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Ibanez BTB Club, Part 2!

#1,361
Killed_by_Death said:
I find the bevel that encompasses the edge on my BTB is sufficient.
In the past I had a BC Rich Warbeast, now that one was tough on my forearm :bored:
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If I wore the bass lower, it would be less noticeable. But I where it high and I solo a lot. I gotta fix the problem. Funny though, tone and feelwise .... other than the forearm corner, my BTB Premium basses really are comparable to my custom made Warrior Isabella that costs 7k new ..... my Warrior does not hurt my forearm though and will take really low action.
 
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#1,362
MikeOnBass73 said:
I love they general feel, tone and sound of both my BTB1406E (defretted so fretless) and BTB1606E (fretted). These premium models are far better than the standard models available. Finishes, electronics, fretwork etc. are far superior and well worth the extra funds as compared to the standard model basses.

However, there is a design flaw in all BTB basses I have played, and I have owned 7 different ones over time. And the flaw is .... there is no forearm cut ... and the sharp corner where the forearm rests on the top of the bass can be quite painful during a gig, especially if you wear your bass fairly high, as most jazz players (like myself) do. I like my BTBs so much however, that I have decided to have the forearm areas on both basses cut and rounded to a smooth contoured surface. I am going to see me luthier tomorrow to have them both done. He will need to cut, sand smooth, then stain the finish to make it look decent. Some of you must have noticed this issue out there. I can't be the only one.
Click to expand...
Was just talking about this last night at practice. The lack of forearm cut actually doesn't bother me when I'm plucking, but when I try to use a pick, it becomes a real issue trying to find a position where the corner doesn't really start digging into my forearm.
 
#1,363
I'm just going to pretend like I didn't hear/read this:

latest?cb=20120528040346.jpg


that little bevel on the edge of mine is fine (says to self)
 
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#1,365
SerfBass said:
Was just talking about this last night at practice. The lack of forearm cut actually doesn't bother me when I'm plucking, but when I try to use a pick, it becomes a real issue trying to find a position where the corner doesn't really start digging into my forearm.
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It's true. I even wrote to Ibanez about it. Otherwise Premium BTBs offer some of the best value for the money out there. Mine are being done as I write and will probably be completed within a week. I am having the forearm area cut, rounded and stained on both my BTB1606E fretted, and BTB1406E fretless. If anyone is interested, I'll post photos once they are done. I am a bit worried about how they will look. My guy who does this work for me is refinishing one of Rik Emmet's guitars right now ... he is good at it ........... still worried that doing this will ruin the look of my basses though. I had to have faith.
 
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#1,369
Stewthebassman said:
Of course we would like pictures!![/QUOTE
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The work is done and Chad Moyles, my repair and instrument work guy, did a great job I think. He cut, then sanded and stained both my defretted Ibanez BTB1406E Premium and my fretted Ibanez BTB1606E Premium to round out the edges for my forearm. So, there is no longer a painful corner digging at my forearm during gigs. These are great basses but this work needed to be done. Chad also removed the frets on the 1406E in the past. Look him up if you live in Southern Ontario / Toronto. I also installed Bartolini dual coil classic pickups. Photos are attached.
 

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#1,370
MikeOnBass73 said:
The work is done and Chad Moyles, my luthier, did a great job I think. He cut, then sanded and stained both my defretted Ibanez BTB1406E Premium and my fretted Ibanez BTB1606E Premium to round out the edges for my forearm. So, there is no longer a painful corner digging at my forearm during gigs. These are great basses but this work needed to be done, ...... arguably some of the best mass produced basses available. Chad also removed the frets on the 1406E in the past. Look him up if you live in Southern Ontario / Toronto. Other mods on both basses include Bartolini dual coil classic pickups. I may install Mike Pope preamps in the future. The Ibanez premium stock preamps do sound great too though. Photos are attached.
Click to expand...

I had those Barts in my BTB1605 and liked them greatly but the best pickups I've tried in the BTB Premiums are the Nordstrand DC-5 pickups. Absolutely superb tone and paired with the Aguilar OBP-3 I had with it that was as good a sounding bass as I've ever owned.
BTB_1.jpg
u0gzf9nxh6jglxzwkdfd.jpg
iidlylgntpdpmlxebqzd.jpg
 
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#1,371
#1,372
Very discrete!! I'm jealous!


MikeOnBass73 said:
The work is done and Chad Moyles, my luthier, did a great job I think. He cut, then sanded and stained both my defretted Ibanez BTB1406E Premium and my fretted Ibanez BTB1606E Premium to round out the edges for my forearm. So, there is no longer a painful corner digging at my forearm during gigs. These are great basses but this work needed to be done, ...... arguably some of the best mass produced basses available. Chad also removed the frets on the 1406E in the past. Look him up if you live in Southern Ontario / Toronto. Other mods on both basses include Bartolini dual coil classic pickups. I may install Mike Pope preamps in the future. The Ibanez premium stock preamps do sound great too though. Photos are attached.
Click to expand...
 
#1,373
#1,376
MikeOnBass73 said:
However, there is a design flaw in all BTB basses I have played, and I have owned 7 different ones over time. And the flaw is .... there is no forearm cut ... and the sharp corner where the forearm rests on the top of the bass can be painful during a gig, especially if you wear your bass high, as most jazz players (like myself) do. I like my BTBs so much however, that I have decided to have the forearm areas on both basses cut and rounded with a smooth contoured surface. I am going to see my luthier tomorrow to have them both done. He will need to cut, sand smooth, then stain the finish to make it look decent. Some of you must have noticed this issue out there. I can't be the only one.
Click to expand...
speaking of the bevel on BTBs...

it seems that the new BTB designs have 'more' bevel than previous ones, especially on where the right forearm would rest:

BTB8461_zpsi6s1yn5l.jpg



compare the previous BTB 7 string and its new model:

BTB7F_NTF_1P_011_zpskk31unez.png


BTB747_NTL_1P_011_zpsck4zsqen.png
 
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#1,378
Graham Douglas said:
I'm considering buying a used BTB556 bit have never had a 6er before. I'm concerned the weight may be too uncomfortable. I down scaled a Fender Jazz 5er as it was killing me. Anyone oUt there who has one got a weight, they don't seem to say what it is on any site.
Click to expand...

That's because the weight of any model will depend on the core woods and top woods used. For instance, the Walnut top BTB 656 and now 756 is pretty heavy but not a back breaker. The BTB7E, 7 string is quite heavy. So much so, that I sold my BTB7E. The BTB1406E premium with a nice natural quilted maple top is much lighter, far better sounding and vastly better made, being a premium model. The BTB1606E with a poplar burl top is a slightly heavier premium model as compared to the 1406E, but it also sounds and plays extremely well. None will break your back but if you want lighter and great sounding, I would say find a used BTB1406E. By the way, I have owned or own all of these models (and more BTBs) in the past.
 
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#1,380
Graham Douglas said:
I'm considering buying a used BTB556 bit have never had a 6er before. I'm concerned the weight may be too uncomfortable. I down scaled a Fender Jazz 5er as it was killing me. Anyone oUt there who has one got a weight, they don't seem to say what it is on any site.
Click to expand...

Natural products such as wood vary quite a bit in weight. I've seen basses of the same model be more than one pound different. If you want to know the weight of a used bass, ask the sell to weigh it. For new instruments, look at Sweetwater, who posts photos and weight for each individual instrument.
 

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