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Hello everybody! It's my first topic here on the forum, but I've been following it for a long time! I can buy an Ibanez gb10 at a distance...without testing it! But...while it seems to sound quite dynamic in youtube videos...it also sounds very shrill! Thoughts and experiences with this model? Thank you all!
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06-23-2022 09:57 PM
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It can be, but they put both tone and volume controls on it, so its easy to avoid
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Well...if it were that simple...they would all be the same...they put tone and volume buttons on all of them!
Originally Posted by JohanAbrandt
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The gb10em does not sound shrill if you put some mid on the amp and roll of some volume and tone on the guitar. So if the question is if you can make it sound warm, then the short answer is yes Originally Posted by caue amaral
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A reputable local shop had one in stock and they all liked it, but I didn’t get to try it before they sold it. They said it was a great jazz box for a great price.
I gassed about it enough that I ended up buying a Chinese GB10SE (twice, but that’s a long story). It played great when I got it, and even better with a good setup. It definitely has a more trebly voice than other jazz guitars that I have and have had.
I throw flatwounds on all of my jazz guitars, and they make a pretty big difference. D’Addario chromes are easy to get around here, and, compared to other strings I’ve used, tend to not be too trebly.
On top of that, for a long time, I used my thumb instead of a pick. When I decided that I couldn’t play enough notes that way, I put in some work and learned to use a pick. A Dunlop 204 is my weapon of choice, and it’s close enough to my thumb that I don’t think about the difference anymore.
Those would be two or three more variables you could factor into your decision. Strings and picks can be inexpensive, and they can account for a huge percentage of your sound.
Does the guitar you’re looking at come with a return policy? Even if it doesn’t, is the price good enough that you could turn around and sell it and break even or turn a profit?
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Osloutah...thanks for sharing your experience! Yes... it is possible to return! Originally Posted by osloutah
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You’re welcome, let us know how it goes!
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Here are my limited experiences.
I have played around four different GB10em. There seemed to be some differences between them.
One of them sounded so dead as to bothersome.
Another sounded so good as to basically have a friendly fight, over whom was able to purchase it. I lost. A local guitar god and friend, won. He has played it at many gigs.
Mini HBs do sound different but not necessary shrill. Sometimes there are biting.
They tend to have more of an focused attack.
I think the difference between the GB10em had to do with other issues then the PUs.
I do not remember the PUs sounding thin but that would also have a lot to do with amps. I used a Tonemaster Twin, with the “attenuation” set down a few notches and the volume rolled up.
Again one of the GBs sounded and played excellent, the others not so much.
I would put that guitar into my “must play first before I buy list”. (Casinos also live in that list. I have seen many variations with Casinos and I have played a lot of Casinos).
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I have to say I have two guitars with Magic Touch Mini here, AFC55 and GB10em
The pickup sounds twangier, less "full" according to my significant other, in the GB10em than the AFC55. There is no knob to change the physical guitar.
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A good option for taming the Chinese/Indo pups is the Brute EQ pedal made/sold by forum member jazzmus. Its very very close to a Polytone preamp section and i have found it to do a superior job of mellowing.
From what Ive tried, i agree there’s variation in the Ibanez Asian builds. My not vast experience found more variation in the Chinese builds: either great or bow wows. The Indos seem more steady; supposedly Ibanez has on site quality people in that factory.
jk
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Thank you for that! Unfortunately, in my region it is difficult to have the opportunity to test the instruments! It has to be with the help of videos and experiences!:smile-novo: Originally Posted by st.bede
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Sandra Sherman says the gb10em is the best of jazz guitars under 1000 dollars.
Its smaller body, and the fact that it weigh just over 5 pounds, has a nice aspect to it.
It is nice and can reasonably be appreciated by a sane person, and has a particular sound that is pleasant.
But i brought mine back to Sam Ash yesterday, because i wanted a different particular sound.
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let an old man give you some friendly advice: save your money and look for a used GB 10.
yes one of the Japanese made GB10s. I know your budget constraints have you trying to save some money and get a reasonable facsimile - if you look hard enough on Reverb or eBay you might find an older GB 10 from Japan for around $1500 it is well worth saving your money and waiting for.
good luck
I’m BigMike and I approved this message
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Hey Mike I agree with you (I’m old too) any MIJ Ibanez is money better spent. The build quality is amazing. Better electronics, neck fit and finish, overall feel, and I suspect different quality of wood. (although I have an Indo AF95FM and it’s quite nice, just not the same.)
