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New Ibanez (headless, multiscale)
- Thread starter chanson
- Start date
I played an Indonesian FF ibanez last year with bad fret sprout. I was told here on TB that there may be issues with wood that isn’t dried well enough in the humid Indonesian air. Electronics should not be affected but shrinking wood might make things loose.
I played a new Sr 2400 in the same shop a few weeks ago and it was perfection. Second only to a Ken Smith I once played in terms of how much I loved it.
I have an NG2 and a SRMS805. I've also got a multiscale EHB on pre-order.
The thing is, the B string is always going to sound different between a 37" scale and a 35" scale (or 35.5" in the case of the SRMS805). So in some ways comparing the Ibanez to the Dingwall is an apples and oranges situation.
Note that I said "different," not better or worse.
Does anyone have the white 4-string? Not seeing as much hype and discussion on that one, wondering if they have the same QC problems as the 5-stringers.
Exactly, which is why I was hoping someone had played both extensively and could give an informed opinion about the differences. I have two 5 string Dingwalls myself (an Afterburner and a Combustion) and the B strings are what totally sold me. I had played a Schecter with a 35" scale before but even that B didn't do it for me.
Yadda yadda yadda, proper tension and all that, but I only know that these Dingwalls have spoiled me for 5 strings. I won't play anything but them from here on out when I need a 5.
Mine has no problem with the electronics nor the fret works.
The only problem needed to be taken care of was a minor, one of the bridge pickup screws came loose and the pickup was held by the strings from popping out. Simple few screwdriver turns have taken care of it. It also put me on the moment of setting the pickup height, although I had forgotten to put on the finger ramp while setting the pickup heights.
And after reading a post here mentioning the same pickup fell off problem, I kinda agree with a poster who mentioned there could be a problem with the basswood body of the EHB1000 series being to soft. Although in my case, I didn't have to fill the screw hole with any toothpicks for tightening the pickup screw.
Agree... even here where the basses are being played still in Indonesia.
My 4 out of 8 Ibanez basses needed some fret works. The BTB685SC and the BTB7 had only a small number of frets sprouting. The same also applied to the fanned fret SRFF806. The most severe one was the SRC6, which had most of its frets sprouted.
Problem is, although in average we have a warm and high humidity climate, we tend to live in air conditioned rooms, and we turn on the AC's only while we're at home. We're not gonna turn on our AC's all times, especially not when we're out, which could be all day long despite our instruments are being kept inside. Thus, quite often our instruments have to face the temperature and humidity changes more than you might think.
But, a simple trip to a bass guitar tech garage had taken care of this problem once and for all.
I have a Dingwall NG-2 5-string, and like someone already mentioned, comparing 37" to 35" or 34" isn't quite fair. With that said, I had a Bongo 5-string with a nice sounding B-string, especially when it's new strings. I don't know if I'd say the Dingwall's B-string is drastically better.
I'm still waiting for the new strings Guitar Center sent me to arrive to replace the dead B-string on mine, and once I get it, I'll put on the new B-string and see how it sounds on my EHB1505 and report back.
Personally, I think in general, when a B-string is new roundwound, it has that metallic zing and very articulate sounding, and it sounds pretty good on most basses. The real test is when the string is old--then you hear how much definition it really has.
As much as I love my Dingwall, the extra long scale and drastic fanning frets just aren't as comfortable or intuitive to me, despite me having really tried to get used to it. When I pick up the EHB1505, it's just so much more comfortable in my hands. This is very subjective so it's going to be different for each person.
I've been searching for videos and review too and there are none. I ordered one but it won't arrive until May. I'll definitely post about it here once I get it. I'm the only person who ordered one that I know of--everyone else seems to only care about the 1005, 1505, and 1506.
Great job
Zzounds has the shipping date as the 10th, American musical has the 1st, musicians friend has the 14th. And Sweetwater who I ordered through says a few weeks but it also said that two weeks ago when I ordered
I wonder how long this will take? When it will even come to America. Sweetwater has a notice on their website saying the sales reps are working from home and the warehouse is at a slower capacity and will back to normal around the 6th of April.
I wonder how long this will take? When it will even come to America. Sweetwater has a notice on their website saying the sales reps are working from home and the warehouse is at a slower capacity and will back to normal around the 6th of April.
From my perspective, and I think the point I was trying to make, is that no 35" scale B string is ever going to sound like a 37" scale B string. Anyone going from a Dingwall and hoping a 35" B string will sound the same should be prepared for disappointment. So for you, if you're sold on the Dingwall B string then I think you'll only be disappointed with a 35" B string, whether it's on this Ibanez or some other brand. If you won't play anything other than a Dingwall in a 5 string, then why even give a second look at the Ibanez 5 string?
I changed the strings today from Elixir to Thomastik-Infeld flatwound strings, as a local dealer had the extra long set on sale and my two other basses already had Elixir roundwound strings. I really dig the sound of flatwound strings on this bass. I found that with my Elixir set, the bridge pickup was a little too thin sounding for me. With the flatwound strings though, all pickup positions sound really full and useful. I was always a fan of the neck pickup tone, but now, wow 
Regarding the dead B string conversation from before -
It certainly can be a number of things (perception, preference, quality, and so forth). Even with the flaws I have personally encountered (that will be fixed under warranty by Ibanez here in Japan), I really do like this bass.
Regarding the dead B string conversation from before -
It certainly can be a number of things (perception, preference, quality, and so forth). Even with the flaws I have personally encountered (that will be fixed under warranty by Ibanez here in Japan), I really do like this bass.
My Sweetwater guy said they would be in stock approximately 4/3, but that was a few weeks ago at the start of their shutdown.
I should also say my sales rep said early April, so that lines up.
Man I can't wait. I plan to modify mine basically as soon as I get it. Going to try to put in some onboard effects. A mini Hall of Fame reverb and a Xotic SL drive!
Man I can't wait. I plan to modify mine basically as soon as I get it. Going to try to put in some onboard effects. A mini Hall of Fame reverb and a Xotic SL drive!
I was just told the 7th maybe sooner from my rep at Sweetwater. Getting closer and closer. So excited!
