I don't have socks on but I probably should. How about you guys?
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New Ibanez Talman Basses!
- Thread starter BigBigGuy44
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- ibanez
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The TMB100 and 300 were listed as discontinued on the Ibanez Japan parts website, when I was looking for tuners... I am thrilled to be wrong about the Talman bass; although I have one already it is great to see them expanding the line-up.
This thread knocked mine off.
I really want one of the Talmans with the Nordstrand pickups. I really dig the colors.
It's awesome how it has active or passive available, but in passive mode your treble knob becomes a regular passive tone knob.
It's awesome how it has active or passive available, but in passive mode your treble knob becomes a regular passive tone knob.
That is a nice touch, saves a knob.
I bought one of the mint green TMB100s a few months ago. My first foray into active electronics. Love it, although I'm planning on making a custom black pickguard for it sometime.
I may be alone here, but I think the 100 is still, by far, the best bang for the buck in the series. Maybe I've just been spoiled by my latest purchase, my second with active electronics, the Sire V7. The Sire has a much more sophisticated preamp than the TMB600 and costs $200 less - midway in price between the TMB100 and 600, which have exactly the same preamp. I don't have any experience with Nordstrand pickups, but even assuming they are awesome, I don't think I'd pay an extra $400 to get them. OK, maybe the 600 should actually be compared to the 300, since they have the same neck with the block inlays. So maybe it's just $300 more for the name brand pickups. Still. Just my view, YMMV and all that.
I may be alone here, but I think the 100 is still, by far, the best bang for the buck in the series. Maybe I've just been spoiled by my latest purchase, my second with active electronics, the Sire V7. The Sire has a much more sophisticated preamp than the TMB600 and costs $200 less - midway in price between the TMB100 and 600, which have exactly the same preamp. I don't have any experience with Nordstrand pickups, but even assuming they are awesome, I don't think I'd pay an extra $400 to get them. OK, maybe the 600 should actually be compared to the 300, since they have the same neck with the block inlays. So maybe it's just $300 more for the name brand pickups. Still. Just my view, YMMV and all that.
Yeah! I've been kinda drawn to Ibanez lately. They seem to make really functional instruments. They also include nice little upgrades here or there without charging much for it.
The TMB600 I think is going for 550. Isn't that pretty close to Sire territory?
For some reason I was thinking $600, probably confused with the model number. Well, $550 is closer.
My Sire 4-string Alder body w/rosewood board was $460 shipped, but it includes a very nice gig bag that most claim would cost $75-100 in a music store, so . . . apples to apples, maybe the Talman 600 is only ~$175 more since it can be found locally or with free shipping. The Sire is also available from Thomman, the German distributor, without the case for less, depending on the exchange rate. It will be interesting to see what buyers have to say about the build quality and sound of the Talman 600. I'll be especially interested in the opinion of those who also own the Sire.
The Sire is my most expensive bass, so I'm not truly qualified to comment myself, but numerous Sire owners who have more expensive basses say it's as good or better than their American Fenders which sell for, what, $1200-1400. Check out the Sire Club thread, if you haven't already. That's what convinced me to try one.
For $200, the TMB100 is an amazing bass. The build quality is not as good as the Sire and the preamp is not as versatile, but it's just over half the price of the Sire, if you don't include the case. On a "bang for buck" level, I'd say they're fairly comparable in terms of value. When price is factored out, the Sire is clearly superior, in my opinion. Since the preamps are the same in all the Talmans, you're paying a considerable premium for the pickup in the 600 - essentially $250 more compared to the Talman 300. It's good to see more Talman options - especially for those who are interested in short scales, 5-strings, and lefties. Personally, I'm not tempted. Can't say I'm too enamored with the extremely limited color choices offered by the new Talman models either, but that's another issue.
I almost cut up a TMB100 so I could have 5 string Talman. Glad I didn't. I've got a tmb 100 in red that will soon be for sale. I wound up building this out of the 5 string neck instead. Glad I waited. Wonder what other colors the 5ers are gonna come in? Anybody got any info on that?
Oh man a 5 string Talman with an 18 mm spacing. Great now I have GAS again!
They look nice but its probably the worst place and angle for a jack that you could imagine.
I dunno, sticking straight out the back into my belly would be worse I think.
The middle of the fretboard would be a little annoying.
Now how hard would it be to add the active/passive switch to the 100, so there's a lefty option for the 600?
Out the headstock might be kind of fun, for making your bandmates trip!
FWIW, I rarely hear Strat players complaining about the location and angle of the jack plates on their guitars.
Yeah I've heard great things about the Sires. I've also heard great things about Ibanez, though the resale value isn't high they provide a great value with some extras you wouldn't expect for the money. There are a lot of great manufacturers out there that provide basses for not much money!
I was just looking through specs on some various Ibanez instruments, and it's pretty nuts what you get for the money. I mean passive tone and active treble knobs are combined if your instrument can switch between active/passive, they don't shy away from providing bone nuts (Fender does, they don't even have them on American Standards), they offer boutiquey features like the monorail bridges, special tonewoods, hipshot style tuners, etc. All for not much money.
That Talman I think is a good bass overall. It's pretty competitive with the Sire in terms of features in my opinion. Swamp ash body, decent preamp (even if the Sire is better), Nordstrand pickups, passive/active tone/treble knob, similar price, neck BINDING!, etc. I'm not sure how the tuners compare though.
Still, if I was after a Jazz bass I'd probably get the Sire. I prefer PJs so that's probably why I dig the Talman more. Sire should consider making some sort of P bass and I'd probably be sold.
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Oh wow I wants!!!
Does anyone know, will these do a really nice jazz sound? I mean, will it sound like J bass?
I know it will be able to sound like others, a P, most likey even an MM style. But it should also do a J sound too right? Man, these look awesome!! My love for my ATK300 has been waning a tad over the last year. I've been thinking of going a different direction but not too far off from the ATK sound. So, maybe, one of these will do the trick. I'd like to hear some demos.....
Does anyone know, will these do a really nice jazz sound? I mean, will it sound like J bass?
I know it will be able to sound like others, a P, most likey even an MM style. But it should also do a J sound too right? Man, these look awesome!! My love for my ATK300 has been waning a tad over the last year. I've been thinking of going a different direction but not too far off from the ATK sound. So, maybe, one of these will do the trick. I'd like to hear some demos.....
