| Author | Message | ||
| h82w8
New Username: h82w8 Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2005 |
I have an Ibanez Musician 4 string '79; neck thru, ash over mahogany body, 2 single coils, active eq. The electronics always have been a bit noisy when activated and I was wondering if anyone was familiar with this type and could help.I have owned this bass since new and enjoy the easy playability and varied sounds she is capable of for lo these many years. I have kept her in very good condition and consider her to be one of the finest examples of a production instrument. Altho she's no Alembic, she is a fine bass. Any feedback would be appreciated.-Tom | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 494 Registered: 9-2002 |
I always remember these with a dark top over a maple body, the big soapbar looking brown pickups and all those knobs (vol, tone, p/u switch, three EQ knobs), the two on a side headstock shaped almost like a Guild head. Is this what you've got? J o e y | ||
| beelee
Intermediate Member Username: beelee Post Number: 136 Registered: 11-2004 |
I've owned 5 Ibanez Musician basses over the years ( not all at once..LOL) the second bass I ever owned was a MC924DS in the early 80's, I loved that bass. I just sold a fretted (MC924PW ) and fretless (MC 940DS) one last year to help finance my new custom Alembic. Ibanez really copied Alembic on that one, I call them the poor man's Alembic...lol nice basses they were !! Sting, Adam Clayton, Jerry Jemmott, Mike Porcaro even John Entwistle all used them at one time. Bruce | ||
| h82w8
New Username: h82w8 Post Number: 2 Registered: 12-2005 |
Good call on the walnut over maple... Ibanez made that body also... maybe my ash over mahog is rare I don't care (aspiring poet) All those knobs my ass...check out Alembic electronics- I can't call the particular models but some have many more Knobs. I am not comparing my "poor Alembic" with The Real Thing, I'm only looking for some help with the noise that those Ivory soap pickups make. Any feedback is Welcome-Tom | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 504 Registered: 9-2002 |
Those were quite advanced instruments in their day, possibly the very first I remember in a mass-market bass. They were well made and I had one of the last models in Ibanez' "Polar White", that gorgeous white pearl they offered. I do remember a few ash tops, reminiscent of their Artist guitars of that era. They were wonderful basses for their day, and perfectyl usable still today. I unfortunately also remember they were a bit noisy. I'm convinced that they were like this as these were usually high-impedance pickups hooked up to a powered, active tone network, which sucked in any pickup noise the minute you were in a noisy environment. I have no idea how to fix this on the bass, but outboard you could try a good noise gate. J o e y | ||
| h82w8
New Username: h82w8 Post Number: 3 Registered: 12-2005 |
Thanks for the replies. Maybe there is an aftermarket P/u setup that would fit and not break the bank? I'll never sell her so some "non stock" mods wouldn't bother...as long as I don't deteriorate the sound. | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 271 Registered: 7-2002 |
I have owned two MC924's over the years. I bought one because I could'nt afford an Alembic back in '79. Always loved 'em but had to change the single coil pickups. Bartolini makes exact replacments for the Musician pups. Here's an interesting story; if anyone has one of the early Stanley Clarke records (we're talkin' vinyl here!)I think it was "Modern Man". (It's the one with a picture of Stanley's front porch with all of his basses lined up on the steps). You will notice along with his Alembics there are two "Alembic small standard like" instruments lying there with Ibanez pickups and hardware? In an interview with Stan he tells of a Japanese tour where several Japanese photographers were taking multiple photos of his bass. After the tour, he arrived home and three months later, in the mail, came these two prototypes from Ibanez for his approval that later became the basis for the Musician series basses. So for me, poor starving musician at the time, It was the next best thing to owning an Alembic! P.S. I'm seriously thinking about gutting mine an installing some Alembic electronics! | ||
| h82w8
New Username: h82w8 Post Number: 5 Registered: 12-2005 |
Thanx for the "Bart" info... that might be the answer. Also I do have "Modern Man" somewhere...when I run across it in the Tommy archives I'll have to look for those Ibanez "prototypes?". Happy Holidays to all! -Tom | ||
| marcky
Member Username: marcky Post Number: 79 Registered: 11-2005 |
The picture you are refering to is the inner sleeve of the double live album 'I wanna play for you'. Marc | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 274 Registered: 7-2002 |
Marc, could you possibly post that photo here? I don't have that album anymore but iI'm sure the other members would like to see that photo? | ||
| mrbeezroom
Junior Username: mrbeezroom Post Number: 25 Registered: 3-2004 |
Get in touch with me. I had my Musician bass modified in the late 80's. Bartolini custom-made pickups to fit the cavities and I still have them. I went with Sadowsky pickups. I haven't used them in a few years, so I might be convinced to sell them along with the Bart preamp. I'm trying to finance a Sadowsky. | ||
| mrbeezroom
Junior Username: mrbeezroom Post Number: 26 Registered: 3-2004 |
After reading the Stanley story I'm wondering if my pickups were the first ones made. The guy that did my mods said they were custom made. Either he was jerking me around or they were original replacements. | ||
| marcky
Member Username: marcky Post Number: 80 Registered: 11-2005 |
I will post a pic as soon as I can. I don't have my record collection near my computer. Marc | ||
| glocke
Member Username: glocke Post Number: 86 Registered: 9-2002 |
I remember these. When I first started playing 20 some years ago I wanted one, thought they looked awesome. Asked for it for christmas and ended up getting an entry level black Ibanez bass that was a copy of a jazz bass. Still have it in pieces at home....Brings back fond memories thinking about it. | ||
| h82w8
New Username: h82w8 Post Number: 6 Registered: 12-2005 |
mrbeez-what do you got exactly? | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 828 Registered: 7-2004 |
Years ago I got the hots for a Musician guitar. I brought my 1961 Strat to Guitar Center in S.F. to try a straight across trade. (O.K., I was young and stupid). The salesman offered me the Ibanez for my Strat and $200! I got pissed off and walked out. The salesman followed me out to the sidewalk and offered the straight across trade (which I would have done initially). I was still pissed and turned him down. Boy, am I glad I did. I picked up an MC300 a couple of years ago. I hate it. The neck is too fat. Anyone want to buy it? I still have the Strat (which I will NEVER sell). I brought the Strat to Alembic and they copied the neck for my in progress Further. Bill, tgo | ||
| mrbeezroom
Junior Username: mrbeezroom Post Number: 27 Registered: 3-2004 |
I have two Bartolini pickups that fit into the stock cavity of an Ibanez Musician bass. As I said, the guy who worked on my bass told me he had to special order the pickups from Bartolini. This would have been sometime during the middle to late 1980's. I still have and use the bass, but have added Sadowsky electronics. | ||
| h82w8
New Username: h82w8 Post Number: 7 Registered: 12-2005 |
Sorry to be tardy; is there some way to discreetly contact you or vice-versa about those Barts Beez? I guess it wouldn't be prudent to put an e-mail address on the thread? Thank you all for your interest in the Ibanez Musician (I never saw a model # on mine).-Tom | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 2945 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hi Tom; when you click on a member's username, a new window opens with the member's profile. | ||
| h82w8
New Username: h82w8 Post Number: 9 Registered: 12-2005 |
Beez- check your e-mail-Tom |
