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

Takamine TB-10 Users

#81
Here's a couple of videos from last week. Sorry for the low quality but they give a good idea of the sound.. They are long but there is a short bass solo on "Good Bait" around 5m 20s. I have tried La Bella Black Nylon ( too dark sounding and stiff), Tomastik (too flexible , thin sound), and settled on GHS Precision Flats. I'm playing through a Phil Jones Briefcase. Thanks so much to Whippet for some hints on getting the bass set up!

 
  • Like
Reactions: Whippet and Wasnex
#82
Steve York said:
Here's a couple of videos from last week. Sorry for the low quality but they give a good idea of the sound.. They are long but there is a short bass solo on "Good Bait" around 5m 20s. I have tried La Bella Black Nylon ( too dark sounding and stiff), Tomastik (too flexible , thin sound), and settled on GHS Precision Flats. I'm playing through a Phil Jones Briefcase. Thanks so much to Whippet for some hints on getting the bass set up!

Click to expand...


Glad I could help!

Dang, your Tak sounds excellent. I am going to try the GHS Precision Flats. Thanks for the video upload!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Steve York
#83
Still working on my TB10. I had the bridge shaved. Both the luthier and I assumed that the factory location for the bridge is correct. Having intonation issues above the octave position I checked the octave intonation with a strobe tuner. I had to pull the bridge back nearly half an inch and slant it considerably! I see on Steve Rosati's youtube video that his luthier determined that the bridge on his TB10 was at the 33" scale position and he moved it to 34" . Mine is now centered at 34" but looks like this!
20190422_075544.jpg

Being a fretless instrument I have been compensating but I prefer not to!
Having moved the bridge the action was a little to low so I cut a shim from an old credit card . inserted it under the bridge saddle, and it's good to go! I will post a sound clip later.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Whippet
#87
Steve York said:
Still working on my TB10. I had the bridge shaved. Both the luthier and I assumed that the factory location for the bridge is correct. Having intonation issues above the octave position I checked the octave intonation with a strobe tuner. I had to pull the bridge back nearly half an inch and slant it considerably! I see on Steve Rosati's youtube video that his luthier determined that the bridge on his TB10 was at the 33" scale position and he moved it to 34" . Mine is now centered at 34" but looks like this! View attachment 3394416
Being a fretless instrument I have been compensating but I prefer not to!
Having moved the bridge the action was a little to low so I cut a shim from an old credit card . inserted it under the bridge saddle, and it's good to go! I will post a sound clip later.
Click to expand...

That looks something like mine. Granted, the initial setup wasnt done by me and I had the bridge and saddle worked on by a pro so technically, I have no idea what it should be like.

I just followed the instructions of another TB member on the angle and position of the bridge and it looks just like yours. Moved back a little and slanted.

I checked with Takamine a few weeks ago about the bridge and they said that the nut and bridge might need adjustment. It is purposely set high so that the owner can do the adjustment. Luckily the tech guy who does all my guitars has the data of my guitars on a plek machine so he adjusted it similar to the other plekked instruments. (the Tak is too big to fit into the machine itself).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Steve York
#88
One more thing. I have a bunch of guitars but my god..... the Tak is the best looking. I might get a compliment or two about my Dingwall Prima, but I always get compliments on the Tak from everyone from children to grandpas and grannies.

It is a really good looking bass. The look of this bass chooses the owner. Not the other way around. It truly is an artists' instrument. If you know what you are doing, it makes you look really good. Too bad I am not. LOL
 
  • Like
Reactions: chadds and Steve York
#89
Whippet said:
One more thing. I have a bunch of guitars but my god..... the Tak is the best looking. I might get a compliment or two about my Dingwall Prima, but I always get compliments on the Tak from everyone from children to grandpas and grannies.

It is a really good looking bass. The look of this bass chooses the owner. Not the other way around. It truly is an artists' instrument. If you know what you are doing, it makes you look really good. Too bad I am not. LOL
Click to expand...

Compare to this image of a B10 I found. Looks like more of the compensation is achieved with work on the saddle with this one.

Invalid Link Removed
Full size image is currently available here and you can zoom in: Invalid Link Removed
 
  • Like
Reactions: Whippet
#91
Thanks to everyone for the comments! The photos from Wasnex & MD explain a lot! The saddle on my bridge is not nearly as slanted as these! I wonder if my TB10 is older than these. At least I now feel confident that my set up is correct (for my needs at least). It makes me consider looking into ordering a nice new slanted saddle but then i would have to make the adjustments all over again and probably only benefit cosmetically!
Wasnex My string gauges are pretty standard 100-45. Action height also has an effect on the slant angle. But in this case a picture is worth a thousand words, so thanks again!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Whippet and Wasnex
#92
Steve York said:
Thanks to everyone for the comments! The photos from Wasnex & MD explain a lot! The saddle on my bridge is not nearly as slanted as these! I wonder if my TB10 is older than these. At least I now feel confident that my set up is correct (for my needs at least). It makes me consider looking into ordering a nice new slanted saddle but then i would have to make the adjustments all over again and probably only benefit cosmetically!
Wasnex My string gauges are pretty standard 100-45. Action height also has an effect on the slant angle. But in this case a picture is worth a thousand words, so thanks again!
Click to expand...

The B10 is an older model. I believe the only difference is the TB10 has the cool tube preamp. There was also a PB30 that appears pretty much the same construction but used different woods.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Whippet and Steve York
#99
Chef said:
Howdy;
My physical therapist said it would be great if I never played upright again. Honestly, I'd be heartbroken over that but I don't get calls for it often anymore anyway.
However; there are times I could still use that tone and feel. I don't want an stick shaped upright electric of any sort, that's just gonna be another variant of putting my body in a shape I'm not supposed to do anymore.
But, some of the clips I've heard of the Takamine TB10 sound pretty great. It's a normal 34" scale, unlike the short scale Rob Allen Mouse, which I also think sounds pretty great. And, it looks pretty classy, like a big archtop jazz guitar, so, it's vibe would more or less fit gigs where an upright would, but a Sadowsky might not quite have the same eye appeal.
So, if you have one and use it, I'd love to hear from you. Likes, dislikes, etc. It looks like one of these will cost pretty much what my upright is worth, so feedback before I buy is a good thing.

thanks
Click to expand...
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back