uk_lefty Posted January 7 Posted January 7 I started up an 80s band some time ago. We are still "forming" finding the right songs and so forth but it's feeling good. So I wanted an 80s bass and having sold off three basses at the end of last year I was feeling good and came across an Ibanez Musician from 1980, fully original. Struck a deal and it was delivered yesterday by the owner and used last night at band practice. First impressions: chunkier neck than I'm used to but not unmanageable. Weight is ok and a decent strap. Lots of knobs! These are a bit excessive I think: vol vol tone, three way pup selector, active/ passive switch, bass, mid, treble... So for ease of use it's both pups on full then using the active to find the sound. I played through an Ampeg head and Trace cab with the EQ relatively flat. This bass cuts through the mix! Gorgeous consistency all over the neck in terms of tone and volume, lovely for high fills, really nice sound for finger pops that I can't seem to get with other basses. So far I'm chuffed. Terrible photo, but I've been too busy playing it to just admire it. 20 Quote
Maude Posted January 7 Posted January 7 It's a knob fest! I do like the 80s contrasting neck through basses. Cool 😎 1 Quote
crazycloud Posted January 8 Posted January 8 I had a Musician years ago. Very nice bass, but I can't recall why I sold it. The young fella who bought it was thrilled though. 1 Quote
LeftyJ Posted Sunday at 00:00 Posted Sunday at 00:00 (edited) On 07/01/2026 at 10:08, uk_lefty said: Lots of knobs! These are a bit excessive I think: vol vol tone, three way pup selector, active/ passive switch, bass, mid, treble... So for ease of use it's both pups on full then using the active to find the sound. That shouldn't be how it's wired. I've had three of these, and they were volume, tone, preamp gain and 3-band EQ, so you could boost or cut the EQ curve without having to change 3 knobs, and so you could match the output to the passive level. There is no pickup balance, only the 3-way switch. The gain knob only works in active mode, obviously. Edited Sunday at 00:02 by LeftyJ 1 Quote
uk_lefty Posted 1 hour ago Author Posted 1 hour ago Well, well, well!!! Took it to band practice last night. My word this thing LOVES a distortion pedal and being played with a pick! Who'd have thought it?!?! The rehearsal room had a lovely Trace Elliot head and 4x10 last night and the combination was pretty glorious. Quote
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