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Ibanez Portamento Club

#1,221
I've been jamming on GHS Pressurewounds for a couple days now. I really like them. Very comfortable on the fingers and a really nice acoustic tone (haven't had the opportunity to crank up my rig).

I won't miss the stock Chromes. They really don't live up to their name. I find them dull, which I guess is the goal of flats. I'm just not a flats guy, I guess.

It's funny, the Pressurewounds (B & E) look chrome, especially compared to the Chromes (A, D, & G).
C46D3EB1-8272-42E2-A4EE-32EC3ACA88F5.jpeg
 
#1,222
Supadope said:
I've been jamming on GHS Pressurewounds for a couple days now. I really like them. Very comfortable on the fingers and a really nice acoustic tone (haven't had the opportunity to crank up my rig).

I won't miss the stock Chromes. They really don't live up to their name. I find them dull, which I guess is the goal of flats. I'm just not a flats guy, I guess.

It's funny, the Pressurewounds (B & E) look chrome, especially compared to the Chromes (A, D, & G).
View attachment 3548788
Click to expand...

I put a Low B from a set of new pressure wounds on mine and it was really underwhelming. It was really quiet and had a weak sound, compared to the chromes.
 
#1,223
tellheryousawme said:
Here we are, welcome to new members!


Ibanez Portamento Club​

1. vmabus #0
2. tellheryousawme #1
3. Jazzbrew #2
4. PaulNYC #18
5. aproud1 #4
6. Idle Plucker #5
7. Awesome Sauce #7
8. ransombass #8
9. Gee Phil #9
10. Ibby #10
11. Marcel66 #66
12. hiredlenz #12
13. Grand Moff Tim #13
14. brossmac #14
15. steelbed45 #15
16. audionut36 #16
17. MethodsofDance #17
18. Kico #19
19. Stellvia #20
20. Bassconbeatz #21
21. Dum Bass #22
22. bherman #23
23. Flabzilla #24
24. gary m #25
25. slap2much #26
26. cchorney #27
27. Aidil #28
28. BassJuju #29
29. Jezza #30
30. thirtyhz #31
31. Christoph #32
32. Coriolis #33
33. Guittarman10 #34
34. Dana R Gregory #35
35. web824 #36
36. mike4bass #37
37. kirkdickinson #6
38. newb #38
39. raphaeld #39
40. Hunter34 #40
41. sinewavemattic #41
42. Michael Jewels #42
43. xshawk #43
44. Adam Blaknovski #11
45. B-Mac #45
46. animus.terry005 #46
47. Spblat #47
48. BritFunk #48
49. Todd McIntosh #49
50. JCKA #50
51. rbbrnck #51
52. EnVico379 #52
53. GlueKill #53
54. rickster4003 #54
55. Supadope #55
56. Guitarman59 #59
57. JC Vallejo #57
58. Ghook #3
59. Spherical Cube #44
Click to expand...

New member here - Give me my #60
IMG_7968.JPG
 
Last edited:
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#1,224
I fear a component on my preamp has gone. Whenever I roll up the bass eq I get terrible distortion. (Yes I have checked my battery).

Can anyone please advise me on how I can get a replacement stock preamp? I know a lot of people have upgraded their portamentos, So is there anyone on here that will sell me their stock preamp?

Alternatively, can anyone share any advice on some alternative suitable preamps? I still wish to keep the use of the piezo. 2 pup volume, 1 piezeo volume & tone & 2 band eq.

Thanks
 
#1,226
HangryBassMan said:
I fear a component on my preamp has gone. Whenever I roll up the bass eq I get terrible distortion. (Yes I have checked my battery).

Can anyone please advise me on how I can get a replacement stock preamp? I know a lot of people have upgraded their portamentos, So is there anyone on here that will sell me their stock preamp?

Alternatively, can anyone share any advice on some alternative suitable preamps? I still wish to keep the use of the piezo. 2 pup volume, 1 piezeo volume & tone & 2 band eq.

Thanks
Click to expand...
So, the preamp isn't distorting when the 2 band EQ knobs are at center detent?

It's been a while since I brought my SRF on stage. When I did, rarely or probably I didn't use any of the 2 magnetic pups. Or even if I used one or both of them, I don't think I've boosted any of the EQs, so I may not have noticed if the preamp was in fact distorting.
 
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#1,227
HangryBassMan said:
I fear a component on my preamp has gone. Whenever I roll up the bass eq I get terrible distortion. (Yes I have checked my battery).

Can anyone please advise me on how I can get a replacement stock preamp? I know a lot of people have upgraded their portamentos, So is there anyone on here that will sell me their stock preamp?

Alternatively, can anyone share any advice on some alternative suitable preamps? I still wish to keep the use of the piezo. 2 pup volume, 1 piezeo volume & tone & 2 band eq.

