Ibanez BTB multiscales…sheesh

[J-Rad]

Finally got my hands on a BTB806MS for a pretty solid price.

So far I'm digging it quite a bit, but I noticed that the pickups seem to stick pretty bad when attempting to adjust the pickup height. Has anyone else experienced this? It seems like lowering them isn't much of a problem (although it seems like I can't lower them much farther than they were already set when I received it), but when I try to raise them up a bit, the pickup won't actually raise up unless I wiggle it around in it's slot after loosening the screw. It seems like the screws are set extremely tight within the pickups, and I'm guessing that's causing the pickups to catch the screws instead of smoothly adjusting.

I was able to get them set where I will probably keep them, but I just found it odd that it was that difficult to adjust when adjusting each individual coil is kind of the big selling point they're pushing with these new pickups.

 

[castlev]

So I filed the nut and used the Dingwall .170 string pack for F#, it worked out well. The .170 is just long enough to have the full thickness winding over the nut. Sounds great!

 

[edthebass]

Finally got my hands on a BTB806MS for a pretty solid price.

So far I'm digging it quite a bit, but I noticed that the pickups seem to stick pretty bad when attempting to adjust the pickup height. Has anyone else experienced this? It seems like lowering them isn't much of a problem (although it seems like I can't lower them much farther than they were already set when I received it), but when I try to raise them up a bit, the pickup won't actually raise up unless I wiggle it around in it's slot after loosening the screw. It seems like the screws are set extremely tight within the pickups, and I'm guessing that's causing the pickups to catch the screws instead of smoothly adjusting.

I was able to get them set where I will probably keep them, but I just found it odd that it was that difficult to adjust when adjusting each individual coil is kind of the big selling point they're pushing with these new pickups.
View attachment 4740024

I played around with the pickup height too and it was indeed tight. I had to be very careful with the right screwdriver to not potentially strip, although the screws seem to be good quality. I'd rather have it tight than the opposite though. Did you notice much positive impact to the sound when you were messing with it?
I didn't notice too much and when I put it back to both pickups flat, it sounded better to me.

 

[J-Rad]

I played around with the pickup height too and it was indeed tight. I had to be very careful with the right screwdriver to not potentially strip, although the screws seem to be good quality. I'd rather have it tight than the opposite though. Did you notice much positive impact to the sound when you were messing with it?
I didn't notice too much and when I put it back to both pickups flat, it sounded better to me.

Honestly, I didn't notice too much of a difference when adjusting. To be fair, I didn't adjust them very much, I basically just tried to get the individual coils to lay flat next to one another and then raised the neck coils up just a bit since they seemed sort of low to me. If anything, it may have gained a LITTLE bit of punch, but nothing that noticeable.
Not complaining though, because the sound I AM getting is quite good.

 

[Maramos43]

Guys, for those of you with both a Dingwall NG3 and the BTB, which one are you liking better so far? I'm gassing over the BTB lately, but I already have an NG3... Thanks in advance!

 

[Maramos43]

Guys, for those of you with both a Dingwall NG3 and the BTB, which one are you liking better so far? I'm gassing over the BTB lately, but I already have an NG3... Thanks in advance!

No one is ready yet to give a final assessment?

 

[fivestringgecko]

Guys, for those of you with both a Dingwall NG3 and the BTB, which one are you liking better so far?

I'm also interested in the comparison. I've been curious to try out a multi-scale for a while now and have been GASing for the 805MS since it was announced. Even the overseas Dingwalls are a little more than I'd like to pay for a bass for mere curiosity, and personal preference... The Dingwalls look great, but I do like the look of the new trans grey BTB MS a bit more.

Just curious if something like a Combustion or NG3 would be $1k worth of "better" I guess. I don't know that I'd be able to personally try them both locally. Even in a city the size of Denver, we have a music retail scene that's, well.... "disappointing" to be diplomatic.

