So I currently play on a Ibanez BTB 575FM an I would like to have a difference in tone, closer to a fender. Any mods or upgrades i could do to achieve that?
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Make an ibanez sound more like a fender?
- Thread starter cubinicano
- Start date
The most basic mod you could do to get closer to a Fender sound is to rewire your bass to be passive. However, I would just recommend grabbing a Fender and keeping the Ibanez. The only real way to get a Fender sound out of any bass is to have Fender pickups. The pickups on that BTB575FM are long soapbar style, and so 5-string Jazz pickups would not be a direct drop in. That's a beautiful bass, and I would definitely recommend keeping it as it is. Why not own both?
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Sorry, but no. Making a bass passive brings it no closer to sounding Fender-esque. I've played plenty of passive basses that sound nothing like Fenders and plenty of active basses that do.
To the OP: Personally, I don't think you'll be able to get a Fender sound out of a BTB though. But try some Nordstrand Big Singles or Big Splits if you want to give it a go. That's really all you can do. Maybe just sell the BTB and get a Fender or just save up for one?
sell the ibanez, buy a fender.
BAM instant fender tone.
Seriously tho I have a BTB, modded it to get a more fenderish type tone, but it was a no go. Got a handful of fenders instead.
BAM instant fender tone.
Seriously tho I have a BTB, modded it to get a more fenderish type tone, but it was a no go. Got a handful of fenders instead.
- Feb 27, 2005
- 3,218
- 125
- Disclosures
- Full disclosure, I'm a certified Fender technician working in a music store that carries Fender, Yamaha, and Ibanez products among others.
Which Fender? "Sounds like a Fender" covers a lot of room.
I don't try to cop a J-bass tone with my BTB575FM. I can approximate a P-bass by using the neck pup only, rolling off some treble and boosting the mids and lows just a little. For added effect, play with a pick.
Other than that, I'd just get a Fender if I wanted to sound like a Fender, and personally, I wouldn't sell the BTB; you can pry my Ibby from my cold, dead hands.
I don't try to cop a J-bass tone with my BTB575FM. I can approximate a P-bass by using the neck pup only, rolling off some treble and boosting the mids and lows just a little. For added effect, play with a pick.
Other than that, I'd just get a Fender if I wanted to sound like a Fender, and personally, I wouldn't sell the BTB; you can pry my Ibby from my cold, dead hands.
Kwesi said:
Did I really deserve that? I didn't say it would sound like a fender, I said it would bring you closer. I'm fully aware that the fender sound includes more than just being passive, but rather a particular character. Since his active setup isn't giving him that character, maybe going passive will help. I'm just trying to help the guy out. Your subjective experience differs from mine - that's okay, but please don't invalidate my post based on yours. Also, I'd love to hear which active basses can cop a fender tone, because the few I've tried have a very distinct sound, but I've only tried a few brands worth, as my local stores don't stock many active basses to begin with.
And:
sonic assassin said:
This is what I meant, except w/o the switch. This is a much better idea though.
