Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
NBD: Ibanez EHB1005MS Headless Multi-scale Bass
- Thread starter Aidil
- Start date
Well, the position where you fret the note will change slightly once you change the string spacing (i.e. the fret spacing will change). If it's a minor adjustment, it might not be too noticeable - I don't know. It would be interesting to change the spacing and then check all the notes with an extremely accurate tuner and see if there's much of a difference.
I would encourage you to look up True Temperament if each note being perfectly in tune is what you're looking for. You won't get that out of an instrument with straight frets.
How does one get this email for the discount? That might just push me over the edge to order one.
We are probably accustomed to hearing minor imperfections in tuning. Have you ever seen one of those true temperament basses or guitars? Now those squiggly frets would throw me off! They must be hard to install.
True Temperament | .strandberg* Guitars
as mentioned by @BioWeapon, no parallel fretted bass would give you precise pitch of notes anyway unless it's a true temperament fretted, or as you said, we're accustomed in hearing imperfections in tuning. So on this very instrument, it wouldn't be much different whether the string spacing was still on its factory settings nor it has been customized by the end user.
This EHB is my 2nd multi-scale bass. The 1st one, which I still own though not so much used, is the Ibanez SRFF806, a 6 string bass, which frets are less fanned and the string spacing is tighter compared to the EHBs. So, it's literally more suited for playing chords. Still... I find it harder for playing chords on it compared to my parallel fretted basses. Not impossible, but a you said, a little bit awkward for my fingers in forming chord shapes.
Last edited:
It pushed me over the edge haha. I ordered one from musicstorelive because they beat the discounted GC price by a little and I had a good experience with them on a previous order.
I was going to use jkazam's discount code last night, and I had it entered into my shopping cart, but as I was digging in my email inbox to see if I had a discount code too to apply, the code expired because it was past midnight. So I was late by just a minute or so.
But I knew the sales associates for these stores can be flexible, as there's some wiggle room in the profit margin, and when I got an email from GC asking me if I had forgot something in my shopping cart (they always do that, when you put stuff in your shopping cart but don't actually buy it), I called them and told them what happened, and the guy gave me the discount over the phone, and I got both the EHB1505 and the EHB1000, with $200 off of each of them (so $400 off total for both basses).
I have a nice Sam Ash card with no interest for 6 months, so if I’m going to get one I’ll go that route.
I ordered something a few weeks ago, used, and spoke to an amazing sales woman who said to call if I ever needed anything. So I called GC a few hours ago and left her a message asking how I can get that discount and if I could to call me tomorrow... it now all lies in fates hands if she calls back or not....
Thanks for the code, but it doesn’t apply to this bass. D’oh. But I did speak to the saleswoman who was able to offer me $100 off. I’m going to give it some thought. While I love this bass, there’s some other gear I could use more and I’m trying to temper my GAS. Maybe when they start showing up used I’ll grab one.
The code did work, but it expired. I tried to use it and it worked in the shopping cart, but I waited to long to actually place the order and by the time I did, it went past midnight and the code had expired just a minute earlier.
But I talked to GC on the phone and they told them what happened and they gave me the discount anyway.
More pictures, now about the pickups:
The Bartolini BH2 pickups on the EHB1005MS measurements are roughly 117 x 32 or also known as Bartolini P4 size (117.6 x 32.13 mm²). So, these appear to be similar pickups used on the Ibanez SRMS805 and there are already P4 size replacement pickups available in the market.
And the last picture concerns the strings:
Ibanez wrote on the specs the strings they've put on this bass is D'Addario EXL170-5SL set, which means they're after the 38" winding length. I've measured the required string winding length for the low B. It seems that it requires 37" winding length (ball end excluded) to clear pass the nut. So, most current strings in the market with 37.1"~37.25" winding length would suffice for this bass.
The Bartolini BH2 pickups on the EHB1005MS measurements are roughly 117 x 32 or also known as Bartolini P4 size (117.6 x 32.13 mm²). So, these appear to be similar pickups used on the Ibanez SRMS805 and there are already P4 size replacement pickups available in the market.
And the last picture concerns the strings:
Ibanez wrote on the specs the strings they've put on this bass is D'Addario EXL170-5SL set, which means they're after the 38" winding length. I've measured the required string winding length for the low B. It seems that it requires 37" winding length (ball end excluded) to clear pass the nut. So, most current strings in the market with 37.1"~37.25" winding length would suffice for this bass.
Thank for Valueble information share.
If I possible get the ibby EHB1005ms, sure I will put a set of Ernieball Cobalt flat to make the BH2 sound growly and punchy before make decision on pickups swap.
Last edited:
waiting to hear that review of yours...
In the mean time, while I don't have EB Cobalt Flats as local EB distributor doesn't import the CF and there is export restriction from EB banning US string merchants to sell EB strings internationally, I do have EB Cobalt Roundowunds which I've bought in quite sometime but never been used (still in the sealed pack). I refrain my self from using them cause I read that they could eat (most nickel?) frets easily and they are the harshest strings for your fingertips, more than any stainless steel strings, ever.
Have you ever used these?
I prefer Flatwound, only have experience on EB cobalt flat which sound great and no fret eating issue so far.
Nothing wrong with the Bart BH2 pickups but I'm curious how the EHB1005MS would sound with the Nordie Big Splits used in the EHB1505MS? I like the roasted maple neck and simpler wood construction.
It would be nice to see a 1005 vs 1505 demo to hear the difference. Not too many 1505 demos yet but here are a couple:
It would be nice to see a 1005 vs 1505 demo to hear the difference. Not too many 1505 demos yet but here are a couple:
Last edited:
I am fairly sure moving a saddle sideways does not matter (as long as you adjust saddle intonation offset afterwards, because scale length will have changed slightly), i expect the geometry remains correct.
Think of it this way: Adjusting a saddle sideways just alters the angle relative to being parallel with the centreline of the neck. But most or all strings are already angled away from being parallel with the centreline of the neck due to neck taper.
These 2 quotes are a misunderstanding of TT. It does not actually result in 'perfect tuning' or 'precise pitch', assuming by that you mean the world's dominant tonal system called '12 Tone Equal Temperament' (12TET).
Years ago they used to have a '12TET' system that made subtle fret adjustments to get each note closer to perfect 12TET, that would do what you suggest.
However now they only offer one system called 'Thidell Formula 1'. This adjusts the pitches of each note deliberately away from 12TET by up to 4 cents. This is called a 'Well Temperament', which is a type of tonal system used by Baroque and Classical music before 12TET was used.
The intention of such a tonal system is to adjust pitches slightly away from 12TET such that chords in the more commonly played keys have improved harmony.
So a TT guitar or bass guitar is actually more 'out of tune' than standard instruments, as in being more distant from 12TET.
