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here I go thinking again (dangerous, I know). Has anyone had success swapping necks with fenders? Curious if the neck pockets and holes are about the same or wildly different.
I've never heard of anyone trying. I'd have to assume they'd be different cause they're made for / by different brand guitars, probably made in different factories.
Did you figure out what was causing your dead low B string?
not yet... but haven't had much time to diagnose. I am wondering if it's the amp... it's my old ampeg rocketbass (not the new line) 15" combo, wondering if the speaker is showing its age? I did switch to a different set of flats that doesn't have a tapered B string, so maybe that's part of it? But it sounded good a couple weeks ago at a gig with a different amp with those same strings, so I have no clue.
I've glanced and quickly measured a couple features of my TMB310 and my Squier 60's Jazz necks and they are different enough that it would certainly take some more work than simply swapping with just a screwdriver. The joint contouring won't match all bodies and the holes are obviously in different positions. I've wondered about swapping the neck around to other basses because it's so magical, but there are plenty more reasons not to in my particular instance.
Well, ok weird... but played my 605 for a gig and man, the low B finally sounded good. I think it was just an amp EQ thing... dipped the low mids, kept everything else pretty much flat, went passive, and rolled down the tone knob to like 2%, and oh man the low notes sounded so phat and tasty.
I'm thinking of going to tapewounds on it, though, to really help balance the bright hotness from the pickups. They are already lowered to pretty much as low as I can get, and have raised the action a bit and they are still just so hot, even on passive mode. We shall see.
Has anyone added additional string trees? I'm wondering if some of the issues are the break angles at the nut, feels like they could be better, even after adding more wraps on the tuning machines. The E string seems to be the worst offender, I was able to get the B down low, and A & D have the tree. G seems ok too.
wonder if something like this would help, although it would require drilling two new holes...
I found a three string one that would drop into the existing hole, but it's for guitar and I doubt it's strong enough for the E string. If it had two screws maybe?
And then there's this one on amazon, but not familiar with the brand, and don't love that you have to feed the string through it. Looks like it would require drilling just one new hole. Reviews are mixed, but that's Amazon for you.
The other option would be to get another one like the existing tree, and double up on the A string?
Any other ideas? Or does it not matter too much? I am known to overthink things (I really need to get a new job hahahaaha)
wonder if something like this would help, although it would require drilling two new holes...
I found a three string one that would drop into the existing hole, but it's for guitar and I doubt it's strong enough for the E string. If it had two screws maybe?
And then there's this one on amazon, but not familiar with the brand, and don't love that you have to feed the string through it. Looks like it would require drilling just one new hole. Reviews are mixed, but that's Amazon for you.
The other option would be to get another one like the existing tree, and double up on the A string?
Any other ideas? Or does it not matter too much? I am known to overthink things (I really need to get a new job hahahaaha)
Some can say I’m crazy. But I’m selling all my two Fenders (one vintage P and one MIM Jazz Bass), one Sterling By Music Man and a lot of gear to stay committed to the Ibanez Talman. I don’t know why, but it’s the best sounding bass I have to use in Drop C. Everything stays in place. They are cheap and they sound good. So let’s have two of them as my main basses (one in standard tuning the other in Drop C). Thinking on going for a TMB30 with flats to close the trio os basses for my next season.
Does anybody here uses only the Talman?
Does anybody here uses only the Talman?
I switch between my old squier jazz and my talman. Lately I've been on a big talman kick after doing a couple little mods and I'm loving it. Hipshot ultralites and adding a HPF to my board has been huge.
I am happy to announce I have joined your ranks as the proud owner of a new TMB35 short-scale 5-string.
First impressions are good, though the D-string seems a little lower in volume than the others. I think I'll take it to a luthier and get a proper setup done in any case.
I do think I'll probably swap the tuners for something lighter weight, to reduce the neck dive. From reading this thread, it seems Hipshot Ultralights are the right size (half inch?) ... though the price makes me baulk; 5 of them cost almost as much as the bass did. The Gotoh GB-350s are much cheaper, and also a bit lighter, if I could somehow make them fit.
