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Ibanez Ergonomic Headless Bass (EHB) club

#3,585
First impressions of the EHB1006MS are a mixed bag, with an overall tilt towards it being a keeper after certain questions are addressed.

Negatives:

There's some finish imperfections on the neck. a few spots appear to be factory defects and others might be scuffs from transportation/storage. Doesn't affect playability, but it's annoying to run your hand down a new bass and feel some rough spots.

Positives:

This is the most comfortable bass I have ever played. It's featherweight, and the balance of the bass is absolutely perfect. I don't know if I can ever go back to a bass with a traditional headstock/tuners after trying this bass. If I ever gig again, it will only be with headless basses. Way more ergonomic and compact. The neck is a very comfortable profile for a 6. This is the first 6 string that I have owned. I still suck at it, but it's not nearly as cumbersome as I expected. I do have huge hands, though. The fingerboard is stunning. Amazing aesthetics with the Birdseye maple that make me feel like I'm playing a much more expensive instrument.

Sound:
I've played it for several hours DI into my RME interface. Nice, clear sound. B string is nice and tight but lacks a bit of volume compared to the other strings. I will be putting new strings on the bass that should balance things out better. Need to play it more and compare it to other basses I have on hand to get a better idea of where this bass stands in the tone department.

Questions:
I included a second photo of a fret on this bass, as I'm wondering if this is normal for EHBs. The retailer from whom I purchased the bass threw in a PLEK job free of charge, and I"m wondering if these "flattened" frets are normal for EHBs or if it's an artifact of the PLEK job. I've never seen frets on any of my other basses that look like this, including my Lakland that was also PLEK'd. Hoping that the retailer didn't mess up the frets on this otherwise very nice bass.
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#3,587
BigKD said:
Questions:
I included a second photo of a fret on this bass, as I'm wondering if this is normal for EHBs. The retailer from whom I purchased the bass threw in a PLEK job free of charge, and I"m wondering if these "flattened" frets are normal for EHBs or if it's an artifact of the PLEK job. I've never seen frets on any of my other basses that look like this, including my Lakland that was also PLEK'd. Hoping that the retailer didn't mess up the frets on this otherwise very nice bass.
Click to expand...

Mine definitely don't look like that. Is this just that one fret, or is it all of them?

That looks plain wrong to my eyes, but I'm definitely not an expert in the field of frets
 
#3,588
Swift713 said:
I’m a little disappointed with the name that Ibanez chose for this bass. EHB is just not very inspiring. How about Ichabod instead, since Roland is already taken?
Click to expand...
There's something about the tuners tucked into the bottom of the body and the foreshortened headstock that makes me think of amputation when I see headless basses.

Maybe call it Bob?
BigKD said:
First impressions of the EHB1006MS are a mixed bag, with an overall tilt towards it being a keeper after certain questions are addressed.

Negatives:

There's some finish imperfections on the neck. a few spots appear to be factory defects and others might be scuffs from transportation/storage. Doesn't affect playability, but it's annoying to run your hand down a new bass and feel some rough spots.

Positives:

This is the most comfortable bass I have ever played. It's featherweight, and the balance of the bass is absolutely perfect. I don't know if I can ever go back to a bass with a traditional headstock/tuners after trying this bass. If I ever gig again, it will only be with headless basses. Way more ergonomic and compact. The neck is a very comfortable profile for a 6. This is the first 6 string that I have owned. I still suck at it, but it's not nearly as cumbersome as I expected. I do have huge hands, though. The fingerboard is stunning. Amazing aesthetics with the Birdseye maple that make me feel like I'm playing a much more expensive instrument.

Sound:
I've played it for several hours DI into my RME interface. Nice, clear sound. B string is nice and tight but lacks a bit of volume compared to the other strings. I will be putting new strings on the bass that should balance things out better. Need to play it more and compare it to other basses I have on hand to get a better idea of where this bass stands in the tone department.

Questions:
I included a second photo of a fret on this bass, as I'm wondering if this is normal for EHBs. The retailer from whom I purchased the bass threw in a PLEK job free of charge, and I"m wondering if these "flattened" frets are normal for EHBs or if it's an artifact of the PLEK job. I've never seen frets on any of my other basses that look like this, including my Lakland that was also PLEK'd. Hoping that the retailer didn't mess up the frets on this otherwise very nice bass.
View attachment 4813589
View attachment 4813590
Click to expand...
Small inclusions in the matte finish are common on these.

If you get some 1500-grit or 2000 grit ultra-fine wet/dry sandpaper from the automotive aisle, you can very gently scrub the back of the neck along it's length. Just a few strokes should be enough to knock off those little bibits, making an invisible repair.

