NBD: Ibanez 505 BMF

[jtougas]

Pictures soon...

Picked this up off Reverb, and it's an interesting critter: an Ibanez 505, brown mahogany 5 string fretless (with fret lines, so I have a better idea what I'm doing). I haven't been able to find a lot about them, except for a few reviews in Europe. From what I can tell, they're either a limited edition to certain shops, or the equivalent of shop floor customs...

Sounds and plays incredible, but I need to get some flat wounds on it pronto - it came with coated wounds (Elixirs, I think).

But I honestly don't know how much I'm going to use that low B...

But finding a 4stringer will be well nigh impossible, and putting together one from Warmoth will cost me a lot more than this one did...

Reckon I could always redo the nut and string it EADGB/C...



Sent from my iPad using a bunch of electrons, copper, and probably some fiber optic cable

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: NBD: Ibanez 505 BMF

Do not put too much trust in the fret marker lines. Train your ears. If necessary, practice in near darkness. Get your intonation "in" then begin to enjoy deliberately messing with it.

Worst case scenario, the low B string becomes yo' thumb rest for finger style.

EADGC tuning presents some interesting possibilities but only in a band context à la Primus, where Claypool plays something akin to bass and chords simultaneously.

To me, the main advantage of EADGC tuning was that, on a 34" scale length, it eliminated any floppiness on the bottom string.

 

[jtougas]

Re: NBD: Ibanez 505 BMF

*nods* I noticed that last night (both the floppiness, and the intonation). Playing through the tuner, I noticed I was at 'proper' intonation just a hair behind the fret line.

I've got a set of DR Stainless Steel Flats being delivered in the next day or two - I'll tweak the setup with them, and proceed.

Anyone need a set of barely used Elixir 5s? Also, got any other suggestions for good strings to put on this beast?