I know these threads usually start with "No big deal" but this is a VERY big deal to me, so I'll put sarcasm aside.
First thoughts after unboxing: Holy crap, WTH is that, an aircraft carrier?!
Seriously, a six string neck is bigger than you can really appreciate in pictures. Until you hold it in your hand and realize that you could land a small plane on the thing, you just really have no idea how big it is.
Really. You have no idea.
Second thoughts after unboxing: I've made a seriously expensive mistake. I'm never going to be able to play that freakin monster!
I mean, I borrowed a friends 5 string, and knew that theoretically I was interested in also having the high C too. But seeing the sheer size of this instrument, I thought there's just no way I'm going to be able to use it. It's also a 35 inch scale, so I was also looking at a longer finger spread.
It's just really insanely big.
I mean, seriously, I just can't belie--
Jesus this thing is big.
Third thoughts after 30 minutes of playing: Holy crap, I'm comfortable with this thing already?!
There are instruments that are playable, and there are instruments that just pull you in and almost help you play. This is the latter. I'd never played an Ibanez before but heard over and over they are underappreciated. This instrument is an absolute dream. I almost don't even notice that there's so much more fretboard real estate. I had it set up with flatwounds and a really low action and it just falls under my fingers.
The scale length is not really an issue, partly because it's so comfortable and partly because I can fret a really clean E and have access to all first position notes in second position. It actually ends up easier to fret, and I can drop down to a first position spread if I need to, but don't have to have that as my home.
This thing is so nice to play that I crave it in a way I haven't craved playing a specific instrument in over a decade. I mean, I often crave playing, but I so rarely crave that specific instrument itself.
It. Is. A. Dream.
More detailed thoughts:
35 inch scale is really incredible, especially with the deep cut of the Ibanez horns. I have two full octaves on a string.
Going up the neck on my Fender anywhere past an octave is just a tone killer. This thing has beautiful sonic qualities all the way up the fretboard. It doesn't get tinny like my Fender (Both have LaBella extra light flats). Also, the treble strings are really full in a way unlike my Fender. (Some of that may be setup/string choice, I realize)
(This sounds like I'm bashing my Fender Geddy, I don't intend to. I love that instrument. Much of this I didn't realize was even an issue UNTIL I played the Ibanez.)
The finish on the neck feels like it would be sticky when you're holding it, but playing it it's almost...lubricated. It looks like one of those "looks great but where's my green scrubby" finishes, but it plays really well.
This is an active bass (well, active preamp with passive Aguilar pickups), but I'm a passive guy, so I just turned the EQ off. And the tone is beautiful. Like beautiful enough that when I started playing it I had to stop and think about what just happened. I started checking my pedals to see what I set up and realized I was plugged directly into the amp. It's super clear and crisp and the B string makes me worry that Cthulhu is awakening. Eventually I'll probably play with the preamp. Who knows, I might become an active bass guy.
Unfortunately, the beauty of this thing's tone means I've wasted a lot of money, because like 50% of my pedals are obsolete now
I played it for several hours before remembering I didn't put a strap on it. It was just laying in my lap. For some reason, I could never do that with my Fender, and always wondered how people in so many videos do that. This sits in my lap perfectly balanced so I don't have to think about holding it at all. It's just where it needs to be.
Also, it doesn't feel heavy to me. From a playing perspective, it doesn't feel much heavier than my Geddy Fender, at least I don't notice the weight. Maybe it's heavy but still really playable, much like the fretboard is huge but still really playable. I don't know about the actual weight, but the perceived weight is "eh, it's like any other bass."
And Bach's cello suites have suddenly started happening...
Closing thoughts:
I'm over the moon, y'all. This thing is a dream in a way my Geddy Fender never was... and I say that as someone who really loves my Geddy Fender. This hits a level I just didn't think was possible. Really everything about this instrument is magic.
I know that might be the class of instrument rather than Ibanez vs Fender. But I'll find out soon whether Ibanez is a step above...
I knew I'd have to put down the 4 string for a while to really get into playing a 6 string, so I have a much cheaper Ibanez GIO 6 string coming soon to replace the Squire 4-string I keep in my office cubicle.