Thanks
Click to expand...
There may not be a fault - the bass gain is pretty fierce on mine, if I crank it up it will distort unless I rebalance the input level on the amp. HTH.
 
#1,229
HangryBassMan said:
New member here - Give me my #60View attachment 3555564
Click to expand...
Of course HangryBassMan, #60 was just waiting for you :-)

Ibanez Portamento Club​

1. vmabus #0
2. tellheryousawme #1
3. Jazzbrew #2
4. PaulNYC #18
5. aproud1 #4
6. Idle Plucker #5
7. Awesome Sauce #7
8. ransombass #8
9. Gee Phil #9
10. Ibby #10
11. Marcel66 #66
12. hiredlenz #12
13. Grand Moff Tim #13
14. brossmac #14
15. steelbed45 #15
16. audionut36 #16
17. MethodsofDance #17
18. Kico #19
19. Stellvia #20
20. Bassconbeatz #21
21. Dum Bass #22
22. bherman #23
23. Flabzilla #24
24. gary m #25
25. slap2much #26
26. cchorney #27
27. Aidil #28
28. BassJuju #29
29. Jezza #30
30. thirtyhz #31
31. Christoph #32
32. Coriolis #33
33. Guittarman10 #34
34. Dana R Gregory #35
35. web824 #36
36. mike4bass #37
37. kirkdickinson #6
38. newb #38
39. raphaeld #39
40. Hunter34 #40
41. sinewavemattic #41
42. Michael Jewels #42
43. xshawk #43
44. Adam Blaknovski #11
45. B-Mac #45
46. animus.terry005 #46
47. Spblat #47
48. BritFunk #48
49. Todd McIntosh #49
50. JCKA #50
51. rbbrnck #51
52. EnVico379 #52
53. GlueKill #53
54. rickster4003 #54
55. Supadope #55
56. Guitarman59 #59
57. JC Vallejo #57
58. Ghook #3
59. Spherical Cube #44
60. HangryBassMan #60
 
#1,230
Ghook said:
I def have to adjust my Master Volume and gain on my GT40 Mustang. It's a living-room amp. I did return a TMB 100 because the pre amp was messed up. My Portamento works great.
Click to expand...
Sounds like it's just the way the bass works rather than a fault, then. With active basses I usually try to set the amp to handle the max output I'm going to use then back off on the bass rather than setting it to handle flat and turning up later.
 
#1,232
HangryBassMan said:
I fear a component on my preamp has gone. Whenever I roll up the bass eq I get terrible distortion. (Yes I have checked my battery).

Can anyone please advise me on how I can get a replacement stock preamp? I know a lot of people have upgraded their portamentos, So is there anyone on here that will sell me their stock preamp?

Alternatively, can anyone share any advice on some alternative suitable preamps? I still wish to keep the use of the piezo. 2 pup volume, 1 piezeo volume & tone & 2 band eq.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Sorry I forgot to mention that I have had this issue since upgrading the pups to MK5's. My guitar tech has been looking into it, and he put the old pickups back in and the problem has gone. He says the Mk5's are too hot for the stock preamp and there aren't any gain trims on any of the pots. I just find it odd that I'm the only one that's had these issues with the MK5's as it seems to be a common upgrade. Anyway back go on the stock pups.
 
#1,233
Aidil said:
So, the preamp isn't distorting when the 2 band EQ knobs are at center detent?

It's been a while since I brought my SRF on stage. When I did, rarely or probably I didn't use any of the 2 magnetic pups. Or even if I used one or both of them, I don't think I've boosted any of the EQs, so I may not have noticed if the preamp was in fact distorting.
Click to expand...

It was distorting at centre detent, but I'd have to really dig in to hear it. As soon as i boost the bass even slighty it would distort more obviously
 
#1,234
HangryBassMan said:
Sorry I forgot to mention that I have had this issue since upgrading the pups to MK5's. My guitar tech has been looking into it, and he put the old pickups back in and the problem has gone. He says the Mk5's are too hot for the stock preamp and there aren't any gain trims on any of the pots. I just find it odd that I'm the only one that's had these issues with the MK5's as it seems to be a common upgrade. Anyway back go on the stock pups.
Click to expand...
So, which USA Bart MK5 did you put on, MK5CBC, MK52J, MK5J, MK5P, MK5S, or MK5C?

I'm guessing yours are MK5CBC, cause these are the most common pair many have chosen as replacements for the MK1-5, which also the pair that I have right now on my SRF705. If this is correct, did you wire them with single/dual coil switching option?

I also felt the MK5CBC are too hot for the stock pre. It's the thing that made me prefer to use them, if I ever dialed them on, in their single coil mode, as opposed in their most commonly used dual coil mode (I have mine installed with single/dual coil switching option). I've planned to revert the stock MK1 pups back, but I haven't done so cause I rarely play my SRF705 with the MK5 dialed on. I just use the piezo.
 
