Ibanez BTB Club, Part 2!

[Wild_Cat]

Looks about right.

That was my point. Lots of the Fenders are up there too.

Yikes. I should probably stop complaining about canadian prices then :S

If I were looking for a 5 today, I'd go for the SR too as I prefer 16.5mm separation.

I feel ya. My *third* main bass is a Japanese SR4005 that I got in 2008, and whose electronics I eventually completely swapped out (the stock 3-volt preamp was a bad joke, and I hated the sound of the Bartolini pickups). It's the single-best playing instrument that I've ever touched.

It's been unfortunately neglected over the past few years, because despite that sound-wise still light-years behind my EBMMs. It does the "angry Jazz Bass" thing quite well with its Audere 3ZB and custom MJS pickups, mind.

It has sentimental value -- it's my first good bass -- but I've been wondering if I should sell/trade it. With Ibanez prices through the roof, now might be a good time? Hrmm.

 

[A9X]

My *third* main bass is a Japanese SR4005 that I got in 2008, and whose electronics I eventually completely swapped out (the stock 3-volt preamp was a bad joke, and I hated the sound of the Bartolini pickups).

I had never heard of the 3V electronics before now but would have swapped them out too.
I bought my SR706 (2008) for about $US550 shipped in mint condition with the intention of spending that much again to replace the PUs with Nordies and the pre with something, but I can only see it maybe being used for a cover band or church and tone is not really important there, so long as it sounds good in the mix. Bargain for what I paid for it though. The only potential gigging I have is with 2 girls on acoustics doind melody and bass under them and the SRC6 is perfect for that.

It's the single-best playing instrument that I've ever touched.

I love my SRs and if I were to loo for something new, the Ibanez SR catalogue would be my first port of call, new or used.

 

[Wild_Cat]

That's fair. Most of what I do is recording (my band is spread across the entire continent, so we gig once in a blue moon), so DI tone and playability trump everything in my instrument choices.

 

[Scarysharkface]

Unfortunate that you have to be apart with your BTB Single Cut. I love my BTB 5 string Single Cut (the 1st iteration, BTB685SC). It has been my go to bass in the last 5-6 years.

Gotoh GB350 Res-O-Lite is what you seek. I have them on 9 out of 10 Ibanez basses.

View attachment 4401917

Bass has been sold.

John

 

[MikeOnBass73]

My primary weapons are an EBMM Sterling 5 HS and a Stingray Special HH (really, EBMM and Ibanez are the only two bass brands that have earned my complete trust). "Cheap" isn't a word I'd use to describe them. They're exquisitely-crafted, robust instruments, whose main strength I nonetheless have to admit lies in their electronics. Put simply, I've never touched a bass that sounded as stupidly *good* as those two. The preamps are incredibly well-voiced, the 5-way pickup selector is something I dearly miss anytime I have to play on something that has a blend knob instead, and the pickups... Oof, those pickups. Snarling beasts indeed.

With all that being said: LEMMY ALMIGHTY FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS!?

That comes out to about ~4100 canadian bucks, or ~3200 USD, right?

Yeah, no. Frankly, no mass-produced instrument is worth that much. For that kind of money, I'd expect something well into boutique hand-built territory.

Given the choices you had, I too would have gone for the BTB. Well, if I wanted a 6 I'd have gone for an Ibanez SR, but that's beside the point.

Anyhow. Here in Canada, here's how the prices look like for 5-strings (sourced from Long & McQuade):

- EBMM Stingray Special 5 HH: 2850 CAD
- Fender American Ultra Jazz Bass V: 2800 CAD
- Ibanez BTB 1935 Premium: 2600 CAD
- Ibanez BTB 845 Standard: 1450 CAD

As you can see, that's a *much* closer spread than in Australia. And the BTB Standard costs what I would expect the Premium to.

I owned a Premium SR1206 until not that long ago (sold it because 6-strings were no longer my thing, and because super-thin 24-fret necks with massive tension from lots of strings don't like the Montreal weather variations that much), and while that was a mighty fine bass, it was still Indonesian-made, needed a fret leveling out-of-the-box and was just not worth 2600 bucks, no matter how many slices of exotic wood you add to the neck (for reference, I got it for 1450 new).

But in general, it feels like there's some serious price hike going on with Ibanez: the SR Prestige series are in the 3500 CAD price range, and even the Japan-made RG guitars start at 2600 (and I got mine for 1500 or so a mere 4 years ago).

I don't like how the market looks right now. I think I'm gonna stick with the basses I already have.

Try to find a used BTB premium model. You will love it. Anything 1305 or 1306 and higher. They are worth the money.

