Ibanez Promethean is incredible!

Bassflute · #1 08-03-2010, 09:06 PM

I finally know the answer to my own thread entitled Ibanez Promethean vs Benz Shuttle 10" vs MB MINI CMD 121P...

This little thing just rocks...

It's neutral (in a great way), very balanced sound, deep, punchy, crisp, powerful, loud, great EQ and tone controls, love the VIBE control (from vintage to modern, and everything in between), and it is TEENTY - barely bigger than the 10" speaker that's in it. It's not as fluffy-woofy as the Markbass, and without that nasty piezo, and is nowhere NEAR as harsh and clinical as the Genz Benz shuttle is, with WAY more bottom end. It's also the best looking of the bunch, the smallest, AND the cheapest (a little over 600 bucks at Musician's Friend right now, with free shipping). Incredible deal on a GREAT little amp. You'd get two for the price of the Markbass.

I also plugged it into my Berg HT112ER cab as an extension, and man this thing has REAL power...no joke! And the amp is warm and responsive. Great EQ, great everything.

No boxiness, no boominess, and no nasty piezo - YAY Ibanez! It just sounds right - balanced, like a studio monitor. And for 600 bucks...crazy! The best deal in the bass business right now.

Ibanez has got a BIGTIME winner on their hands. I'm getting two to run stereo. And the case is about the size of a camera shoulder bag.

It's finally possible; bass in one hand, amp in the other...now to get an iPad so I can have all 17 Realbooks that I have on pdf at the gig...I'd be happenin'.

Cheers,
Cameron

basss · #2 08-03-2010, 09:15 PM

At 28lbs. its just a bit too heavy for me to one hand to a gig - I'm usually parked several blocks away. I know cuz I did about 12 years with the GK microbass combo. The Genz is just light enough to squeak in under the pain threshold for me. If I'm going to cart it I'll just do something bigger.

Bassflute · #3 08-03-2010, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basss

At 28lbs. its just a bit too heavy for me to one hand to a gig - I'm usually parked several blocks away. I know cuz I did about 12 years with the GK microbass combo. The Genz is just light enough to squeak in under the pain threshold for me. If I'm going to cart it I'll just do something bigger.

and have way more balls than the Genz without having to resort to radical EQing. And have you tried the should strap?

Love this little thing...and I'm a fussy bugger...

Cheers,
Cameron

basss · #4 08-03-2010, 09:25 PM

Did the painful shoulder strap with the GK for 12 painful years. I get fat sounds from my Genz. I've heard it from the audience many times - sounds fat. Others have commented on how fat it sounds. Only chimming in so the marketing dudes know some of us want lighter weight. I'm sure the Ibanez sounds fat too.

JimmyM · #5 08-03-2010, 09:43 PM

glad you like it, cam. too bad ibanez treated me like a piece of crap 25 years ago when i needed a little cs. swore i'd never buy another ibanez product ever again. honestly, they've done nothing to change my mind, either. but i'm sure it's a good product. i've seen lots of good ibanez products over the years. but i'll never give them another cent.

thudfromafar · #6 08-03-2010, 11:04 PM

Sounds like a nice piece of equipment.

Though I gotta agree with user basss. My genz 10T never sounded "clinical" to me and gets a lot of bass/volume for its size. And it's 10lbs less, which is noticable when you carry for 5 blocks, which I've done a BUNCH.

wateroftyne · #7 08-04-2010, 01:25 AM

I agree... the combo is an excellent bit of kit.

Sold mine to replace my Walkabout Scout (I have a review up in another thread somewhere) and while it doesn't have the heft for headroom of the Scout, it's astonishing for its size.

The fitted case it almost perfect, but fails because you can only carry it via the shoulder strap. it makes a light combo feel heavy, IMO.

JimmyM - you crack me up. First TC, now Ibanez. Once you have a bee in your bonnet, you never let it go, do you? ha ha.

::::BASSIST:::: · #8 08-04-2010, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassflute

I finally know the answer to my own thread entitled Ibanez Promethean vs Benz Shuttle 10" vs MB MINI CMD 121P...

This little thing just rocks...

It's neutral (in a great way), very balanced sound, deep, punchy, crisp, powerful, loud, great EQ and tone controls, love the VIBE control (from vintage to modern, and everything in between), and it is TEENTY - barely bigger than the 10" speaker that's in it. It's not as fluffy-woofy as the Markbass, and without that nasty piezo, and is nowhere NEAR as harsh and clinical as the Genz Benz shuttle is, with WAY more bottom end. It's also the best looking of the bunch, the smallest, AND the cheapest (a little over 600 bucks at Musician's Friend right now, with free shipping). Incredible deal on a GREAT little amp. You'd get two for the price of the Markbass.

I also plugged it into my Berg HT112ER cab as an extension, and man this thing has REAL power...no joke! And the amp is warm and responsive. Great EQ, great everything.

No boxiness, no boominess, and no nasty piezo - YAY Ibanez! It just sounds right - balanced, like a studio monitor. And for 600 bucks...crazy! The best deal in the bass business right now.

Ibanez has got a BIGTIME winner on their hands. I'm getting two to run stereo. And the case is about the size of a camera shoulder bag.

