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Ibanez GWB1005: Wha, huh?

Wilbyman

Wilbyman

Sep 10, 2003
3,834
108
49
Parkersburg, WV
#1
I just checked out Willis' site and saw the new edition of the Willis bass...pretty much the same thing as previous incarnations. MIJ. Threaded inserts for the ramp. Yada yada. No other changes at all.

But it's listing for $3,999.99 and selling for $2,999.99 most places you look.

I knew we were in some inflation, but isn't this jumping the gun a litte?
 
#3
3000 clams ey? Huh. Wasn't the original Willis bass about $1200 bucks and set-up by Gary himself?

I've been somewhat inspired by his simplicity in equipment, but I guess Ibanez thinks it can capitolize off plain ash and a single pickup. There's probably a couple idolizers who'll break the bank to be just like Willis tho.
 
#9
blackreverend said:
My understanding is that the older ones were mass produced in Japan(like the early Cirrus Basses) but now it's like the Ibanez custom shop, where it's one luthier from plank of wood to final setup.(like the current Cirrus Basses)
Click to expand...
That's true - the part about the one luthier (dunno where they were made before)- I've heard that from Willis himself. I was gonna pull the trigger on a 105 but production ended before I got around to it. This new price is...well, too pricey for me!
 
#12
I like the GWB's, but I'll be looking for a used one, and NOT a 1005.

Are they worth it?
Look at cars. The performance difference between an $80,000 car (like an M series BMW) and a $120,000 car (don't have one that comes to mind) is generally fairly trivial, and you can often match the performance of either with a $40,000 car if you pick right.

But there's still a market for both the 80K and the 120K car.
 
#16
Drake Kennedy said:
Threaded inserts for ramps...hmm. Never heard that before, I thought standard procedure was double sided foam tape, but this sounds like an idea.
Click to expand...

Adjustable ramps have always made more sense to me since changing the action essentially changes the distance from the ramp to the strings.

For 3 grand, it's hard for me to justify spending that sort of money without having any custom options. Perhaps it's the currency exchange with Japan, but I got a CB made for me for a little less than this bass.
 
#17
Charlatan_001 said:
It seems the only diff b/w the GWB1005 and the cheaper GWB (is it GWB35?) is the electronics... but it's not a $3k difference.
Click to expand...

You can't change out the pickup on the GWB35 for a Bart either. But nor will Ernie Ball sell you a replacement PU to whack in your OLP.

There's a difference between a bass handmade by a craftsman and one made in a factory. Let's be fair here.
 
#18
Charlatan_001 said:
It seems the only diff b/w the GWB1005 and the cheaper GWB (is it GWB35?) is the electronics... but it's not a $3k difference.
Click to expand...

No, the GWB35 is machine made in Korea with a Basswood body.

Wwolof said:
You can't change out the pickup on the GWB35 for a Bart either.
Click to expand...

Funny, I did. Not the same Bart that's in the GWB1005, but it sure says "Bartolini" on the casing.

Don't know why this thread was resurrected, but if there's no difference between the hand-made $3K version and the $600 version, every custom luthier, Fodera, Roscoe, F Bass, Mike Lull, MTD, etc. needs to go out of business right now. EBMM and Warwick can go with them.

An F Bass BNF5 with passive electronics and no preamp starts at $4,599 (list), and somehow it's allegedly worth it? MTDs are awesome, but a 535 lined fretless (24 frets, ebony board and no other options) lists for $4,500? A Roscoe LG3005 for roughly $3800 ($225 more if you want a black Ebony board)?

I'm thinking that most of the complaint here is because the name on the headstock says Ibanez.
 

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