Ibanez SRMS805 replacement pickups

[SteveXFR]

I've got a multi scale, 5 string Ibanez SRMS805 which is great to play but lacks punch and bite. I play in quite a heavy band and just can't get it to cut through like my old P bass did. The pickups are 6 string width Bartolinis, I believe they're a far Eastern manufactured version of the P4.

I was set on fitting Nordstrand big blade sixes but can't get them anywhere. 

Any suggestions for nice clear, punchy pickups?

[MichaelDean]

Message Bass Direct and see if they can order them for you. I've ordered some Nordstrands through them before. Took a while, but they did arrive in the end. 

[fretmeister]

 As said, Nordy will make anything you like as a custom order.

[tauzero]

There's the Aguilar DCB D4. Have a look at Low End Lobster's videos on swapping Ibarts for the DCB on the EHB. I think there's some up in the marketplace at the moment. Not quite as shouty as Nordies.

[SteveXFR]

1 hour ago, tauzero said:

There's the Aguilar DCB D4. Have a look at Low End Lobster's videos on swapping Ibarts for the DCB on the EHB. I think there's some up in the marketplace at the moment. Not quite as shouty as Nordies.

 

I just found them. Although this is a 5 string bass, I need 6 string pickups. Thanks for the tip though

Edited December 17, 2023 by SteveXFR

[tauzero]

58 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

 

I just found them. Although this is a 5 string bass, I need 6 string pickups. Thanks for the tip though

 

They're a P4 replacement. If the pickups are the same angle as the EHB1005MS (and EHB1265MS), and strings the same spacing, they'll do the job (there is a version with visible pole pieces that comes in 5-string and 6-string versions though).

[tauzero]

I should have checked what was in the marketplace rather than relying on dodgy memory. It's the D4 you need, not the G4. There is (or at least was) a pair a little while ago which wasn't showing as sold.

[LeftyJ]

Does the SRMS805 have one of those Ibanez preamps with connectors on the PCB board labelled "BEQ3" and "VM3"? If so, before throwing money at it, try switching the output connector between these two connectors. One has a treble rolloff above 2kHz of 6dB per octave, which is pretty dramatic and almost muffled. The other output doesn't, and sounds far punchier. If it's currently wired to the VM3 output it might save you a couple hundred. Pics below borrowed from a Talkbass thread about the EHB series, which also feature Bartolini-licensed Ibanez pickups and electronics. 

 

 

[SteveXFR]

11 minutes ago, LeftyJ said:

Does the SRMS805 have one of those Ibanez preamps with connectors on the PCB board labelled "BEQ3" and "VM3"? If so, before throwing money at it, try switching the output connector between these two connectors. One has a treble rolloff above 2kHz of 6dB per octave, which is pretty dramatic and almost muffled. The other output doesn't, and sounds far punchier. If it's currently wired to the VM3 output it might save you a couple hundred. Pics below borrowed from a Talkbass thread about the EHB series, which also feature Bartolini-licensed Ibanez pickups and electronics. 

 

 

 

Already done this mod