It's finally possible; bass in one hand, amp in the other...now to get an iPad so I can have all 17 Realbooks that I have on pdf at the gig...I'd be happenin'.

Cheers,
Cameron

I dig it, but a single 10" driver is just not going to cut it for my vol requirements... not even two of them.

Do they make the combo with a 12"?

wateroftyne · #9 08-04-2010, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

Do they make the combo with a 12"?

Nah. I'd have been interested in that, too.

Here's my review in another thread:

Ibanez Promethean

..and here's a crappy video I made of mine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDAATxegLXU

::::BASSIST:::: · #10 08-04-2010, 02:44 AM

^ Cool vid. I love it when you can actually hear the product!

FYI:

"Prometheus, a character from Greek mythology, who was punished by the gods for stealing fire from the heavens to give to humans"

::::BASSIST:::: · #11 08-04-2010, 02:59 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfDRAHl1DC4

JimmyM · #12 08-04-2010, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wateroftyne

JimmyM - you crack me up. First TC, now Ibanez. Once you have a bee in your bonnet, you never let it go, do you? ha ha.

sure, i let a lot of stuff go. even tc i'm beginning to loosen up on. not to the point where i'd buy something they made, but to the point where i won't just trash them for no reason anymore. but i spent real money with ibanez and got treated very poorly by them in return. to this day i still see others getting treated poorly by them as well. so i will vote with my money.

tombowlus · #13 08-04-2010, 08:51 AM

See, I told you these were nice!

I'm really digging my P5210.

KJung · #14 08-04-2010, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombowlus

See, I told you these were nice!

I'm really digging my P5210.

Looks like a really nice little box.... I like the look and also the carry bag. Nice little rehearsal or DB amp. Cool.

Dr. Cheese · #15 08-04-2010, 09:02 AM

I know I fell in love with the Promethean that I played at the last STL GTG at Fazio's Frets and Friends. If I didn't already have a really nice Markbass combo, I would definitely pick a Promethean up.

Righteous Thunderer · #16 08-04-2010, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombowlus

See, I told you these were nice!

I'm really digging my P5210.

I'm looking for something that's capable of doing bar gigs and such, would you say this has enough oomph? I dig the way they sound but I have no way to check them out in person at the moment : (

tombowlus · #17 08-04-2010, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SchecterLover

I'm looking for something that's capable of doing bar gigs and such, would you say this has enough oomph? I dig the way they sound but I have no way to check them out in person at the moment : (

Well, the single 1x10 combo is just that - a 1x10 combo. It can drive an extension cab, though, and the 500-watt Promethean head seems right up there with the other lightweight, class-D 500-watt heads, as far as volume goes. So, if 500 watts into a 1x10 and whatever extension cab you have is going to be loud enough for you, then the Promethean won't let you down.

The 2x10 Promethean combo which I have is definitely louder, deeper, and bigger sounding than I had expected, and it would cover a small show for me, for sure. But, for my personal gigging situations, there are a lot of gigs where a 2x10 - no matter how good it is - just isn't going to cut it, alone. So you do need to be realistic about your expectations.

Of course, the cool thing about the removable head feature is that you could use the 1x10 combo for practices, and then pair it up with a larger cab, like a 4-ohm 4x10, for gigs.

Tom.

Righteous Thunderer · #18 08-04-2010, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombowlus

Well, the single 1x10 combo is just that - a 1x10 combo. It can drive an extension cab, though, and the 500-watt Promethean head seems right up there with the other lightweight, class-D 500-watt heads, as far as volume goes. So, if 500 watts into a 1x10 and whatever extension cab you have is going to be loud enough for you, then the Promethean won't let you down.

The 2x10 Promethean combo which I have is definitely louder, deeper, and bigger sounding than I had expected, and it would cover a small show for me, for sure. But, for my personal gigging situations, there are a lot of gigs where a 2x10 - no matter how good it is - just isn't going to cut it, alone. So you do need to be realistic about your expectations.

Of course, the cool thing about the removable head feature is that you could use the 1x10 combo for practices, and then pair it up with a larger cab, like a 4-ohm 4x10, for gigs.

Tom.

That last part about pairing it up with a larger cab would probably do the trick; I've never done anything other than a few small outdoors shows with friends, so I really don't know what my expectations need to be honestly.

mellowgerman · #19 08-04-2010, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfDRAHl1DC4

Great vid. Great band too! I've caught them every summer at the great blue heron music fest for the last 5 years. Pretty sure he used the promethean this year. Great sound as usual.

Bassflute · #20 08-04-2010, 10:03 AM

the American/North American distributors.

I've had some of them screw me over, but you can't really blame the parent company...most of the time, if you go over their heads, good things happen.

Recently, Ibanez has been good to a couple of my students who had issues with their basses.

Cheers,
Cameron

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

sure, i let a lot of stuff go. even tc i'm beginning to loosen up on. not to the point where i'd buy something they made, but to the point where i won't just trash them for no reason anymore. but i spent real money with ibanez and got treated very poorly by them in return. to this day i still see others getting treated poorly by them as well. so i will vote with my money.