New Ibanez (headless, multiscale)

[BioWeapon]

Very nice! How was the weight and balance?

 

[Lunatique]

Very nice! How was the weight and balance?

Those are not my videos, so you'll have to ask the dude in the videos' comment section.

 

[gigetto]

Seafoam Green is absolutely best choiche Aestetically

 

[MovinTarget]

Seafoam Green is absolutely best choiche Aestetically

While this is opinion, I find it incredibly hard to dispute!

 

[Aidil]

Finally got mine today... Thought I'd be getting the Black Flat, but Sea Foam green Matte it is. Will post pics later.

My initial reviews:
NBD: Ibanez EHB1005MS Headless Multi-scale Bass

 

[LowEndLobster]

Mine gets delivered on Monday! Super pumped for it.

 

[HeavyDuty]

Mine gets delivered on Monday! Super pumped for it.

Yay! Which one, and who from?

I expect to be a neighbor of yours soon...

 

[LowEndLobster]

Yay! Which one, and who from?

I expect to be a neighbor of yours soon...

Will post details and pics tomorrow!

 

[HeavyDuty]

I’m still surprised these don’t have a zero fret.

 

[LowEndLobster]

I’m still surprised these don’t have a zero fret.

I have 3 headless basses, a new Steinberger XT-25, an NS Design Wav4, and the Ibby coming today. The XT was by far the cheapest one, but is the only one with a zero fret. I find it kind of odd.

 

[lucas303]

Pardon my ignorance but what's the advantage of a zero fret on a headless?

 

[MovinTarget]

Pardon my ignorance but what's the advantage of a zero fret on a headless?

On a fretless it mitigates the need for a convetional nut. This may be a cost cutting measure so that the headpiece(s) didn't have to also double as a nut, requiring more precision/engineering (that might be mansplaing).

Historically, it was viewed as a sign of lesser quality on conventional necks, though there are lots of modern proponents since it allows open strings to voice similarly to fretted notes, having that string-to-metal contact. Think brass nut but considerably cheaper.

 

[Rob112]

Really can’t wait to hear more of these. The 1005ms has a lot of things I’m looking for at a good price...I just need more tone demos. Beautiful basses though!

 

[bjelkeman]

I like that open string sounds different than fretted. it gives versatility.

 

[micguy]

multiscale headless seems to be a thing makers like to make now..

No headstock means Fender can't sue you over that issue, and since it doesn't look like a Les Paul or a Flying V, you're in the clear trademark wise.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I think it looks great, I like the super deep cutaway. About the scale length, the five string version is a 35"-33" fan, so I'm guessing the six will be something like 35"-32.5". Looks like this has an additional knob, as compared to other Ibanez, maybe a mid sweep control.

Pretty sure that's a mini toggle switch for the mids. 250hz to 2.5kh.

Or maybe passive mode

 

[MovinTarget]

I like that open string sounds different than fretted. it gives versatility.

That's absolutely fair! I am only pointing out what I've seen in some other threads. Be warned, if you venture into some of the "Zero Fret pros/cons" threads, you may need to detoxify with kittens and fuzzy bunnies afterwards.

 

[ole Jason]

I could take or leave a zero fret, IMO it doesn't make much of a difference on a bass. One thing to note, Kiesel initially released their headless guitars with a zero fret and had to quickly abandon it due to instruments developing a 'ping' when strings were bent or vibrato was applied heavily. Apparently the strings were wearing a groove into the zero fret? I have gypsy jazz guitars with zero frets and have never seen that happen but perhaps the down pressure on the Kiesel was much different or something.

 

[BioWeapon]

Regarding zero fret open strings - all the open notes except the very lowest one exist elsewhere on the fretboard!

 

[Core Creek]

I could take or leave a zero fret, IMO it doesn't make much of a difference on a bass. One thing to note, Kiesel initially released their headless guitars with a zero fret and had to quickly abandon it due to instruments developing a 'ping' when strings were bent or vibrato was applied heavily. Apparently the strings were wearing a groove into the zero fret? I have gypsy jazz guitars with zero frets and have never seen that happen but perhaps the down pressure on the Kiesel was much different or something.

Yes, I bought an Allen Holdsworth headless guitar years ago and the grooves developed. I sent it back to Carvin (not Kiesel yet) and they replaced it.... only to have the grooves come back a few months later. It wasn't exceptionally noticeable, but an issue that plagued their early headless designs.