Ibanez 2024 release disappointing

[Standalone]

I personally would like to see Ibanez reissue the Roadster RS824 and similar basses of the late '70s to early '80s. Most of their current basses don't appeal to me at all.

There's a NICE one for a *really* decent price in the TB Classifieds right now.
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/1982-ibanez-roadster-rs924.1633516/

 

[Standalone]

I am let down by the '24 lineup.

The EHB colorways are boring, the Caribbean Green finish SR would look cool in a reggae band but I really don't like it, the addition of stainless fishman fluence is cool in the SRMS but I wish they would have an offering other than the blue chameleon color. I know I'm making it seem like I'm picky about colors, but I'm really not. Ibanez just managed to release a whole host of stuff that doesn't appeal to me.

I'd be more impressed if they put out a press release stating a deeper dedication to quality control and playability from the Indonesian plants that make their stuff.

Different strokes. I'm sure they'll all sell well. Just not to me.

The color offerings is the one thing about current Ibanez that I'm not the biggest fan of. I haven't experienced any QC issues.
But my Seafoam Green EHB1000s has really grown on me.

 

[Adam Felix]

The color offerings is the one thing about current Ibanez that I'm not the biggest fan of. I haven't experienced any QC issues.
But my Seafoam Green EHB1000s has really grown on me.

Agreed!
I’m really not a fan of that diy epoxy driftwood table look in blue or greenish colors over different semi interesting top woods.

 

[bootstrap]

Agreed!
I’m really not a fan of that diy epoxy driftwood table look in blue or greenish colors over different semi interesting top woods.

Lol, spot-on.

 

[ColinR]

Well having fewer colors allows them to reduce the costs.
Their aesthetic choices are varied. Some look awesome, some terrible - but at least they switch it up between years, so you get some variety

Furthermore a 6 string fretless? Assuming that 5% of all players play 6 String (and that is generous) and that 10% of those play fretless (which is generous as well), the market is maybe what 50 people in the US?

Those are interesting numbers. And I'm not saying that aren't smaller numbers, but those seem a bit exaggerated. If that were the case, they probably wouldn't bother to release any at all, it would not make finacial sense. Yet they do and the few they have released seem to have sold and been successful. As for manufacturing costs vs sales vs marketing vs demand, 33 years in manufacturing estimating and purchase has taught me that if Fender can offer the variety they do, so can Ibanez. Especially when both are using the same manufacturing facilities in Asia for some of their models. My point was that they are big enough to be able to offer a little more in those areas and capitalize on the demand. Thats all. They make a great product overall, especially compared to Fender, and they could improve it.

 

[Root 5]

Have a look at their lineup then? THere are more than enough that are colorful and would look out of place in a metal band

I look frequently. I just feel that if everything isn’t black, it’s finished in the snotburst of the day that have no appeal to 50+ players (generally).

 

[FRoss6788]

I, too, would prefer a few more solid color choices.

 

[Root 5]

Those are interesting numbers. And I'm not saying that aren't smaller numbers, but those seem a bit exaggerated. If that were the case, they probably wouldn't bother to release any at all, it would not make finacial sense. Yet they do and the few they have released seem to have sold and been successful. As for manufacturing costs vs sales vs marketing vs demand, 33 years in manufacturing estimating and purchase has taught me that if Fender can offer the variety they do, so can Ibanez. Especially when both are using the same manufacturing facilities in Asia for some of their models. My point was that they are big enough to be able to offer a little more in those areas and capitalize on the demand. Thats all. They make a great product overall, especially compared to Fender, and they could improve it.

I worked for a large Japanese company and I can assure you they are obsessed with cost-cutting. Fewer colour choices is one facet of this.

 

[Nolan Tremblay]

Here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Thanks!

I would say that I think the lineup looks pretty good. It's really diverse. I personally would like to see two basses, but honestly, I don't know that Ibanez would be able to market enough of them for it to work.

EHB1506S - 30" scale headless 6 string bass
EHD1506SMS - 32-30" multiscale headless 6 string bass

Perhaps if the 5 string versions are successful enough they might trial one of those basses. More likely I'll be looking at more boutique options to fill this "need."

 

[Standalone]

Agreed!
I’m really not a fan of that diy epoxy driftwood table look in blue or greenish colors over different semi interesting top woods.

