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Official TUNE Club
- Thread starter user362432
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Different set up with my TWB-4Z but that's due to the piezos. Trim pots aplenty though
View attachment 807794
Wow !
I can appreciate why you're so taken with your Tune bass RBJ11. I first became aware of them back in 84 with the Bass Maniac,London's Bass Centre was stocking them
and they were priced same as Wal basses £1000. Fenders were around £500- £600 then.
It's definitely a high end bass.
and they were priced same as Wal basses £1000. Fenders were around £500- £600 then.
It's definitely a high end bass.
Thanks so much for the info kodiak. When I bought it, I wasn't thinking about the price so much as how it "felt". Looking at what others paid for theirs on this thread, it was a bit on the high end - ie. American Fender Jazz 5 string-ish. But it had a different vibe than the others - smooth, fast, solid and tight. Tone was darker and really elegant. I've only owned 34" scale 4 strings basses before this bass - and I have a "few". But this instrument is making me rethink everything. After playing her for a few hrs everything just clicked. Knowing my theory really helped, but for me, the 34" scale with a double octave made the space between the frets a bit smaller, which feels really comfortable. And even with the 34" scale, the B string is tight as a drum. I don't know what the spacing is, but I really like it. It's quite narrow, which I dig. The two 3/way toggles on the p/u's along with the standard 3 way pre/tone set up allows so many different tone combos. All in all - just wow.
There's nary a buzz, rattle, dead spot or serial number on her - I'm gushing, but dang! This thing freakin' rocks.
Shout out to Chad at The Bass Shop in West Seattle for suggesting her to me.
She's not going anywhere !
Any other info on the history of Tune basses from TBers would be much appreciated.
And thanks again for the help Kodiak - Cheers !
I couldn't resist : )
There's nary a buzz, rattle, dead spot or serial number on her - I'm gushing, but dang! This thing freakin' rocks.
Shout out to Chad at The Bass Shop in West Seattle for suggesting her to me.
She's not going anywhere !
Any other info on the history of Tune basses from TBers would be much appreciated.
And thanks again for the help Kodiak - Cheers !
I couldn't resist : )
I just purchased one used from one of the auction web sights. It appears to be Korean. But there's nothing on the headstock.
Everything else looks to be normal. Could the headstock wear of or maybe it wasn't a good picture perhaps?
Are there Tune copies being made. I didn't pay a ton. But it wasn't a drop in the bucket either. TWB-5.
Everything else looks to be normal. Could the headstock wear of or maybe it wasn't a good picture perhaps?
Are there Tune copies being made. I didn't pay a ton. But it wasn't a drop in the bucket either. TWB-5.
Post some photos if you can. If there is a serial # on the headstock, it may be Korean from what I understand.
I think the Korean models were the first with the crazier colors too.
Here is some more interesting info from an older eBay auction, for what it's worth.
Tune were established in Osaka, Japan in 1983 and then moved Amagasaki, Hyogo (near to Osaka).
They mainly manufacture their own brand's TUNE guitars and basses but in late 80s and in 90s they manufactured Blade Levinson guitars and basses for Japanese market.
TUNE GUITAR MANIAC CORPORATION was established in Osaka in 1983.
Later, they moved Amagasaki Hyogo (near to Osaka).
Their company's name at the time was Tune Guitar Technology.
Around 2000, they changed the company name to the current one.
Website: http://www.cc.rim.or.jp/~tune/
Strangely enough in Korea there is a manufacture with the Japanese Tune's original name which made the similar models, but according to Japanese Tune's website they have nothing to do with Japanese original Tune.
In the Japanese Tune's website, there is a note of caution the as follows:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
By an odd coincidence, you will find the same or similar model in Korean Tune's web site.
It is in their "History" page. Oddly, there is only a picture of an advertisement though it is History page.
If you look closely the price of the bass in the advertisement, you will find Yen mark, not Won mark.
It means that the advertisement is not their one, but Japanese Tune's.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Before listing this bass on eBay, I didn't know about Korean Tune, so I still don't have a lot of info about them, but from gathering the information above, they should have started to use the Japanese Tune's original name after Japanese Tune changed their name to the current one around 2000.
Cheers !
I think the Korean models were the first with the crazier colors too.
Here is some more interesting info from an older eBay auction, for what it's worth.
Tune were established in Osaka, Japan in 1983 and then moved Amagasaki, Hyogo (near to Osaka).
They mainly manufacture their own brand's TUNE guitars and basses but in late 80s and in 90s they manufactured Blade Levinson guitars and basses for Japanese market.
TUNE GUITAR MANIAC CORPORATION was established in Osaka in 1983.
Later, they moved Amagasaki Hyogo (near to Osaka).
Their company's name at the time was Tune Guitar Technology.
Around 2000, they changed the company name to the current one.
Website: http://www.cc.rim.or.jp/~tune/
Strangely enough in Korea there is a manufacture with the Japanese Tune's original name which made the similar models, but according to Japanese Tune's website they have nothing to do with Japanese original Tune.
