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Looks like a good for a Dimarzio P / Nordy MM and a Badass bridge.
After playing more of the bass this morning, I realized what Ibanez was going for with this bass.
This is the perfect all-round, ultimate beater bass!
It has no illusions of replacing your more expensive or valuable basses, but:-
1) it is very comfortable to play- it's light, smaller compact body like the jag
2) it has both Fender and Ibanez type qualities about it- Fender feel, Ibanez EQ- it's a very versatile bass-a swiss army knife kind of a bass.
3) it is inexpensive but packed with a great sound and feel, you can't help but want to pick it up. It's a fun bass, much like a VW bug being fun to drive. Yet, if you ding it on a coffee table, you won't have a coronary.
Now it would also be great to mod and upgrade:
an active/passive switch would make it even more versatile and give it that option for a more Fender vibe and tone, flip the switch and voila, more of an Ibanez kind of tone.
This is the perfect all-round, ultimate beater bass!
It has no illusions of replacing your more expensive or valuable basses, but:-
1) it is very comfortable to play- it's light, smaller compact body like the jag
2) it has both Fender and Ibanez type qualities about it- Fender feel, Ibanez EQ- it's a very versatile bass-a swiss army knife kind of a bass.
3) it is inexpensive but packed with a great sound and feel, you can't help but want to pick it up. It's a fun bass, much like a VW bug being fun to drive. Yet, if you ding it on a coffee table, you won't have a coronary.
Now it would also be great to mod and upgrade:
an active/passive switch would make it even more versatile and give it that option for a more Fender vibe and tone, flip the switch and voila, more of an Ibanez kind of tone.
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I tried one the other day in the local store and that one had very sharp fret ends. To the point it was unplayable. So try before you buy, is my advice.
Sound advice and supports my warning. The first batch quality control is not all there. It seems rushed. While the fret ends on my bass were fine, other quality issues were found. If you buy one, buy it from a place that has a return policy in place. At least until they get the QC under control with subsequent batches. Expect having to set up the bass and you should be okay. Despite this, I will have to say this bass has a lot going for it and worth a look and play.
Thanks Solarmist- I love all kinds and brands of basses but I do like Ibanez - my first bass was one so perhaps have a special spot for them. Love Fenders too though. In reviewing this bass -I didn't look at it as an Ibanez in order to give it a fair assessment, which was pretty easy as I felt like I was playing a totally new animal altogether, a hybrid bass of Fender/Ibanez origins. If Fender and Ibanez ever merged, I imagine this would be what their bass would be like.That was an excellent review Max, and I see you're a fellow Ibanez guy.
That's very cool, since that pretty much sums up what my guess was as to how the bass would be, and how I would "handle" it if I was to buy one. I already have these dreams of covering one up with stickers and gleefully smashing around the stage during one of my band's live gigs...not saying I'd go full Townshend with it or anything like that, but to have a bass that feels good, looks good, and is inexpensive enough that you won't sweat any damage - that just spells FUN!
I know I don't have one and haven't heard what they sound like first hand, but my dreams also include swapping out the existing preamp and dropping in a two band Aguilar. Now *that* would sound mean!
Apparently, I buy basses but I don't buy digital scales. My scale's the old fashioned kind so around 8lb. I've heard from hearsay that the TMB300 is a little bit heavier, not sure about that or by how much.
That's very cool, since that pretty much sums up what my guess was as to how the bass would be, and how I would "handle" it if I was to buy one. I already have these dreams of covering one up with stickers and gleefully smashing around the stage during one of my band's live gigs...not saying I'd go full Townshend with it or anything like that, but to have a bass that feels good, looks good, and is inexpensive enough that you won't sweat any damage - that just spells FUN!
I know I don't have one and haven't heard what they sound like first hand, but my dreams also include swapping out the existing preamp and dropping in a two band Aguilar. Now *that* would sound mean!
It's a totally stickerable bass (lol)- if I had to use one word to try to describe this bass it would be UTILITARIAN-two stacked knobs so everything you need to fiddle with is within easy reach - if you're er.. inebriated playing the bass, only two spots to try to grab at. Also, the input jack is metal and recessed into the body. I go through this careful ritual plugging a jack into my SR700 because it may damage the wood finish around it (why oh why did they do this?), with this thing, ah...snap it in, no problem, the jack plate is metal.
Thanks for the graphic; that alone put the Talman on my to-be-thought-about list. Like the shape and the neck width; starting to warm to the freaky-deaky looks. Unsubtlety is not a crime!
Great review. Glad you were able to get it to your liking. I'd say in the long run, well worth the $127!
I'm starting to think the "Tri-Fade Burst" -- eesh, what a term -- is the prettiest:
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Thanks....your Soda Blue color looks quite a bit different than the stock photo, I like it! Metallic flecks?
Slight, not as gaudy as the sparkle squier bullet I have though. I think it looks pretty on par with fender's lake placid finish.
Boy, the reviews on the MF site re quality control on these sure are ugly:
Talman Bass on Musician's Friend
Granted, that's an extremely limited sample of buyers (and one of the three is mostly positive), but I sure hope these QC issues are getting sorted out.
Talman Bass on Musician's Friend
Granted, that's an extremely limited sample of buyers (and one of the three is mostly positive), but I sure hope these QC issues are getting sorted out.
Ouch...I'm pretty sure it will. There are few reviews out there and as is usually the case, the ones that have issues will be the ones that make a comment, the ones that have no problems don't often write a review. That being said though if you buy an early one, be wary of the possibility of quality issues. You may get a good one of course but there are some that have very real quality issues as can be seen in those comments.
The way mine was set up (or not set up), it certainly felt that it was rushed out the door but other than the set up and the rattling I took care of, everything else works great. I tested the pickups, the truss rod, no loose screws so far, everything checks out.
The important thing early on is make sure you do a thorough inspection and testing of the bass if you buy one of the early ones.
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ArrrrghhhhH!!!!! And no lefties!
I hate my handedness sometimes. I've tried, or how I've tried to be like the majority. It won't work. My brain tells my fingers, "I'm sorry nerkoids, I'm afraid I can't do that"
Open the POD BAY DOORS, HAL!!!
Sigh. I wonder if the folks at Ibanez would take pity on us and at least give us a black model?
Incidentally, are these Indonesian made?
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