EDIT: Reading back a few pages, looks like @shade_1313 has a little bit of comparison info posted that make it seem like a fairly positive comparison. Shade, would be cool to hear more in-depth thoughts once you've had a little more time with the BTB. (or from anyone else with both!)

5sg.

 

[J-Rad]

Guys, for those of you with both a Dingwall NG3 and the BTB, which one are you liking better so far? I'm gassing over the BTB lately, but I already have an NG3... Thanks in advance!

I currently own an Ibanez BTB806MS (6-String) and a Dingwall NG2 (5-String). I used to own a Dingwall NG3 (5-String), so I can definitely give my opinion on this one.

Short Answer: I vastly prefer the Ibanez over the Dingwall.

To be completely transparent, I am extremely picky on the specs and feel of the basses that I tend to gravitate towards and play the most. I used to not like the Ibanez stuff very much, but they've really been nailing it for me the past 2 years.

The main reasons I prefer the BTB over the Dingwall are:
-Thinner/Wider Neck (Seriously, the necks on these are VERY thin)
-EXTREMELY flat neck-radius (I don't even play some other basses now because of how much I prefer the radius on the 6-string BTB)
-Stainless-Steel Frets (not necessarily a deal-breaker if they don't have them, but I've become so used to the feel of them that I just prefer them)
-The Zero-Fret (Honestly, this isn't even a MAJOR deal for me, but it DOES seem to add a bit of punch to those open notes that I really dig)
-The T1 pickups (I primarily play finger-style, so I really dig the overall design and feel of these.)
-The Pickup Placement (Personal preference. I struggle to play finger-style effectively on my NG2 due to where the pickups sit. The NG3 WAS superior to the NG2 in this department, but I still prefer to have space between the neck/bridge pickups when playing finger-style. However, if I play with a pick, then I may actually prefer the Dingwall.)
-Extended Upper-Horn (Again, personal preference, but I tend to find basses with longer upper-horns to be more comfortable to play while standing. Could be a mental thing, but they just feel better against my body while playing)
-The Scale Length (Totally personal preference, but I prefer the fan of the Ibanez multi-scale basses over the Dingwall. It's not a HUGE difference, but it just seems to fit my hands much better)

I will say that the BTB is MUCH heavier than the Dingwall. If you're used to the weight of a Dingwall then you may want to invest in a strap with some stretch to it to help compensate.

Overall, I honestly have been debating selling my Dingwall NG2 lately. Between my BTB806MS, EHB1506MS, and my EHB1505MS, the Dingwall basically never gets touched anymore which really bums me out. The Dingwall is a fantastic instrument, but it's just not MY instrument, if that makes sense.

I'd be more than happy to answer any specific questions you may have concerning the BTB

 

[Maramos43]

I currently own an Ibanez BTB806MS (6-String) and a Dingwall NG2 (5-String). I used to own a Dingwall NG3 (5-String), so I can definitely give my opinion on this one.

Short Answer: I vastly prefer the Ibanez over the Dingwall.

To be completely transparent, I am extremely picky on the specs and feel of the basses that I tend to gravitate towards and play the most. I used to not like the Ibanez stuff very much, but they've really been nailing it for me the past 2 years.

The main reasons I prefer the BTB over the Dingwall are:
-Thinner/Wider Neck (Seriously, the necks on these are VERY thin)
-EXTREMELY flat neck-radius (I don't even play some other basses now because of how much I prefer the radius on the 6-string BTB)
-Stainless-Steel Frets (not necessarily a deal-breaker if they don't have them, but I've become so used to the feel of them that I just prefer them)
-The Zero-Fret (Honestly, this isn't even a MAJOR deal for me, but it DOES seem to add a bit of punch to those open notes that I really dig)
-The T1 pickups (I primarily play finger-style, so I really dig the overall design and feel of these.)
-The Pickup Placement (Personal preference. I struggle to play finger-style effectively on my NG2 due to where the pickups sit. The NG3 WAS superior to the NG2 in this department, but I still prefer to have space between the neck/bridge pickups when playing finger-style. However, if I play with a pick, then I may actually prefer the Dingwall.)
-Extended Upper-Horn (Again, personal preference, but I tend to find basses with longer upper-horns to be more comfortable to play while standing. Could be a mental thing, but they just feel better against my body while playing)
-The Scale Length (Totally personal preference, but I prefer the fan of the Ibanez multi-scale basses over the Dingwall. It's not a HUGE difference, but it just seems to fit my hands much better)

I will say that the BTB is MUCH heavier than the Dingwall. If you're used to the weight of a Dingwall then you may want to invest in a strap with some stretch to it to help compensate.

