TheBlackAcidChildren
06-08-2005, 02:31 PM
The BTB405 (http://www.ibanez.co.jp/world/products/eb/pict_big/BTB405QM_HS_1A_02.jpg)
I figured I might review this, especially since the forum has no threads.
I decided I wanted to get a five-string bass early last year, and originally thought about getting a Yamaha. My dad had gone to the USA on a business trip and I thought I could get something fairly cheap there, so I asked him to find one. He couldn't find the Yamaha but found an Ibanez BTB405, tried it himself and bought that instead. Now, having played both the Yam and the Ibanez, I much prefer the Ibanez.
As basses go it's quite chunky. The body is very substantial and has a brilliant thick finish. I've had it a year, used it quite regularly and there are no chips or nicks in the paint anywhere.
The neck is also quite wide - given that mine is a five-string that's understandable, but the four-string equivalent also has a sizeable neck. It's a matter of personal preference, but I find it comfortable because I have long fingers. The neck is very solidly constructed, and the five-piece design looks quite nice.
The bridge is designed well - Ibanez's "mono-rail" design keeps all the strings seperate, so you get as little vibration from the other strings as possible.
The best part about this bass is the EQ (http://www.ibanez.co.jp/world/products/eb/control/images/8.jpg). It's 18-volt active circuitry, powered off two nine-volt batteries (installed in the back). There are treble and bass controls, a mid control and a mid sweep control - you can adjust where the mid frequency is boosted or cut. If you adjust it whilst playing you can get a really nice "wah" sound out of it. The batteries last for a very long time and it gives a superb variety of sound.
The last thing to mention - and this is the one feature about the bass I would change - is the neutrik locking jack (http://www.ibanez.co.jp/world/products/eb/know_more/images/neutrik_jack.jpg). This is supposed to be designed so that the lead doesn't fall out of the bass if you accidentally step on it whilst playing. A commendable idea in theory, but it is quite a task getting the lead out afterwards - depressing the button on the side and then pulling the lead out can prove quite awkward whilst the instrument is still around your neck. And one too many inexperienced friends have tried pulling out the lead without pushing the button; as a result the whole locking jack unit was nearly pulled out of the body at one point.
Aside from this minor detail, it's an excellent instrument with a great sound that I'd recommend to anyone who wanted a bass in its price range.
-Crawly
I figured I might review this, especially since the forum has no threads.
I decided I wanted to get a five-string bass early last year, and originally thought about getting a Yamaha. My dad had gone to the USA on a business trip and I thought I could get something fairly cheap there, so I asked him to find one. He couldn't find the Yamaha but found an Ibanez BTB405, tried it himself and bought that instead. Now, having played both the Yam and the Ibanez, I much prefer the Ibanez.
As basses go it's quite chunky. The body is very substantial and has a brilliant thick finish. I've had it a year, used it quite regularly and there are no chips or nicks in the paint anywhere.
The neck is also quite wide - given that mine is a five-string that's understandable, but the four-string equivalent also has a sizeable neck. It's a matter of personal preference, but I find it comfortable because I have long fingers. The neck is very solidly constructed, and the five-piece design looks quite nice.
The bridge is designed well - Ibanez's "mono-rail" design keeps all the strings seperate, so you get as little vibration from the other strings as possible.
The best part about this bass is the EQ (http://www.ibanez.co.jp/world/products/eb/control/images/8.jpg). It's 18-volt active circuitry, powered off two nine-volt batteries (installed in the back). There are treble and bass controls, a mid control and a mid sweep control - you can adjust where the mid frequency is boosted or cut. If you adjust it whilst playing you can get a really nice "wah" sound out of it. The batteries last for a very long time and it gives a superb variety of sound.
The last thing to mention - and this is the one feature about the bass I would change - is the neutrik locking jack (http://www.ibanez.co.jp/world/products/eb/know_more/images/neutrik_jack.jpg). This is supposed to be designed so that the lead doesn't fall out of the bass if you accidentally step on it whilst playing. A commendable idea in theory, but it is quite a task getting the lead out afterwards - depressing the button on the side and then pulling the lead out can prove quite awkward whilst the instrument is still around your neck. And one too many inexperienced friends have tried pulling out the lead without pushing the button; as a result the whole locking jack unit was nearly pulled out of the body at one point.
Aside from this minor detail, it's an excellent instrument with a great sound that I'd recommend to anyone who wanted a bass in its price range.
-Crawly