Can you tell me something about these things ?

[Josef]

Hello, I'm new to bass, I bought used bass guitar and I wonder if I could upgrade it somehow?
Can you tell me something about these electronics, bridge and pickups?
The pickups have no name, they are probably the original, does that mean they are bad ?
I just want to know if it is worth for me investing in some of these things or not.
I can add more photos.
Thank you for your advices.

 

[Bass V]

if it sounds and plays really good then leave it alone and enjoy your new journey. if it feels great but sounds unsatisfactory and strings aren't an issue then it's a gamble as to which is best to replace, the PUs, the wiring, or both. that get's expensive if you're not sure what to run with and if the bass is generic quality to start with it's probably best to invest in a better bass down the road. what make / model is your bass?

 

[Jazz Ad]

Just play the damn thing.
The best way to improve how it sounds is to get lessons.

 

[two fingers]

Welcome to TalkBass!!!!!

You have a standard "PJ" setup. What that means is that the split pickup (nearest to the neck) is shaped like a traditional Fender Precision pickup ("P bass"). The straight pickup nearest the bridge is shaped like a traditional Fender Jazz bass pickup ("J bass").

You have one of each, thus the term "PJ". Virtually every pickup maker makes a PJ set. So, the good news is that upgrading, if needed, is super easy.

That being said, hang on a little while before you do it. Right now, you don't even know what your "favorite" tone is yet. Wait until you do.


You have found the right place. We're here to help.

 

[Josef]

if it sounds and plays really good then leave it alone and enjoy your new journey. if it feels great but sounds unsatisfactory and strings aren't an issue then it's a gamble as to which is best to replace, the PUs, the wiring, or both. that get's expensive if you're not sure what to run with and if the bass is generic quality to start with it's probably best to invest in a better bass down the road. what make / model is your bass?

It's an Ibanez, I don't know what model, It has some number on the back of the headstock, I would say it's a serial number, but I couldn't find it on the internet, but I think the bass is good enough for me, it has solid ash body and it looks kinda good. It feels good, maybe the action is a little bit higher, I'll try to make it a bit lower. And the sound is not bad, but if I turn up the Bass eq It's like I only feel the vibrations and don't hear the real sound and if I turn up the Low mids, then I hear the sound, but I don't feel enough of those vibrations, but it could be problem of the amp maybe... Also there are four knobs, I know that one is for volume, but I'm not sure what the other do, but If I turn them, they sometime make noise, like if you plug your guiter in to an amp when it's turned on, that could be problem with the electronics ?

 

[dmt]

If you already play guitar (which you might as you mentioned guitar above and seem to know what pickups are and what action is), you’ll at least have an idea of if the action is way off.

If the action is reasonable, if all the notes sound cleanly (play each note on each fret — do any give problems, sound dead or weird?) and the pickups produce sound, you’re basically good to go. Start learning, practicing and playing!

I recommend bringing it to a shop with a decent guitar tech and having him do a complete setup on it. That way, you’ll know it’s as playable as possible and if there are any issues. But you can keep playing in the meantime.

While you’re at the shop, try another bass or two so that you can start to get your own ideas as to what you like/don’t like.

Welcome aboard!

 

[Bass V]

It's an Ibanez, I don't know what model, It has some number on the back of the headstock, I would say it's a serial number, but I couldn't find it on the internet, but I think the bass is good enough for me, it has solid ash body and it looks kinda good. It feels good, maybe the action is a little bit higher, I'll try to make it a bit lower. And the sound is not bad, but if I turn up the Bass eq It's like I only feel the vibrations and don't hear the real sound and if I turn up the Low mids, then I hear the sound, but I don't feel enough of those vibrations, but it could be problem of the amp maybe... Also there are four knobs, I know that one is for volume, but I'm not sure what the other do, but If I turn them, they sometime make noise, like if you plug your guiter in to an amp when it's turned on, that could be problem with the electronics ?

the noise may just be scratchy pots, and while annoying it's not a critical problem at your immediate stage, they can be cleaned up. regarding vibrations, that can be misleading, I have good basses which don't vibrate much at all but Ibanez make fine guitars and I'd bet yours is merely in need of a basic checkup after sitting for a while.