Overall, I honestly have been debating selling my Dingwall NG2 lately. Between my BTB806MS, EHB1506MS, and my EHB1505MS, the Dingwall basically never gets touched anymore which really bums me out. The Dingwall is a fantastic instrument, but it's just not MY instrument, if that makes sense.

I'd be more than happy to answer any specific questions you may have concerning the BTB

Thanks a lot for your input! I completely agree with you regarding the specs and feel when it comes to preference. What are your impressions on the sound/pickups when compared to the NG? I feel that I never clicked completely with the FD3n pickups.

 

[J-Rad]

Thanks a lot for your input! I completely agree with you regarding the specs and feel when it comes to preference. What are your impressions on the sound/pickups when compared to the NG? I feel that I never clicked completely with the FD3n pickups.

I have no issues with the Dingwall pickups compared to the BTB pickups, honestly.

I, personally, have a very hard time making height adjustments with the T1 pickups on the BTB. They tend to stick horribly when attempting to adjust the pickup height, but that might just be my specific model that I received. I've heard other people do not have that issue as much as I do. However, I was able to get them where I wanted them and I'm just going to leave them alone, so it's not a huge deal for me.

As mentioned in my previous post, my only complaint with the pickups on the NG2 is their placement. I've actually been debating ordering an NG3 pickguard and then moving the middle pickup to the neck position (my model has the neck route already made, so it would just be a matter of moving the pickup to the new route location). I feel like I would like the Dingwall way more if the pickups were set in this configuration.

In terms of sound, I don't have the most finely-tuned ear, so I would take my opinion on this topic with a grain of salt. I DO believe that the pickups on the Dingwall are a bit more versatile than the T1 pickups. However, being able to adjust the individual coils on the T1 pickups can really help shape the tone on the bass. As I stated before, my T1 pickups on my model seem to be very difficult to adjust, so I have not experimented much with this aspect of the pickups, but I've heard others say that it can make a pretty noticeable difference.

I recently recorded bass with the project I am currently working with (which is a melodic metalcore band), and we A/B'd all of my basses in the studio before recording. The BTB was the 2nd choice, and the Dingwall was dead last (we ended up recording with the EHB1506MS). The Dingwall was just WAY too bright and aggressive for what we were going for, whereas the BTB had a very punchy and warm tone in comparison.

Overall, I believe both the BTB and the NG2/NG3 are fantastic basses. I just think it really depends on what you are going for in terms of feel and tone that will determine which one you gravitate towards most. I know a lot of people see it as blasphemy if you prefer a sub-$2000 bass more than a Dingwall, but I'm a major "feel" guy, and I truly believe there are plenty of less-expensive basses on the market that "feel" better than a Dingwall. If there are a lot of aspects of the Dingwall that you DO like, but you're just not QUITE feeling it as much as you would like, then I would HIGHLY recommend checking out one of the multi-scale BTB's if you get the chance.

 

[fivestringgecko]

Thanks for your input @J-Rad, much appreciated. It provides some confirmation for what I've already been thinking about the comparison between the two, and your list of reasons for liking the BTB better definitely seems similar to a lot of my personal preferences for instruments as well.

Since this is a thread about the BTB multi-scale, I feel okay about asking this question here as well:
Aside from the obviously headless-ness of the EHBs, how do you think the BTB MS and EHB MS compare? I had a chance to briefly check out an EHB a while back and ergonomically it was pretty nice. I wasn't sure about the look at first so I ignored it for a while, but now it's kind of growing on me. Obviously it will weigh less being chambered and not having a headstock, and the scale lengths are different. Any other thoughts? How do you like the 37" scale on the BTB compared to the 35" on the EHB?

