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Ibanez GVB1006/36 is $5000 really worth it?

What's the better buy?

  • Ibanez GVB1006

  • Ibanez GVB36 with potential pickups and preamp upgrades

Results are only viewable after voting.
#21
TheMartianBassist said:
These basses have always been notoriously heavy. Which definitely is a consideration.
Would be a tough pill to swallow for me as well at 10 lbs.

I just checked again on the Ibanez website.. both 36 and 1006 have the OBP listed…unless it’s a typo on their end, or sweetwater have old stock. I’m not sure.

Also $1500 for a bass, no case included. Even further insult 😂
Click to expand...
I agree, also the less than spectacular grain patterns in the newer ones may be intentional as an attempt to drive potential buyers to the GVB1006.
I may have bought the GVB36 with the great looking grain in the current Ibanez online pics, but not with the cheap looking, washed out crap they’re producing now.
 
Last edited:
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#22
TheMartianBassist said:
At this point, buying the 36, getting your own fret beveling done locally and swapping out the pickups is the most obvious choice.
Click to expand...
I bet it won't need any fret work, or at best, minor. Even if you paid for a Plek that's about $250.

A pair of Barts is like $450 for the CBCs, but I'm thinking of the EMG E5W for mine. Done the measurements and they should be fine.

Later I can always get the CBCs, but I find Barts a bit dark for my taste.
TheMartianBassist said:
It seems like now BOTH the 36 and 1006 are getting the Aguilar OBP3 preamp.
Click to expand...
When I ordered mine I had the store make sure it's the OBP.
 
#26
Fret leveling, edge rounding, sanded the back of the neck, replaced stock electronics with EMG pups and preamp.
Pickup cavities needed slight additional routing. Pickups were a credit card width too long to fit.

IMG_0151.jpeg


80039121893__9D390FC0-149C-47F6-B864-16C46F5F0AD6.jpeg
 
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#27
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#28
TheMartianBassist said:
I know there's a few threads on this but I feel like this topic can still be discussed in further detail considering this bass is still fairly new.

Check this out:

GVB1006
View attachment 2464029
SPECS
- neck type: GVB 3pc Maple/Wenge neck
- body: Figured Maple top/Alder body
- fretboard: Rosewood fretboard w/Abalone oval inlay
- fret: Medium frets w/Prestige fret edge treatment
- number of frets: 24
- bridge: Mono-rail IV bridge (14mm string spacing)
- neck pickup: Bartolini® P45C-B neck pickup (Passive)
- bridge pickup: Bartolini® P45C-T bridge pickup (Passive)
- equalizer: Aguilar® OBP-3 preamp w/Mid frequency selector (push/pull)
- hardware: color Cosmo black
- price: $4999.99

VS

GVB36
View attachment 2464030
SPECS
- neck type: GVB 3pc Maple neck
- body: Flamed Maple top/Alder body
- fretboard: Rosewood fretboard w/Abalone oval inlay
- fret: Medium frets
- number of frets: 24
- bridge: Mono-rail IV bridge (14mm string spacing)
- neck pickup: Bartolini® MK1 neck pickup (Passive)
- bridge pickup: Bartolini® MK1 bridge pickup (Passive)
- equalizer: EQB-IIISP 3 band eq w/Mid frequency selector (push/pull)
- hardware: color Cosmo black
- price: $1199.99



Is the 1006 worth $5000 for a reinforced Wenge neck, fancier top, fret treatment, better pickups and preamp?
What about buying pickups and preamp for the 36 and saving substantial amounts of money?

The only real IMPORTANT concern in my opinion is the Wenge strip added to the neck of the 1006. This bass has a guitar-size, very slim neck profile with 14mm string spacing and Wenge being a very durable wood I would imagine would help stabilize the neck.
That alone could be a deal breaker with the 36 which only has maple.

Opinions???
Click to expand...
OVERPRICED!!! I look at that and think about a custom from MTD, Fodera or Dingwall, not to mention the numerous smaller custom shops. I would never pay that much for a production bass.
 
