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Ibanez BTB series?

#7
I have a BTB1205E, and they are a very warm-sounding bass.

You can get it to sound more modern by playing with the EQ, but warm 60s and 70s tones seem to be its natural tone.

I recently went from leaving my pre-amp EQ flat, and boosting the on board EQ to the other way around, and I've gotten even closer to warm, vintage tones.

Here's a review I wrote at Harmony-central. Mine is the first one. http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Electric+Bass/product/Ibanez/BTB1205E/10/1

The Prestige series was recently discontinued, but all of the BTBs I've played over the years had a tendency towards warm tones. If you get a model with Barts in it, I'd imagine it'll have a warm tone.

Click on the picture of Bill Bartolini for a short story on the pups he designed for Ibanez.
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I haven't played too many SRs, but I think you'd like a BTB for a change.

Good luck.

Mike ;)
 
#8
I owned a 400 WRM for 4ish years. Didn't really like it.

Kinda of a dead tone, even with new strings. Had weird harmonics north of the 12th fret on any string. Had repeated issues with neck warp...original neck started to twist along its axis, Ibanez replaced. Couple months later, same thing...Ibanez replaced it again. A couple months later, warranty expires, and the third neck ended up getting snakey and wierd. Ibanez wouldn't help me.

I dealt with it like that for 3 years. Pissed me off righteously, but I could make it playable by loosening the truss rod and accepting a high action.


A few years in, my preamp got fuzzy...mids cut in and out.


Aside from these issues and it's general flabby tone, I also hated the finish. Looked awesome, trans red over quilted maple...but it was thick. Like a plate of glass over the wood. I always felt like I was playing plastic.


BUT...I liked the scale, width, thickness and flatness of the neck. Even with my bad neck, it was an easy player. I look forward to another 35" scale bass someday.


Obviously, I got a bum bass. These are generally well liked, here and out in the world at large. But be aware, especially if your buying used, there are lemons out there.
 
#11
I now own an ATK...BTB's do a warm, soft bumpy sound. They're basically stuck here, in my experience, regardless of EQ.

ATKs do a Pesque grindy vintage sound, and can also get a good aggresive scooped sound.

Having owned both, I'd always take the ATK. If I could get ATK woods and elctronics in BTB scale and style...that'd be perfect.
 
#12
CoarseBass said:
I now own an ATK...BTB's do a warm, soft bumpy sound. They're basically stuck here, in my experience, regardless of EQ.

ATKs do a Pesque grindy vintage sound, and can also get a good aggresive scooped sound.

Having owned both, I'd always take the ATK. If I could get ATK woods and elctronics in BTB scale and style...that'd be perfect.
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thanks man! that is great to hear, i just 4 hours away from buying a new bass and i want it to be a good decision and so far everyone whom ive asked picks the ATK more that anything.
 
#13
hectorjohn said:
thanks man! that is great to hear, i just 4 hours away from buying a new bass and i want it to be a good decision and so far everyone whom ive asked picks the ATK more that anything.
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Hectorjohn, did you buy a new bass?

On a different note, I noticed that the new BTBs don't have the mini-switch for the midrange shift, that the prestige series had.

I didn't pay attention to the one on my bass until I had it a few months. Its effect is subtle, yet noticeable. I usually keep mine at 250hz.

Mike
 
#16
hectorjohn said:
i just want to ask if the BTB 200 is good enough? i am currently deciding in buying that or an ATK.
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I've a current-ish BTB1205 & an original version ATK300. VERY different critters. ATK was my first & no way I could tame down mids & highs enough for my taste, even with Chromes. BTB's a new purchase, & the sound fits like a glove.

Nothing wrong at all with ATKs. But I really don't think that they are all things to all people.
 
#17
Here are some BTB photos to hold you guys & gals over 'till you can get to your local dealer. :D
_IGP1595.jpg

_IGP1594.jpg

_IGP1592.jpg


Mike ;)
 
#18
I have the same bass as Mike Jewels. I love it! Every note along the neck is clear and very articulate. I switch between standard and drop C tuning with it. I slapped the heaviest strings I could find on it and with only minor bridge adjustments it plays both tunings with no problems. The really thick strings aren't hard to play in standard either. This is one of the easiest playing basses I've ever picked up. The lead singer in one of my bands also plays bass and said the same thing.

I run my onboard EQ wide open with the switch in the back position, not sure what freq that is, but it gives it a good growly tone.

The only thing I would change about this bass is that the Prestige model only comes in natural. Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful bass, and I like the fact that I can still smell the natural wood when I open the case. I only wish that is was a trans red beautiful bass.

This bass through my GBE1200 and Berg NV610 absolutly kills tonewise.
 
#19
olaff421 said:
I have the same bass as Mike Jewels. I love it! Every note along the neck is clear and very articulate. I switch between standard and drop C tuning with it. I slapped the heaviest strings I could find on it and with only minor bridge adjustments it plays both tunings with no problems. The really thick strings aren't hard to play in standard either. This is one of the easiest playing basses I've ever picked up. The lead singer in one of my bands also plays bass and said the same thing.

I run my onboard EQ wide open with the switch in the back position, not sure what freq that is, but it gives it a good growly tone.

The only thing I would change about this bass is that the Prestige model only comes in natural. Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful bass, and I like the fact that I can still smell the natural wood when I open the case. I only wish that is was a trans red beautiful bass.

This bass through my GBE1200 and Berg NV610 absolutly kills tonewise.
Click to expand...

Very cool, olaff421!

For the last 3 years I kept the EQ on my amp flat, and ran the onboard bass, mids and treble at about 3 O'clock, and loved the sound. Just recently, I started keeping the onboard EQ flat, and experimenting with the EQ on my preamp (Boss ME-50B) and like the tones I'm getting even more. I'm getting slightly smoother neck pup tones, and burpier bridge tones.

I think when the mini-switch is pointing towards the neck, the mids are at 250hz, mid position is 500hz, and towards the back is 1000hz.

I love these basses. :cool:

Mike ;)
 

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