The Official Ibanez TMB Talman Bass Club

[JIO]

Me and TheBogart should be BFFs
View attachment 4759227

we'll wait outside...

 

[ThumpingJack]

Hi all, I had to spend a lot of time searching for various specifications while upgrading my TMB30. It was time consuming and frustrating. So I compiled as many TMB30 specifications as I could find into a single page. The page is available here:

Ibanez TMB30 Specifications

I've included a list of drop-in compatible replacement parts. If you've found a part that's a drop-in replacement, please let me know and I'll add it to the page.

Hello mate, good work on the TMB30 specs, couple of things I’ve found modding my TMB 30;
A Fender Precision bridge cover fits the stock bridge.
CTS (and other imperial pots) won’t fit the control plate hole - needs widening a little

 

[Code Brown]

Hello mate, good work on the TMB30 specs, couple of things I’ve found modding my TMB 30;
A Fender Precision bridge cover fits the stock bridge.
CTS (and other imperial pots) won’t fit the control plate hole - needs widening a little

Thanks ThumpingJack! I've added the info to the page.
Also, good job on your mods!

 

[Code Brown]

really cool!
do they have the same body size ? what about the bridge placement ? are they exactly in the same position ?

The TMB30 body size is slightly smaller than the TMB100 by about 1/2" across and 1" the other way. The pickguards are not interchangeable. I'm not sure about the bridge position.

 

[JohnMalay]

The TMB 100 and TMB 30 share pickups, bridge and tuners but not much else. The bodies are different sizes, the electrics are different, as are the controls. The scale lengths are different.

 

[Code Brown]

The TMB 100 and TMB 30 share pickups, bridge and tuners but not much else. The bodies are different sizes, the electrics are different, as are the controls. The scale lengths are different.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but I wanted to mention my TMB100 is 5 years old and my TMB30 is only a couple months old. Having said that, my new TMB30 has a different bridge and different wires coming out of P pickup than my old TMB100. I don't know if Ibanez made changes sometime after I got my TMB100 five years ago.

The intonation screw on the new TMB30 bridge cannot screw completely through the saddle. On the old saddle the screw can go completely through the saddle, in the back and out the front. Also, the mounting hole locations are different.

The TMB100 P pickup has a red and a white wire coming out. The TMB30 has a yellow and 2 black wires coming out.

Again, I don't know if this is a difference between TMB30 and TMB100 - or if it's a change that occurred over the past 5 years.

 

[TomB]

I got a 30" scale one for my kids.
Cool little thing.
Not bad for the $$$.
But those pickups are wayyyy too high output. Probably voiced to sound good in a store.

Imo....ime...etc..

On my 35 the pickups came set way too close to the strings. With careful adjustment they now sound quite normal.

 

[TomB]

Totally get that, somewhere in this thread I think someone in this thread weighed the stock set vs the ultralights(4string versions), I think it was around .8lbs difference. If I find exact numbers I’ll let you know

I just made that tuner swap on my 35, from stock to 1/2” license Hipshot Ultralights. The overall weight change was from 8.35 to 7.64 lbs., about .7 lbs. It solved the standing neck dive completely and they are much better tuners as well.

 

[TomB]

Howdy!

I'm a new owner of a TMB35. So far so good. Definitely a project bass, but it works as is, especially after some setup.

The problems I see at the moment:
1. The truss rod doesn't seem to make any difference. I'm trying to increase the curve of the neck a bit, but so far no changes. I'll work on that.
2. The A string rattles a lot, no matter how much I increase the action. I'm in a pinch here. This rattle doesn't make much difference in a band context, but since other strings don't rattle nearly as much, I am trying to figure it out.

This leads me to a question for all y'all TMB35 owners: what strings do you use on these? Since it's a short scale fiver, the options are rather limited.

I’ve had good luck with Labella RX Nickels and Dunlop Super Bright stainless. Both have 125 B strings. Each are a similar tension to what came stock, so little action adjustment was neeeded.

 

[JohnMalay]

I'm not disagreeing with you, but I wanted to mention my TMB100 is 5 years old and my TMB30 is only a couple months old. Having said that, my new TMB30 has a different bridge and different wires coming out of P pickup than my old TMB100. I don't know if Ibanez made changes sometime after I got my TMB100 five years ago.

The intonation screw on the new TMB30 bridge cannot screw completely through the saddle. On the old saddle the screw can go completely through the saddle, in the back and out the front. Also, the mounting hole locations are different.

The TMB100 P pickup has a red and a white wire coming out. The TMB30 has a yellow and 2 black wires coming out.

Again, I don't know if this is a difference between TMB30 and TMB100 - or if it's a change that occurred over the past 5 years.
View attachment 4760579

It's OK to disagree. I have a TMB30 and a TMB100 from the same time period and they used some of the same hardware. Over time Ibanez will switch hardware so models separated by a few years may match very little.

 

[Code Brown]

It's OK to disagree.

That's something ya don't hear enough these days!

Ibanez will switch hardware so models separated by a few years may match very little.

I'm curious what bridge Ibanez is putting on the current TMB100s. Anyone have a new one?

 

[Telecaster88]

I'm sure the details are somewhere in this big thread, but any recommendations for a gig bag that fits the TMB30? I have a TMB100 as well, but I assume a standard full size bag will fit that one? Thanks!

 

[bigthemat]

I'm sure the details are somewhere in this big thread, but any recommendations for a gig bag that fits the TMB30? I have a TMB100 as well, but I assume a standard full size bag will fit that one? Thanks!

My tmb605 is shorter than my jazz v, despite both being the same scale length. Any gig bag should work (my roadrunner gig bag works fine), but if it's a hard case, the talman might be a bit short/need some extra padding to not wiggle around.

 

[TomB]

I'm sure the details are somewhere in this big thread, but any recommendations for a gig bag that fits the TMB30? I have a TMB100 as well, but I assume a standard full size bag will fit that one? Thanks!

Serek basses sells a very solid and gig-worthy bag they ship their short scale basses in. It fits my TMB35 like a glove. Likely not cheap though.

 

[Code Brown]

I'm sure the details are somewhere in this big thread, but any recommendations for a gig bag that fits the TMB30? I have a TMB100 as well, but I assume a standard full size bag will fit that one? Thanks!

I think the Gator GBE Jazzmaster gig bag will work. But they've been out of stock for quite a while at most places. The overall length of the TMB30 is 41.4" according to my TMB30 Specifications page.

 

[ERIC31]

That's something ya don't hear enough these days!


I'm curious what bridge Ibanez is putting on the current TMB100s. Anyone have a new one?

I changed my bridge out for a Gotoh 201 bridge straight away!

 

[KindofBlues71]

I'm curious what bridge Ibanez is putting on the current TMB100s. Anyone have a new one?

I bought my TMB100M new in Dec. 2021.

 

[cjlane49]

This may be helpful, although it doesn't give much in the way of specifics as far as measurements or anything. There is a parts look up on the Ibanez site that allows you to search by model for the parts on a specific instrument. This tells you that the pickguard is shared by the 300 and 600 for example.
Ibanez parts catalog

 

[Code Brown]

There is a parts look up on the Ibanez site that allows you to search by model for the parts on a specific instrument.
Ibanez parts catalog

You are correct. I already have a link to the Ibanez parts catalog on my website. Searching the catalog can be difficult, but I agree it's a great source of good info.
I've added specifications for both TMB bridge models on my website: Ibanez TMB30 Specifications
Hope it helps!

 

[mr80htz]

Any want to sell their green TMB300 4 string? PM if interested...I WANT One, mwu ha ha!!