The Soundgear Club

[Zooberwerx]

Not sure how to do this other than turning the lights off? We have tried replacing all the cables, battery, put a power conditioner on the electric etc... all to no avail.

The fact it DOESN'T hum when lights are off shows some promise…just have to ID the conflict which is outside my purview. Shared circuits, rheostats, etc. can create problems as described. I'll be damned if I'm purchasing anything when the problem (…and solution!) resides elsewhere. Hoping somebody chimes-in with some better solutions.

Riis

 

[ardgedee]

Not sure how to do this other than turning the lights off? We have tried replacing all the cables, battery, put a power conditioner on the electric etc... all to no avail.

The fact it DOESN'T hum when lights are off shows some promise…just have to ID the conflict which is outside my purview. Shared circuits, rheostats, etc. can create problems as described.

I'll add to this list that cheap LED lamps can be incredibly noisy.

So my option is to pick up a bass with humbucking pups or change my Norstrands out?

Look at it this way: You can either drop $240 or so of your own cash on replacement pickups which might address the problem you have, or have the org put that money towards the light system, which will address the problem for everybody who will ever play there.

 

[Snert]

You may have seen a pic elsewhere (whenever I get the chance). BUT, this is the Soundgear Club, so I guess I should post a pic of my new baby. ("New Ole Greenie").

Ibanez SR5FMDXEGL <<<<<<Look at all those letters. MUST be awesome.

Every time I see that bass, I crave potatoes and whisky.

 

[themickster]

I saw this GSR last night. Which one is it? I asked the owner; she doesn't know. No, it isn't printed on the back of the headstock. There are four knobs and two Js.

 

[wintremute]

View attachment 5286479 I saw this GSR last night. Which one is it? I asked the owner; she doesn't know. No, it isn't printed on the back of the headstock. There are four knobs and two Js.

Ibanez GSR205 5-String Bass

 

[themickster]

Ibanez GSR205 5-String Bass

Thank you

 

[bordinco90]

Well I ended up getting rid of my SR5CMLTD. The neck was warped and had to go. However, I still love my SR500 and SR300EB. The 300 is getting alot of playing time and I really like the way it plays. Yes the premium was a better bass in every way, but not by much. When I bought the 300, I hated the way it played. I could not get the bass set up correctly without tons of fret buzz. I brought it to my local luthier who told me the frets were uneven. After he fixed the fret issue, the bass plays great! Almost as good as the 500. I also bought a new set of Gotoh GB707s for the 500. Out of both basses, the 500 plays better, but the 300 sounds better. I may look into a preamp/pickup upgrade for the 500. What pickups would fit the 500?

 

[SimonKormendy53]

I don't know if a pic of one of these has been posted in this thread, but anyway, my Ibanez Soundgear SR1306 6-String Bass.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I may look into a preamp/pickup upgrade for the 500. What pickups would fit the 500?

View attachment 5287443

Good question. Bart makes a drop-in which is the same size as the MK1.

4-String MK Soapbars - Bartolini Pickups & Electronics

Riis

 

[bordinco90]

Good question. Bart makes a drop-in which is the same size as the MK1.

4-String MK Soapbars - Bartolini Pickups & Electronics

Riis

Thank you! I may order some soon.

 

[benneburg]

Got some serious GAS after finding this for reasonably cheap, just got it today.

MIJ SR1500, from 1991 I believe.

benne^

 

[iTzPrime]

Well I ended up getting rid of my SR5CMLTD. The neck was warped and had to go. However, I still love my SR500 and SR300EB. The 300 is getting alot of playing time and I really like the way it plays. Yes the premium was a better bass in every way, but not by much. When I bought the 300, I hated the way it played. I could not get the bass set up correctly without tons of fret buzz. I brought it to my local luthier who told me the frets were uneven. After he fixed the fret issue, the bass plays great! Almost as good as the 500. I also bought a new set of Gotoh GB707s for the 500. Out of both basses, the 500 plays better, but the 300 sounds better. I may look into a preamp/pickup upgrade for the 500. What pickups would fit the 500?

