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Ibanez BTB 575 - Really??!!

kckennedy

kckennedy

Apr 12, 2009
120
0
Ft Lauderdale,FL
#1
So...just for fun, I just picked up a used BTB575FM from GC for silly low $. I own or have owned all kinds of basses (Fender, Smith, Alembic, Lakland, Warwick.....) but never paid less than $500 for any of them!

I am impressed with the quality of this thing in construction, playability,sound, electronics (Bartolini), ability to set it up perfectly, etc. Even neck thru construction with a nice flamed maple top. WOW!

I guess the point of diminishing returns has just lowered significantly for me. I have never had, played, or even thought of having an Ibanez bass before but consider me a convert. I know BTBs have been around for awhile but they are new to me. If I were blindfolded playing this bass, you would have a hard time convincing me I was not playing a multi-kilobuck bass.

Is it just me or has anyone else had an "ah ha" experience with these BTBs? :bassist:
 

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#3
Dr. Cheese said:
BTBs are for real. The irony is that the model you have is not as nice as the premium BTBs Ibanez used to make.;)
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Yep. Just got one last week, a 1206e Prestige, and it is amazing. Almost everything about it is excellent, especially the action/playability. The electronics have some issues so I need to bring it back - the seller is gonna look at it and (hopefully) make it right.
 
#4
BTBs in my opinion are excellent basses for the money. I have a few and the quality is amazing. Used to have a 575 in blue and the only reason I got rid of it was because I moved exclusively to 6ers and got a 676 for it. I love the elongated horns because it makes access to the higher frets a dream. Super comfy bass and you can't find a better bass in this price range.
 
#5
They are really nice basses. I have a couple of students that have them and they are really nice. I used the Ibanez Musician and Roadstar Basses back in the day and they were solid too. I don't know why Ibanez isn't taken more seriously-it may be the association with New Metal guys. Some of my friends like Gary Willis, Gerald Veasley and Adam Nitti love them and I respect their tastes for sure.
 
#6
Basses like Ibanez BTBs are why I listened less and less to what others say and more to my own ears. If you pay too much attention to some, you will think no bass or amp is good unless it is handmade and costs as much as a three year old car in good shape, when the truth is that there are really nice intruments and amps at all sorts of pricepoints.
 
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#10
I loved my 566 6 string...had a gorgeous flamed top which made the transparent black finish look like smoke. I wish I'd kept it, but I needed to sell it to fund car repairs:bawl: I kinda like the new ones, although I wish the finish on them was gloss like my old BTB....
 
#12
I had one of that same exact bass, in the same color, briefly... I got a great deal on it off of craigslist, and thought it was very well made - I was able to get a nice low action with it, playability and tone were great... The only reason I flipped it was, the neck was a little wider and it was a bit heavier than the sr Series 5ers I preferred - but still, a very nice instrument, IMO... I own some fairly expensive, US made basses, but have also kept an sr905 - as it's proven itself plenty over time...


- georgestrings
 
#16
i am currently playing the BTB 775PB and i think its funny how happy i am with it and even funnier how happy my band is with it. ive had so many high end warwick neck throughs and fender deluxes and even a totally custom warrior, and this is the only bass i have brought in the room and my whole band was diggin. all those basses trumped by this one. i love this bass. i was planning on a custom stambaugh exotic wood bass and also a custom modulus quantum and those have been put on the backburner by my 775.
 
#17
I played a BTB a few years ago and fell in love with it, and I was the same way, only high dollar basses. I didn't buy it at the time, but last year I found a used 1206 for a great price, and couldn't say no. Since then, its my workhorse. Thinking of going with a different preamp, but it's not out of disappointment with the stock one, just wanting a change.
 
#18
chubfarm2001 said:
I played a BTB a few years ago and fell in love with it, and I was the same way, only high dollar basses. I didn't buy it at the time, but last year I found a used 1206 for a great price, and couldn't say no. Since then, its my workhorse. Thinking of going with a different preamp, but it's not out of disappointment with the stock one, just wanting a change.
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My 1206 found me, kinda.... I stumbled on an Ocean fretless in March. No plans to buy anything but a cable. But there it was and the price was great, and I could not pass it by. So GAS came back after a couple year hiatus. :D . And even at that I was not looking..... and there was that 1206, and i picked it up and knew immediately that it was a gem. And the price was good and I knew I could bargain a bit...
 

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