass strings like factory new of the BTB805MS ahah. They sold the same set for super long scale but the B and E aren't longer than the factory strings but aren't taperwound too ahah. Sorry for my english.
Thank you for your help.
Thank you for your help.
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Yes, I have an 1800 and 2600 that have the same issue. The factory strings they came with worked perfectly well (EXL 165) but the moment I put a heavier gauge on the basses their intonation was all over the place. Yes, I have been playing Ibanez for over 30 years and I still like them, but me buying another mono-rail-bridged Ibanez is not very likely. OR they (Ibanez) have to fix the issue with the (soon to arrive?) SR6000 (?). For Ibanez to fix the issue they should move the bridge towards the bridge-pu. I hope to see them having fixed the issue (many more ppl are complaining about Ibanez-intonation issues) when they show their new models at NAMM 2025....I am keeping my money in my pocket for the time being (!)
