So how does everyone feel about the Ibanez BTB line? I have played two and felt like they were solid basses and pretty good quality. The ones I’m inquiring about are the premium Indonesian line. I am strongly considering buying the Steve Digriggio signature bass.(have no idea if I spelled that right). It’s not from the premium line but it is prettt much cost wise. It has the gotoh tuners and the nordstrand pickups like some of the premiums do. I’ve been wanting an active fretless for a while.
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Ibanez BTB’s
- Thread starter Cory rich40
- Start date
The SDGB1 is technically its own series (all the signature models are) but yeah, it's basically a fretless BTB. In fact I think it's the only fretless Ibanez makes outside of the Soundgear lines and Garry Willis sigs.
It's got a BTB neck -- about as flat as Soundgear necks but wider -- and 5-strings have 19mm spacing at the bridge rather than 16.5mm, so if a Soundgear feels too cramped it'll be a good option.
If I was considering it the only thing I'd be wary of are the Big Singles pickups -- they're perfectly fine in terms of quality and sound but you won't get any humbucking if you solo one or the other of them. This is purely a matter of taste or playing style, and might not be a concern of yours -- obviously since Di Giorgio spec'd it this way it's fine with him. The specs are TOTL for Ibanez basses. If I was shopping for a fretless and it was in my budget I wouldn't turn it down.
It's got a BTB neck -- about as flat as Soundgear necks but wider -- and 5-strings have 19mm spacing at the bridge rather than 16.5mm, so if a Soundgear feels too cramped it'll be a good option.
If I was considering it the only thing I'd be wary of are the Big Singles pickups -- they're perfectly fine in terms of quality and sound but you won't get any humbucking if you solo one or the other of them. This is purely a matter of taste or playing style, and might not be a concern of yours -- obviously since Di Giorgio spec'd it this way it's fine with him. The specs are TOTL for Ibanez basses. If I was shopping for a fretless and it was in my budget I wouldn't turn it down.
It seems like the better option as far as Ibanez goes. And as I said earlier, I do like the BTB line. It’s 5 string and that’s one of my main reasons for buying it.
Strong? If you mean how loud they get, probably in the ballpark of any other decent pickup. It doesn't matter a whole lot, the onboard preamp is going to give you more volume than you reasonably need.
I have the Big Singles on my SR1350B. They are excellent p'ups, moderately wound, not particularly high output. I also have the same pre-amp, it will give you all the output you need. Regarding lack of hum bucking when soloing one p'up, not a problem, no noise, no hum.
The thing I would wonder about with this bass is the Ebonol board. I know, people say it holds up fine and sounds good, but I think I would rather have the coated panga panga board on the SR fretless models. That's just me....
The thing I would wonder about with this bass is the Ebonol board. I know, people say it holds up fine and sounds good, but I think I would rather have the coated panga panga board on the SR fretless models. That's just me....
I have a BTB Volo that is my sole 5-string; right now it's strung B-g, which works fine despite the 33" scale. I also have a fretless Ibby, the SRH500f, which is my go-to for fake pizz URB. Both are good, well-built basses, although they are definitely off-the-shelf instruments. I like that Ibanez produces such a range of different styles of instruments.
You have access to the internet, why not just look it up first? To the thread topic, they're good, solid instruments, especially if you like wide string spacing/35" scale.
There's also one in the EHB line: EHB1005F | EHB | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars
There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of information online about the Steve digiorgio bass. Sweetwater had 4 reviews on it. It’s a BTB so there is no doubt it will be a good bass.
Whoops, you're right! I was even thinking about buying one earlier this year. Didn't, but still wish I could have tried one out.
Ebonol gets a bad rap because of line sprout on the Squier fretlesses. The material's been used for years on high-end basses from Zon and other boutiques. Ibanez specs the DiGiorgio model with roundwound strings, which is why they went with a harder board than their other fretless models.
BTB's (either in their full-zoot MIJ versions down through the other models built around the Far East) are exceptional instruments, driven by Ibanez continually updating hardware, pickups, and electronics (though I can DEFINITELY live without that locking 1/4" jack).
The only catch for some is that with the 35" scale, these are big axes, and honestly may be a bit too big for some smaller folks. This is the only disadvantage I can think of.
Ibanez has quietly accumulated a dizzyingly wide product range in basses, and we are all the better for it.
The only catch for some is that with the 35" scale, these are big axes, and honestly may be a bit too big for some smaller folks. This is the only disadvantage I can think of.
Ibanez has quietly accumulated a dizzyingly wide product range in basses, and we are all the better for it.
As someone who wasn't really impressed by any BTB, I picked up that green Steve G signature bass and was blown away. Not sure what the difference in specs is (if there even is any, aside from the fretless ebony) but it seemed in a totally different ballpark.
If you can nab one do it. The next time I went into the shop ready to buy it, it was sold.
If you can nab one do it. The next time I went into the shop ready to buy it, it was sold.
I’m taking it that the way the knobs look that it’s basically a premium BTB that is fretless with an unlined board. The tuners are actually gotoh tuners which are the same as the premium and prestige models.
I have an 846v an its great, there's nothing to knock it on at all. As it's a 33", it doesn't feel all that much bigger than my SRs.
I'd like to try an 805/6MS, but there aren't an anywhere near to m abode, so I'm reluctant to just order online blind in case I find them uncomfortable. And I don't like MS.
I'd like to try an 805/6MS, but there aren't an anywhere near to m abode, so I'm reluctant to just order online blind in case I find them uncomfortable. And I don't like MS.
Supadope
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That one caught my eye. The deep green and that ebony board look fantastic. I prefer 17.5mm spacing on a 5 string, but if you like 19mm, go for it!
I owned a Btb 5 for many years.
It was a great bass, but the only slight issue that I found was that, despite the 18v circuitry for the pre, it felt a little lacking to me. It was an early model- early 00’s
I only moved it on last year as I have moved away from playing 5’s regularly.
It was a great bass, but the only slight issue that I found was that, despite the 18v circuitry for the pre, it felt a little lacking to me. It was an early model- early 00’s
I only moved it on last year as I have moved away from playing 5’s regularly.
They’re very solid for the price. I owned a BTB845V (33” neck) and was so well-balanced and they have so many variations within BTB series. However, I ended up selling it because it just didn’t cut through the mix that well in a live setting (I play more R&B, pop, funk, jazz-ish).
I also have an 846v and it's a fantastic bass. Great B string even from the 33" scale. I tried an 806ms from Sweetwater and sent it back. While it sounded and played great, the 37" scale was just too much for me to be comfortable with. The 35" scale BTB's are where I personally draw the line on scale length.
