NBD Ibanez GWB205

[Koshchei]

With the help of @Inara, I was able to snag this 2016 GWB205 for $799 in Seattle.

Thoughts:
1) The weight is excellent, at 7lbs 4oz.
2) The tone is really neutral, and quite flexible with the Bartolini radiused pickup and 2 band EQ. Lots of mwah.
3) The playability is phenomenal. I really like the narrow string spacing and the ramp, which let my plucking hand really relax.
4) The construction is excellent, though the original oil finish was a little bit lacklustre compared to my Kiesels and Rickenbacker.

 

[Inara]

With the help of @Inara, I was able to snag this 2016 GWB205 for $799 in Seattle.

Thoughts:
1) The weight is excellent, at 7lbs 4oz.
2) The tone is really neutral, and quite flexible with the Bartolini radiused pickup and 2 band EQ. Lots of mwah.
3) The playability is phenomenal. I really like the narrow string spacing and the ramp, which let my plucking hand really relax.
4) The construction is excellent, though the original oil finish was a little bit lacklustre compared to my Kiesels and Rickenbacker.

View attachment 3628691

Awesome! Glad it arrived intact and that you like it! The Bass Shop Seattle is a good place.

 

[ErikP.Bass]

I love the look of these and have always wanted to try a ramp. I’d need frets though. Congratulations!!!

 

[Koshchei]

Awesome! Glad it arrived intact and that you like it! The Bass Shop Seattle is a good place.

It was a little more scuffed up than the description led me to believe, but still a good value for the money. Fortunately, it has an oil finish, so it was pretty easy to steam/sand out the gouges and scratches and then refinish. If you look closely, you can see where the tung oil hasn't finished curing.

I love the look of these and have always wanted to try a ramp. I’d need frets though. Congratulations!!!

Thanks! While it's easy to tell yourself that your plucking technique is fine already, a ramp is still useful... no matter how perfectly you play, a ramp will take the effort out of positioning your fingers to hit the strings optimally. It's worse than useless if you ever use a pick though.

Re fretless: It definitely takes some getting used to, but if your fretting technique is good, you'll be fine. A thing I've noticed is that because frets are approximations anyway, you can play MORE in tune with the lines as guidelines rather than rules.

 

[Joshua Pickenpaugh]

Congrats! I had a GW bass for several years, and the ramp drastically changed & improved my muting technique.

Also, gotta love the Bass Shop in SEA. Say hi to Chad for me!

 

[heavybasszgh]

Very cute a bass it is.
i am new here in talkbass, and i am from China. I'm confused with the "NBD" which in the title of thread. Can you tell me what NBD stands for?
Thanks a lot.

 

[Basehead]

NBD = New Bass Day

 

[Dr. Cheese]

With the help of @Inara, I was able to snag this 2016 GWB205 for $799 in Seattle.

Thoughts:
1) The weight is excellent, at 7lbs 4oz.
2) The tone is really neutral, and quite flexible with the Bartolini radiused pickup and 2 band EQ. Lots of mwah.
3) The playability is phenomenal. I really like the narrow string spacing and the ramp, which let my plucking hand really relax.
4) The construction is excellent, though the original oil finish was a little bit lacklustre compared to my Kiesels and Rickenbacker.

View attachment 3628691

I have always liked the Gary Willis basses by Ibanez. At every price point they have a lot to offer.

 

[Koshchei]

I have always liked the Gary Willis basses by Ibanez. At every price point they have a lot to offer.

Absolutely - it's a VERY well-thought out instrument. Plays insanely well too.