Ibanez BTB675 (Before 2013)

Features are available on the ibanez site, but to summarize:
Neck through, Bartolini pickups, active electronics (modified for liability, I will return)
Independent bridges, handle 24 cases "long scale"

UTILIZATION

For the record, I had a Cort Artisan A6 (Model 2000), a must for me and for the price, in terms of sound, versatility, etc., except the weight. Having serious back problem, I have to separate myself lighter. Wanting a similar configuration, neck-through, Bartolini pickups, neck 24 frets etc ... I found this bass used 500 euro much lighter. Quickly, I change the email to exploit very good passive pickups (Like Cort). current active email are for me a makeshift hiding defects violin (apart from the high-end models). After complete recovery settings (neck, bridges, etc ...) impossible to achieve low action and fast without some "plocs" or frissage and more serious resonances on some notes .... very annoying.
So despite the fineness of the handle, a rather promising fittings, and a very good finish. I remain very mixed feelings about the actual quality of the instrument (Many marketing esbroufes)

SOUNDS

In fact we are in the presence of a beautiful instrument, but the sound, the game finger or slap, etc ... blah. The problem of active basses, is that the settings are too thin and unusable on stage: the slightest change a quarter of hair bowl and damn it. I think it is very suitable for rock (It sends), but remains swaging in terms of versatility. Again for the record, I found a Yamaha BB 405, 5 string, secondhand 275 euro, I changed the electronics (Jazz Bass pickups Bartolini pro + JB, 130 euro on Ebay), a little elbow grease to turn the horrible gloss varnish to obtain a more reliable instrument, light and matter its a hundred times better and more versatile, almost a true jazz bass (more passive, so no hassle with batteries) . So my bass friends, no money, do not hesitate. Point to take into account an objective test, I play Bass Little Mark III + pregnant 102P (a must), in very different styles: jazz, jazz rock, funk, blues, pop, world music.

OVERALL OPINION

I used it for almost 3 years and never find my sound, so I will not repeat that choice.
Either we have the means to afford an instrument luthier (even secondhand) or is looking for, as I have, the opportunities that can be very interesting with a little elbow grease, you can sincerely find pearls.

specifications:
- Body: Light Ash
- Table and back: Walnut
- Channel: BTB5, crossing, 5 rooms, Maple / Bubinga
- Key: Palissandr, 24 cases
- Inlays: Abalone
- Frets: Medium
- Bridge: MR-2 bridge, 19mm pitch
- Neck pickup: Bartolini ® MK2
- Bridge pickup: Bartolini ® MK2
- Preamp: Bartolini ® MK2 3-band
- Strings: Elixir ®
- Scale: 889mm/35 "(Super Long Scale)
- Nut width: 47mm
- Width at last fret: 76mm
- Thickness at 1st fret: 20mm
- Thickness at 12th: 22mm
- Radius: 500mmR
- Hardware: Black Chrome

UTILIZATION

Use
handle is a boulevard, he can walk it up and down without worry.
the lower the nose a little picnic while sitting.
sound! is its strong point so it moves well and micro electronic hyper powerful bitch to the association microphones bartolini MK2 + 18 volt power supply!
3 band EQ + the pickup balance is good cost, we can easily obtain the desired sound in a rotation knob

SOUNDS

Sounds

You can do anything with the EQ knobs are very good at their job, the preamp Barto is so powerful that it would almost afraid bourriner the ropes ..
The sound is round or snapping at selection, after a few minutes, you get used to the power of the bass, and easily found his sound ...
I mainly play rock and metal, but I tested a little while playing styles (finger pick) and we manage to be happy soon ...
In summary, very versatile, it possesses an infinite sustain thanks to the 5 piece neck-through: that happiness! ...

OVERALL OPINION

Global Opinion
I have tried many models before: Fender, Warwick, Cort and frankly, I would do it again because this choice for the price, it was almost a bass luthier with accessories very pro: Independent as the jumpers, the pickups mk2 custom, the neutrix jack (see photo of my model throughout this post).
see ibanez btb on site

Made in Asia obviously much.
Bridge: bridges electric junk. It looks pretty robust, with a luxurious glossy
Channel: crossing.
Frets: 24 frets, 2 Ibanez Custom Micro Barto MK2
Setting: 3 buttons cut / boost for bass, med, trele + 1 master volume knob, a button + balance between the two microphones.


UTILIZATION

Channel: while the is excellent. Very flat and very end. One would walk with pleasure
Ergonomics: very good. However, the bass is a certain weight. A good strap ncessaire
Access to acute: no pb.
Do we get easily a good sound: the equalizer does its job. Even too. A quarter of a pile on the Knob can bring a diffrence its very significant. One regret: the balance between the 2 microphones can not adequately distinguish sounds

SOUNDS

The bass is too versatile. Most sounds are hand door /
Mainly play Hartke LH500 + VX410.
A bit loud in the treble

OVERALL OPINION

Used for 1 week.
A quality-price ratio excellently.