Cobrango
Power User
NBD - crazy story, this Ibanez btb406 "deep blue" 35" was first bought new from a guy who found out six strings was too much for him, so he returned it the next day. then it's been in a box like new for 13 years and a few days in the shop from where I bought it. it's basically a 13 year old *new* instrument. not a single scratch, no fret wear, nothing.
the electronics was a bit noisy so I opened up the control cavity and found the original batteries inside, expired 02-2005! I swapped them with new batteries and added a little contact spray on the electronics (not the inside of the pots!) and now the noise is totally gone.
I had to adjust the action, it was a bit high, but now it plays like a dream with what I believe is the original strings. I'm going to string it up with some kalium strings and tune it to drop E with a .190 or something. that's E0, then BEADG. the 35" scale makes the low B insanely spanky tight, I'm quite new to playing bass guitar and the 35" is a bit of a long stretch even though I only play 27" 8-string guitars, especially on the lower frets, but I'll get used to it - it's worth it when it sounds this good! and I need the length for getting the E0 to sound good. pretty amazing buy!
the electronics was a bit noisy so I opened up the control cavity and found the original batteries inside, expired 02-2005! I swapped them with new batteries and added a little contact spray on the electronics (not the inside of the pots!) and now the noise is totally gone.
I had to adjust the action, it was a bit high, but now it plays like a dream with what I believe is the original strings. I'm going to string it up with some kalium strings and tune it to drop E with a .190 or something. that's E0, then BEADG. the 35" scale makes the low B insanely spanky tight, I'm quite new to playing bass guitar and the 35" is a bit of a long stretch even though I only play 27" 8-string guitars, especially on the lower frets, but I'll get used to it - it's worth it when it sounds this good! and I need the length for getting the E0 to sound good. pretty amazing buy!
. You'll also want to cut a new nut for the strings - keep the current one as-is so you can return it to stock down the line. I personally would've gone Dingwall for that low of tuning, but to each their own. BTBs are pretty nice, I had a 405 at one point. If I recall correctly, I swapped in a new preamp (I think I went with an Aguilar) and pickups (forget if I went EMG or Nords). I actually think that was the same color of the one I had even. Not a bad little bass, and super affordable.