 

[Josef]

Okay, thank you guys, I think you answered all my original questions.
If you don't mind I have one more
So this Bass 3 pickups, the long one is the jazz pickup a the two are perfection and those knobs manipulate which od them is used more, am I right ?

 

[TrustRod]

That bass, in good working order and set up to your tastes, is good enough to do studio work for Grammy winning gold records.

Many will judge it on its price and labels without hearing or playing it. Ignore them. If you end up not liking it or get bored with it sell it and get something fresh.

 

[DigitalMan]

Okay, thank you guys, I think you answered all my original questions.
If you don't mind I have one more
So this Bass 3 pickups, the long one is the jazz pickup a the two are perfection and those knobs manipulate which od them is used more, am I right ?

The long one is Jazz. The split pair is Precision.

The knobs will control overall volume, balance between the pickups, and tone. I suspect that the knobs with detents in the middle (meaning you can feel a bump when they are turned halfway) are either tone or blend. I’d recommend starting with any detented knobs in their middle position, and the volume knob all the way up. That is most likely your neutral starting point. From there, make changes when/if there is some reason you want it to sound different.

The tone controls will both boost or cut either high or low frequencies.

The electronics don’t appear to be overly expensive. If they work and sound good there is no need to change them.

I would say that if you do change them, I’d suggest swapping out the electronics and pickups together. But that’s only if necessary.

 

[James Collins]

Not knowing more information like your model name. It is likely a Ibáñez Gio. If that isn't the case try googling the bass model.

 

[Reedt2000]

Not knowing more information like your model name. It is likely a Ibáñez Gio. If that isn't the case try googling the bass model.View attachment 3402467

I don't know, judging by the preamp and the bridge I suspect it's an older SR. Personally, I was not a huge fan of the electronics in Ibanez basses as a whole (with the understanding that it is only a matter of personal taste, and I do like the modern ones with nordy big singles). I worked for an Ibanez dealer, and a shop that bought lots of used gear, so ive seen quite a few. The older ones were typically really well made, even the less expensive models. If it were me I'd made sure it played really well before investing it it. If it did, I'd swap the pickups and preamp (again, just my opinion)

 

[two fingers]

Okay, thank you guys, I think you answered all my original questions.
If you don't mind I have one more
So this Bass 3 pickups, the long one is the jazz pickup a the two are perfection and those knobs manipulate which od them is used more, am I right ?

The split pickup (looks like two but it's actually one) is a "Precision" pickup.

Can you possibly post a few more pics? Maybe one of the whole bass? Front of the head? Back of the head? That will help us figure out what model you have.

Based on what is common, the top right knob (if you're looking at it from the front) is overall (master) volume. The top left knob is blend. Turn it one way and you favor the neck pickup. Turn the other and you favor the bridge. The bridge pickup will sound much thinner by itself.

The bottom two are bass and treble knobs. As stated above, turn them until you feel a little click in the middle. That is no boost or cut. That's your starting point.

But more pics will help us tell you for sure.

 

[Wfrance3]

Scratchy pots might be cured by repeatedly rolling from 0 to 10 and back a bunch of times. If that doesn’t do it some electronics cleaner should.

If you are having a specific area of the fret board buzz, a setup might fix it. Play every note on the neck to pinpoint the trouble so when you take it in you can point to the trouble.

 

[ppiluk]

Welcome to TalkBass!

I would suggest you play it the way it is for a while. You really need to figure out what sound you like before you start making changes. It is far too easy to spend money without knowing exactly what you like.

 

[abarson]

Just to be obvious, the printed circuit board means that there is a preamp and active EQ in this bass, and that means it requires battery power. Low batteries can cause all sorts of sound artifacts. I'd start with a fresh battery(s) and see if that helps.

 

[beaglesandbass]

Stock pickups aren't necessarily bad. If you like them, then they're good.

 

[Josef]

I changed the battery last week
I will post more pictures when I get home.

 

[johnson79]

I'd take it to a tech to give it a setup and confirm the preamp is working correctly. Not sure what model Ibanez it is, take a shot of the whole bass and the numbers on the back. Most likely it's a perfectly usable instrument.

 

[Josef]

Here are the pictures