Ibanez Talman TMB605 5-String Bass Review

Ibanez Talman TMB605 5-String Bass Review…

Picture yourself in the market for a bass with a classic look, yet different from the mainstream options. You want that feel, that look, and you would like it in a 5-string bass that can produce both the classic as well as modern tones. Look no further than the Ibanez Talman TMB605 5-String Bass! (Click for 4-string Ibanez Talman review)

The TMB605 covers the best of both worlds. This bass looks great and sounds great. With a combination of the ash body and the Nordstrand pickups (yes, Nordstrand), sound reproduction and choices for sound reproduction make this bass stand out from the others, not to mention the classic Talman body shape.

The TMB605 5-String has a P/J pickup configuration, which is standard for all the basses in the Talman series. The neck pickup is the Nordstrand CNP P, and the bridge pickup is the Nordstrand CND J. The Ibanez Custom Electronics 2 band configuration is true active/passive controlled by a bypass slide switch. There are double stacked knobs, the first being for volume and balance and the second for bass and treble controls. When the EQ is off, the treble control acts as the passive tone control.

The TMB605’s bass neck is maple with a bound 20 fret rosewood fretboard with beautiful block inlays and medium frets. All hardware is chrome and the finish is natural. Tuning is standard for the 5-string and string gauges are .045/.065/.085/.105/.130.

Play-ability? You bet! The neck feels nice and solid, cutaway allows full access to the 20th fret, and balances very well. While most 5-string basses today are 35” scale, the TMB605 represents yet another unique Ibanez 34” scale offering. This Talman is an all around fantastic bass with the classic vibe and a mix of classic to modern tones and has to have one of the most responsive B strings I have seen on a bass in quite some time.

The TMB605 is also available in just an active EQ bass. The Ibanez Talman TMB105 differences are in the body, which is mahogany and available in a black finish and the fretboard, which has dot inlays. The pickups are the Dynamix P and J, and the EQ is the Ibanez Custom Electronics 2 band EQ, same as the TMB 605, but without the switch to go from active to passive EQ. The stacked controls are the same as the TMB605. The Ibanez Custom Electronics 2 band EQ is powered by a 9-volt battery on both the TMB605 and TMB105.

Check out the Ibanez Talman TMB605 and TMB105 5-String Basses at a music retailer near you.

Visit online at www.ibanez.com/usa/