The 2024 natural poplar burl EHB is nice. The grey and dark grey stains on the EHB's and BTB's are very cool if you're into genres of music that suit that dark look. Ibanez is making a good market decision there.

Personally, I love basses in white with matching headstocks, but that's my niche and I'm not about to be mad at Ibanez about this.

 

[bobba66]

Ibanez makes basses?

 

[FRoss6788]

Ibanez makes basses?

Yes!

Quite nice ones at that

 

[Snert]

Obviously it does not sell good enough to warrant the signature one.

It sells well enough to still be in the model lineup after 8 model years.

Musician Basses are sometimes called Japanese Alembics.

Having owned a number of both, the Musicians are good, but not even close to an Alembic.

 

[FRoss6788]

Having owned a number of both, the Musicians are good, but not even close to an Alembic.

Likely just a commentary on the aesthetic of the Musician line of basses.

 

[Dincrest]

As others said, the thing I like most about Ibanez is that, among the major companies, they're the ones most willing to offer unique basses and test the waters for new niches and markets. I think Soundgears are almost as ubiquitous as Fenders in the wild.

I like that they offer so many 6-strings in various price points, headless, multiscale, short scale, medium scale... Unless you're a die hard "tort 'n flats FSO" traditionalist, Ibanez has something for most every bassist out there. I love that they are forward-thinkers, especially with regard to their basses. Ibanez's bass offerings dwarf those of competitors like ESP/LTD and Jackson and offer far more variety.

But that's just the thing... when they test the waters with a new product to appeal to a niche, that niche needs to step up and buy the hell out of it to keep it a viable option in their lineup. Excitement on a forum about a product doesn't equate into sales numbers. The BTB605MLM's spec sheet (and the 9th fret being perpendicular is what I'd call ideal for a multiscale) is a winner in my book. But will it sell enough units for Ibanez to continue investing in it? And as someone else asked, how long will Ibanez test the waters and keep it in the lineup to see whether it has potential to be a keeper commodity?

 

[CoarseBass]

Interesting they've got a 'mid' scale fanned BTB lineup... Feels like a bit of a waste. Why not just go big? The 7 is cool, just because the neck is so wide it'd be tough to manage at a 37" B.

I still want an ATK reboot with a pair of humbuckers.

 

[wvbass]

They did two iterations of a BTB with those specs from 2015 to 2021.

BTB33
BTB845V

I have a BTB33. It is an odd instrument, but a great player. The OP is just a little late to the game with respect to those particular specs coming from Ibanez.

Overall, I agree with the concept the OP put forth, though. For the past several years, I’ve enjoyed watching Ibanez release many basses that creatively explore some of the less mainstream directions. Compared to the bar they established for themselves, the current lineup is a little disappointing.

I also would like to see a Musician reissue, but Ibanez looks forward more than they look back.

 

[Snert]

The OP is just a little late to the game with respect to those particular specs coming from Ibanez.

But they show up on Reverb regularly.

 

[wvbass]

But they show up on Reverb regularly.

Object permanence. I’ve always struggled with that concept.

 

[iTzPrime]

Those are interesting numbers. And I'm not saying that aren't smaller numbers, but those seem a bit exaggerated. If that were the case, they probably wouldn't bother to release any at all, it would not make finacial sense. Yet they do and the few they have released seem to have sold and been successful. As for manufacturing costs vs sales vs marketing vs demand, 33 years in manufacturing estimating and purchase has taught me that if Fender can offer the variety they do, so can Ibanez. Especially when both are using the same manufacturing facilities in Asia for some of their models. My point was that they are big enough to be able to offer a little more in those areas and capitalize on the demand. Thats all. They make a great product overall, especially compared to Fender, and they could improve it.

I might have exaggerated a bit, but I doubt that a 6 String Fretless sells too well. A 6 String Fretless is probably a loss leader for Ibanez. Their thought is probably, that it is worth it to sell at a loss, as a 6 string fretless is very specialised. Given the specialisation the person playing them, is probably at a decent level and likely to buy other basses. So if they can offer what he sought after, then it is more likely that he will buy a bass, where they do make money. However releasing more models for that same niche is probably not worth it.

The thing is that they have a different model than Fender. So Fender has extremely similar models in therm of how they are built and put together. Here Ibanez is much more diverse. However Ibanez then basically saves on color options.
It's a deliberate choice from their side.