Pricing and availability
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Reviews
Price
Average Price: $237
Budget/Beginner
$400
$1001+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 6 merchants for "Ibanez Talman TMB30 Bass". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
The Ibanez Talman TMB30 Bass is a nod to the iconic body style of yesteryears, offering a short-scale 30" neck that's perfect for musicians seeking an ergonomic fit without sacrificing tone. Its sleek black finish and retro design lend a classic vibe while ensuring you stand out on stage. This bass combines a poplar body for a warm, punchy resonance with a maple neck and jatoba fretboard, providing smooth playability and a comfortable grip.
The Talman TMB30 is equipped with the renowned Ibanez Dynamix P/J pickups, delivering a palette of vintage sounds that can easily transition from rock to jazz. The Dynamix P neck and J bridge pickups work in harmony to produce rich, dynamic tones, ensuring this bass is as versatile as it is stylish. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned bassist looking for a reliable second instrument, the TMB30 offers impressive playability and classic aesthetics without breaking the bank.
Key Features:
- Short-scale 30" neck for comfortable playability
- Poplar body with a warm, punchy tone
- Maple neck with jatoba fingerboard
- 20 medium frets and dot inlays
- Dynamix P/J pickup configuration for versatile tones
- Fixed bridge with chrome hardware
- Tortoise shell pickguard for a classic look
Product specs
| Number of Strings | 4 |
| Left-/Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Body Shape | Talman |
| Body Material | Poplar |
| Body Finish | Gloss Polyurethane |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Neck Shape | TMB4 |
| Neck Joint | Bolt-on |
| Radius | 9.4" |
| Fingerboard Inlay | White Dots |
| Number of Frets | 20, Medium |
| Scale Length | 30" |
| Nut Width | 1.614" |
| Nut Material | Plastic |
| Bridge/Tailpiece | Standard Bridge |
| Tuners | Chrome |
| Neck Pickup | Dynamix P Split Single-coil |
| Bridge Pickup | Dynamix J Single-coil |
| Controls | 2 x volume, 1 x master tone |
| Strings | .045-.105 |
| Case/Gig Bag | Sold Separately |
FAQs
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Is the Ibanez Talman TMB30 Bass suitable for beginners?
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Yes, the Ibanez Talman TMB30 Bass is well-suited for beginners due to its short-scale length and comfortable neck profile, making it easier to play for those new to bass guitar.
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What type of pickups does the Ibanez Talman TMB30 Bass have?
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The Ibanez Talman TMB30 Bass features a Dynamix P split single-coil neck pickup and a Dynamix J single-coil bridge pickup, offering a versatile range of tones.
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Does the Ibanez Talman TMB30 Bass work well for different music genres?
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Yes, the versatile pickup configuration of the Ibanez Talman TMB30 Bass allows it to handle various music genres, from rock and blues to funk and jazz.
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What is the scale length of the Ibanez Talman TMB30 Bass?
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The Ibanez Talman TMB30 Bass has a short scale length of 30 inches, which provides a more relaxed string tension and a warmer tone, ideal for players who prefer a compact bass.
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What is the body material of the Ibanez Talman TMB30 Bass?
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The body of the Ibanez Talman TMB30 Bass is made from poplar, a lightweight wood that contributes to the bass's balanced tone and comfortable playability.
Videos
PMTVUK
Ibanez TMB30-IV Talman Series Short-Scale Bass Review - A Cheap Bass That Doesn't Suck!
Reviews
PROS
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Excellent setup out of the box; minimal adjustments needed
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Perfect size for players with smaller hands and shorter wingspans
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Great balance and neck profile; no sharp fret edges
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Wide range of tones achievable from low growl to funk slap
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High-quality build at an affordable price point
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Versatile PJ pickup configuration with good sound quality
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Smooth, comfortable neck with a classic P bass C shape
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Attractive glossy finish with a unique body style
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Lightweight compared to full-scale basses
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Reliable tuning stability, even during extended play
CONS
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Some users experience neck dive, requiring modifications
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Stock bridge is unstable, particularly the E saddle
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Cheap stock strings may require immediate replacement
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G string intonation can be challenging to adjust
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Pickguard prone to scratches and lacks available replacements
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ibanez Talman TMB30 Bass.
Setup and maintenance
Comparisons
Use cases and applications
Mods and upgrades
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Replacing the bridge pickup and adding brass saddles has been cited as a way to improve intonation and tone on the TMB30.
Source
User experience
Build quality
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The TMB30 is noted for its weight; it's surprisingly heavy for a short-scale bass, which contributes to its neck dive.
Source
4.5 out of 5
Based on 3 Reviews and 10 Ratings
110
Great starter bass
The Ibanez TMB30 was my main bass for 2.5 years, I just recently upgraded to a five string jazz bass.
First of all, it is pretty tiny. Cute even, when compared to a full size bass.
It's neck is really comfortable, short, narrow, but a bit on the thicker side. It's kind of like a thick tree branch.
The electronics are nothing special, but not bad. It has the most basic P and J pickups.
Oddly enough, the pots have only two positions, on and off, so not too much choices there, but the tone rolled off gives a nice, unique, vintage boomy sound, especially with flatwounds or tapewounds.
I reccomend getting it for a starter bass, as it's a pretty versitaile little instrument with just the right amount of bells and whistles.
Easy to play in all genres and easy to set up, you can easily achieve an optimal string action on it aswell.
10/10 first bass would recommend.
Preferred Settings + Usage:
I used Rotosound Tru Bass 88's on it.
My Current Go-to
I don't want to be misconstrued - by no means am I saying this bass is some hidden gem! But for someone who's been playing (as of writing this) less than a year, I've become greatly accustomed to playing. I think the beauty of short scale basses like this is that they give you much more in the mids so if you want a punchy tone - this is great! I see a lot of people call this a good beginner bass and while I don't think that's wrong, I also feel like I'll probably stick to using this above the other guitars I have, or will have, on the future. Again, the more prominent mids are perfect for the kind of sound I like to play within and overall, it's comfortable to use and sounds amazing for the price! The only issue I have is that as far as the set up goes, it leaves a little to be desired - I have the neck perfectly set up and even so, I need to have the action higher than I'd like because otherwise, the fretbuzz becomes so unbearable, anything higher that the 14th fret becomes a pain on the ears! But besides that, it's a great bass that is also very affordable!
Preferred Settings + Usage:
P Pickup - 10 J Pickup - ~6 Tone - 10
Amp settings (I use the Orange 25W bass amp): Treble - 7 Mids - 6 Bass - 5 Frequency - 6 Pad: off
I mainly play punk and emo and this gives me a punchy sound, especially with a pick, and is also ideal for me when it comes to playing chords!
Artist usage
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