Dazed

Look out for some of the Japanese 70s Japanese replica’s Ibanez, Greco etc. Although the price of these has jumped in recent years you should be able to find a decent one for well under half the price of a Ric. I was never a fan of Rics, then randomly came across an Ibanez, it was a bit battered and the chrome has bubbles and peeled in a few places, a bit of a fixer upper but it appealed to me and now it’s one of my keeper basses ( I kid myself that’s a real thing 😄) Has a sound all of its own.

Yes it’s the 405 with 2 pickups. Couldn’t find a schematic for those online. The PO had a go at changing the output socket for an xlr and looking at the wiring has cut and joined a few wires. Hopefully the preamp isn’t damaged.

Awesome thanks 😎

Sorry bout that 😄 it was a steal. it has been hacked about a bit though, that wasn’t shown in the photos….. the p.o had attempted to fit an XLR socket.

Even a couple of detailed photographs of the electrics would help.

A repost from the Bass Guitar forum as it may be more appropriate here… Anyone able to point me in the direction of a wiring diagram for Korean built 2003/4 Ibanez Atk 405? It’s a double pickupversion with the Strat switch pick up switch and 3 band (I assume) eq.

Anyone able to point me in the direction of a wiring diagram for Korean built 2003/4 Ibanez Atk 405? It’s a double pickup version with the Strat switch pick up switch and 3 band (I assume) eq.

I’ve been tempted by these sims quad pickups for years now, the price is a bit of a hurdle but also as Cato mentioned, placement is as big a factor in the sound they put out and having watched videos of them im not convinced enough to shell out on them. Maybe one day. To briefly touch on the stealthy-ness, I believe I read some time ago that the battery was purely for the leds and can be left unconnected, it doesn’t affect the pickup sonically.

Does a Low B really work on sub 34” scales? If they do, are there specific build secrets that make it work?

It was a split of people. Some remained friends and others not.

If it wasn’t so pointy 🤨

Yep I get it. It’s why I stopped playing in bands years ago. What and who you think are friends become different characters at the slightest hint of money, success or improving their own situation. Kept the friendships over the band.

Thanks for all the input, you can’t beat science can you? Well until new science comes along anyway. So in a nutshell what we’re saying is sonically it doesn’t really matter what type of magnet is used, assuming they are similar strength? That’s a bit of a relief because those old original Fender jobs are ridiculous money and probably need recharging after all this time. Much like myself 😄

I probably need to troll YouTube to hear examples of cunife magnet versions against all other types to see what difference is. The thing is the sound I have in my head, which is a loose reference is post production so could have untold effects shaping it.

I struggle to explain or put into words a particular sound, but I’ll try…. It’s more the sound than the shape I’m interested in, although the bass I have in mind does have a large humbucker fitted but I suspect it’s not the same shape and size as a wide range humbucker. I have a bass, with what would probably be described as a mudbucker -at least in shape- but may just be a large humbucker. It’s placed a bit closer to the neck than say a jazz neck pickup would be but not as close as mudbuckers are often found. So the sound I’m chasing is similar to a Rick but also the 70s(?) telebass. A bit tubby(?) a bit raspy almost fuzz but not, no sparkle but more zing and thick and bassy 😄

Excellent info @kodiakblair this could have saved me hundreds….. why do we never learn that pickup changes will only ever be a subtle change. It’s rare I’ve swapped pickups alone and noticed a massive difference unless the original was faulty/noisy. Tone wise it’s always slight.

Thanks @Jono Bolton yes I had seen these before they’re on my list.

As the title says. Other than the dimarzio versions what’s out there? I’ve seen a few boutique pickups - stone”something”, Novak and some other US builders but they are almost as expensive as original fender ones. If you know of a 5 string version too, well you get a bag of quavers.