• 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 freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Official TUNE Club

depends on the mix.

jazzers and metal heads aren't after the same sound.

i would say it punches through, but it doesn't cut through. at least that's my opinion. check the videos in my signature to listen to a tune bass compared to other basses. the difference in sound is obvious.
it lacks that cutting edge sound quite a bit, but then again it has that very funky snap to it.
 
Ok thanks..

Im totally confused. The Korean website has exactly same models as Japan site. At about half the price.

Now, I know its been asked xtousand times, but how do they compare? Even if MIJ is "better" arent they overpriced? They are probably using same components....

Also, the Korean site, has some endorsements from musicians I respect (I kind of know M. Moriconi) so.... Korean Tunes are also very very good, right!??!?

How doeas a Korean compare to say a MIA Fender Jazz (my standard for measuring/making comparisons) ? The price is about the same.
 
Ok thanks..

Im totally confused. The Korean website has exactly same models as Japan site. At about half the price.

Now, I know its been asked xtousand times, but how do they compare? Even if MIJ is "better" arent they overpriced? They are probably using same components....

Also, the Korean site, has some endorsements from musicians I respect (I kind of know M. Moriconi) so.... Korean Tunes are also very very good, right!??!?

How doeas a Korean compare to say a MIA Fender Jazz (my standard for measuring/making comparisons) ? The price is about the same.
Think of it this way. MIK Tunes are equivalent to Skyline-model Laklands, and MIJ Tunes are like MIA Laklands. Yes, the Korean models are well built, but the Japanese ones do have better hardware and bridges, and overall much better built. This is not to say the Korean ones are bad. I own a Korean one and I think for the price it is an incredibly well built bass. That said, the Japanese ones are better.

For what it's worth, SOME of the models do share electronics. I'm pretty sure the preamp in my (Korean) Tune TWX is a GZP-2, which is also found in Japanese instruments. In addition, some Japanese Tunes can have preamps and pickups from different models; for instance an NTB Bass Maniac will have a 2 band EQ and PJ pickups, while the more expensive TBC Bass Maniacs use the GZP-2 and 2 Jazz pickups.
 
Thanks Dan B
Thats pretty much what I've picee up in the forums. Jordan good, Japanese better. Souls you say Japanese models are not overpriced? I remember back in the day the we're extremely pricey. Now they seem to fall within reason but still...

Is ordering directly from Japanese site the only way to buy a new Japanese Tune? Has anybody done it -is it safe? They have responded fast to my enquiry. Anybody dealt or knows mr. Takanori Kanda? :)

I'm very grateful to Tund club for all the tips - but it really was love at first sight with a Tune Twb series bass!
 
Thanks Dan B
Thats pretty much what I've picee up in the forums. Jordan good, Japanese better. Souls you say Japanese models are not overpriced? I remember back in the day the we're extremely pricey. Now they seem to fall within reason but still...

Is ordering directly from Japanese site the only way to buy a new Japanese Tune? Has anybody done it -is it safe? They have responded fast to my enquiry. Anybody dealt or knows mr. Takanori Kanda? :)

I'm very grateful to Tund club for all the tips - but it really was love at first sight with a Tune Twb series bass!

The Japanese ones are pricey because they are boutique range basses. And for what they offer (exotic tops, sophisticated electronics, incredible craftsmanship just to name a few), I think they are incredible deals.

To answer your second question, I have not dealt with Tune personally, but from what it looks like, yes, the only way to get a new (or used for that matter) Japanese Tune is from a Japanese retailer or maybe via Tune directly (I cannot confirm this part though). This can get annoying as some retailers cannot or will not ship internationally. From what I have seen, the retailers that do sell Tunes that ship internationally are Ishibashi, TC-Gakki, and SoundMama; I don't know about Gakkido (they might do it occasionally; I guess contact them if needed), and Ikebe apparently doesn't like to sell internationally. They do pop up from time to time on eBay, but most of the time the ones that pop up are Korean rather than Japanese (though it looks like there are 2 Japanese models up right now). There are some members here who have bought these fine basses from overseas via the internet; they can tell you more than me.

Good luck in your endeavor; the Korean basses are sleepers in every sense the word, and the Japanese ones are something else.
 
Here are some photos and specs.

DCP_0760.gif


DCP_0764.gif


DCP_0763.gif


DCP_0769.gif


This is a Tune Bull's Eye five string (BE-5 ZW). It has a four-piece maple neck that runs end to end. The headstock tilts back and the truss rod adjusts at the nut. It has a two-octave 36" scale ebony board about 1.85" wide at the nut and 2.55" at the twelfth fret. There are supposed to be two titanium reinforcing rods next to the truss rod. The board has about a 14" radius, but I couldn't measure it accurately where I am right now! Spacing at the bridge is about 0.7125".

The frets are about .063" high and .115" wide. The neck shape is a flattened oval, which does not appear to get substantially deeper until about the 17th position, where the neck starts to melt in to the body.There are small white side dots, and small abalone dots on the fingerboard positioned between the G anrd D strings.


The body wings have 1" ash cores with 1/4" zebra wood tops and backs and very thin black spacers.

This bass has two humbucking soapbar shaped pickups in plastic shells, and volume, blend, and cut-boost controls for bass, middle, and treble. There is a mini-toggle to engage a mid-notch filter, and another mini toggle to switch the bridge pickup from series to parallel mode.

The lightweight cast bridge and enclosed tuners look like standard Gotoh manufacture, although the tuners are branded "Tune Guitar Technology" (as are the pickup covers).

The manual that came with this bass is copyrighted 1996. I can't recall when I bought this one. Bass Alone always had a few Tunes hanging on the wall and they were always absolutely hysterical basses.

Tone and fret job.
That Bull's Eye bass is gorgeous. I have been looking to pick up a Tune, now that I know how good they are. Does anyone know what a fair price is for a walnut topped Bull's Eye four string? I know the Bull's Eye basses are rare Japanese custom models.
 
That Bull's Eye bass is gorgeous. I have been looking picking up a Tune, now that I know how good they are. Does anyone know what a fair price is for a walnut topped Bull's Eye four string? I know the Bull's Eye basses are rare Japanese custom models.

This one is a 5 string, and I think the top is Padauk (or Bubinga; looks too red to be walnut), but it's selling for $1216.
Invalid Link Removed

Don't know if the retailer ships internationally though.

Prices are generally around 96,000 to 110,000 yen.
 
my experience is, that soapbar pickups usually sound a bit more "hi fi" compared to JJ or PJ pickups, because of the broad magnetic field.
but i'm sure there's other differences that might make a difference in sound, maybe electronics or the woods.

but i can't tell what the difference on these exact models is. maybe someone else tried them both ?
 
I am actually considering a Bull's Eye that I found locally. How would you describe the sound? I have only had the chance to hear the Korean TWB53 and Casiopea models.

I can't say for sure; I've never experienced a Tune with the larger soapbars; my TWX has the slim soapbars, which are quite punchy and can growl like no other with the correct strings. I assume the SWB pickups it has on there might sound fatter, but I don't know.