Oh, yes. Two years ago I wanted the BTB1826 and missed out on local stock. I didn't like the 2020 models at all, then lucked out on the 846V, which is very rare here. If I was still looking the BTB1836 would be in my sights.
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Anyone also with a 7, a 6, and a 5 string BTBs..? 
That neck on the 7 looks like the landing strip of an aircraft carrier! I've only got 5- & 6-string BTB's myself, that extremely tight string spacing on the 7 might be a tad too much for my big fingers.Anyone also with a 7, a 6, and a 5 string BTBs..?
Wow, no, just the 6. I don't even have a 5 or 4 SR, but I have 4 SR 6s.
Haha...
absolutely right on the aircraft carrier landing strip thing... 
I've been solely using several 6 string basses when I first got the 7, so yes, despite it's a wide neck, psychologically didn't torture me. The tight 15.5 mm string spacing is actually not that bad. With some playing times, I can even play slap lines on it. But, as most would know, the hardest thing with having that many strings is to mute the unplayed strings.
yeah... not that many would want a 7. I keep the 7 for practicing melodies and chords. I gigged with a few 6 string basses few years back (although no longer), and shamelessly admit that I never bring the 7 out...
Any 5ers is sufficient for the materials I play up on stages in the last 3 or 4 years. And any 5 string necks, even the one with such wide string spacing like my BTB 5er, is still more comfortable. So, I'm actuallly interested in getting the medium 33" scale Volo (BTB845V) with default E to C tuning for melody and chord stuffs. Unfortunately, local distributor has never and don't seem to be interested in bringing one in.
My only real gig is with 2 girls who sing and strum acoustics, so I play melody lines to fill out the sound, so the 6s are great for that.
My church mentioned today they might want me to sub in there sometimes, so I think it'll just be one of the 5s.
I was told the same thing about the 846v* here, even speaking to the distributor's Ibanez agent personally and being told no, because of some contractual reason. A year later I was browsing because I was bored and found one new locally. Within an hour it was mine and it's one of only a couple here, even though the 845vs are reasonably common. I was thinking of getting one of them too, or a BTB33 because it looks different, but I think some Nordies in the Conklin GT5 will do, or maybe the short EHB 5er announced.
On Christmas Eve a friend contacted me and said he'd finally build the custom I've been after him to do for nearly 20y. Only details I'm giving are that it will be unusual, a 6, NT and the neck will be like the bastard child of the BTB and SR. Next Christmas is the ETA.
* I've commented on TB that the 846v burl top was "too much" for me, but it's been in a single stand since it got here and it's come to grow on me and I think it's rather pretty now. Not sure I'll ever gig it though.
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Ok NBD Christmas Edition. By wife blessed me with this 846V on Christmas Morning.
^^ It's a lovely bass isn't it? I got mine in October after over a year of being told it was not being imported.
Your wife is special. Though mine has long passed and she didn't get me the BTB, many years ago she surprised me with my Steinberger XL2 which we could not afford at all at the time. I still have it.
Merry Christmas.
Gratuitous repeat pic.
Your wife is special. Though mine has long passed and she didn't get me the BTB, many years ago she surprised me with my Steinberger XL2 which we could not afford at all at the time. I still have it.
Merry Christmas.
Gratuitous repeat pic.
Here is a new video I did featuring my BTB846V. It is tuned EADGCF. I love the way it plays!
Took me years, but finally managed to find a spare for my old BTB1205. Both made by WMIC in Korea, the upper bass in 2005 and the lower one in 2006. Quite a striking visual difference with the darker top, better sanding on the newer sample too. Weights are ~4460g (9lb 13oz) for the older one and ~4620g (10lb 3oz) for the newer bass.
Having played and owned many different BTB models, I like these and the Japanese 1000e-series BTBs (with USA Barts) the best. My BTB1305 (made by Cor-Tek in 2008) had a thinner sound (both acoustic and amplified) despite sporting the same electronics, and I've spotted another similar observation here on TB. Never been too fond of (or lucky with) the Indonesian Premiums, felt they were slightly below the Korea/Japan Prestiges, but the newer ones with SS frets and zero fret are interesting, how's the fretwork on those?
Having played and owned many different BTB models, I like these and the Japanese 1000e-series BTBs (with USA Barts) the best. My BTB1305 (made by Cor-Tek in 2008) had a thinner sound (both acoustic and amplified) despite sporting the same electronics, and I've spotted another similar observation here on TB. Never been too fond of (or lucky with) the Indonesian Premiums, felt they were slightly below the Korea/Japan Prestiges, but the newer ones with SS frets and zero fret are interesting, how's the fretwork on those?
Getting a BTB 705DX with Aguilar DCBs of some sort tomorrow in a trade. I can find essentially no info about this bass online but it looks really promising. What do y'all think? Anyone have any details on this model of BTB?
According to the Hoshino Gakki website, the BTB705DX was produced in 2009-2012. Those Aguilar pickups sure aren't the stock pickups. It originally came with a pair of EMG 40DC and the original preamp didn't have a mini switch.
The original sounds and looks good. I'd have one.
I have one. Great bass, only weak spot is the pre amp that I swapped out for a OBP3.
Thanks for the input! That's pretty much all I found out about it too. I'm hoping the added switch also means the original preamp was replaced as that's the only thing I've seen complaints about. A whole 2 of them!
Should be here within the hour.
Do we do club numbers? I have the sneaking suspicion I'm not going to want to flip this bass.
Should be here within the hour.
Do we do club numbers? I have the sneaking suspicion I'm not going to want to flip this bass.
So I've got the bass. Sounds great, beautifully built too. I never thought I'd run into this but I have. The bass is too big. I don't know if I've ever come across such a large bass. Which is odd, as my P V had an enormous neck (or so I thought), and my Jackson has a 35" scale. But the Jackson's neck feels tiny in comparison.
Got any tips to make a 5 string BTB more managable?
Got any tips to make a 5 string BTB more managable?
Practice, stretch your hands and see if you can get a wide, grippy strap that allows you to play it more vertically as that will allow a better wrist angle and finger spread.
It's a big bass, that's for sure, but that's just the BTB series period. Wide bridge spacing, wide neck spacing, 35". Just play it.
