Totally depends on the bass IMO. Loved them on my old SR905 but didn't dig them at all on my SR1005.
If it's something your curious about it's worth a few bucks to experiment IMO.
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The Soundgear Club
- Thread starter THE DANiMAL
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Totally depends on the bass IMO. Loved them on my old SR905 but didn't dig them at all on my SR1005.
If it's something your curious about it's worth a few bucks to experiment IMO.
I do. GHS Precision Flats on my SR400QM. I really, really like the sound, especially the E and A strings.
I have a pack of Rotosound'66 (rounds) that I intend to put on to see the difference, but I keep procrastinating about this...
Keep in mind, however, that I'm a beginner and that I play for myself only, mainly with Rocksmith on my PC.
FLATS? Did somebody say...FLATS???
That's all I use on all of my basses. On my SR375F I put on TI's, Thomastik-Infeld, Jazz Bass .136 .100 .070 .056 .043, Round steel core, true flatwound polished nickel surface with supple relaxed feel, warm organic tones, vintage Jazz tones with exceptional sensitivity. BY FAR, the best flats I've ever played! These are the flats that'd I have been looking for. Prior to these I'd been a pro GHS Precision stainless steel user for several years. I've tried several brands but NOTHING has come close to the TI's suppleness relaxed feeling. The sticker price is the shocker, $84.00(They last forever). If it wasn't for some Christmas money gift from my two wonderful moms, I would've had to wait on these. BUT, as soon as I can buy another set, they'll be going on my Coda 5XL Deluxe Jazz to replace the GHS strings.The TI's are the most balanced in tension and tone over each string of any flats that I've played so far.
Jason from BassStringsOnline.com can give you a full list and comparison depending on the tone you want and he is a member of TB. Check it out, good pricing.
+1 on the TI flats. Got them on my SR756 and I think my search for the right string for me is over. Expensive? Yes. But, unless I break them, they should last forever.
FLATS? Did somebody say...FLATS???
The TI's are the most balanced in tension and tone over each string of any flats that I've played so far.
Do you find that you need to raise your action slightly to cope with the flexibility of the TI's?
I guess it's no secret that I've never been very happy with the Bartolini MK-1 pickups. I've expressed that opinion on here several times. I replaced one on an SR700 with an MK-4 and it was quite an improvement but still not all I was hoping for. Sold the SR700.
Recently I replaced the MK-1 neck pickup on my SR755 with an Aguilar DCB and I have to say, so far I'm very pleased with the results. I haven't had it in a band setting yet, but it's night and day different in a practice setting. To my ears, the MK1s have very little going for them, there is a hollowness - like there is no real meat to them - the opposite of thick sounding. The Aguilar DCB has a huge bottom end - very full - and you barely have to move the eq to get an even bigger response. They are also heavy in the low mids - a bit more than I like, but others may find this a good thing. The treble frequencies are fairly similar to the MK1.
I made some audio files to compare them. I thought that comparing them both with flat eq would be the fairest comparison, and that may be, but it doesn't really show the differences because they respond so differently to eq. In my opinion, the MK1s sound their best with all the eq maxed and then tweak a little from there - rolling back small amounts of whatever is needed. The Ag pickup is quite the opposite - starting at flat, just a tiny boost of the lows and the sound is overwhelmingly huge. Since the mids are already stronger than I prefer, I leave them neutral and then tweak the treble a little to taste. So all in all, its best sound is not very far from flat.
So the two files I've uploaded are meant to compare each pickup at its best to my ears. As always YMMV.
P.S. The first file is the MK1. The second is the Aguilar.
Recently I replaced the MK-1 neck pickup on my SR755 with an Aguilar DCB and I have to say, so far I'm very pleased with the results. I haven't had it in a band setting yet, but it's night and day different in a practice setting. To my ears, the MK1s have very little going for them, there is a hollowness - like there is no real meat to them - the opposite of thick sounding. The Aguilar DCB has a huge bottom end - very full - and you barely have to move the eq to get an even bigger response. They are also heavy in the low mids - a bit more than I like, but others may find this a good thing. The treble frequencies are fairly similar to the MK1.
