Wilco

That’s what I found on my test yesterday - identical pre-amps both set flat, yet my 2600 & 2405 sounded completely different to each other at that setting. The 1805 I sold to Mark sounded much more like my 2405 than my 2600. That had Nord’s & the EQB-III3 SC preamp vs the 2405’s Aguilar’s & Ibanez Custom Electronics 3 band EQ preamp. Hard to put a finger on what’s causing the tone differences, but to my ears they all sound bloody excellent anyway!

I gonna suggest it is the pre-amp. I had a lovely 1805 until recently which also had Nord’s in it, but that & the 2600 did not tonally sound the same. The different pre-amp’s was the only real difference in spec.

So, to help relieve some lockdown boredom today, I did a back to back sound test of my 2600 & 2405w. Not got the means to record, so I will blurb the result. Set my amp up to as per the pic below, centred the instrument knobs & selected same mid frequency. Obviously the same hardware on both, same pre-amp & construction very similar. Biggest difference was in the pups. In a nutshell, the 2600 with the Nord Big Singles is a way brighter & punchier instrument than the 2405w with it’s Aguilar Super Doubles. That has a more ‘traditional’ sound & looking at the Aguilar website, it mentions replacements for Bartolini’s which are also ‘darker’ sounding pups. With the 2405’s trebled maxed out, it still wasn’t as bright as the 2600 set flat. It’s actually good to have them sounding different - gives me more sound options. My personal preference was the Nord sound, but that’s not to say it’s a better.

My two SR Premiums with my Maruszczyk photobombing 😆

Mark bought an Ibanez 1805 from me. Excellent communications & he was very patient while I sorted out a minor niggle with the instrument. Met him to complete the transaction. Very pleasant, friendly bloke, & exactly the sort of BC’er you would be happy trading with all day long. Enjoy your latest a acquisition Mark!!

Knew you’d love it Mark - it’s a brilliant example of an Ibby SR & goes perfectly with your other one. Great to meet you earlier today too!

Whilst I have a bit in the savings Same here. I’m in the fortunate position to be able to own a few half decent basses & I like owning them. Also guilt free;- They are all an asset worth something, so if I need to generate some cash for whatever reason I could sell. The cash return from gigging over a year is at least as good as the paltry interest being paid on my savings, so my basses earn their keep!

Very happy to own these two beauties. The pics don’t actually do them justice.

No, the 1805 will unfortunately have to go. Bought a BTB1825 last month too 😬 You’ll have to buy it from me Bas! 🤔😆

I’m not sure that’s any easy comparison to make. Why? Well I’ve got Nords in the 1805 & the 2600 but the basses have a different tone even with same pups in. The 2600 is quite a bright sounding bass, & the 1805 sounds deeper & smoother. They do have different pre-amps though. Initially the 2405 actually sounds somewhere in between. At some point soon I’ll have a more in depth listen to all three on the same settings.

Thanks Bas & yes it was. Tempted by the swap idea, but alas I need to generate funds to balance the books on the new acquisition sadly. First impressions are excellent, but that’s really all I can say after less than a days ownership! 😆

Bas, I will now have to admit to a perseverance fail!! Temptation was thrown at me in the guise of a used SR2405W (with 18mm spacing) & I succumbed to GAS!! The 1805 below will now have to be sold to pay for it!

What I’ve been doing when rehearsing is giving each bass a similar amount of playing time. Or even alternating on songs with my two fivers. Eventually hoping a kind of muscle memory thing will kick in. I really want to hold on to my 1805!

Rush have been my favourite band for over 35 years. Dreadful news. Gutted & speechless. 😢

I’m in the same dilemma. Three of my basses have 19mm string spacing whilst my 1805 has 16.5mm. Makes the 1805 a little harder for me to play when I initially pick it up, especially for my plucking hand. As these EHB’s have 18mm (+ they look fantastic imo), that might be more comfortable as would be an SR2405. The dilemma being my 1805 is such a great bass in all other ways, I’m a little reluctant to part with it.... Perseverance might be in order first!!

I bought my 2600 from Andertons which is where the OP is looking to purchase from. It was also a great New Years price & I assumed the case was included, but it wasn’t..... Fortunately managed to source one on here afterwards which was lucky.

Do exactly that if it is possible. Check the 1820 price also includes the case too.