NBD! A return to frets.

[fretless19]

This one is a bit of a story. So, while out with the wifey to get her computer looked at, we stopped at one of my preferred local music stores. While I was not intending to make a purchase, I was scoping out potential buys for sure, as she was checking out the Ukeleles. I have been with out a fretted bass for about a year, since I defretted my zodiac last summer, and my "main" carvin is also defretted. I consider myself to be a fretless bass player in general, but occasionally I find that guitarists are taken aback by fretless, or that they are really looking for that fretted tone, the latter of which I think is perfectly reasonable. So back to the point, I'm looking over the usual offering of squire j&ps, and I think a classic jazz and a dimension, when I find myself drawn to an Ibanez of all things! ( not usually into Ibbys, I have heard they have trouble staying in tune and so on) But I'm in the shop looking at this natural finish starter bass and drool, so I took it down and tried it with an ampeg combo, ( like a b112 or something) and I was just blown the heck away by this thing's weight, comfort and playability. I don't like frets; there is a reason I don't play fretted usually. This bass is the most comfortable fretted I think I have ever played, and at the price point it was an easy decision. I am now the proud owner of a GSR100ex, a fresh 2015 one by the serial, and at 150$ I couldn't really pass it up. I was just too pleased. Now, I have some reservations about it, the chrome tone an volume knobs are plastic. Also, this bass is incredibly light, like "place finger under upper horn and balance it" light , which I think is interesting, because the Ibby website says this bass is mahogany. Isn't mahogany heavy?
All in all though, I pleased. I put a new set of flats on it, and I will be getting some actual knurled knobs for it. I was expecting the pick up to be lousy, but it is actually quite high output. Would not have purchased this bass if I had not played it first, but like I said, I was blown away. I've got the action at 2mm right now. Very surprising, pleasant find, for a knock around "backup fretted".

 

[Solarmist]

Congrats on the new Ibby - they're fantastic basses! I have 5 of them.

 

[VWbug]

View attachment 656295 This one is a bit of a story. So, while out with the wifey to get her computer looked at, we stopped at one of my preferred local music stores. While I was not intending to make a purchase, I was scoping out potential buys for sure, as she was checking out the Ukeleles. I have been with out a fretted bass for about a year, since I defretted my zodiac last summer, and my "main" carvin is also defretted. I consider myself to be a fretless bass player in general, but occasionally I find that guitarists are taken aback by fretless, or that they are really looking for that fretted tone, the latter of which I think is perfectly reasonable. So back to the point, I'm looking over the usual offering of squire j&ps, and I think a classic jazz and a dimension, when I find myself drawn to an Ibanez of all things! ( not usually into Ibbys, I have heard they have trouble staying in tune and so on) But I'm in the shop looking at this natural finish starter bass and drool, so I took it down and tried it with an ampeg combo, ( like a b112 or something) and I was just blown the heck away by this thing's weight, comfort and playability. I don't like frets; there is a reason I don't play fretted usually. This bass is the most comfortable fretted I think I have ever played, and at the price point it was an easy decision. I am now the proud owner of a GSR100ex, a fresh 2015 one by the serial, and at 150$ I couldn't really pass it up. I was just too pleased. Now, I have some reservations about it, the chrome tone an volume knobs are plastic. Also, this bass is incredibly light, like "place finger under upper horn and balance it" light , which I think is interesting, because the Ibby website says this bass is mahogany. Isn't mahogany heavy?
All in all though, I pleased. I put a new set of flats on it, and I will be getting some actual knurled knobs for it. I was expecting the pick up to be lousy, but it is actually quite high output. Would not have purchased this bass if I had not played it first, but like I said, I was blown away. I've got the action at 2mm right now. Very surprising, pleasant find, for a knock around "backup fretted".

Looks a bit like the old Japanese P bass lytes.

 

[sharkbait130]

I have an Ibby GSR 200. Great bass, light as a feather, plays fantastic and it stays in tune forever. I gigged with it for a couple of years and used it as a back up for a couple of years after that. It sits now in my computer-practice room and every new song I learn is on that bass (Except for songs recorded in Eb and I keep my old trusty Cort for those.) My son also has an Ibby 5 string that he uses professionally. He's in Meridian New Hampshire right now playing Summer stock in the pit orchestra with it. I think he's also playing in a pick up band they tossed together up there. Lots of love for Ibbys around here. Congrats on yours.

Edit: I have an old Ibanez 6 string laying around here that I gigged for years back in the day. That thing has been played more than any other guitar I have and the frets on it never seem to wear out. I've had two other guitars that I bought after it and both of them have needed fret work. Haven't even had to think about fret work on the Ibby.

 

[fretless19]

Thanks folks! Yes, it does resemble those Lytes. It is a sweet bass, I'm enjoying it more every time I pick it up.