I made some audio files to compare them. I thought that comparing them both with flat eq would be the fairest comparison, and that may be, but it doesn't really show the differences because they respond so differently to eq. In my opinion, the MK1s sound their best with all the eq maxed and then tweak a little from there - rolling back small amounts of whatever is needed. The Ag pickup is quite the opposite - starting at flat, just a tiny boost of the lows and the sound is overwhelmingly huge. Since the mids are already stronger than I prefer, I leave them neutral and then tweak the treble a little to taste. So all in all, its best sound is not very far from flat.
So the two files I've uploaded are meant to compare each pickup at its best to my ears. As always YMMV.
P.S. The first file is the MK1. The second is the Aguilar.
I replaced the pickups on my SR505 with Bartolini MK5 and and I'm really happy with the tone. MK1 were lacking.
I still have pending the installation of the switches for coil splitting.
I still have pending the installation of the switches for coil splitting.
SR655
Burled poplar top
Mahogany body
5-piece wenge & bubinga neck
Rosewood fingerboard
Bart mk1's & 3-band preamp
IF (and that's a big if) I ever get them, I have a pair of SGD Sidewinders to replace the mk1 pickups. I've been waiting for over a year, I'm sure you're all familiar with the SGD threads.
If and when I write those things off as a loss, I may grab a set of Nordstrand Big Singles instead. I'd like to replace the preamp as well, but I haven't decided on any certain one. I'm leaning towards a filter unit from ACG, but dear lord the price!
Just...WOW!! And no silly slap switch to boot!
SR655
Burled poplar top
Mahogany body
5-piece wenge & bubinga neck
Rosewood fingerboard
Bart mk1's & 3-band preamp
IF (and that's a big if) I ever get them, I have a pair of SGD Sidewinders to replace the mk1 pickups. I've been waiting for over a year, I'm sure you're all familiar with the SGD threads.
If and when I write those things off as a loss, I may grab a set of Nordstrand Big Singles instead. I'd like to replace the preamp as well, but I haven't decided on any certain one. I'm leaning towards a filter unit from ACG, but dear lord the price!
Dear lord is that ever beautiful!!! The top looks like marble instead of wood. Congratulations on that beast!
SR655
Burled poplar top
Mahogany body
5-piece wenge & bubinga neck
Rosewood fingerboard
Bart mk1's & 3-band preamp
IF (and that's a big if) I ever get them, I have a pair of SGD Sidewinders to replace the mk1 pickups. I've been waiting for over a year, I'm sure you're all familiar with the SGD threads.
If and when I write those things off as a loss, I may grab a set of Nordstrand Big Singles instead. I'd like to replace the preamp as well, but I haven't decided on any certain one. I'm leaning towards a filter unit from ACG, but dear lord the price!
Did you buy it new? Just curious if that's a finish that's still available.Dear lord is that ever beautiful!!! The top looks like marble instead of wood. Congratulations on that beast!
I bought it new in '07, I believe. One of Ibanez' annual limited editions, before they started using the poplar burl frequently. There was a 4-string version that I think was only available in a natural finish, not the "Blue Moon" color on the 5.
It was the first thing I saw walked into the shop that day. I didn't know what it was, but I knew I was going to take it home!
I ended up getting $50 knocked off the price due to a slight factory blem on the neck. There is a very small area behind the 3rd fret, barely noticable, where the wenge must have splintered or chipped, then was sanded down prior to the oil finish. I mean it is almost totally invisible, but it's one if those "once you see it" things.
It's been a great bass. My only complaint is the plastic nut (wow, really guys? Plastic?), and the mk1 pickup/pre setup. I just don't think it's a good match for this bass. I have an order in for a set of sgd pickups (yeah I know...), if I give up waiting on those, I'll grab a set of nordstrand big singles, with either an acg filter or aggy pre.
