The Official Ibanez TMB Talman Bass Club

[SuperFunkyPete]

Looking at a Hipshot KickAss 5 for the TMB105. Anyone know if it is better to go for the BadAss screw mount fit, or the Squier one?

Looks to me like neither is a drop in replacement, but good to know if anyone else has done this already, and if one pattern ends up being any more useful than the other.

 

[Jaycat]

I was just looking at my bass (that I ) and thinking how cool it would be to have this shape with J bass pickups and no pickguard. Sounds like a job for the Ibanez Custom Shop!! I wonder how much that would cost.....View attachment 3963767

@ERIC31 or anyone.. what does the Vox doodad do? (I could use more volume on my TMB30).

 

[Bob E]

Little headphone amp. I think they call it Amplug.

 

[bigthemat]

Looking at a Hipshot KickAss 5 for the TMB105. Anyone know if it is better to go for the BadAss screw mount fit, or the Squier one?

Looks to me like neither is a drop in replacement, but good to know if anyone else has done this already, and if one pattern ends up being any more useful than the other.

not sure if the 105 is the same as my 605, but, I had a hipshot fender a style bridge that was a drop in replacement for the stock bridge. Much prefer having the open style bridge to easily take off a string instead of pulling it through the hole.

 

[SuperFunkyPete]

not sure if the 105 is the same as my 605, but, I had a hipshot fender a style bridge that was a drop in replacement for the stock bridge. Much prefer having the open style bridge to easily take off a string instead of pulling it through the hole.

Thanks. I have just found a Hipshot A style bridge secondhand locally for £20!! It might be an actual Hipshot - no maker printed on it - but it weighs 300 grammes (so likely it is brass) and has a 3 hole mount that I think will fit. I’m going to pull the trigger on it and see how it works. If it’s an actual Hipshot for that money it’s a bargain; I’ll take the gamble.

Here’s a pic...

 

[bigthemat]

Thanks. I have just found a Hipshot A style bridge secondhand locally for £20!! It might be an actual Hipshot - no maker printed on it - but it weighs 300 grammes (so likely it is brass) and has a 3 hole mount that I think will fit. I’m going to pull the trigger on it and see how it works. If it’s an actual Hipshot for that money it’s a bargain; I’ll take the gamble.

Here’s a pic...

View attachment 3969887

Nice! apart from the holes (mine is a 4 hole for the fender style) that looks legit. Mine has no markings or branding on it.

 

[ERIC31]

Little headphone amp. I think they call it Amplug.

Yes. It’s a battery powered

headphone amp designed specifically for bass. You can also plug in an iPhone/mp3 player to play along. I love mine. Almost silent practice anytime. Good set of headphones to use with it and you’re set.

 

[SuperFunkyPete]

I updated my NBD thread with pics and chat from the tuner upgrade and Ultra Jazz bridge pickup install.

NBD - Ibanez Talman TMB105 - £200 5er!

I really like the Gotoh tuners. They are lush.

If you don't wish to click through, here's how it ended up looking:

 

[JohnMalay]

I have a 105, and I found the stock pickups and preamp way too hot to be useful (YMMV and some do like them). I replaced both with a Delano FE and Audere setup. Cost more than the bass, but the results were magnificent.

Always good to check the battery first when diagnosing distortion issues, but the TMB preamp could easily overdrive an input without a pad. Also, the BA110 might be pushed near beyond its capabilities. I wouldn’t start replacing components until you’ve tested the bass to pinpoint that it’s the preamp that needs to be upgraded. Check it out with other amps, try an input pad, and yes, check the battery.

The hotness of the pickups on TMBs of all flavors is pretty much established at this point. I never bothered to put a meter on them, I just lowered them 3 mm or so and that brought them under control. Pickup height is more important than people may realize. Both my TMBs are passive so I can't comment on the EQ. (I got rid of the EQ on my 100. My 30 never had it.)

 

[ElectricBass72]

I ordered a Talman TMB100M in mustard with maple neck/fretboard 2 weeks ago from Musicians Friend and it's backordered. I'll post pics as soon as I get it. I had some purchase points built up, so I was able to get it for $149.

 

[bigthemat]

The hotness of the pickups on TMBs of all flavors is pretty much established at this point. I never bothered to put a meter on them, I just lowered them 3 mm or so and that brought them under control. Pickup height is more important than people may realize. Both my TMBs are passive so I can't comment on the EQ. (I got rid of the EQ on my 100. My 30 never had it.)

That's... smart and I'm dumb for not thinking of that lol. We practiced again last night with the same setup, and I kept my volume at about 60% and didn't solo either pickup, and it sounded great. When I did solo just the neck it did start to get wolfy. Sounded good both passive and active. I'll just lower my pickups and see if that makes a good difference.

 

[DanV]

Been lurking as a guest for a while, finally made an account. Call me a member of the club! Ordered a TMB30, Black on Black, should be here later this week. I’ll post an update once it arrives. I wanted something completely tonally different than my main bass for about the past year, a SBMM StingRay 5 (and a Washburn XB104 for over 15 years before), and thanks to the past 85 pages of info, I’m sure the Talman is it. Thanks to all who have contributed. This unfortunate summer of 2020 has at least given me plenty of time to practice and improve my skills.
This will be my first short scale, and my first set of flats once I’m sure that there’s no issues with the new delivery. I’m planning on a set of LaBella 760FS-S strings, anyone have experience with these strings on a TMB30? I’m looking for a nice tight E string without being too rubbery. I’m happy with the EB regular slinkies on my 34” 5 string but I wouldn’t mind something a little stiffer on this one.

