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Why Not Ibanez Bass
- Thread starter Serious
- Start date
I’ll take this thread as a discussion point, just for kicks. (I don’t quite ‘get’ the poll either.)
I’ve had two Ibanez basses. The first was my first attempt at owning a 6-string bass. It was the BTB1206, and it did not go well. Gorgeous looking instrument. But the strings were floppy. I replaced them with Elixirs of medium gauge, and the result was no better.... and the sound was muddy. No matter how I adjusted the pups, I could not get the clear jazzy tone I wanted from it.
I guess it was designed for aspiring Dream Theater bassists or something.
So I returned it. And I avoided Ibanez basses from that point on.
Until the Portamento came along. First one (4 string) I ever got a hold of had the sound I’ve always dreamed for a fretless. I was leery of the brand, based on the above experience - but I tried it, and it was awesome. I had no credit card on me and very little cash. So I hurried home to get my credit card, and got back to the shop 40 minutes later. And it had already been purchased. It was gone.
The next many Portamentos that I encountered did not have that sound. One (a five string) I even had the store adjust as best they could, and it just didn’t do it. So I kinda gave up on them.
Then last year I was in guitar center for some drumsticks or something. And as I was on my way to the register, there was this 6-string Portamento. I took it down, plugged it in.... THAT SOUND! YESSS!!! I played it for a few minutes, and was hooked. So I was not looking for a 6, let alone a fretless. I put down my deposit, and returned with the item I wanted to use in trade. They gave me more than I had paid for that. And I was on my way.
Except that as I was leaving, there was a 6 string Tobias sitting behind the counter. They had put it aside for another customer, but he had not returned with a deposit. So I played that for a little while and it was stunning. I dropped a deposit, went and did some research... it’s the Killer B 6 in walnut. And the price they wanted given its great condition was a huge bargain. So again I got an item to trade, and again I got more from them than I’d paid for it...
So I went in that day looking for drumsticks.
I came out with two phenomenal 6 string basses. With the trades, less than $800 out of pocket total for the two.
Back to Ibanez: there is only one concern I have about the Portamento 6, and that is its susceptibility to humidity. One day it plays great, two humid summer days later the strings are sitting on the neck. I can adjust it easily enough, but I do hope it stabilizes a bit over time. In any event, it’s spectacular. So now I’m less leery of the brand than I was.
I’ve had two Ibanez basses. The first was my first attempt at owning a 6-string bass. It was the BTB1206, and it did not go well. Gorgeous looking instrument. But the strings were floppy. I replaced them with Elixirs of medium gauge, and the result was no better.... and the sound was muddy. No matter how I adjusted the pups, I could not get the clear jazzy tone I wanted from it.
I guess it was designed for aspiring Dream Theater bassists or something.
So I returned it. And I avoided Ibanez basses from that point on.
Until the Portamento came along. First one (4 string) I ever got a hold of had the sound I’ve always dreamed for a fretless. I was leery of the brand, based on the above experience - but I tried it, and it was awesome. I had no credit card on me and very little cash. So I hurried home to get my credit card, and got back to the shop 40 minutes later. And it had already been purchased. It was gone.
The next many Portamentos that I encountered did not have that sound. One (a five string) I even had the store adjust as best they could, and it just didn’t do it. So I kinda gave up on them.
Then last year I was in guitar center for some drumsticks or something. And as I was on my way to the register, there was this 6-string Portamento. I took it down, plugged it in.... THAT SOUND! YESSS!!! I played it for a few minutes, and was hooked. So I was not looking for a 6, let alone a fretless. I put down my deposit, and returned with the item I wanted to use in trade. They gave me more than I had paid for that. And I was on my way.
Except that as I was leaving, there was a 6 string Tobias sitting behind the counter. They had put it aside for another customer, but he had not returned with a deposit. So I played that for a little while and it was stunning. I dropped a deposit, went and did some research... it’s the Killer B 6 in walnut. And the price they wanted given its great condition was a huge bargain. So again I got an item to trade, and again I got more from them than I’d paid for it...
So I went in that day looking for drumsticks.
I came out with two phenomenal 6 string basses. With the trades, less than $800 out of pocket total for the two.
Back to Ibanez: there is only one concern I have about the Portamento 6, and that is its susceptibility to humidity. One day it plays great, two humid summer days later the strings are sitting on the neck. I can adjust it easily enough, but I do hope it stabilizes a bit over time. In any event, it’s spectacular. So now I’m less leery of the brand than I was.
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Not sure why there's any negative perception, if there is.
Although I've had a hard time selling a well-made BTB sixer that I just don't play much -- I'm almost always playing my upright, my 4-string fretless Fender, or my 5-string fretted Sadowsky. Offering at a fair price, so I don't know what gives.
Although I've had a hard time selling a well-made BTB sixer that I just don't play much -- I'm almost always playing my upright, my 4-string fretless Fender, or my 5-string fretted Sadowsky. Offering at a fair price, so I don't know what gives.
