2005 Ibanez SRX505 Bass

This gorgeous made-in-Korea bass came in for a clean and polish, hardware and electronics servicing, string change; and setup. According to Guitar Insite, it was manufactured in 2005. Not bad for a 16-year-old, I should say. Based on various online resources and personal observation, I've managed to determine a couple specs; as detailed in the next paragraph.

Model Name: SRX505-TK

Finish: TK (Transparent Black)

Neck: Bolt-on, three-piece maple

Body: Basswood, flamed maple top

Fretboard: Rosewood, 34" scale, 14" radius, 24 medium frets, pearl dot inlays

Bridge: Accu-Cast B205

Pickups: Passive Full Range (PFR). PFR-N5 (neck), PFR-B5 (bridge)

Preamp: EQB-IIDX two-band EQ

Controls: Master Volume, Pickup Blend, Bass Cut/Boost, Treble Cut/Boost

Shielding: Conductive shielding paint (pickup and control cavities)

LTD B-155DX Electric Bass Gets Deactivated

Before I talk about work done on this stunning 5-string bass, let's take a look at some stock specs, courtesy of Guitar Center.

Construction: Bolt-on
Body: Basswood/flamed maple top
Neck: Maple/'thin U' profile
Fretboard: Rosewood/34" scale/dot inlays/24 extra-jumbo frets
Hardware: Black Nickel/ESP tuners/ESP DB-5 Bridge (string-thru-body)
Pickups: ESP SB-4 (Neck/Bridge)
Preamp: ESP ABQ-3 3-Band Active EQ
Shielding: Conductive paint/Aluminium foil

I was quite impressed with the looks and sturdiness of this bass when I first laid eyes upon it, I must say. However, the electronics were another story. The owner, a soft-spoken Kemaman chap, was totally frustrated because his pride and joy was emitting all kinds of weird noises whenever he tried to play it. This had happened onstage many a time, much to his embarrassment.

After a thorough checkup, I realized that the preamp was toast and had to be replaced. But as that would cost a bomb, we decided to go with a cheaper alternative: dump the active electronics and rewire the bass as a passive instrument.

And so the bass was rewired with a 3-way toggle switch, master volume; and master tone. I was able to reuse the stock master volume pot, but needed to add an Alpha 500K pot; and replace the flimsy stock plastic-bodied stereo jack with a Neutrik/Rean NYS229.

All well and good, except that we now had two unsightly holes where the mid and bass EQ pots used to be. I offered to plug the holes with wooden dowels and stain them to match the finish as best I could, but the owner did not go for it. Instead, he suggested a 'dummy' pot/control knob setup matching the stock control configuration.Fair enough, I thought; and so two of the stock EQ pots were wired in with all six tabs wired to ground (ie shorted out).

It was a rainy evening when I tested this 'deactivated' bass and called it good. And guess what? Out of the blue, I got a call from the owner asking me if his pride and joy was ready; as he had a gig at 8pm. It was still drizzling when he came to pick up his bass, grinning from ear to ear. Somehow, I knew he'd be having a real hot gig that night.

Yamaha AES620 | Part One

Part One | Part Two | Part Three

Specifications

Model: AES620 CG

Origin: Korea, February 2007

Serial Number: QNI0094R
Color: Charcoal Gray (CG)
Construction: Set Neck
Weight: 7.36 lbs.
Scale Length: 24 3/4" (628mm)
Nut Width: 1 11/16"
Fretboard: Rosewood / Abalone Dot Inlays
Fretboard Radius: 13 3/4" (350mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Frets: 22
Body: Nato

Top: Bookmatched Flamed Maple Veneer
Neck: Nato / C Profile
Bridge: Yamaha AES ("Tune-O-Matic" Style)
Tailpiece: Individual String Anchors (6)   
Pickups: Yamaha Alnico 5 Humbucker (Neck) / Seymour Duncan JB (Bridge)
Tuners: Grover
Pickup Switch: Three-Position Toggle
Controls: Neck PU Volume / Bridge PU Volume / Master Tone 

Noteworthy Features

Single Beveled Cutaway
Contoured Top / Back
Through-Body Stringing
Recessed Control Knobs
Recessed / Angled Output Jack
Exposed Wood "Faux Binding"
Two Rear Strap Buttons
Aluminum Foil Shielding - Toggle Switch / Control Cavity Covers
Carbon Paint Shielding in Control Cavity

Links

Yamaha Guitar Serial Numbers – Dating Your Guitar
Electric and Bass Guitar Serial Number Systems - Yamaha

AES620 CG - Front View

AES620 CG - Back View

AES620 CG - Made in Korea

AES620 CG - Headstock Face

AES620 CG - Grover Tuners

Rosewood Fretboard/Abalone Dot Inlays

AES620 CG - Set Neck

AES620 CG - Contoured Top

AES620 CG - Contoured Back

AES620 CG - Single Beveled Cutaway

Exposed Wood "Faux Binding"

Upper Bout Strap Button

Two Rear Strap Buttons

Recessed/Angled Output Jack Socket

Pickups and Toggle Switch

Recessed Control Knobs. Knobs From a Boss DS-1

Yamaha AES TOM-Style Bridge

Tailpiece - Six Individual String Anchors

String Ferrules and Tailpiece Securing Bolts

Control Cavity Components and Wiring

Three-Way Toggle Switch Wiring

AES620 Stock Wiring Diagram

Aluminum Foil Shielding

Izzat Jalil, Auditorium RTM Kuantan. May 24, 2011.

Part One | Part Two | Part Three