Ibanez

Ibanez is recognized as one of the world's top-selling bass companies. Ibanez first drew attention in the 1970's and 80's with its neck-thru basses that featured active electronics. The Ibanez Soundgear bass was introduced in the 1980's, and since that time, the role of the electric bass has changed considerably. From jazz to funk to aggressive hard rock, bassists still rely on Ibanez basses to lay down the groove even though many new trends have come and gone. Today, Ibanez offers the most diverse bass line of 4, 5, and 6 basses available for every playing style in every price range.

If you wanted a total history of Ibanez you'd have go back to 1908 when a company named Hoshino began as a sheet music store and later music products distributor in Nagoya, Japan.

If you wanted a little less completeness than that you'd go back about forty-five when Hoshino began distributing a Spanish guitar named Ibanez. Or perhaps, you'd simply go to the mid-60's when Hoshino, who by that time had purchased the rights to the Ibanez name, began shipping incredibly funky looking guitars to the United States, many of which were actually sold in department stores.

But for most of us, Ibanez pretty much begins almost 30 years ago, when Hoshino opened an office near Philadelphia, PA for more efficiently distributing Ibanez guitars to the United States. Most of those guitars were Ibanez' famous high quality (but very inexpensive) copies of just about everything. You name it, we probably made a version of it. At that time, many American instruments were going through an unfortunate period of increasing prices with decreasing quality, and these copies hit a ready market.

But the people with Ibanez weren't content with just copying and Ibanez began making their own designs: the solid body Artists (played by Bob Weir of the Dead) the Iceman (first made famous by Paul Stanley of KISS and the George Benson guitars, the first jazz boxes designed for higher volume stage playing. Many of these "first" Ibanez guitars continue to increase in value and a good number are now highly-prized collector's items.

By 1976, the Ibanez copy era officially came to an end when one of the major American guitar manufacturers, no longer amused by the copiers, successfully sued the highest profile copier, Ibanez. But, by that time it didn't matter. Ibanez had already left the copies behind and was fast becoming an innovative guitar company in its own right.

By the mid-80's with the interest in instrumental rock guitar on the rise, Ibanez collaborated with players such as Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and Paul Gilbert and brought out the JEM, JS, RG, and S models. Today, present day versions such as these models still considered the standard in hard rock and instrumental rock guitars.

As well known for its jazz guitars as it is for rock, Ibanez has an impressive line of jazz boxes including the aforementioned George Benson models, two Pat Metheny models, and most recently, the new John Scofield signature semi-acoustic.

The latest generation of BTB basses takes the traditional BTB formula that combined a massive body with a substantial neck and moved it forward. BTB's continue to have the right mixture of select woods and high-tech appointments which supply the huge tones and sustain that BTB players have come to love. The new BTB's feature neck-thru construction and deeper cutaways that enhance playability and make upper fret navigation effortless. With its 5-piece maple/bubinga thru-neck and figured maple top, it's an electric bass that will stand out in any situation on aesthetics alone. Soundwise, the mahogany body produces plenty of smooth tones and depth which is enhanced by the dual Bartolini MK2-5 pickups. The 35-inch scale length provides superior articulation and is perfect for 5-string basses where "flopping" can occur on the low B-string with standard neck scales. The Bartolini MK2 pickups deliver fat sound and precise response while the Bartolini 3-band EQ offers detailed tone control.

BTB575FM Specifications
Body: Mahogany body with figured maple top
Neck: 5-piece BTB5 maple/bubinga thru-neck
Fingerboard: Rosewood with abalone dot inlay
Scale: 35"
Frets: 24 medium
Pickups: Bartolini MK2-5 neck pickup/MK2-5 bridge pickup
Electronics: Bartolini MK2 3-band EQ
Bridge: Mono-Rail II bridge
Hardware: Cosmo black

For more information on the Ibanez BTB575FM, visit: Ibanez.com.

This 5-string signature model bass is the end result of a collaboration between Ibanez and master bassist Gary Willis. Gary Willis is the unchallenged name in 5-string fretless playing and 5-string fretless basses. Gary's handcrafted GWB1005 model raises the standard by which all other fretless basses are judged. The 2-band Bartolini EQ with bypass switch (active/passive) matches any kind of amplification. The curved Bartolini pickup provides separate coils for precise string balance (GWB1005NTF). Finger-rest/ramp designed by Gary Willis refines right-hand technique and prevents players from digging into the strings too much which according to Willis is the worst thing you can do on a fretless. Sure Grip tuning knobs inspired by Gary allow fast restringing and precise fine-tuning even during the heat of a gig.

GWB1005 Specifications
Body: Light ash
Neck: 3-piece maple
Fingerboard: Ebonol with off-set pearl dot inlay
Scale: 35"
Frets: Fretless with 24 fret position markers
Pickup: Bartolini GW custom
Electronics: Bartolini NTBT
Bridge: STD 5-string
Hardware: Black

For more information on the Ibanez GWB1005, visit: Ibanez.com.

When Ibanez introduced the Soundgear bass nearly 20 years ago, it personified the Ibanez slogan, "Anything But Traditional." At the time, Soundgear was the stuff of bass wizardry: lightweight, curvaceous, thin-necked, and equipped with powerful and versatile active electronics which were fantastic features probably never imagined by the pioneer electric bass players of the 50's. With easy-playing Prestige thru-necks, Bartolini electronics, and a host of other upgrades, our exquisite 2006 Prestige Soundgears will transport you to even more magical worlds of color and tone to ensure that, in the real world, you'll be the master of every gig from funk to punk.

SR1000EWN Specifications
Body: Mahogany with walnut top
Neck: 5-piece maple/bubinga neck-thru
Fingerboard: Rosewood with abalone off-set dot inlay
Scale: 34"
Frets: 24 medium
Pickups: Bartolini custom neck/bridge
Electronics: Ibanez vari-mid HQ 3-band
Bridge: Mono-rail IV
Hardware: Chrome

For more information on the Ibanez SR1000EWN, visit: Ibanez.com.

Our sleek Soundgear shuns tradition. The muscular BTB enhances it. BTB takes the traditional formula of powerful tones produced by a massive body and substantial neck and adds an even longer 35" scale neck, the right mix of premium woods, and modern appointments.

BTB555MP Specifications
Body: Maple top/mahogany/maple back
Neck: 5-piece maple/walnut
Fingerboard: Rosewood with abalone dot inlay
Scale: 34"
Frets: 24 medium
Pickups: Bartolini MK1-5 neck/bridge
Electronics: Ibanez vari-mid IIB (18-volt)
Bridge: Mono-rail II
Hardware: Chrome

For more information on the Ibanez BTB555MP, visit: Ibanez.com.

You've got everything you need: axe, amp, cord, instruction book, and more. Don't confuse Jumpstart packages with other value packs that contain bottom shelf generic grade equipment. Jumpstart has name brand, good stuff that you can still use when you get good yourself.

IJXB190 Jumpstart Bass Package Specifications
Body: Nato
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood with pearl dot inlay
Scale: 34"
Frets: 22 medium
Pickups: STD P/J
Bridge: B10
Hardware: Chrome

For more information on the Ibanez IJXB190 Jumpstart Bass Package, visit: Ibanez.com.

Ibanez
P.O. Box 886
Bensalem, PA 19020
Web Site: Ibanez.com
E-Mail: contact@ibanez.com