First thoughts after unboxing: Holy crap, WTH is that, an aircraft carrier?!
Seriously, a six string neck is bigger than you can really appreciate in pictures. Until you hold it in your hand and realize that you could land a small plane on the thing, you just really have no idea how big it is.
Really. You have no idea.
Second thoughts after unboxing: I've made a seriously expensive mistake. I'm never going to be able to play that freakin monster!
I mean, I borrowed a friends 5 string, and knew that theoretically I was interested in also having the high C too. But seeing the sheer size of this instrument, I thought there's just no way I'm going to be able to use it. It's also a 35 inch scale, so I was also looking at a longer finger spread.
It's just really insanely big.
I mean, seriously, I just can't belie--
Jesus this thing is big.
Third thoughts after 30 minutes of playing: Holy crap, I'm comfortable with this thing already?!
There are instruments that are playable, and there are instruments that just pull you in and almost help you play. This is the latter. I'd never played an Ibanez before but heard over and over they are underappreciated. This instrument is an absolute dream. I almost don't even notice that there's so much more fretboard real estate. I had it set up with flatwounds and a really low action and it just falls under my fingers.
The scale length is not really an issue, partly because it's so comfortable and partly because I can fret a really clean E and have access to all first position notes in second position. It actually ends up easier to fret, and I can drop down to a first position spread if I need to, but don't have to have that as my home.
This thing is so nice to play that I crave it in a way I haven't craved playing a specific instrument in over a decade. I mean, I often crave playing, but I so rarely crave that specific instrument itself.
It. Is. A. Dream.
More detailed thoughts:
35 inch scale is really incredible, especially with the deep cut of the Ibanez horns. I have two full octaves on a string.
Going up the neck on my Fender anywhere past an octave is just a tone killer. This thing has beautiful sonic qualities all the way up the fretboard. It doesn't get tinny like my Fender (Both have LaBella extra light flats). Also, the treble strings are really full in a way unlike my Fender. (Some of that may be setup/string choice, I realize)
(This sounds like I'm bashing my Fender Geddy, I don't intend to. I love that instrument. Much of this I didn't realize was even an issue UNTIL I played the Ibanez.)
The finish on the neck feels like it would be sticky when you're holding it, but playing it it's almost...lubricated. It looks like one of those "looks great but where's my green scrubby" finishes, but it plays really well.
This is an active bass (well, active preamp with passive Aguilar pickups), but I'm a passive guy, so I just turned the EQ off. And the tone is beautiful. Like beautiful enough that when I started playing it I had to stop and think about what just happened. I started checking my pedals to see what I set up and realized I was plugged directly into the amp. It's super clear and crisp and the B string makes me worry that Cthulhu is awakening. Eventually I'll probably play with the preamp. Who knows, I might become an active bass guy.
Unfortunately, the beauty of this thing's tone means I've wasted a lot of money, because like 50% of my pedals are obsolete now
I played it for several hours before remembering I didn't put a strap on it. It was just laying in my lap. For some reason, I could never do that with my Fender, and always wondered how people in so many videos do that. This sits in my lap perfectly balanced so I don't have to think about holding it at all. It's just where it needs to be.
Also, it doesn't feel heavy to me. From a playing perspective, it doesn't feel much heavier than my Geddy Fender, at least I don't notice the weight. Maybe it's heavy but still really playable, much like the fretboard is huge but still really playable. I don't know about the actual weight, but the perceived weight is "eh, it's like any other bass."
And Bach's cello suites have suddenly started happening...
Closing thoughts:
I'm over the moon, y'all. This thing is a dream in a way my Geddy Fender never was... and I say that as someone who really loves my Geddy Fender. This hits a level I just didn't think was possible. Really everything about this instrument is magic.
I know that might be the class of instrument rather than Ibanez vs Fender. But I'll find out soon whether Ibanez is a step above...
I knew I'd have to put down the 4 string for a while to really get into playing a 6 string, so I have a much cheaper Ibanez GIO 6 string coming soon to replace the Squire 4-string I keep in my office cubicle.