In the Japanese Tune's website, there is a note of caution the as follows:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
By an odd coincidence, you will find the same or similar model in Korean Tune's web site.
It is in their "History" page. Oddly, there is only a picture of an advertisement though it is History page.
If you look closely the price of the bass in the advertisement, you will find Yen mark, not Won mark.
It means that the advertisement is not their one, but Japanese Tune's.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Before listing this bass on eBay, I didn't know about Korean Tune, so I still don't have a lot of info about them, but from gathering the information above, they should have started to use the Japanese Tune's original name after Japanese Tune changed their name to the current one around 2000.
Cheers !
I don't have it yet. It's being shipped. I'll post pictures when it's here. It's all wood. No paint.Thank you.
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If memory serves me right the head man at Tune Guitars Japan entered into an agreement with a Korean company to build guitars,possibly during their
factory move. Later it transpired Tune Guitars Korea hold the name for worldwide markets and Tune Guitars Japan hold the name for Japan only.
Again from memory,I seem to recall reading it was a verbal agreement so both companies claim to be in the right and with the Japanese principle member having passed away
it was never resolved.
All I can say is my Korean built TWB-4Z is a wonderfully built bass and that my Japanese Tune Bass Maniac is also a wonderfully built bass. The division is between the business men
not the craftsmen who build them,both countries employ highly skilled men.
factory move. Later it transpired Tune Guitars Korea hold the name for worldwide markets and Tune Guitars Japan hold the name for Japan only.
Again from memory,I seem to recall reading it was a verbal agreement so both companies claim to be in the right and with the Japanese principle member having passed away
it was never resolved.
All I can say is my Korean built TWB-4Z is a wonderfully built bass and that my Japanese Tune Bass Maniac is also a wonderfully built bass. The division is between the business men
not the craftsmen who build them,both countries employ highly skilled men.
Specs:
3 piece laminate hard maple neck
3 piece laminate hard maple neck
- Rosewood fingerboard
- 24 frets
- 34 inch scale
- Mahogany core body
- Flamed Maple top with
- Matching Headstock
- Solid brass bridge
- Solid brass nut
- Tune soapbar pickups
- Master volume
- 18V Preamp
- Treble: +17 dB/-17dB at 8kHz
- Midlle: +12 dB/-12dB at 350Hz
- Bass: +15dB/-15dB at 90Hz
- Internal gain trimmer for each pickup
- Internal notch filter trimmer: -20db at 850Hz
- Tune Die-cast deluxe machine heads
- All Gold Hardware
- I didn't get it. But these some pics.
- It's TWB-53 Flamed Maple
Attachments
I believe the MIJ Tunes say Guitar Manic on the truss cover and the Korean ones say Guitar Technology. My bass looks like fruitlabor's bass except it doesn't have piezos so the pre is different too.
Fruitlabor, your bass is identical to mine and visa versa.
Fruitlabor, your bass is identical to mine and visa versa.
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If it's not asking too much, can you post a pic and tell me your thoughts? I've never played or heard one live.
@fruitlabor
I've a Korean Tune TWB-4Z. It's the model with the piezos. Insanely good bass with cigarette paper action and a super slim smooth neck that happens to sound amazing.
There are no fake or copy Tunes being made !! Just two companies claiming ownership that neither have paperwork to prove so they do the sensible thing, Each builds the same
guitars in their respective country. Both factories have been established for years,there's no nightshift churning out re-badged basses. There is no X is better than Y,both are great
basses period. I think you're reading far too much into a business depute that saw the Japanese company change it's name 16 years back because the Korean company was better
established.Both have been building the same basses for over 20 years if either could show wrongdoing that wouldn't have happened.
If you're agonising over Korea Vs Japan it doesn't bode well for enjoying your bass.
I've a Korean Tune TWB-4Z. It's the model with the piezos. Insanely good bass with cigarette paper action and a super slim smooth neck that happens to sound amazing.
There are no fake or copy Tunes being made !! Just two companies claiming ownership that neither have paperwork to prove so they do the sensible thing, Each builds the same
guitars in their respective country. Both factories have been established for years,there's no nightshift churning out re-badged basses. There is no X is better than Y,both are great
basses period. I think you're reading far too much into a business depute that saw the Japanese company change it's name 16 years back because the Korean company was better
established.Both have been building the same basses for over 20 years if either could show wrongdoing that wouldn't have happened.
If you're agonising over Korea Vs Japan it doesn't bode well for enjoying your bass.
Not problem with MIK vs MIJ. It has nothing on the headstock. That's why I was questioning. I've used lots of MIK basses and never been disappointed. Thank you for the insight.
Ah now I understand. No T logo on the headstock,mine is just a thin sliver of brass so yours may have fell off.
Don't think you need worry, if anyone was going to all the trouble to fake the TR cover as well as the high quality build then a thin piece of brass wouldn't be beyond them.
i.e They would have added it too.
When's the bass due ?
Don't think you need worry, if anyone was going to all the trouble to fake the TR cover as well as the high quality build then a thin piece of brass wouldn't be beyond them.
i.e They would have added it too.
When's the bass due ?
