The Soundgear Club

[kirkdickinson]

So basically its changing mid frequency shape. I wonder if it does this off the preamp or by manipulating the pickups like coil tapping.

I never heard of a factory coil tapped Ibanez bass. Someone can correct me if I am wrong. Probably just done with different capacitors and resistors soldered to the switch.

On a side note, I have some custom coil tapped pickups in a tele and it doesn't change the tone like a tone switch, it is more like it changes the gain and output by adding or subtracting winds from the pickup. I ordered from here: Cavalier Guitar & Bass Pickups

I have these two that each have two pickup configurations....

50/51 Lion (7500 turns) - Nocaster Holy Grail (9700 turns)

The Lion King (8500 turns) - The Fat Lion King (10,500 turns)

 

[Ender011]

And old friend returned to me. Story time if interested.


Its a 1995 Ibanez 1306. I originally owned this bass about 19 years ago. I bought it at the Guitar Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado when I lived out that way. At the time was a HUGE Warwick fan boy and was looking for a 6 string Warwick. My first good bass I ever really worked my butt off to buy was an Ibanez 406 in high school. So seeing this I had to check it out. I remember plugging it in and just being floored by all of it!. I didnt even put it down I bought it right on the spot. A couple years later, LONG LONG, story short I lost possesion of it due to outside circumstances.

I am browsing Facebook market and their it is! The same unique markings, the serial number, its my old bass! The problem was the seller was "away on vacation" and was for a long time and I tried all I could to reach them with no luck. I am checking this daily, hoping to get a hold of them. Then I spot the bass again in a different listing and her husband got back to me. Told me he bought it about 15 years ago in Singapore where he was living and then ended up Tennessee, and now back with me in Indiana. The gentleman was super nice and was gracious enough to ship it to me. I was going to make a 8 hour round trip to get it. This is one that I will never part with. It didn't come with the original case, so now trying to track down one of those.

I'm so happy I saw this. I'd been following this listing for almost two years and got really close buying this bass twice. I'm glad I didn't so you were able to get it instead as the original owner. The only reason I didn't is because I have both an SR1806 and SR1306 and definitely do not need a 3rd 6 string - even if it is MIJ. It is a screaming deal as well! How does it play?

 

[Snert]

Probably just done with different capacitors and resistors soldered to the switch.

This.

 

[Bartrinsic]

This.

This: "it doesn't change the tone like a tone switch, it is more like it changes the gain and output by adding or subtracting winds from the pickup". 4 wire pickups can be tapped, 2 wire not so. Human ears seem to like saturation just short of breakup (breakup is an acquired taste); serial wiring adds a lot of that.

 

[Bartrinsic]

The first SR605E I ordered had a broken truss rod, this one is fine and I'm satisfied. Great bass for the price tag!
View attachment 5206375 View attachment 5206376 View attachment 5206377 View attachment 5206378

Great choice of strings! Rainbow all the way.

 

[Snert]

it doesn't change the tone like a tone switch, it is more like it changes the gain and output by adding or subtracting winds from the pickup". 4 wire pickups can be tapped, 2 wire not so. Human ears seem to like saturation just short of breakup (breakup is an acquired taste); serial wiring adds a lot of that.

I'm telling you how the Ibanez pre actually works. The tone shaping network is from (frequency selective) feedback around the opamp and is not due to switching coils, tapping pickups etc.

 

[Bartrinsic]

Anybody using the Delano Sonar 3 preamp with either the Nordstrands or lower-tier Bart MK1's? I'm more familiar with the Audere offerings but want to shake things up a bit.

Riis

I've tried sonar and Audere. I found the Audere to be somewhat processed (in a good way), with some excitement/saturation to the tone--I use multi-effects so I prefer cleaner preamps (or passive), which tend to sound thin and underpowered. The Sonar is cleaner, but it does add to the noise floor a bit, which is a peeve of mine. Nordstrand 3b is quieter (on vs off or with treble boost) and comparable. If you like the processed tone of the Audere, get Audere, or for a something different try John East (also quiet but more processed than Nordstrand 3b).

 

[Bartrinsic]

I'm telling you how the Ibanez pre actually works. The tone shaping network is from (frequency selective) feedback around the opamp and is not due to switching coils, tapping pickups etc.

I think we are in complete agreement. I was just addressing this "I never heard of a factory coil tapped Ibanez bass." You were closer to the context, I addressed an ancillary point.

 

[KaraQ]

I never heard of a factory coil tapped Ibanez bass. Someone can correct me if I am wrong. Probably just done with different capacitors and resistors soldered to the switch.

On a side note, I have some custom coil tapped pickups in a tele and it doesn't change the tone like a tone switch, it is more like it changes the gain and output by adding or subtracting winds from the pickup. I ordered from here: Cavalier Guitar & Bass Pickups

I have these two that each have two pickup configurations....

50/51 Lion (7500 turns) - Nocaster Holy Grail (9700 turns)

The Lion King (8500 turns) - The Fat Lion King (10,500 turns)

I feel like some of the basses with Power Span pickups were? Iirc, the sr305e I had a few years ago had a switch for it?

 

[GTHintz]

I feel like some of the basses with Power Span pickups were? Iirc, the sr305e I had a few years ago had a switch for it?