5sg.

 

[J-Rad]

Thanks for your input @J-Rad, much appreciated. It provides some confirmation for what I've already been thinking about the comparison between the two, and your list of reasons for liking the BTB better definitely seems similar to a lot of my personal preferences for instruments as well.

Since this is a thread about the BTB multi-scale, I feel okay about asking this question here as well:
Aside from the obviously headless-ness of the EHBs, how do you think the BTB MS and EHB MS compare? I had a chance to briefly check out an EHB a while back and ergonomically it was pretty nice. I wasn't sure about the look at first so I ignored it for a while, but now it's kind of growing on me. Obviously it will weigh less being chambered and not having a headstock, and the scale lengths are different. Any other thoughts? How do you like the 37" scale on the BTB compared to the 35" on the EHB?

5sg.

Overall, I would say I prefer the EHB over the BTB, myself.

When you look at the spec-sheets of the EHB MS and the BTB MS, they are actually quite similar in many ways. However, the EHB was basically designed around ergonomics and comfort, which is a HUGE plus for me, personally. I spend about 90% of my active playing time standing, so having a bass that is designed around comfort and ease of playability is a massive deal for me.

I will say that I do prefer the Nordstrand pickups that come on the 1500 series of EHB's to the T1 pickups on the BTB. I feel like they are much more versatile and have a bit more dynamics than the T1 pickups. However, I will also say that I prefer the T1 pickups on the BTB over the Bartolini pickups that come on the 1000 series of EHB's. Those Bartolini's will get the job done, but I feel like they just lack something that makes it hard for me to thoroughly enjoy them.

Both the EHB MS and BTB MS have the exact same fretboard radius (at least on the 6-string models). I've discovered that I VASTLY prefer this flatter radius over almost any other bass I've played. However, the neck on the EHB is actually a bit thicker than the neck on the BTB, which I wasn't expecting. I've owned a few BTB's in the past, and I don't remember the neck being THIS thin (seriously...it's pretty dang thin), but that could just be my memory. That's not a knock against either bass at all, and it actually keeps swapping between them kind of interesting. Some days a thicker neck feels better in my hands, and other days a thinner neck feels better. It's fantastic knowing that I have both options available to me while also maintaining that fretboard radius that I absolutely adore.

As for the difference in scale length between the two, I honestly barely notice it when swapping between them (I also currently ONLY own multi-scale basses, so I could just be VERY used to that design). They both share the same fan measurement across the board (2.5" fan across the width of the board on the 6-string models) but not the same overall scale (34.5" - 37" on the 6-string BTB, 32.5" - 35" on the 6-string EHB). I feel like if you notice the difference at all, it will be more in your arm than your actual hand while playing. The only down-side of the longer scale on the BTB is string choice. Not a ton of manufacturers are jumping on-board with the 37" scale basses yet, so it makes finding strings a BIT of a pain. I've discovered that Stringjoy Extra-Long scale strings seem to work quite well on the BTB, so I'll probably just stick with those.

I would be more than happy to answer any other questions you may have concerning this topic

 

[Nuage420]

As for the difference in scale length between the two, I honestly barely notice it when swapping between them (I also currently ONLY own multi-scale basses, so I could just be VERY used to that design).

Same, I've found that the number of frets is the only factor that makes me notice a change from instrument to instrument.

 

[fivestringgecko]

Thanks again for the info, @J-Rad! I guess if I had the $ today and was going to pick between the two, I'm not that sure which would win.

I like the look of the BTB better, but it seems like it will be on the heavy side. In the case of Gregor's Bass The World video, his is 10.3lbs. That might be the one deal breaker for me with the BTB, heavy basses aren't great for extended gigs. (I've got a Stingray that's a case queen that stays home because it weighs in at 10.4lbs. Sounds great, but my back feels it after a gig. It's a Limited Edition though, so I can't quite bear parting with it… )

That's where the EHB starts to really gain ground. It looks a bit more… "unique" lol, but being chambered and headless gets it into even sub-8lb territory which is appealing.