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

Holy

 

[CoarseBass]

WOW. 37! 4! MM!

That's INSANE.

Ibanez has done a few one off BTBs in the past... I would really love to see this actually available for sale in some form.

I'm also still holding out for a fanned BTB with a legitimately long scale on the B - this thing in 37 is a great sign.

Edit - in a comment Amos says a signature model would be years off, if ever - sounds like this isn't a 2022 project for the rest of us, at least. Still, glad to see Ibanez experimenting.

 

[A9X]

If there are any here that own a BTB1606e could you please tell me the bridge spacing?
I thought I might get a 35" BTB later if the correct one pops and I like this and the 1826 I almost bought. I have no need for it, and the 846v is going nowhere.
Both are uncommon here.

 

[enricogaletta]

If there are any here that own a BTB1606e could you please tell me the bridge spacing?
I thought I might get a 35" BTB later if the correct one pops and I like this and the 1826 I almost bought. I have no need for it, and the 846v is going nowhere.
Both are uncommon here.

The BTB spacing on 5s is 19mm and on 6s unfortunately is 17mm

 

[A9X]

Thanks.

on 6s unfortunately is 17mm

On the contrary it's fortunate and if possible would prefer the 16.5 of my 846v and SRs but I can live with it.

 

[fhtagn]

Guys! Did you already see this one?! It's a new multiscale BTB!

 

[A9X]

^^ I was just about to post that myself.

There's a new EHB MS as well.

 

[skeeler]

I came here to post the BTB806MS, too. THere's also a new BTB805MS and BTB605 MS:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Looks like the MS BTB and the MS 6-string EHB are using the same T1 pickups.

 

[lokikallas]

Just when I thought my gas was done lol

 

[VillageIdiott]

Hey. New to BTBs.

Are the old BTB1005s still considered good basses? I have a lead on a 1999 early production with Ibanez pups etc.

Is it worth having a look at? I have never owned an Ibanez bass but love the look of the body.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[enricogaletta]

Hey. New to BTBs.

Are the old BTB1005s still considered good basses? I have a lead on a 1999 early production with Ibanez pups etc.

Is it worth having a look at? I have never owned an Ibanez bass but love the look of the body.

Thanks for the advice!

Yeap very good

 

[wild4oldcars]

Hey all, I’m coming to you in search of some help. I have an opportunity to pick up this 2003 BTB but I’ve not been able to figure out what model it’s supposed to be. It’s a MIJ and in the catalog, it looks most similar to a BTB300, but I haven’t seen one of those in a natural ash like this model, and the bartolinis in this one appear to be stock, though I couldn’t be absolutely certain by any means. It’s also worth note that the satin chrome hardware on this model is consistent with the BTB300 models I’ve seen, except for the black control knobs. Did Ibanez ever do any special order builds around this time? Any insight would be appreciated, thanks!

 

[fhtagn]

Hey all, I’m coming to you in search of some help. I have an opportunity to pick up this 2003 BTB but I’ve not been able to figure out what model it’s supposed to be. It’s a MIJ and in the catalog, it looks most similar to a BTB300, but I haven’t seen one of those in a natural ash like this model, and the bartolinis in this one appear to be stock, though I couldn’t be absolutely certain by any means. It’s also worth note that the satin chrome hardware on this model is consistent with the BTB300 models I’ve seen, except for the black control knobs. Did Ibanez ever do any special order builds around this time? Any insight would be appreciated, thanks!

It's probably a MIJ Prestige version of the BTB300 of that era. Never seen one exactly like this before though, as the basic version had Ibanez's own pickups and different woods. Maybe it was a limited run for their own domestic market or something?

 

[enricogaletta]

Hey all, I’m coming to you in search of some help. I have an opportunity to pick up this 2003 BTB but I’ve not been able to figure out what model it’s supposed to be. It’s a MIJ and in the catalog, it looks most similar to a BTB300, but I haven’t seen one of those in a natural ash like this model, and the bartolinis in this one appear to be stock, though I couldn’t be absolutely certain by any means. It’s also worth note that the satin chrome hardware on this model is consistent with the BTB300 models I’ve seen, except for the black control knobs. Did Ibanez ever do any special order builds around this time? Any insight would be appreciated, thanks!

Never seen one like this either, I suppose it was one of the first models production. Very nice. Anyway I had several time the chance to try Japanese models and they were super comfortable and quite good for tone, components and construction!

 

[enricogaletta]

By the way guys, just uploaded a new video with my loyal BTB, recorded directly by Hartke DI.