 

[SuperFunkyPete]

Ok, so I lucked out and got a Hipshot brass A style bridge secondhand for £22.

It weighs 300g; turns out the existing bridge weighed 148g. So much of the weight I have taken off the headstock I am adding to the other end of the bass.

It’s a nice bridge; I like it mechanically a lot. It was a bit of a pain to get on as I had to measure it out and drill new holes. This photo actually shows it 1-2mm off where it should be although the adjustable string spacing saved me; I re-centred it and also moved it another 6mm back after this. It was not as far back as I wanted it to go, but to cover the old screw holes, it had to sit slightly further forward than I wanted.

I don’t think doing this changed the balance much at all. The tuners were a more obvious improvement. Equally, I’m not convinced it did anything for tonal changes or sustain. However, I need to be clear; I didn’t install the bridge to make changes to tone etc, I only did it to improve balance. And in this respect, it clearly didn’t work.

My advice to others is to not bother with a bridge change for balance purposes. Tuner change was much more obviously helpful. And equally, it backs up my current thinking that bridge changes may change things, at best, marginally, in terms of tone - only change a bridge for aesthetics or for better functionality, IMO.

 

[13bass]

Been lurking as a guest for a while, finally made an account. Call me a member of the club! Ordered a TMB30, Black on Black, should be here later this week. I’ll post an update once it arrives. I wanted something completely tonally different than my main bass for about the past year, a SBMM StingRay 5 (and a Washburn XB104 for over 15 years before), and thanks to the past 85 pages of info, I’m sure the Talman is it. Thanks to all who have contributed. This unfortunate summer of 2020 has at least given me plenty of time to practice and improve my skills.
This will be my first short scale, and my first set of flats once I’m sure that there’s no issues with the new delivery. I’m planning on a set of LaBella 760FS-S strings, anyone have experience with these strings on a TMB30? I’m looking for a nice tight E string without being too rubbery. I’m happy with the EB regular slinkies on my 34” 5 string but I wouldn’t mind something a little stiffer on this one.

Exactly the strings I have on mine and I think they sound great on it!

 

[DanV]

Exactly the strings I have on mine and I think they sound great on it!

Thanks! Really looking forward to playing this one. And not that it’s all about looks, but the black silks on that set will compliment the all black look.
Did you have any setup issues? I expect the truss rod will need a tweak from what I’ve read about the tension on LaBellas.

 

[Jared Houseman]

When replacing the preamp in a tmb do you need to replace the vol/bld or can you just replace the bass/treble pot. Can the vol/bld just be replaced with a passive stacked pot?

 

[claude13]

Thanks! Really looking forward to playing this one. And not that it’s all about looks, but the black silks on that set will compliment the all black look.
Did you have any setup issues? I expect the truss rod will need a tweak from what I’ve read about the tension on LaBellas.

I think you'll enjoy the TMB30.... i've got 2 right now...one w/roundwounds which works well w/ certain songs and situations. i used to have flats on it (same LaBellas that you will have) and i loved that tone and will prob. go back to them. the other bass has black tape wounds...and i really like the tone i can get out of that combo. ultimately, given a little time a good player can squeeze out the best out of most basses. what kind of music are you likely going to use it for?

 

[Jaycat]

Same here. TMB30, LaBella black nylon tapewounds, thru a Fender Rumble 100. Life is good...

 

[13bass]

Thanks! Really looking forward to playing this one. And not that it’s all about looks, but the black silks on that set will compliment the all black look.
Did you have any setup issues? I expect the truss rod will need a tweak from what I’ve read about the tension on LaBellas.

No setup issues, just the usual tweaking of the bridge to lower the action just a bit. Nothing to the truss rod at all, and neck is straight. I haven't filed the nut down any to lower on that end, but honestly it wouldn't be very much needed anyway so I haven't invested in a set of files for it yet. But will likely tinker with that as well eventually.

 

[DanV]

The TMB30 arrived Friday night. In short, I love it. Other than the strings, I don’t see anything I’ll want to change in the near future. If I was to nitpick, I could point out that the side of the nut is a little proud on the E side of the neck, there’s a little dimple on the pickguard, and the fret ends aren’t filed perfect but there’s no rough edges to be concerned about. Things I wouldn’t tolerate if I paid thousands for a bass, but for less than $200 the fit and finish are more than acceptable. I do need to make some adjustments - there’s some feet buzz and I think the neck is a little flat, and the string heights are uneven. Also, the pickups are very hot as people have said previously. I’ll do a full setup and lower the pickups when I get the flats for it. I may consider a split coil j pickup and some better feeling tuners in the future.
Claude13, as far as music I play a little of everything. This one I’m more leaning towards classic rock, country, Americana, maybe some jazz. I’m just going for a more vintage and darker passive sound than my very bright active Ray35.
I already told the girlfriend not to let me buy any more basses for a while. I only play at home in an apartment so I run through a Behringer 30 Watt practice combo I got about 17 years ago. I think a big amp and cab may be next but I’ll wait a while.