Have you had a chance to take your BTB on a gig yet? How does the weight compare to your other basses?

For the EHB, I've seen a couple complaints about the slanted body and how it makes the bass angle a little funny (not entirely vertical, control side angles away from the body) when on a strap against the player… thoughts about that?

5sg.

 

[Nuage420]

Thanks again for the info, @J-Rad! I guess if I had the $ today and was going to pick between the two, I'm not that sure which would win.

I like the look of the BTB better, but it seems like it will be on the heavy side. In the case of Gregor's Bass The World video, his is 10.3lbs. That might be the one deal breaker for me with the BTB, heavy basses aren't great for extended gigs. (I've got a Stingray that's a case queen that stays home because it weighs in at 10.4lbs. Sounds great, but my back feels it after a gig. It's a Limited Edition though, so I can't quite bear parting with it… )

That's where the EHB starts to really gain ground. It looks a bit more… "unique" lol, but being chambered and headless gets it into even sub-8lb territory which is appealing.

Have you had a chance to take your BTB on a gig yet? How does the weight compare to your other basses?

For the EHB, I've seen a couple complaints about the slanted body and how it makes the bass angle a little funny (not entirely vertical, control side angles away from the body) when on a strap against the player… thoughts about that?

5sg.

The best MS I've had yet has been the 1005ms with Nordstrand Big Splits and a darkglass tone capsule. Didn't miss the passive option at all. And the lighter pickups and less electronics brought it from 7.2lbs down to 6.7lbs. it sounds led absolutely massive, clear, and punched like a butter bean hay maker.

I sold it but only to try out some other MS. I'll be buying another and setting it up the same way.

 

[fivestringgecko]

The best MS I've had yet has been the 1005ms with Nordstrand Big Splits and a darkglass tone capsule.

The 1005MS is what I had a chance to check out briefly at a local Guitar Center and would definitely need to replace the stock Bart BH2s. I originally thought the strings were just dead when I played it given that I was at GC, but my internet perusings over the last week or so brought to my attention that it may have actually been the BH2 pickups, which seem quite dull and lifeless in comparison to the Nordstrands in the 1505MS in videos that have both basses. And while Seafoam Green is always a nice color, probably not something I'd personally buy at the moment. I like the 1505MS blue, but I'm actually digging the walnut top(s) on the 1265MS quite a bit... That and a set of Aguilars or Nordstrands might be the way I'd go if I ever decide to get an EHB.

I'm wondering if an A/B comparison video of the BTB and EHB multi-scales might pop up on YT sometime in the not-to-distant future.

@J-Rad, I did think of another question for you: Sounds like the differences in scale length from a playability standpoint doesn't have a huge difference, but does the 37" B string on the BTB MS have any advantage over the 35" on the EHB in terms of sound/clarity? The guy in the Ish Guitars demo of the EHB pointed out that for someone who doesn't do a lot of drop tuning (aka me), a 37" B isn't really that necessary, but wondering if it still might be worth it if it's significantly better/clearer. I do rely on the B string a fair bit in current gigs for tunes in the C to Eb territory.

5sg.

 

[J-Rad]

Thanks again for the info, @J-Rad! I guess if I had the $ today and was going to pick between the two, I'm not that sure which would win.

I like the look of the BTB better, but it seems like it will be on the heavy side. In the case of Gregor's Bass The World video, his is 10.3lbs. That might be the one deal breaker for me with the BTB, heavy basses aren't great for extended gigs. (I've got a Stingray that's a case queen that stays home because it weighs in at 10.4lbs. Sounds great, but my back feels it after a gig. It's a Limited Edition though, so I can't quite bear parting with it… )

That's where the EHB starts to really gain ground. It looks a bit more… "unique" lol, but being chambered and headless gets it into even sub-8lb territory which is appealing.