My current #1 gig bass is a Ibanez BTB845V, converted from solo E-C to conventional B-G. Has much more than earned its keep over the last couple of years. My previous #1 gig bass was an Ibanez SRA305 upgraded with EMG full actives, which served for several years until it became uncomfortable to my left hand to play a 34 inch scale and bought the BTB. It earned its keep many, many times over, and with a new neck made to 33 inches it is still my backup for gigging. Of course, I have several other basses which come out occasionally, depending on the occasion or gig, but at this point, these two are the money makers.
They are popular! The modern look might not be in vogue on TB right now, but they move a ton of them because they're fantastic instruments.
There are two reasons not to get a Standard Soundgear:
dodgy machine-heads
flimsy neck (the majority of them)
There is 1 reason not to get a GIO:
dodgy machine-heads
1 more reason not to get a GSR200/205/206:
the Phat-II bass boost knob should actually be called mud-injector!
I was angry at Ibanez for a good while after I bought a H.R. Giger SRX & the hardware was garbage:
MIK Ibanez H.R. Giger SR eXtreme
So, now I am stuck only buying Premium or better, or satisfied with the fact that I'll need to change hardware on anything in a lower-level series.
Ironically, the neck on this GIO (GSR100EX) is incredibly stuff, because it's 1.5mm thicker than a Standard Soundgear neck:
the machine-heads have been changed, they were garbage
dodgy machine-heads
flimsy neck (the majority of them)
There is 1 reason not to get a GIO:
dodgy machine-heads
1 more reason not to get a GSR200/205/206:
the Phat-II bass boost knob should actually be called mud-injector!
I was angry at Ibanez for a good while after I bought a H.R. Giger SRX & the hardware was garbage:
MIK Ibanez H.R. Giger SR eXtreme
So, now I am stuck only buying Premium or better, or satisfied with the fact that I'll need to change hardware on anything in a lower-level series.
Ironically, the neck on this GIO (GSR100EX) is incredibly stuff, because it's 1.5mm thicker than a Standard Soundgear neck:
I don't have an Ibby right now. But I have before. They are great basses and guitars in each of the price ranges they play in. I'd totally rock one, no negative comments. Last bass I had the neck was slimmer than my giant paws but it sounded great. I played a BTB recently that felt good to me, it's on my radar. Last guitar I had I think I just worked into a trade. They make really nice instruments. I think when you get into the thin air of gear forums there are a lot of opinions. I wouldn't hesitate to play one or recommend one. No Ibby hate here.
With the bands playing out around here, seems I see as many Ibanez basses as I do Fender-shaped-objects.
I didn't read through all of this, so I'm probably +1-ing a bunch of what's said, but here's my take.
There are elitists in the bass community who derisively mock "I-been-hadz" but then again, you find elitists like that in any community. The average schmoe doesn't care what you're playing, though if your instrument has a cool finish, and they say, "Yo, that's a cool guitar, man!" I'll happily take that compliment.
As far as I can tell, through my years spent going to shows and playing in gigging/touring bands, the Ibanez Soundgear is ubiquitous. I've probably seen just as many Soundgears as I've seen Fender P and J basses out in the wild. And none of them think any "less" of their gear or whatever. They simply go out and play. I call them the ones who spend more time "PlayBass" than "TalkBass."
The only reason I think people either love or hate Soundgears is that they have very slim/skinny necks.
I still wish the SRX line still existed. Many of us here call the SRX700 the "Carol Kaye bass" since that's been the one we've been associating her with. I feel like Soundgear necks are too skinny, BTB necks are too chunky, but the SRX neck was just right (at least for me).
There are elitists in the bass community who derisively mock "I-been-hadz" but then again, you find elitists like that in any community. The average schmoe doesn't care what you're playing, though if your instrument has a cool finish, and they say, "Yo, that's a cool guitar, man!" I'll happily take that compliment.
As far as I can tell, through my years spent going to shows and playing in gigging/touring bands, the Ibanez Soundgear is ubiquitous. I've probably seen just as many Soundgears as I've seen Fender P and J basses out in the wild. And none of them think any "less" of their gear or whatever. They simply go out and play. I call them the ones who spend more time "PlayBass" than "TalkBass."
The only reason I think people either love or hate Soundgears is that they have very slim/skinny necks.
I still wish the SRX line still existed. Many of us here call the SRX700 the "Carol Kaye bass" since that's been the one we've been associating her with. I feel like Soundgear necks are too skinny, BTB necks are too chunky, but the SRX neck was just right (at least for me).
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Well... that does sound slammin’. And it looks beautiful (aside from the ‘claw’ on these being even more claw-looking than it used to be).
EDIT: btw, I made my “dream theater” comment before seeing this post in this thread. Guess the BTB is a natural for a DT application lol
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I have always gone by what a bass sounds and feels like first, then I look to see what name is on the headstock.
I have BTB which I've had since 2006. Build quality and sound are top shelf.
I recently bought Schecter 5 string, same story.
Fender is good.
Ibanez is good
New X bass is good.
There are exceptions to every brand. Play a bass a few times before you buy it, to make as certain as possible that you really like it.
Mike
I have BTB which I've had since 2006. Build quality and sound are top shelf.
I recently bought Schecter 5 string, same story.
Fender is good.
Ibanez is good
New X bass is good.
There are exceptions to every brand. Play a bass a few times before you buy it, to make as certain as possible that you really like it.
Mike
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