That fret issue is nasty- one of the big marketing advantages of the EHB series, is the nicely polished stainless frets.

It's a botched fret job.

While Plek is a marvellous invention, it's only as good as the operator.

The good news is that it doesn't matter now if it came like that from Ibanez, as the dealer was the last one to touch it.

It's on them to re-crown the fret, and polish it. Assuming that's the only bum fret, it should take about 15 minutes to fix.

Take it back, and insist that they put it right.
 
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#3,591
BasseroDE said:
The frets on my EHB1005SMS do not look like that - mine look perfectly rounded on top and the edges.

Yours look quite rough and from what I read on Pleking this is usually only micro leveling.

This fret was probably extremely high but someone was lazy and didn´t round off the fret properly.

How does it feel (roughness) and intonate?
Click to expand...
Honestly most of the frets look similar to this one. Never seen anything like it on any other bass I've played.
 
#3,592
steve_rolfeca said:
There's something about the tuners tucked into the bottom of the body and the foreshortened headstock that makes me think of amputation when I see headless basses.

Maybe call it Bob?

Small inclusions in the matte finish are common on these.

If you get some 1500-grit or 2000 grit ultra-fine wet/dry sandpaper from the automotive aisle, you can very gently scrub the back of the neck along it's length. Just a few strokes should be enough to knock off those little bibits, making an invisible repair.

That fret issue is nasty- one of the big marketing advantages of the EHB series, is the nicely polished stainless frets.

It's a botched fret job.

While Plek is a marvellous invention, it's only as good as the operator.

The good news is that it doesn't matter now if it came like that from Ibanez, as the dealer was the last one to touch it.

It's on them to re-crown the fret, and polish it. Assuming that's the only bum fret, it should take about 15 minutes to fix.

Take it back, and insist that they put it right.
Click to expand...
Almost all the frets look like this...***. I'm going to call them on Friday when I have some free time during the day. Really don't want to send this one back, as it has the nicest fretboard I've ever seen in my life lol.
 
#3,595
BasseroDE said:
I wouldn´t find that acceptable and return it. Something smells extremly fishy if all of the frets look like that.
Click to expand...
Got some more info. Apparently the PLEK machine only recently gained the ability to do fanned frets, and it cannot crown them. So the crowning step has to be done by hand, which the retailer clearly did not do. "This is how we've been doing all of them, and nobody has ever complained." Big seller on Reverb so buyer beware when buying used, as there must be a good number of EHBs floating around with this "treatment."
 
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#3,596
BigKD said:
Got some more info. Apparently the PLEK machine only recently gained the ability to do fanned frets, and it cannot crown them. So the crowning step has to be done by hand, which the retailer clearly did not do. "This is how we've been doing all of them, and nobody has ever complained." Big seller on Reverb so buyer beware when buying used, as there must be a good number of EHBs floating around with this "treatment."
Click to expand...
That is absolutely nuts.

A nice, narrow crown is essential to a good clean witness point, and proper intonation. So is a good polish.

Based on the half a dozen EHB's I've seen so far, that bass was better BEFORE they Plek'd it.

Idiots.
 
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#3,597
My son came across an Ibanez EHB1000S in the Pink finish @ MGR for $612
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Should be here next week sometime...
p_region_EHB1000S_PMM_1P_01.png
Looks to be a sweet short scale headless bass for the money...
Not a Steinberger, we have a XP-2 BTW...
Also have an Ibanez SR300 SDGR bass & a Jackson JPB-7 Frettless

Will post back when it gets here & gets a fresh set of strings on it...
Gary
 
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#3,598
steve_rolfeca said:
That is absolutely nuts.

A nice, narrow crown is essential to a good clean witness point, and proper intonation. So is a good polish.

Based on the half a dozen EHB's I've seen so far, that bass was better BEFORE they Plek'd it.

Idiots.
Click to expand...
No doubt. I deeply regret going along with the "free PLEK." It has the nicest Birdseye maple fretboard I've ever seen in person...shame they messed it up.
 
#3,599
BigKD said:
No doubt. I deeply regret going along with the "free PLEK." It has the nicest Birdseye maple fretboard I've ever seen in person...shame they messed it up.
Click to expand...

Your photo really makes that fret look really flat & not crowned or smooth at all...
I have only seen videos of a PLEK machine at Gibson & would steer clear of one after seeing that Photo
Those frets need a Crown right down the center to intonate properly & be smooth

The EHB 1000S we have coming has a Super Fine looking Roasted Maple Fretboard
See the link above before the photos vanish
 

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