Have you had a chance to take your BTB on a gig yet? How does the weight compare to your other basses?

For the EHB, I've seen a couple complaints about the slanted body and how it makes the bass angle a little funny (not entirely vertical, control side angles away from the body) when on a strap against the player… thoughts about that?

5sg.

I used to own an Ernie Ball Stingray 5-string (single humbucker model). I totally understand where you're coming from with that guy. Mine weighed a decent amount as well and I had a really hard time getting along with it.

My current project hasn't done any live gigs yet (we're still wrapping up our debut demo), but I HAVE done a number of extended practice sessions with it. I DEFINITELY notice the weight on the BTB during longer practices, but I also use a Levy's Neoprene Guitar Strap. These straps are made out of a stretchy material that REALLY helps out with doing longer sessions on heavier instruments. I would highly recommend checking these straps out if weight and comfort is an issue at all with your playing (the exact item # for that particular strap is
PM48NP3). Even though it's unnecessary, I use these straps on my EHB's as well, just because they're so dang comfortable! I will say that the extended upper-horn on the BTB DOES help it balance a bit better than other heavier basses that I have owned/played. Also, I tend to wear my BTB a bit lower on the strap than my EHB's due to the weight. I feel like that actually helps quite a bit with longer playing sessions.

In regards to the slight slant that is carved into the back of the EHB's, I would NOT worry about that at all, honestly. I literally never notice that the slant is even there. I wear my EHB's about mid-torso level when standing, and it has never been an issue for me, personally. If you wear your bass VERY high, then I could MAYBE see that slant making a bit more noticeable of a difference, but if you wear it around belly-button level or lower, I really don't think you would notice it very much. However, I am also quite skinny, so perhaps if you had a bit more of a beer belly on you, then MAYBE you would notice it a bit more, also

 

[J-Rad]

@J-Rad, I did think of another question for you: Sounds like the differences in scale length from a playability standpoint doesn't have a huge difference, but does the 37" B string on the BTB MS have any advantage over the 35" on the EHB in terms of sound/clarity? The guy in the Ish Guitars demo of the EHB pointed out that for someone who doesn't do a lot of drop tuning (aka me), a 37" B isn't really that necessary, but wondering if it still might be worth it if it's significantly better/clearer. I do rely on the B string a fair bit in current gigs for tunes in the C to Eb territory.

5sg.

I would say that the 37" scale would definitely give you a more defined B string, but it also isn't NECESSARY for a well defined B string. Also, since the BTB has a Zero Fret, it'll make those open notes a lot more punchy. So if you desire a higher-tension and super-punchy open B and don't want to use thicker strings, then the BTB would deliver. However, if you're open to going with a thicker string and filing your nut slot a bit wider to allow for that, then that is always another option.

I personally don't like thicker strings (I'm a .130 B-string guy 'till I die), so the multi-scale design is ideal for me. I have had no issues with standard OR down-tuning on any of my basses using a .130 low B. If I need to get lower than Drop A (which my current project does), then I utilize a DigiTech Drop Tune pedal to achieve that so that I do not have to worry about using different gauges all of the time.

I know my comfort zone and I'm stickin' to it!

 

[fivestringgecko]

Thanks again for the continued comparison info @J-Rad, lots of good info to consider!

Okay folks, apologies for clogging the thread with the BRB/EHB comparison discussion... And now back to our regularly scheduled programming!

5sg.

 

[gzarruk]

Thanks again for the continued comparison info @J-Rad, lots of good info to consider!

Okay folks, apologies for clogging the thread with the BRB/EHB comparison discussion... And now back to our regularly scheduled programming!

5sg.

Don't apologize, this has been fantastic! As someone who has been wanting to get either a BTB 6 (MS or Premium) or an EHB 1506MS for a while, this has been very useful! Thanks to both!

I'm still not quite sure which one will win for me, but since I'm getting married early next year, It's not like buying a new bass is in my top spending priorities right now anyway