Ibanez GWB-2 Gary Willis Fretted

cheapimitation · #1 10-18-2009, 11:06 AM

This is the original MIJ fretted model of the Willis bass -- very few of these in existence. Swamp ash body (bass is very light), ebony fingerboard. Some mods have been performed: the original Willis Bartolini pickup was swapped out for a Bartolini BB4CBC-T -- work done by Brawer Guitars in San Francisco. I had this done because I wanted to experiment with a different bridge in order to get a tighter string spacing, and the original Willis pickup has a pole-piece configuration rather than bars. However, the original Willis pickup will be included with the sale, along with the presently installed Bart. The bridge on the bass now is the original -- I had changed it to a Kahler fixed bridge (no body routing done, only 4 additional screw holes, which are covered by the original bridge -- see photo with bridge removed to get a view of the holes). The Kahler bridge is not included, although if you want it, I can sell it for an additional $60. Original case, with some knocks and broken/missing pieces of plastic, is included.

Overall condition is very good, with some button rash on the back.

Please see photos at:

http://s931.photobucket.com/albums/ad154/marakima/gwb/

Some photos are with the included ramp, some without. Asking $1200 shipped in continental U.S.; willing to ship overseas and/or to AK/HI for additional charges. Paypal, check, or money order all fine.

Thanks

Mark

rms2 · #2 10-18-2009, 05:56 PM

These are great basses. I have one of the early originals like this GWB2 and I also have the fretless GWB1. They're very light, well built, excellent fret work on my fretted allowing super low action, and cut though the mix like nothing else. I have some other very nice high end instruments but I keep coming back to my Willis basses. He designed these after years of experimenting and they really are hard to beat.