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The Soundgear Club

#9,962
pb9717 said:
I think I posted this in the fretless club and as a standalone thread during the build, but not here.

This is a GWB35 that I got as a bit of a hackneyed piece from GC Used. Its truck bed liner finish was flaking, and the electrics were intermittent. I revamped everything from top to bottom. Bart pre, all gold hardware and a refinish. I have the ramp, albeit now in 3 pieces with a matching finish, but find the pickup quite suitable as a ramp. Unfortunately, I 'm pretty much done with 5's and am awaiting a sire Z7 4 string fretless from Sweetwater. Once I A/B the Z7 with this GWB, and find it satisfactory, this will likely go into the classifieds.

I've removed most of the Willis foibles ( ramp, tri-knobs, slo-release bridge) and went for a more trad sound gear vibe. But i must say, for the lesser cost Willis model, the fingerboard is stellar, and the tone and bloom of the notes is really something. TI flats add to the tone too. I'm proud of this build, but I really have zero interest in 5's anymore.

View attachment 7219725
View attachment 7219726
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This is now for sale in the classifieds. TBers get a discount.

Ibanez Gary Willis CUSTOM GWB35 Olympic White

For sale Ibanez Gary Willis CUSTOM GWB35 Olympic White

5 string fretless, Ebony board, Full Mod. FREE SHIP
$895.00
7 watching
 
#9,963
pb9717 said:
Its funny. I keep saying how I have no interest in 5's any more and then i buy an SRSC805 AGAIN.
View attachment 7258164
This will the the 4th time Ive come back to this model. I alway swap in better pickups and end up loving it for a time. This time I'm likely using Sadowsky Soapbars in as I've got a Sadowsky Japan modern 4 and i love it. But the design of these SRSC's, especially the ridiculously flat neck, makes them just an incredible fiver.
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I know there's a groove for the neck in the back and all, but I just can't get used to that style.
But that's probably just me.
If you like it, cool…
 
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#9,964
I used to own an SR506. Great construction and nice thin profile neck, but the electronics were lacking. I sold it to a friend a few years ago.

Ibanez SR506 front full.jpg


A few months ago, my wife got the bug to learn bass. This happens every few years and usually results in me winding up with another bass, that is "hers", but she never plays.

So, she picked out this lovely SR400EPBDX. Like the SR506 I used to own, it has excellent fit & finish. Unlike my old Soundgear, this thing sounds amazing! Great preamp, lots of tonal variety, and very nice little bass. The neck is a little bit chunkier than other Soundgears I've played, but still pretty thin.

20250326_121730.jpg
 
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#9,967
So this arrived this afternoon and couldn't have been happier……..
IMG_1940.jpeg


Then tonight i put it on the bench to clean it and put a new set of elixirs on it and was absolutely wrecked to see this……
IMG_9742.jpeg

Somebody wrote a chart on a piece of paper on top of the body with what appears to be a ball point pen. I've got " 1 3 b5 7 6 b5 5" embossed into the face of the bass. Damn. What a downer. I really was loving what I initially saw before the damage jumped out under the light. I've written GC and sent multiple pics of the damage to the face, I'm hoping they offer a fair discount for such extensive damage. This is really not a resellable instrument. If not, looks like I'll have to return it. I'm going to look into steaming the embossment out, but not until I hear back from them. What a downer.
 
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#9,969
pb9717 said:
So this arrived this afternoon and couldn't have been happier……..
View attachment 7260460

Then tonight i put it on the bench to clean it and put a new set of elixirs on it and was absolutely wrecked to see this……
View attachment 7260462
Somebody wrote a chart on a piece of paper on top of the body with what appears to be a ball point pen. I've got " 1 3 b5 7 6 b5 5" embossed into the face of the bass. Damn. What a downer. I really was loving what I initially saw before the damage jumped out under the light. I've written GC and sent multiple pics of the damage to the face, I'm hoping they offer a fair discount for such extensive damage. This is really not a resellable instrument. If not, looks like I'll have to return it. I'm going to look into steaming the embossment out, but not until I hear back from them. What a downer.
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You know what, that bass is ruined, I'll load it off for you, I'll even pay the shipping.
 
#9,970
IMG_1955.jpeg

My Single Cut now sporting a set of Sadowsky Soapbars. 1 mm too big. Had to break out the chisel. We'll MAKE IT FIT!!!!!!. What a difference. The Modern's pickups are extremely clear and balanced, and dead quiet. Work very well with the OEM pre. Neck setup well with the new Elixirs Stainless set. First gig this coming Thursday, Can't wait to hear our FOH sound guy's opinion.
 
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#9,971
Does anyone know what year the SR1306PD was introduced and what a reasonable price is? Wiki says 1993 but I've found listings with 1991 and 1992 serials.

Also, thoughts on that versus a close to brand new SR5006? Difference would be about $1200. New instrument has its clear benefits but there's something about playing an instrument older than you that's kinda cool even if it offers no practical value...hmmm...
 
#9,976
Anyone here ever own a mid to late 90s SR with a vari mid pre and ADX pickups? Curious if the output was relatively low. I just got an SR1305-PM with these electronics and the output is much lower than my passive Fender and Squier basses. Trying to suss out if it's just part of the design or an actual problem with the bass.
 
#9,977
Stagelab said:
Anyone here ever own a mid to late 90s SR with a vari mid pre and ADX pickups? Curious if the output was relatively low. I just got an SR1305-PM with these electronics and the output is much lower than my passive Fender and Squier basses. Trying to suss out if it's just part of the design or an actual problem with the bass.
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Sounds like you have an issue somewhere, unfortunately.
 
#9,979
Hepzibah and Mikan.jpg
I recently scored that Soundgear SR4600 (the orange bass) from a fellow TBer and I think I've finally found my Excalibur. (In the past I've had more Soundgear basses pass through my hands than any other and they've all been fantastic. Unfortunately, because of GAS-pains and immature "hipster" mentality of wanting something different, not ubiquitous as I see Soundgears in the wild as often as Fender/FSO basses, I was often too stupid to realize that Soundgears really are "the one" for me. But better late than never).

Dig this... I used to not be that big a Bartolini fan. I often thought they sounded too polite. But the Bartolini's on my Soundgear bark like a vicious rottweiler. Even in passive mode, they're pretty loud. The preamp is great too (and I've been lukewarm on Ibanez preamps in the past). So this bass is changing my mind. It's the TalkBass mantra of "let your ears and hands guide you" to the right bass and not the names and labels you see.
 
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