Ibanez Black Eagle

[tbird42]

Ever since I've seen the videos of Nirvana playing and rehearsing and seeing Krist Novoselic's basses, (he's one of the reasons I got a Thunderbird, lol) there's one bass I've always had a lust for: the elusive Ibanez Black Eagle.
View attachment 3128215
From a standard bassist's point of view, it's a fancy J-Bass clone with some nice touches to it: the horns on it are extra curled, the pickguard has some nice visuals on it, and the headstock has that sweet f-hole on it. But I want to know: does anyone who actually owns one know what it feels like? I know I've read articles online that generally say it's like a J-Bass with better midrange, but I'd like to get it to know if from a more personal view. I'm hoping to get a job soon and this is one of the things I'm hoping to save up for in the future.

 

[Matthew_84]

Ever since I've seen the videos of Nirvana playing and rehearsing and seeing Krist Novoselic's basses, (he's one of the reasons I got a Thunderbird, lol) there's one bass I've always had a lust for: the elusive Ibanez Black Eagle.

Essentially from a standard bassist's point of view, it's a fancy J-Bass clone with some nice touches to it: the horns on it are extra curled, the pickguard has some nice visuals on it, and the headstock has that sweet f-hole on it. But I want to know: does anyone who actually owns one know what it feels like? I know I've read articles online that generally say it's like a J-Bass with better midrange, but I'd like to get it to know if from a more personal view. I'm hoping to get a job soon and this is one of the things I'm hoping to save up for in the future.

I was looking into this model myself a year or two ago, and while I never laid my hands on one, I have read that the neck is real nice.

Hopefully others that have played it reply soon.

Also, you should clean up that wall of text in the middle of your post (like I did in my quote). I’m sure you’ll get a few people that will see that and back out of the thread.

 

[tbird42]

I was looking into this model myself a year or two ago, and while I never laid my hands on one, I have read that the neck is real nice.

Hopefully others that have played it reply soon.

Also, you should clean up that wall of text in the middle of your post (like I did in my quote). I’m sure you’ll get a few people that will see that and back out of the thread.

Lmao thanks I didn't realize that was there

 

[klejst]

I remember seeing Krist from Nirvana playing one live and thought how cool it looked and sounded good too.

 

[Ecko]

Ever since I've seen the videos of Nirvana playing and rehearsing and seeing Krist Novoselic's basses, (he's one of the reasons I got a Thunderbird, lol) there's one bass I've always had a lust for: the elusive Ibanez Black Eagle.
View attachment 3128215
From a standard bassist's point of view, it's a fancy J-Bass clone with some nice touches to it: the horns on it are extra curled, the pickguard has some nice visuals on it, and the headstock has that sweet f-hole on it. But I want to know: does anyone who actually owns one know what it feels like? I know I've read articles online that generally say it's like a J-Bass with better midrange, but I'd like to get it to know if from a more personal view. I'm hoping to get a job soon and this is one of the things I'm hoping to save up for in the future.

I own the 2015 reissue, I'm a massive Nirvana and Krist fan so when I saw the reissue I put a deposit down on a pre order asap! Its an amazing bass. the pick ups are bright and super aggressive, it has a J bass tone but with its own twist thanks to the mahogany body. The neck is super comfy too.

 

[smcd]

I have a '75. Nice bass, well made. Though mine has been modded with humbuckers. The one thing about these original basses is they are heavy. And I mean HEAVY. In fact, my Black Eagle is the heaviest bass I've ever owned, by far.

 

[Dynomuttasaurus]

I have the re-issue.

I agree with the comments about the pickups being bright and aggressive. I really like the tone. I've gigged with the bass on a couple occasions and have always had someone come up after to tell me how cool the bass is. One time a teenager who was just starting to play commented how inspired he was that a bass could be so cool looking (not sunburst, wood, tort, etc.) He was elated that maybe a bass player could have a sense of style usually reserved for guitarists.

The re-issue is heavy too. Mine is a solid 10+pounder, but it's balanced so grab a wide strap and you're good to go. The one thing I may disagree with the above posters is the neck. Yes, it is comfortable, but you should note that it's a lot thicker and wider at the nut than a standard jazz neck.

 

[Dluxe]

I once owned one that was 8 1/2 pounds. A rarity for sure! From September 1976.

 

[godofthunder59]

The reissue is very lovingly crafted, even better than the original imho. I had one and regret selling it.

 

[TimBosby]

Zombie thread... I just acquired a reissue yesterday for only $300 from a local guy and, while it's set up very nicely, it's been... altered slightly.

The previous owner literally reshaped the treble horn with a dremel and painted it black. It's not that noticeable, but I would kinda like to get it smoothed out and touched up professionally.

And he painted dots on the side that I'm not sure mineral spirits and a razor blade will be able to remove without damaging the binding.

He changed the pickups to Fender Original Jazz, which sound great and the bridge to Gotoh, though smoked chrome would not have been my choice. Knobs are black aluminum and control plate is black pearl but in my genius today I took it off to remove the cellophane and when I put it back, the whole bass no longer makes sound... it just crackles.

So I'm thinking:

-New loaded control plate with standard black Fender Jazz style knobs
-Some kind of regular chrome bridge
-Clean up treble horn
-Remove paint globs on side

Not sure what all this will cost me. Probably more than the bass, lol.

Pictures below.

 

[TimBosby]

Zombie thread... I just acquired a reissue yesterday for only $300 from a local guy and, while it's set up very nicely, it's been... altered slightly.

The previous owner literally reshaped the treble horn with a dremel and painted it black. It's not that noticeable, but I would kinda like to get it smoothed out and touched up professionally.

And he painted dots on the side that I'm not sure mineral spirits and a razor blade will be able to remove without damaging the binding.

He changed the pickups to Fender Original Jazz, which sound great and the bridge to Gotoh, though smoked chrome would not have been my choice. Knobs are black aluminum and control plate is black pearl but in my genius today I took it off to remove the cellophane and when I put it back, the whole bass no longer makes sound... it just crackles.

So I'm thinking:

-New loaded control plate with standard black Fender Jazz style knobs
-Some kind of regular chrome bridge
-Clean up treble horn
-Remove paint globs on side

Not sure what all this will cost me. Probably more than the bass, lol.

I forgot to mention. My reissue is only around 8.6-8.8 lbs.

 

[Suntory]

I'm going to guess the black eagle sounds like a jazz bass?