That power span or power tap thing was quite interesting. It definitely changed the dynamics of the pickups unless it was all in the preamp like how my sr505 is apparently. Its reminds me of warwicks humbuckers in that they can be switched from single coil to humbucker with push pull pots. My corvette works that way. I always use the full humbucker mode because i like the thicker tone but its a cool feature.

 

[iTzPrime]

As an owner of my own 3 SR's, I now have the honor of doing some clean up restoration work for the lead guitarist in my band. This was his father's bass who recently passed away and I offered to help him get back up to par. It actually doesn't need much work except for the bridge.

It has from what I researched a rare omni adjust bridge that I'd like to restore but don't know if I can find everything I need. If it has to be replaced is there any drop in replacements anyone here may know of? Here's what I'm working with.

If you can restore it that is great. If you can't, look up the measurements of the Gotoh 206 and see if it would fit. I think it might be the original OEM of that bridge.

 

[Stinkoman20xx]

I'm so happy I saw this. I'd been following this listing for almost two years and got really close buying this bass twice. I'm glad I didn't so you were able to get it instead as the original owner. The only reason I didn't is because I have both an SR1806 and SR1306 and definitely do not need a 3rd 6 string - even if it is MIJ. It is a screaming deal as well! How does it play?

I had no idea its been sitting for so long, especially the price it was listed at. I guess a thank you for not buying it lol. I happily sold my other Warwick when I first got it and never regretted it. It plays and sounds great as I rememberd. Maybe even better due to being older and having more experience and appreciation for things as well.

 

[mmbass21]

If you can restore it that is great. If you can't, look up the measurements of the Gotoh 206 and see if it would fit. I think it might be the original OEM of that bridge.

From my research the Gotoh 206 would fit but I haven't been able to find one as of yet. Finding it in black might be more challenging too. I did find a picture of all the measurements of the 206 and I'm in the early stages of trying to find a drop in replacement if one exists.

 

[GTHintz]

From my research the Gotoh 206 would fit but I haven't been able to find one as of yet. Finding it in black might be more challenging too. I did find a picture of all the measurements of the 206 and I'm in the early stages of trying to find a drop in replacement if one exists.

You might find a galaxy black ibanez bridge.

 

[Zooberwerx]

The Sonar is cleaner, but it does add to the noise floor a bit, which is a peeve of mine. Nordstrand 3b is quieter (on vs off or with treble boost) and comparable. If you like the processed tone of the Audere, get Audere, or for a something different try John East (also quiet but more processed than Nordstrand 3b).

Okay, I did not know that and it would be a deterrent.

Riis

 

[iTzPrime]

From my research the Gotoh 206 would fit but I haven't been able to find one as of yet. Finding it in black might be more challenging too. I did find a picture of all the measurements of the 206 and I'm in the early stages of trying to find a drop in replacement if one exists.

A pity. with black it is basically impossible to find a drop in replacement bridge. I then would just measure the bridge and find one that is the closest to that.

 

[mmbass21]

A pity. with black it is basically impossible to find a drop in replacement bridge. I then would just measure the bridge and find one that is the closest to that.

Some good news, I was able to take it completely apart and I soaked all the screws in wd40 for 24 hours then used a toothbrush to clean off as much surface rust as I could. I think it's more than serviceable and will last more years down the road. Adds to the mojo of the bass I think.

 

[ldproductions]

Searched a bit and found info related to the Mikro basses, but not Soundgears, and thought I would throw up a quick post for posterity.

I recently picked up a second hand GSR105 that had been modded with an EMG 40HZ in place of the stock pickup. After a quick setup to adjust the action and truss rod, I was playing and noticed that the intonation on the B-string seemed off. No problem, I figured, I was planning to swap the strings anyway, so I would just make the adjustment when I did that. So during the string swap I tightened the screw on the saddle a little further down, tuned up and checked the intonation, still pretty sharp. Loosened the string and tightened down as far as the screw would go, tuned up again, and again, still sharp.

On a whim, I pulled out some parts I had kicking around from some mod projects I've done in the last year. I had a couple of import strat bridges/sets of saddles in there, so I pulled one of the saddle screws out, compared it to the one on the GSR and determined it was at least a few millimeters shorter and appeared to have the same thread pitch. Screwed it into the saddle on the GSR as far as it would go, tuned up, checked the intonation, and it was pretty spot on.

So TLDR for anyone with a GSR five string, if you can't get the B string intonation right, order saddle screws for a cheap import strat bridge and it just might solve your problem.

 

[KaraQ]

*finally* got around to replacing the bad bridge pickup in my sr1200.

Got what I think is an nos afr-j through Drums etc. (had to wait for it to come in on a shipment from Ibanez, at least)
Appears identical (including the wiring) to the original, except doesn't have "AFR-J" printed on the face.

Works great though, sounds good, and both pickups seem to pair really well with the EMG BQC I used to replace the factory electronics

 

[iTzPrime]

Some good news, I was able to take it completely apart and I soaked all the screws in wd40 for 24 hours then used a toothbrush to clean off as much surface rust as I could. I think it's more than serviceable and will last more years down the road. Adds to the mojo of the bass I think. View attachment 5221437

Damn that turned out much better than I thought it would. Great job!