If I go with the Hipshots, what style of tuner do you think best suits the bass - Clover, Lollipop, Y, or Mini Clover?
First impressions are good, though the D-string seems a little lower in volume than the others. I think I'll take it to a luthier and get a proper setup done in any case.
I do think I'll probably swap the tuners for something lighter weight, to reduce the neck dive. From reading this thread, it seems Hipshot Ultralights are the right size (half inch?) ... though the price makes me baulk; 5 of them cost almost as much as the bass did. The Gotoh GB-350s are much cheaper, and also a bit lighter, if I could somehow make them fit.
If I go with the Hipshots, what style of tuner do you think best suits the bass - Clover, Lollipop, Y, or Mini Clover?
mine came with a buzzing D due to the core being twisted.
The neck dive is real. I just deal with it for now, no $$$. I think the clover style fits best. I'd do black.
Wish bass tuners offered the industrial knurled knob style.
If I ever get around to it, i'd switch all the hardware on it to black
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I'd recommend Gotoh GB350 tuning machines. They're a drop-in replacement. Just place the Gotoh ferrules into the TMB factory ferrules, and drill a new screw mounting hole. I think they only come in the modern shape, I prefer lollipop on the TMB.
Hipshot USA 1/2" Ultralite Bass Tuning Machines may be used with the factory ferrules. New mounting holes are probably needed.
HipShot HB7 tuners require a bit of sanding in the headstock holes to make them fit.
Hipshot Licensed 3/8" Ultralite Bass Tuning Machines require shimming to prevent a sloppy fit.
Hipshot USA 3/8" Ultralite Bass Tuning Machines may be a drop-in replacement with possible shimming and with a new screw mounting hole - I'm not sure though.
I've put Hipshot Ultralite and Gotoh GB350 tuning machines on my TMBs and they eliminated the neck dive issues
I switched all the hardware on my ivory TMB30 to black. I think it looks a lot better. I got a black jack plate from guitarpartsfactory eBay store for $18 and I think it's a little better quality than the factory plate. I got a black HipShot KickAss bridge from sportinggearunlimited eBay, which looks much better, but I don't think it significantly improved the sound. Also got new black Gotoh knobs from guitarhey eBay for $12. I had some DR black beauties coated strings that I put on. I prefer flats, but the black strings really look good.
Thanks for your advice.
I'm "not authorised" to view your attachment for some reason
I do wish I could how it looks in black. My original thinking was to put black tuners on it and maybe a tort pickguard.
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Thanks for your advice on the tuners. I'm really torn between the lower price and weight of the Gotohs vs the more appropriately retro styling of the lollipop or cloverleaf Hipshots.
I wish the TMB35 came in ivory or butterscotch. (But the seafoam green isn't bad.)
I'd love to see a picture of your TMB30 with the black hardware.
I have always been under the impression that the TMB pickups were hotter than, say, stock Fenders. Does anyone have a DC resistance number for the P and the J on the TMB 30?
I personally LOVE the lollipop tuners on my 605... I think it fits the retro vibe of the talman body shape. I went wit the 1/2" usa ultralites, almost a perfect fit, but I had to use a bit of tape on the nut/ferrule since the original hole was just a bit bigger, but otherwise they are great. Eliminated the neck dive, and they look so cool. But the price was a bit much. I found a 4 pack on ebay for like $120, but had to pay almost $40 to get the 5th tuner... just don't look on the back because it was the shiny chrome not the brushed nickel like the other 4, but look fine from the front haha)
Ask and ye shall receive!
I also ebonized the fretboard. I masked off the neck with masking tape, then wiped on Speedball Super Black India ink, then used a Q-tip slightly damp with rubbing alcohol to clean the ink off the fret dots, then I sprayed a few thin coats of Zinsser clear shellac. The ink and shellac came off the frets easily with a bit of gentle scraping after the shellac dried. The finish is holding up really well after about 6 months of moderate use. I get the feeling it'll continue to hold up for quite a while. Nice thing about shellac is you can just spray on a new coat and it'll basically melt into the existing shellac. So it's very easy to renew the surface.
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