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The Soundgear Club
- Thread starter THE DANiMAL
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Does anyone play the older japan pj soundgears?
Now that I've played a few afr/vari-mid and lo-z/eq bII SR800s, Ive found I prefer the older lo-z pickups. Or maybe it's the preamp I prefer. That pickup/preamp combo sounds even better with flats.
I haven't tried the ibz/usa C2/power curve SR1000 and SR1500 but I'd like to. My SR1000 came with EMG pickups and bqc system.
Now that I've played a few afr/vari-mid and lo-z/eq bII SR800s, Ive found I prefer the older lo-z pickups. Or maybe it's the preamp I prefer. That pickup/preamp combo sounds even better with flats.
I haven't tried the ibz/usa C2/power curve SR1000 and SR1500 but I'd like to. My SR1000 came with EMG pickups and bqc system.
My SR 755 NTF came with Ibanez tuners and I swapped them for the Res-O-Lites, and the bass is much nicer to play. The weights didn't sound like much but the tuners are way out the on a lever at the headstock so the eventual outcome was significant.
Money well spent, in my opinion.
Thanks @Aidil and @Outbush for the responses.
As a side note, Gotoh's product specs are very confusing for the GB series tuners! I've searched their most recent catalogs and have found differing weights for the GB350: 31.3g (TBer even received info from a Gotoh dealer) and 40g (TBer even received info from a Gotoh dealer). The same goes for the GB707 which ranged between 60g to 64.4g; and one Invalid Link Removed stating 68.5g for the GB707 and 64.4g for the GB720 [discontinued], instead. So confusing! Four grams of a difference between the 707 and 720 should not be enough to warrant calling the 720 "lightweight."
My best guess is that GB707 are the heaviest at 64.4g; the GB720, having an aluminum shaft and plastic button, are in actuality probably 40g; and, based on the newest catalog, the GB350 with aluminum gear, worm, and shaft, as well as plastic button, would be 31.3g. These weights would seem to make the most sense to me since, then, the GB720 would indeed be much lighter than GB707; 8.7g heavier than GB350, yet still lighter than Hipshots (~42g). Costing only a fraction more than the GB707, I would make sense for Gotoh to discontinue them.
Sorry for pedantic rant
As a side note, Gotoh's product specs are very confusing for the GB series tuners! I've searched their most recent catalogs and have found differing weights for the GB350: 31.3g (TBer even received info from a Gotoh dealer) and 40g (TBer even received info from a Gotoh dealer). The same goes for the GB707 which ranged between 60g to 64.4g; and one Invalid Link Removed stating 68.5g for the GB707 and 64.4g for the GB720 [discontinued], instead. So confusing! Four grams of a difference between the 707 and 720 should not be enough to warrant calling the 720 "lightweight."
My best guess is that GB707 are the heaviest at 64.4g; the GB720, having an aluminum shaft and plastic button, are in actuality probably 40g; and, based on the newest catalog, the GB350 with aluminum gear, worm, and shaft, as well as plastic button, would be 31.3g. These weights would seem to make the most sense to me since, then, the GB720 would indeed be much lighter than GB707; 8.7g heavier than GB350, yet still lighter than Hipshots (~42g). Costing only a fraction more than the GB707, I would make sense for Gotoh to discontinue them.
Sorry for pedantic rant
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schaller's ultralight specs were confusing too. their lightest tuners weigh 44g.
my black SR800 gotoh tuners weigh 2.125oz (60.24g)
i weighed these myself.
my black SR800 gotoh tuners weigh 2.125oz (60.24g)
i weighed these myself.
That was actually very helpful. It often surprises me when someone does a better job describing a company's products than the company does itself.Thanks @Aidil and @Outbush for the responses.
As a side note, Gotoh's product specs are very confusing for the GB series tuners! I've searched their most recent catalogs and have found differing weights for the GB350: 31.3g (TBer even received info from a Gotoh dealer) and 40g (TBer even received info from a Gotoh dealer). The same goes for the GB707 which ranged between 60g to 64.4g; and one Invalid Link Removed stating 68.5g for the GB707 and 64.4g for the GB720 [discontinued], instead. So confusing! Four grams of a difference between the 707 and 720 should not be enough to warrant calling the 720 "lightweight."
My best guess is that GB707 are the heaviest at 64.4g; the GB720, having an aluminum shaft and plastic button, are in actuality probably 40g; and, based on the newest catalog, the GB350 with aluminum gear, worm, and shaft, as well as plastic button, would be 31.3g. These weights would seem to make the most sense to me since, then, the GB720 would indeed be much lighter than GB707; 8.7g heavier than GB350, yet still lighter than Hipshots (~42g). Costing only a fraction more than the GB707, I would make sense for Gotoh to discontinue them.
Sorry for pedantic rant
A complete set of GB350 should be 40 gr. Could be that 31.3 gr is without the bushing, washer, and screw.Thanks @Aidil and @Outbush for the responses.
As a side note, Gotoh's product specs are very confusing for the GB series tuners! I've searched their most recent catalogs and have found differing weights for the GB350: 31.3g (TBer even received info from a Gotoh dealer) and 40g (Ibanez SR50X tuner weight). The same goes for the GB707 which ranged between 60g to 64.4g; and one TBer even received info from a Gotoh dealer stating 68.5g for the GB707 and 64.4g for the GB720 [discontinued], instead. So confusing! Four grams of a difference between the 707 and 720 should not be enough to warrant calling the 720 "lightweight."
