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I just ordered a new Ibanez Affirma bass to help ease the isolation. Pics to follow.
I just ordered a new Ibanez Affirma bass to help ease the isolation. Pics to follow.
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Ooops! I did it again! New bass!
- Thread starter Hawaii Islander
- Start date
That's interesting.
I like the Affirma. I tested a 5-string in a music shop last year. It sounded very good.
congrats on the purchase. I just got a BTB1825
BTB1825 | BTB | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars
ibanez makes some amazing insturments!
BTB1825 | BTB | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars
ibanez makes some amazing insturments!
I always found it interesting that they brought back this shape, from the Ergodyne series, that was never that popular.
Well, if Gibson brings back the Grabber, I'm getting one of those too! I think the original Affirma models predated the Ergodyne series and were a limited edition made with walnut. The Ergodyne series had a resin body some kind.
Bass quality/design/tone aside, "AFFIRMA" is the absolute worst name I have ever heard applied to an instrument.
"AFFIRMA" sounds like a damn 80's Nissan minivan.
"Come test drive the '86 Nissan Affirma! Affirm your aspirations!" or something lame like that.
But the bass itself is, um, uh, interesting. Thanks Jimmy!
"AFFIRMA" sounds like a damn 80's Nissan minivan.
"Come test drive the '86 Nissan Affirma! Affirm your aspirations!" or something lame like that.
But the bass itself is, um, uh, interesting. Thanks Jimmy!
This Ibanez Affirma Series (AFR-104)
says this- "Attempting to break into the high-end boutique bass market in the early 90s, Ibanez launched the Affirma series designed by Swiss Luither, Rolf Spuler Link Removed.
Per Rolf's bio on his website:
"in 1990 ibanez launched the afr affirma bass, of which some 750 units were built until 1996. the instrument was totally my creation and manufactured under exclusive license in ibanez custom shop at fujigen, japan.
my relationship to ibanez remains on best terms to the day. i particularly appreciate their generous return of the copyright which enables me to continue producing afr basses."
The Affirma series was offered in either 4-string (AFR-104) or 5-string (AFR-105), fretted or fretless(F), and came in following body woods: Kao, Saman, Kralo Walnut, or Flamed Maple."
Ibanez went on to recreate the Affirma series with Luthite bodies as their mass-produced Ergodyne EDA series of basses.
a few photos of the Affirma series from the Ibanez catalog can be found here:
http://www.ibanezregister.com/cpg148/index.php?cat=172
""This series was designed by Swiss luthier, Rolf Spuler. His design incorporates a neck that extends half-way through the body with individual bridges for each string. There is a thumb slot, a pearl/abalone AFR insignia, and a pearl block with Ibanez and the serial number inscriptions inlaid into the body, located between the single coil pickup and the bridge system.
Only the Most Select Woods
In order to insure that every AFR exhibits the right sound, feel and appearance, each piece of wood used in its construction in meticulously selected by experienced craftsmen.
The AFR Half-Through Neck
An essential ingredient of the AFR's superior sound is due to Rolf's extensive study of sound and guitar design. His work in guitar building revealed that the sound character of a bass or guitar should be influenced only by body resonance and pickup response; the neck should be as stiff as possible in order to suppress resonance.Since the neck and body of a bass perform very different acoustic functions, it follows that different materials should be utilized.
To join these materials properly, the AFR's new half-through-body construction affords the best stability because the body is not completely divided (as in standard neck-through-body construction). Also, with half-through-body construction, the AFR's entire body is able to bring all its resonance to bear which provides the optimum in sound character and sensitivity.
The Best of Both Worlds A Maple Neck Reinforced With Graphite
A maple neck with an ebony fingerboard is a classic and proven combination but it tends to overemphasize its resonance that Wad spots' happen. The addition of two graphite bars strengthen and stabilizes the AFR neck in order to achieve a much more balanced response. With this combination of materials, AFR owners receive all the advantages of both wood and graphite necks.
An Entirely New Bridge
Rolf Spuler created the "Mono Rail" bridge (pat. applied for) exclusively for the AFR
bass. This very sophisticated system features an individual unit on each string so that
catch string's vibration is transmitted separately to the body. This provides a much more dynamic response and sustain than found in conventional bridge systems. Changing strings also becomes much simpler and faster. The four-string of the AFR version is fitted with the "Stay D Tune" detuner (pat. applied for) on the low string. This innovative feature allows for quick change between two different tunings (for example, E to D).
Thumb Rest
More and more bassists are using different hand positions to achieve wider varieties of sound. The AFR's thumb rest makes it possible and comfortable to pluck the strings from any thumb position.
Headstock Arrangement
Note the AFR's reversed tuning machine configuration which reduces headstock mass and also provides straighter and shorter string lead to the saddle. This arrangement gives the AFR easier, more accurate tuning with increase tuning stability.
The AFR's Active Electronics
The AFR's active electronics offer very efficient bass and treble controls, a soft volume control, and a balance control that mixes the magnetic and piezo pickups. The AFR's 18V powered electronic circuitry does not limit the dynamics of the pickups which makes the AFR an instrument of incredible expressiveness.
A Piezo Bridge Pickup
All AFR models come with the "ppp" (pat. applied for), a polyphonic pickup developed by Rolf Spuler. Its ingenious construction shows a completely separated pickup for each string which allows the pure transformation of each string's vibration to an electric signal. This piezo pickup consistently reproduces an entirely natural sound with strong presence, powerful low end and a very high dynamic response. There are no disturbing "scratchy" sounds, slide-noises or feedback. The level of each piezo pickup can be individually adjusted by a trim potentiometer located on the PC board.
A Magnetic Neck Position Pickup
The AFR's magnetic neck position pickup is a more conventional magnetic pickup capable of covering a wide frequency range. Located in the standard position between neck and bridge,
this pickup reproduces booming lows and crisp trebles."
34" scale. Don't know where you saw 4" scale."Four inch scale!!" I do love short scales...
I didn't see that goof on the description I was reading. That would be wayyyy toooo small from my fat fingers! lol
I had the EDA900 a while back, well, actually three of them at one time. Interesting body shape and actually very comfortable but the electronics on the more inexpensive Ergodyne version was nothing like the Affirma.
Even had a lighter in the shape of one.
Even had a lighter in the shape of one.
I "got out" once I saw that strange "1" in front of (what should have been) the $549.99 price!
I think that's a super sexy bass.... really would love to try one of those out myself