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#29
Pep said:
OVERPRICED!!! I look at that and think about a custom from MTD, Fodera or Dingwall, not to mention the numerous smaller custom shops. I would never pay that much for a production bass.
Click to expand...
Precisely why I went the route that I did.
Ppl get the GVB because it’s one of the very few production 6er’s around with 14mm spacing.
Upgrading the electronics really is a must with this bass.
I’m very happy with mine.

It is heavy tho. No getting around that. But I play this instrument seated down most of the time.
 
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#31
I know it’s getting a bit redundant to say but I can’t stop gushing over this bass.
It’s been turned into a freakin’ MACHINE.
I didn’t figure I would love the EMG electronics as much as I do but the bass sounds and plays so incredibly nice.
EMG hifi/crisp/clean tone is definitely there, which is a tone I found myself craving for a while now (considering my other basses sound very traditional).
Preamp feels fantastic with a very usable tone knob that’s missing on the stock bass.

E5W pickups and BQC preamp.
Neck also feels amazing after the fret work and sanding that was done.

IMG_2773.jpeg
 
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#32
TheMartianBassist said:
I know there's a few threads on this but I feel like this topic can still be discussed in further detail considering this bass is still fairly new.

Check this out:

GVB1006
View attachment 2464029
SPECS
- neck type: GVB 3pc Maple/Wenge neck
- body: Figured Maple top/Alder body
- fretboard: Rosewood fretboard w/Abalone oval inlay
- fret: Medium frets w/Prestige fret edge treatment
- number of frets: 24
- bridge: Mono-rail IV bridge (14mm string spacing)
- neck pickup: Bartolini® P45C-B neck pickup (Passive)
- bridge pickup: Bartolini® P45C-T bridge pickup (Passive)
- equalizer: Aguilar® OBP-3 preamp w/Mid frequency selector (push/pull)
- hardware: color Cosmo black
- price: $4999.99

VS

GVB36
View attachment 2464030
SPECS
- neck type: GVB 3pc Maple neck
- body: Flamed Maple top/Alder body
- fretboard: Rosewood fretboard w/Abalone oval inlay
- fret: Medium frets
- number of frets: 24
- bridge: Mono-rail IV bridge (14mm string spacing)
- neck pickup: Bartolini® MK1 neck pickup (Passive)
- bridge pickup: Bartolini® MK1 bridge pickup (Passive)
- equalizer: EQB-IIISP 3 band eq w/Mid frequency selector (push/pull)
- hardware: color Cosmo black
- price: $1199.99



Is the 1006 worth $5000 for a reinforced Wenge neck, fancier top, fret treatment, better pickups and preamp?
What about buying pickups and preamp for the 36 and saving substantial amounts of money?

The only real IMPORTANT concern in my opinion is the Wenge strip added to the neck of the 1006. This bass has a guitar-size, very slim neck profile with 14mm string spacing and Wenge being a very durable wood I would imagine would help stabilize the neck.
That alone could be a deal breaker with the 36 which only has maple.

Opinions???
Click to expand...
The GVB36 is going to give you 95% of what the $5,000 version offers. The primary difference is the preamp. I would get the GVB36, get a PLEK and evaluate the preamp, which you could upgrade if you find it lacking.
 
#33
TheMartianBassist said:
E5W pickups and BQC preamp.
Click to expand...
My 36 is getting the E5Ws and I've been tossing up between the BQC and Underhill filters. Not sure but I'm thinking as I type this that I might put the filters into another bass I have. I'm glad to hear the EMG system sounds good though.

I've also ordered some Res-O-Lites.

Can't wait. I have a feeling a lot of my other basses will either be gathering dust or sold.

Love your avatar too. Bill Watterson was brilliant.
 
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#34
crazycloud said:
My 36 is getting the E5Ws and I've been tossing up between the BQC and Underhill filters. Not sure but I'm thinking as I type this that I might put the filters into another bass I have. I'm glad to hear the EMG system sounds good though.

I've also ordered some Res-O-Lites.

Can't wait. I have a feeling a lot of my other basses will either be gathering dust or sold.

Love your avatar too. Bill Watterson was brilliant.
Click to expand...

Eagerly awaiting your report!
 

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