#1,235
McThumpenstein said:
Here's my new Portamento...on the right...if you arrive at the dog, you've gone too far. I actually got it in July. Played it on a couple gigs and it's quickly becoming my favorite bass. What a great instrument! May I have a number please?
View attachment 3556792
Click to expand...

Welcome on board McThumpenstein, would you please take seat #61.

Ibanez Portamento Club​

1. vmabus #0
2. tellheryousawme #1
3. Jazzbrew #2
4. PaulNYC #18
5. aproud1 #4
6. Idle Plucker #5
7. Awesome Sauce #7
8. ransombass #8
9. Gee Phil #9
10. Ibby #10
11. Marcel66 #66
12. hiredlenz #12
13. Grand Moff Tim #13
14. brossmac #14
15. steelbed45 #15
16. audionut36 #16
17. MethodsofDance #17
18. Kico #19
19. Stellvia #20
20. Bassconbeatz #21
21. Dum Bass #22
22. bherman #23
23. Flabzilla #24
24. gary m #25
25. slap2much #26
26. cchorney #27
27. Aidil #28
28. BassJuju #29
29. Jezza #30
30. thirtyhz #31
31. Christoph #32
32. Coriolis #33
33. Guittarman10 #34
34. Dana R Gregory #35
35. web824 #36
36. mike4bass #37
37. kirkdickinson #6
38. newb #38
39. raphaeld #39
40. Hunter34 #40
41. sinewavemattic #41
42. Michael Jewels #42
43. xshawk #43
44. Adam Blaknovski #11
45. B-Mac #45
46. animus.terry005 #46
47. Spblat #47
48. BritFunk #48
49. Todd McIntosh #49
50. JCKA #50
51. rbbrnck #51
52. EnVico379 #52
53. GlueKill #53
54. rickster4003 #54
55. Supadope #55
56. Guitarman59 #59
57. JC Vallejo #57
58. Ghook #3
59. Spherical Cube #44
60. HangryBassMan #60
61. McThumpenstein #61
 
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#1,236
Aidil said:
So, which USA Bart MK5 did you put on, MK5CBC, MK52J, MK5J, MK5P, MK5S, or MK5C?

I'm guessing yours are MK5CBC, cause these are the most common pair many have chosen as replacements for the MK1-5, which also the pair that I have right now on my SRF705. If this is correct, did you wire them with single/dual coil switching option?

I also felt the MK5CBC are too hot for the stock pre. It's the thing that made me prefer to use them, if I ever dialed them on, in their single coil mode, as opposed in their most commonly used dual coil mode (I have mine installed with single/dual coil switching option). I've planned to revert the stock MK1 pups back, but I haven't done so cause I rarely play my SRF705 with the MK5 dialed on. I just use the piezo.
Click to expand...

Yes it was a set of MK5CBC. I didn't install them with a coil switching option. Sound like that's essential to actually have a use out these pickups. The stock ones are going back on.
 
#1,238
Anybody want to talk set-ups? Mine came set up pretty perfect out of the box, but the band I play with generally plays 1/2 step down. While the sound is still amazing, no complaints at all, I think I'm getting a bit too much string clack when I play. I know part of it is my right hand, but there's also some due to the action dropping slightly. Easy enough to fix with a few adjustments, but I wanted to see if anyone had any great set-up experiences and ideas.
 
#1,239
McThumpenstein said:
Anybody want to talk set-ups? Mine came set up pretty perfect out of the box, but the band I play with generally plays 1/2 step down. While the sound is still amazing, no complaints at all, I think I'm getting a bit too much string clack when I play. I know part of it is my right hand, but there's also some due to the action dropping slightly. Easy enough to fix with a few adjustments, but I wanted to see if anyone had any great set-up experiences and ideas.
Click to expand...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
This will compensate lack of string tension due to lower tuning, and bass will improve responsiveness.
May be some fileing at the nut grooves will be necessary.
 
#1,240
Reading this thread made me play my Portamento tonight.
I have a reduced volume setting you might want to try.
Turn both magnetic pups to full, then hit a note.
Then roll back the neck pup slightly until you hear a change in tone, then play that same note. It will sound different. Now leave the neck volume where it is, and roll back the bridge volume slightly until you hear a slight change in tone. Both magnetic volume controls should be at about 8 if the controls had numbers on them.
Play with both pickups at about 8; it should sound like both pickups at 10, but with a mellower tone.
Then, leave one volume at 8 and move the other volume control from 10 to where ever you want, always listening for tonal changes. Repeat with the other pickup. Take at least 10 minutes experimenting with this, and report back and tell us if you found a tone you like, but had never heard before.

I tried mixing the piezos with either the neck or bridge pickup, but decided I like the piezos alone.

Good luck. ;)

Mike
 

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