I just finished a hunt (successfully) a GB10! Man used guitar pricing is freakin insane! just like used cars.
But. What an incredible axe. I like it so much I will be selling my LGB300. Funny I had one years ago, and did not like it. But now total respect and love ??
If anyone thinks a GB10 doesn’t have a good straight ahead jazz tone, they need remedial tone knob training!
Salacious NGD pix on their way later today
jk
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Hi Big Mike, thanks for your reply! Look...this is a reality in the USA, Europe, Japan...great used instruments at great prices! However I'm in Brazil... and for you to understand... here a used gb10 sells for 4000 dollars! Buying anything from outside, with taxes, imported products reach an increase of 90%. So, it's a complicated reality...cheap instruments here are expensive, and not always available. In my case, I have an es175, a Comins Gcs1, a Fender tele 60th anniversary and right now I'm looking for a cheap guitar...but decent of course...and I've never played a gb10 of any kind! Originally Posted by Crm114
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Anyway, I decided to buy... the gb10em arrived. The guitar has a very good resonance, a very comfortable and fast neck... it has a very nice size and it feels good to pick it up. It has a brighter sound and the first strings sound too high-pitched. I think this is partly due to the walnut bridge...very light and that contributes to these frequencies...I tested it with a graphtech resomax and with a rosewood bridge and base (both heavier than the walnut one) in addition to 012 in the prime and there was an improvement. Soon I will buy an ebony bridge, change the strings (it came from the factory with 011 flats) and maybe change the pickups (they don't come with pole adjustment). I believe this brings it a lot closer to its similar, the gb10se. Thank you all so much for the experiences and tips posted here!!
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Hi and happy NGD!
Glad you’re enjoying your GB10EM. Agree the Ebony bridge will help, as will the 12s. FWIW I pair TI JS112 for 3,4,5,6, and Optima Gold for E,B. Hard to find but seem (to me) the most mellow.
Also, the amp and speaker combination has an influence on the sound. A bass guitar speaker I find cuts the highs some helping the overall. Interesting that my Princeton Reverb is a little hard to mellow out with my GB10. My Quilter does well. Go figure!
jk
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New guy here, I love my gb10em! Thinking of upgrading the floating neck pickup, any recommendations? Thx
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Hi Brooks
Welcome aboard!
What kind of sound are you looking to get out of your GB10EM?
There are many opinions on the subject so knowing what you want or are unhappy with might help.
jk
(happy gb10 owner with a Fralin neck pup)Last edited by jazzkritter; 12-30-2022 at 01:48 PM. Reason: Typo
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The stock pups seem a little lifeless, like most lower end Ibby pups. I'd like a little more chime and output. It needs to have that neck mount bracket like the stock pups have; I looked at Fralins site but didn't see any in that configuration, did you modify yours?
All I've found online is Kent Armstrong, Shadow Electronics SH-AZ48, Bill Lawrence A400, Bartolini 5J (at $190 it's a little steep for a $500 Ibby!), & a $26 Gretsch Single Coil (I'd like to stay w/ a humbucker, some of the places I play are noisy). I also found a pair of Ibby GB10 pickups used on reverb, but they are gold plated, I'd prefer chrome or maybe a black neck humbucker.
Anyone else have experience w/ replacing their neck mounted humbucker??Last edited by Brooks; 01-02-2023 at 09:02 AM.
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Brooks:
True no neck mounts are on the Fralin site, but I called in, talked to Lindy (neat nice guy BTW) and had no problem ordering to my specs. (A neck mount that sounded like his Modern PAF.) Happily his neck mount places the pickup a little lower than the stock so playing on the pickup like i do is no problem. But you are looking at the 180$ range.
I have the stock MIJ GB10 neck pickup I removed if you are interested PM me.
jk
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Also looking to update my neck pickup of a GB10EM because I switched to 0.10 string gauge and found out that the wound strings arent getting enough output and I can't really change the height of the pickup nor the pople pieces Originally Posted by Brooks
What did you end up choosing?
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Flatwound strings preference
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