NBD/REVIEW: Ibanez Talman TMB 600

[Systolic]

It's a touch scooped, but not terribly so. I generally prefer a "balanced" tone. So I usually bump the treble just back from the detent and the bass just barely forward of it it's detent. Of course that's with it balanced in the middle. When on just the front pup, I'll leave it alone for finger or slap, reduce treble a touch for pick. When on the rear pup solo, I just boost the bass about 1/2 of the way for all applications.

 

[J.D. Detroit]

Thanks for the info.
My amps set flat with a notch or two bump in the low mids so the mild scooping wouldn't be a concern.

Did you decide on a PG yet?

 

[Handyman]

Is the bridge pickups a true single coil or some sort of hum-cancelling arrangement?

 

[jd56hawk]

As for the pickups here's what Carey Nordstrand had to say:
Ibanez approached me about this project early this year. I said I was open to the possibility under a couple conditions. 1) I must personally design, wind, and test the pickups here in my shop. 2) I will design, wind, and test the pickups using only the exact same materials that they use in the overseas factory. 3) I will only test the pickups in the actual basses that they will be installed into in production.

So, Ibanez sent me magnets, fiber, and covers. We determined that we use the exact same wire as the overseas factory so I decided what gauge to use based on what we have here and what I wanted tonally. Then Ibanez sent me 3 basses, a four, a five, and a six string. So we got to winding and testing pickups. Before too long I was very happy with what I was hearing and I sent the approved designs and specs to Ibanez to begin manufacturing. What you see above is the result of this design and license process.

I have to say that I am VERY excited about what these basses bring to the market with the pricing they're offering these at. The sound is VERY much a Fender inspired tone. In my testing I was able to get a killer huge P tone from the P style pickup. Deep and wide with a ton of punch. Also, the bridge pickup will do a Jaco Schwarzenegger sound for days. Then, with the flexibility of the preamp, you can get a massive modern sound that will go from slappy deep R & B to raging metal.

I'm really curious to see what players think of these once they get their hands on them.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Is the bridge pickups a true single coil or some sort of hum-cancelling arrangement?

It's a true single coil and it does hum.

 

[trentice]

Hello. Thank you for such a good review.
What's the difference between all the TMB variants (i.e. 100, 300, 600, 2000, etc)?
What country is the TMB 600 made in?

 

[wintremute]

Hello. Thank you for such a good review.
What's the difference between all the TMB variants (i.e. 100, 300, 600, 2000, etc)?
What country is the TMB 600 made in?

You can probably see the differences on the Ibanez Website.
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The Prestige (the 2000) is made in Japan.
The others are made in Indonesia.

 

[Laura Camacho]

Found this 5 er. Used for $490 local store . Thinking of getting it . Are you happy with it ?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Here are some clips of me playing the TMB605. This is a bass I really like, and I keep going back and forth about buying it.

 

[bholder]

Man, I need to stop reading these threads, or I'll need to buy a bigger house!

 

[Aidil]

Here are some clips of me playing the TMB605. This is a bass I really like, and I keep going back and forth about buying it.

hey Doc, how's the weight of that 5er?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

hey Doc, how's the weight of that 5er?

9lbs. 4oz.

 

[Laura Camacho]

The only thing I'd don't like was that it was too noisy in both active and passive mode .

 

[Aidil]

9lbs. 4oz.

hmm 4.2 kg... That's decent weight for a 5er. Slightly lighter than my 4.4 kg BTB 5er (although this one is a single cut model so it's likely on the heavy side), but way heavy when compared to my 3.3 kg SR 5er.

I say the TMB600 & TMB605 are best looking of the Talman basses. Anyway thanks Doc.

 

[Laura Camacho]

Has anyone noticed this?
I mention the noise because I was able to play it in an isolated room at the store . One of the employees helped me with that , but I still thought it was noisy.
Very loud , lots of bottom end and high frequencies too. I like the big string spacing,too.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

hmm 4.2 kg... That's decent weight for a 5er. Slightly lighter than my 4.4 kg BTB 5er (although this one is a single cut model so it's likely on the heavy side), but way heavy when compared to my 3.3 kg SR 5er.

I say the TMB600 & TMB605 are best looking of the Talman basses. Anyway thanks Doc.

I agree. It seems the 600 series is not getting much love, but I think the 605 is a great PJ that sounds good in active or passive mode.

 

[Laura Camacho]

Here are some clips of me playing the TMB605. This is a bass I really like, and I keep going back and forth about buying it.

I liked it too. Was yours noisy? Only drawback I found . Maybe I need to learn to use the the controls better .

 

[Toptube]

Medium frets are why I gravitated to Ibanez in my first years playing. I like small frets. I have been ordering basses with small "regular" frets. But I still keep an eye on what Ibanez is doing.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I liked it too. Was yours noisy? Only drawback I found . Maybe I need to learn to use the the controls better .

Yes it has some single coil noise. I have Fender Mustang PJ, I don't hear the noise gigging. You probably won't notice it live with the TMB605 either.

 

[wretch_like_me]

The stacked knobs turning together is a common problem with this model and at this price point should have definitely been addressed in QC. But it's an easy fix.
Overall, I'm pretty happy with this bass though i wish the J pickup was hum cancelling. I haven't had any noticeable neckdive issues but i also have a nice wide strap. Nordy pickups have nice variety, and i really like the neck pickup. I love the finish and matching headstock, and the neck not only looks great but feels great too. The frets are smooth and the inlay on rosewood is , and tuning machines hold true. Plus, i found mine used for $199, so honestly i have no real complaints.