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Ibanez BTB varieties?

W

Wolfman200

Feb 13, 2005
125
0
West Friendship, MD
#1
I just had the opportunity to try out a 4-string BTB at Music&Arts today, and I really loved the playability and sound. As far as I can tell, it's the prestige model with flamed maple top, bartolini's, and a sweepable mids switch. What prompted me to research it here is the price tag:~$1200?! I suppose its brand new, but I'm guessing there's a whole lot of wiggle room in there.

What I'd really like to know is how some of the other BTB models compare to this one. (Specifically 4-stringers)

I see that some of the step-down models have the same basic circuitry, except for the pickups. What's different about the sound of the Ibanez pickups vs. the barts?

In general, how does the tone differ between these models?

Although I didn't take the time to really put it through its paces and fiddle around with the eq, I didn't find a warm round straight ahead tone that I'm hoping to find(not a deal-killer, but a sound option I'd like to have). Would I find a better round tone in the model with Ibanez pickups?

I see that both models can be found on Ebay for around $500, so my instict would be to go for the prestige if I buy. However, if anyone prefers the sound of the other bass, I'd have to go find one to ttry out for myself.

Thanks in advance everybody!
 
#2
Ibanez hasn't made a whole lot of BTB 4 strings. From your description is it a BTB1000? That's not a current model, a couple years old. Flame maple top, but not through neck, custom barts, is that correct? I'd actually imagine that'd sound pretty good. I sometimes wish that my BTB1206e were bolt on for a bit more snap, but not all the times.

Your complaint about sound is funny, because I have a hard time getting mine to not have a round, straight ahead tone. Then again, different models.

It looks like the only current production Ibanez BTB 4 is a BTB200, which might sound good, but is in a totally different league than a prestige. I don't know much about previous generations of this series, take a look for ibanezregister.com for older models.
 
#4
cpach said:
Ibanez hasn't made a whole lot of BTB 4 strings. From your description is it a BTB1000? That's not a current model, a couple years old. Flame maple top, but not through neck, custom barts, is that correct? I'd actually imagine that'd sound pretty good. I sometimes wish that my BTB1206e were bolt on for a bit more snap, but not all the times.

Your complaint about sound is funny, because I have a hard time getting mine to not have a round, straight ahead tone. Then again, different models.

It looks like the only current production Ibanez BTB 4 is a BTB200, which might sound good, but is in a totally different league than a prestige. I don't know much about previous generations of this series, take a look for ibanezregister.com for older models.
Click to expand...

The BTB 450QM is also a four - the revision of the 400. It's the 455 that's the five string, and the 456 a six banger . . . .

I have one of the (slightly) older 405QMTK's, and it's a nice bass for the price . . .

- Tim
 
#5
I recently bought a BTB450 QM and am very happy with it . Bart mk1 pickups ,active ,sweep mids,bass and treble boost/cut,18 volt. I can relly get some crazy tones out of it as well as good "standard" tone.. $579.00 us
 
#6
I played another one yesterday and wasn't as happy with it. This one looked more like the 405QM, though from what I saw at ibanezregister.com, it's a BTB500. Anyway, it didn't seem to sound as clean. I can't be sure though, as the bass was pretty beat up, and obviously well-used. It was a lot cheaper of course.

Anyone have any idea how much I could haggle down the price of the new one I was referring to in my original post?
 

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