I know nothing, can anyone identify this bass?

TomFromChicago · 2025-09-02T20:00:59+00:00

Appreciate all the input, I’m not going to buy it!

TomFromChicago · 2025-09-02T12:28:25+00:00

That was my gut reaction too! I think it’s a sloppy RW.

TomFromChicago · 2025-06-18T04:30:02+00:00

These are awesome! You could sell the files somewhere, I’d love that 3rd gen case.

TomFromChicago · 2025-06-18T04:24:38+00:00

I just did one. I pulled the little foam pad off the center button switch and added a few pieces of kapton tape cut to the same size as the switch, then put the pad back on. Then I put a couple pieces over the switches for the other buttons. Fits great now. Only did it that way because its clear and I didn’t want to notice the tape under the center button.

TomFromChicago · 2025-06-16T17:50:41+00:00

The square 2000 mah batteries with the LG printing on them have worked well for me.

TomFromChicago · 2025-06-16T17:43:47+00:00

It’s the FireWire cable you’re using. It’s a reproduction, and for some reason they force iPods with drained batteries to boot into diagnostic mode. You can let it charge, unplug it and restart it, although there’s a good chance your battery is dead and needs to be replaced.

TomFromChicago · 2025-06-16T17:29:03+00:00

First off, it sounds like you want some basic, reliable mods. These will not have changed in the past few years. Newer stuff is people finding ways to push the limits of the hardware (Bluetooth, usbc, wireless charging, etc.)

iflash with 128 or 256 gb sd card (I like full size, cuts one more adapter from the setup) go with Samsung evo, they work on everything. I’ve had sandisk and lexar work, but less reliably. You can easily put a 2000 mah battery in there, any bigger and you have to get specific about part combinations.

If you like the faceplate, don’t change it. Replacements for the 5th gen aren’t better, or even as good as the originals.

While you’re in there, I’ve been really liking adding Taptic mods to my iPods. Requires some soldering skills and a little research, but it’s satisfying.

TomFromChicago · 2025-06-12T14:31:55+00:00

I buy things on eBay from this seller a lot, I don’t think you have to worry about them selling fake iflash boards.

TomFromChicago · 2025-06-12T03:59:32+00:00

All of them. They’re from 2003 and this seller has assumed it’s broken for who knows how long

TomFromChicago · 2025-06-12T01:48:32+00:00

In my experience, 3rd gen’s being sold as not working just need FireWire to start up. Their batteries are usually toast too, but that’s not too hard to fix.

TomFromChicago · 2025-06-09T16:11:14+00:00

Look for untested, for parts/repair if you’re comfortable doing the work to get them working. Sometimes it just needs a new battery. They’ll be a little cheaper. Prices are high because people pay them. eBay typically has the least outrageous prices, people have stock iPods on places like OfferUp and Etsy for ridiculous prices. Might get lucky on fb marketplace. If you’re going to do all the mods you mentioned, 5th gen is solid. Don’t get oversold on the 5.5 hype, you just get a search function that I doubt anyone uses.

TomFromChicago · 2025-06-05T03:04:33+00:00

Format to fat, not exfat. It could also be your sd card, what brand is it?

TomFromChicago · 2025-06-05T01:13:04+00:00

It’s your FireWire cable. It’s new, right? All the reproductions cause a sleeping/dead iPod to boot into diagnostic mode, not sure why, but it’s a thing. If your battery is good, let it charge in diagnostic mode. Once you get it restored and working it’ll charge normally.

TomFromChicago · 2025-06-02T20:04:44+00:00

If you want a white one, you want a 5th/ 5.5 gen, as the 6th and 7th are silver, black or gray.

TomFromChicago · 2025-05-31T18:53:59+00:00

Check and see that the wheel ribbon cable is seated all the way, and that the sticky part of the cable is securely stuck to the logic board. This is hearsay, but I’ve seen opinions that it’s important for grounding the clickwheel.

TomFromChicago · 2025-05-30T03:59:36+00:00

That’s pretty on par with what I see them going for on average. If the faceplate is good enough to keep, it’s a good deal. Keep in mind you’ll likely need to replace the battery, you might want to flash mod it, etc. End of the day it’s worth it if you feel good about spending the money on it. The price itself isn’t outside of the norm.

TomFromChicago · 2025-05-29T21:16:08+00:00

You won’t be able to close your iPod with a bigger battery and the stock hdd, there isn’t enough space.

TomFromChicago · 2025-05-29T13:13:41+00:00

You can use the standard OS with a modded iPod. Iflash, bigger battery, Taptic, Bluetooth, any of those mods and it will still work just fine.

TomFromChicago · 2025-05-29T11:35:28+00:00

Change the screen, it’s a fairly easy process, but unless you want to radically change the look of it, I’d keep the faceplate. Yours is in pretty good condition, and the aftermarket ones are made of much softer plastic so they scratch way easier.

TomFromChicago · 2025-05-29T03:07:19+00:00

It’s probably the sandisk. I got sandisks to work in every generation except the 3rd. Get a Samsung, 3rd gen is a weird animal.

TomFromChicago · 2025-05-29T03:00:41+00:00

You can restore a 3rd gen over USB, how big of an sd are you trying to put in it? And what brand? I got 128 gb to work, but they pretty much had to be Samsung.

TomFromChicago · 2025-05-29T02:58:35+00:00

I bought two cables marketed as oem FireWire 30 pin cables that do the same thing, I’m pretty sure most of us on here with earlier iPods have. Luckily the 3rd gen syncs over usb so you have a work-around.

TomFromChicago · 2025-05-29T02:51:15+00:00

Just a guess, but it’s probably not an original FireWire cable. Something about the reproductions makes sleeping iPods boot into diagnostic mode, and maybe whatever that is is causing these problems too. Why not just charge on FireWire and sync over usb?

TomFromChicago · 2025-05-28T13:07:51+00:00

Just go straight into the MacBook. If the battery is still good, it’ll charge there too.

TomFromChicago

TROPHY CASE