• 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.

TBC club

#162
Jack is super fast......i got my tbc ap400m today and it really plays and sounds great. the only problem i met is the action. i like super low action and i will shim the neck later. besides this every thing is cool.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed][Invalid or Expired Link Removed][Invalid or Expired Link Removed][Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
fret work is great for the price.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

maybe a handwound Kent armstrong mm pickup will be a good option
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#164
I own an older TBC bass, serial # 000228, made in USA probably in the early 90's. Two MMs. Ash body, no pickguard, looks like a Sterling.

Very nice sounding instrument, the depth and tone are just as good as anything I've heard on more expensive basses.
 
#165
I got an AP500M last week (and a MIM Precision Special passive on the same day!) and it looks like the QC problems are gone FWIW. The fret dressing on this put even my locally dressed Fenders to shame. I did have to shim one string at the nut about .020" to get the action I like - I do high setups so I can dig in. The stock setup was a slapper's dream, though.

Jack's having a few health issues right now, so there aren't any basses in the TBC eBay store, but he should be back in the shop in a week or two.

Jack and I have been having an ongoing conversation about problems with the electronics in these basses. He's open to anything that makes his basses sound better. I'm going to do some analysis with mine to see if there's anything he can do to improve the electronics and (this is an important constraint!) still hold his crazy low price point. So far, it seems that he has addressed most of the complaints I've been able to find on the net about the functional issues, like the bad run of pots he had from his supplier at one point.

I'd say the biggest improvement Jack could make would be in the electronics shielding. Nothing unique there, as lots of basses (inc. the P I just got) are in the same boat. I'll get the guts of my bass out on the bench in a week or two after I finish up the work on the new Pbass and do some in-depth characterization of the pickup and preamp. First, I want to see how it plays at some rehearsals and out on the gig.

Right now, I'd have to concur with IotaNet 's review of his J style TBC. My MM style compares very favorably with anything out there that's $1k or less.
 
#167
okcrum said:
I got an AP500M last week (and a MIM Precision Special passive on the same day!) and it looks like the QC problems are gone FWIW. The fret dressing on this put even my locally dressed Fenders to shame. I did have to shim one string at the nut about .020" to get the action I like - I do high setups so I can dig in. The stock setup was a slapper's dream, though.

Jack's having a few health issues right now, so there aren't any basses in the TBC eBay store, but he should be back in the shop in a week or two.

Jack and I have been having an ongoing conversation about problems with the electronics in these basses. He's open to anything that makes his basses sound better. I'm going to do some analysis with mine to see if there's anything he can do to improve the electronics and (this is an important constraint!) still hold his crazy low price point. So far, it seems that he has addressed most of the complaints I've been able to find on the net about the functional issues, like the bad run of pots he had from his supplier at one point.

I'd say the biggest improvement Jack could make would be in the electronics shielding. Nothing unique there, as lots of basses (inc. the P I just got) are in the same boat. I'll get the guts of my bass out on the bench in a week or two after I finish up the work on the new Pbass and do some in-depth characterization of the pickup and preamp. First, I want to see how it plays at some rehearsals and out on the gig.

Right now, I'd have to concur with IotaNet 's review of his J style TBC. My MM style compares very favorably with anything out there that's $1k or less.
Click to expand...

+1... only probs I have with my TBC's are the shielding and the pots..the pickup blend knob on all 3 of my older TBC's cuts out
 
#170
TimWinter said:
Anything that is called TBC made today is made in Bolivar MO by Jack himself.....:hyper:
Click to expand...

Absolutely.

I finally got a look inside the AP500M this weekend. New band, new tune list, sorry for the delay.

First the bass,
Top,
Bottom,
Guts,
Testing

First surprise, the cavity & cover are sprayed with conductive paint, as is the pickup cavity. However, the tunnel between the two does not appear to be. I might put a wire between them later. So, that's most of the shielding issues already addressed.

Second surprise, there's a hole for the leads for a second pickup. I wonder if, under the pick guard, there's a second pickup cavity?

The preamp is the black blob in the lower left of the Guts photo. It's an epoxy blob labelled "The Black Box". Bleh.

Here's some relevant data:

Pickup DC resistance: 11.5 kohms
Preamp current (idle): 3.8 ma DC
Preamp gain (nominal) 20 dB
Preamp response 15 Hz - 20 kHz (-3 dB)
Output noise (input terminated in 12 kohm, full treble + gain) < 100 uv

Treble control +- 6 dB boost/cut 1 kHz knee
Bass control +- 10 dB boost/cut 200 Hz knee

The battery current seemed high until I realized that the preamp could swing +-9 volts from a single 9V battery. There must be a little inverter in the preamp stepping up the voltage to 18 or 20 V. Still, that's a pretty good draw.

At some later time I want to measure the pickup impedance and frequency response.

This bass is PUNCHY! Plays great, too.
 
#171
This is my TBC serial number 1100022. I enjoy it but don't know much about it. It weighs approximately one ton.;)
 

Attachments

  • img785.jpg
    img785.jpg
    34.2 KB · Views: 107
#172
My gosh... And those bass guitars seem so affordable, yet they look amazing! Are there any specific tones that truly show the bass' sound?

I might actually pick one of these up for the school's band! (We have a Fender Precision that cannot be touched, so might as well take something, right?)
 
#173
PaulExcellent said:
My gosh... And those bass guitars seem so affordable, yet they look amazing! Are there any specific tones that truly show the bass' sound?

I might actually pick one of these up for the school's band! (We have a Fender Precision that cannot be touched, so might as well take something, right?)
Click to expand...

mmm hmm. I don't think the "company" (such as it was) exists any more. You do realize this thread is ancient?
If you can find a used one, I'll fight ya for it... :D
 
#174
Every time I think about selling mine...I just can't do it.

I like the look, feel and sound (about 90% of the time.) I think I'll end up putting a different preamp in it and maybe a different pickup, maybe something with humbucking built in.

Has a bit of fret sprout in dry winter weather, but that could be solved with a fret dressing.

Keep the TBC love alive out there.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back