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Ibanez BTB Club, Part 2!

#2,081
So according to the customer service rep at Ibanez I corresponded with, this bass is a BTB600ENTF, made in 2003; and they said the “bartolini customs” are original to the bass. That model number pulls up absolutely no google results, and the rep said this was quite an obscure BTB, and they didn’t have any literature on it in their possession. Why this thing is so obscure is essentially speculation, but the mismatched hardware makes me think this may have been a production sample kinda thing for a more premium j/j option to the BTB300. I’ll be sure to update if they have any more info for me.
 
#2,082
Can anyone help me ID this bass? I am brand new to Ibanez. I collect Japanese basses and have 20+ but most are Arias, Fernandes, and Fender Japan.

Never owned an Ibanez before.
16445304171412203443295660561026.jpg
16445304171412203443295660561026.jpg
16445304502251115664410858241961.jpg
 
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#2,086
VillageIdiott said:
Quite the wide neck on it. I'll have to see how that feels once it is cleaned up with some strings on it.

Feels a lot wider than my Fender Japan 5er.
Click to expand...
Don't know specifically about Fender Japan 5er, but I read a lot that Fender 5er string spacing is mostly 18mm at the bridge; whilst most BTB 5ers are 19mm, including that particular 1005 you have, which contributes to the wider fretboard.
 
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#2,094
VillageIdiott said:
Can anyone help me ID this bass? I am brand new to Ibanez. I collect Japanese basses and have 20+ but most are Arias, Fernandes, and Fender Japan.

Never owned an Ibanez before. ]
Click to expand...

That is an earlier Japanese BTB production, before Ibanez moved the production to the Indonesia Cort factory.
All BTB 5 featuring 19mm spacing, except only one model, the workshop one.
Cheers
 
#2,095
enricogaletta said:
That is an earlier Japanese BTB production, before Ibanez moved the production to the Indonesia Cort factory.
All BTB 5 featuring 19mm spacing, except only one model, the workshop one.
Cheers
Click to expand...
Just to be clear, there were a quite many BTB Workshop 5ers:
  • BTB33 = 17mm
  • BTB685SC = 19mm
  • BTB845SC = 19mm
  • BTB845V = 17mm
and soon to be released, still under the BTB Workshop line:
  • BTB605MS = 18mm
  • BTB805MS = 18mm
 
#2,097
VillageIdiott said:
I can that gorgeous bass of yours has a different bridge, is neck through, and has different electronics...
Otherwise same build woods, scale etc? I hear the Ibanez pups were only on these for a few years. Not sure when the changeover happened. Are my Ibanez just rebranded Bart's?
Click to expand...

Off the top of my head, they switched to USA Barts around 2003. I read someone here on TB mention Bartolini was involved with the original Ibanez-branded electronics, but I have no way to confirm that.

The BTB1205 model was made to a high standard in South Korea by World Music Instrument Co. I've got two, and they're both excellent. Same 35" scale length and neck shape, similar woods. I'd say they're comparable to the Japanese models. WMIC used some pretty nice flamed maple on these.
btb1205_pair.jpg
 
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