My best guess is that GB707 are the heaviest at 64.4g; the GB720, having an aluminum shaft and plastic button, are in actuality probably 40g; and, based on the newest catalog, the GB350 with aluminum gear, worm, and shaft, as well as plastic button, would be 31.3g. These weights would seem to make the most sense to me since, then, the GB720 would indeed be much lighter than GB707; 8.7g heavier than GB350, yet still lighter than Hipshots (~42g). Costing only a fraction more than the GB707, I would make sense for Gotoh to discontinue them.
Sorry for pedantic rant
I've weighed some of mine, on the following thread:
Ibanez SR50X tuner weight
Ack! I completely forgot about that post (I remember seeing it a while back). I think you're absolutely right since there is no mention of those parts in the catalog description; if the bushings were made of Duralumin, I'm sure Gotoh would have listed them as such. I went ahead and bought a set of GB720 tuners, yesterday. I just hope they really do weigh 40g without the bushings, then I can still expect them to be under 50g which isn't too bad. I'll weigh them when they arrive on Friday and compare them to some GB350s I already have installed on a bass (in case anyone cares to know).
i'd be interested. i keep a database of component data and found aidil's post useful. pictures, like the one in aidil's are always helpful as well. i should've took pictures of mine.
all the ones i have look like these
I've never used GB720 nor GB707, but Ibanez standard/non-Premium/non-Prestige tuning machines (which I assumed are licensed GB7) aren't that bad weighing 58 gr a piece incl. bushing & washer (roughly would be 59~60 gr with the screw). Especially that we can do comparison with the weights of GB707 and GB720 mentioned by a TBer who got the info from a Gotoh dealer, which were 68.5 gr & 64.4 gr. If these figures are real, then changing the your 6 string SR stock tuning machines with GB720 will not give you weight reduction you're aiming for.
Let us do the real comparison when you've received the GB720.
- Dec 28, 2009
- 2,053
- 1,380
- Disclosures
- Endorsed by K.B. Guitars, Nordstrand Audio Pickups, Von York Strings and Gallien-Krueger Amps.
I have a black 94' SR 500 and a crimson metallic 95' SR 500. Both are Korean made but have been my babies since buying them new. When I bought the 95', I also bought a 95' SR 800 in metallic blue. I had it for a few years and sold it to one of my youth kids at church. He still owns the bass to this day.
About a month or so ago, I found another 95' SR 800 in metallic blue in mint condition, bone stock and it looked like it had little to no play on it even though it was over 20 years old. It was also priced way below what it was actually worth so I jumped on it and bought it. Since buying it, I have been having a blast playing my Soundgear basses again.
Now, if I could just find another 20th Anniversary Soundgear Bass again, my family of them would be complete....
Here are some pics of my babies.
1994 SR 500
1995 SR 500
2007 20th5 20th Anniversary (wish I never traded it away.)
1995 SR 800
2012 SR 500 Guitar Center Exclusive
Family pic of my 2 - SR 500's and 20th Anniversary.
- Dec 28, 2009
- 2,053
- 1,380
- Disclosures
- Endorsed by K.B. Guitars, Nordstrand Audio Pickups, Von York Strings and Gallien-Krueger Amps.
I sold my 2012 SR 500 Guitar Center Exclusive because I needed the money but I really liked the bass and the mid frequency boost switch added to it. When Ibanez took the SR 500 and made it come in only that hideous, turd brown finish, it was heart breaking to me because I have always loved the SR 500's, ever since buying my first one in 1994. The Guitar Center Exclusive one was really nice, with the PBBBF finish, made only for GC. It stood for Poplar Burl Brown Burst Finish. My only dislike was just like the turd brown SR 500's, the finish is cheap and will very easily rub off over time, with even moderate use. Ibanez, in I think 2017, finally released an alternative color for the SR 500. The finish is called sapphire blue and I really like it. My only concern though is that cheap finish. I know it too will start rubbing off after only moderate use. I still may buy one but wish I knew how to preserve the finish from deteriorating. Here is an SR 500 in sapphire blue.
BBF stands for brown burst flat
The current sr500 platform is the bass that they use different woods to make exclusives from. there's a zebra wood one too among others...
SR540ZW BBT
SR500PB BBF
SR500ZW BBF
SR500B GAT
SR500B BAT
SR500QM BBF
SR500QM SMB
SR500SM AMB
SR500SM BBF
The current sr500 platform is the bass that they use different woods to make exclusives from. there's a zebra wood one too among others...
SR540ZW BBT
SR500PB BBF
SR500ZW BBF
SR500B GAT
SR500B BAT
SR500QM BBF
SR500QM SMB
SR500SM AMB
SR500SM BBF
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Are the SR series finishes really that easy to damage through wear? What type of lacquer cost is used?
No, not all SR are like that. Only Brown Mahogany finish SR50x which are known to have finish worn out rather easy.
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Quick question for anyone here who owns a set of BLACK GB350 tuners: are the buttons posted on black, or are they black plastic with no finish?
Are these pictures clear enough to see what you'd like to know about GB350 black finish?