View attachment 5287443

Unless you upgraded the preamp already, upgrade the preamp first. Then play it a few months and then upgrade the pickups.
I love Ibanez to bits, but their preamps in the low to medium price basses is where they save the money.
What sound do you aim for with the 500? Generally you can't go wrong with the well known preamps like Aguilar, Glockenklang, Ampere,

 

[bordinco90]

Unless you upgraded the preamp already, upgrade the preamp first. Then play it a few months and then upgrade the pickups.
I love Ibanez to bits, but their preamps in the low to medium price basses is where they save the money.
What sound do you aim for with the 500? Generally you can't go wrong with the well known preamps like Aguilar, Glockenklang, Ampere,

Not too sure. I know the output of the MK1s are way less than the powerspan pickups in the 300. Plus the pickups sit lower in the body on the 500 than the 300. My 500 is a 17 year old 2006 model so no telling who has all been inside of the bass. The previous owner of the 500 put in the same pre that's in the 300 that I have. It's very treble heavy and I find myself turning the treble down and bass up.

 

[Andyman001]

Not too sure. I know the output of the MK1s are way less than the powerspan pickups in the 300. Plus the pickups sit lower in the body on the 500 than the 300. My 500 is a 17 year old 2006 model so no telling who has all been inside of the bass. The previous owner of the 500 put in the same pre that's in the 300 that I have. It's very treble heavy and I find myself turning the treble down and bass up.

Before you replace anything, you need to raise the pickups.

 

[wintremute]

I'm thinking about getting some Nordstrand Zen Blades to put into my SR300. Has anyone else done that swap?

 

[benneburg]

Got some serious GAS after finding this for reasonably cheap, just got it today.

MIJ SR1500, from 1991 I believe.
View attachment 5287619

When my brain finally catch up and realize, those are not the standard EMG P/J pickups, those are Ken Smiths. The switch used to be a knob, too. I am not complaining, it sounds!


benne^

 

[TDR1138]

Christmas came a little early for me! New SR600e in the house. I half jokingly put a few basses on my wishlist and my wife decided to surprise me with the one she thought was the best looking…

I've wanted an SR for a while. Almost pulled the trigger a few times on the SR500 and the SR650, but never did. So far, really enjoying it - quite a departure from my G&Ls, Fender/Squiers and Gibsons. I'm playing some Christmas Eve services at a local church, so I'm definitely going to be using it for those.

(artsy photo compliments of my daughter)

 

[iTzPrime]

Not too sure. I know the output of the MK1s are way less than the powerspan pickups in the 300. Plus the pickups sit lower in the body on the 500 than the 300. My 500 is a 17 year old 2006 model so no telling who has all been inside of the bass. The previous owner of the 500 put in the same pre that's in the 300 that I have. It's very treble heavy and I find myself turning the treble down and bass up.

100% raise the pickups higher. That might make the difference already - especially since you enjoy the tone of the 300 and it has the same preamp as the 500.

 

[iTzPrime]

I'm thinking about getting some Nordstrand Zen Blades to put into my SR300. Has anyone else done that swap?

What Preamp to you currently have?

 

[iTzPrime]

Christmas came a little early for me! New SR600e in the house. I half jokingly put a few basses on my wishlist and my wife decided to surprise me with the one she thought was the best looking…

I've wanted an SR for a while. Almost pulled the trigger a few times on the SR500 and the SR650, but never did. So far, really enjoying it - quite a departure from my G&Ls, Fender/Squiers and Gibsons. I'm playing some Christmas Eve services at a local church, so I'm definitely going to be using it for those.

(artsy photo compliments of my daughter)

That is a great bass and an awesome present. The Nordstrand pickups sound great when using 70% bridge for a more modern tone