Featured review by:
unregistered, on september 08, 2005 3 of 4 people found this review helpful
Features: The BTB series of electric bass guitars was built with the more traditional pro bassist in mind. The pickups are passive; the body is fuller and the neck is substantial which contributes to the BTB's rich tone and sustain. With its extra long 35 inch neck scale, the tension is nice and tight; there's no flopping on the low end and the high strings rise through and sustain better. And although this bass is traditional in concept and size, it's got the high tech hardware and active EQ you have to have for today's live performances and recording. What's more, it features Neutrik locking jacks and Monorail II bridges which isolate each string so it vibrates without interference from the other strings. It also features passive pickups for pure, unadulterated bass tones; however, the studio quiet Vari-Mid 3B EQ allows you to modify and color those tones as much or as little as you want. And don't forget about the 18 volt circuitry that provides much greater headroom than found on standard active EQ's.
- Body: basswood with quilted maple top
- Bridge/tremolo: Mono-Rail II
- Hardware: silver nickel
- Finish: transparent red
- Pickups: Ibanez Dynamix Full Range
- Controls: Vari-Mid 3B
- Fingerboard: rosewood
- Frets: large
- Neck material: 5 piece maple/walnut
- Neck type: BTB4
- Inlays: pearl dot. // 10
Sound: It's good for metal/fusion rock/modern jazz but not for classic jazz or ballads, becouse of growling mids that are difficult to be removed either by onboard EQ and outboard compression and EQ. There is no noise at all the settings. The preamp allows for some heavy tone tweaking although, not all sounds are musical. The sound is very versatile. Where as it may lack in the traditionnal tone department this bass really shine if your looking at "hi-fi" kind of tone. All in all it sounds great for its price. // 10
Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar was set up very well by the factory. The action was nice and low, great factory fretwork, the neck action is nice and smooth with no dead spots. All the hardwear is silver and looks great. The quilted maple under the transparent red finish is absolutely beautiful under stage lights. The neck is wide and thick, combined with the extended scale, probably not good for those with small hands. // 10
Reliability & Durability: This is very reliable and durable instrument as long as you remember to change the batteries for the active EQ. This bass is solid, all seems fine on that front. The strap buttons are really nice. All you really need is to keep the finish clean and looking new, otherwise the bass just looks older than it is. Excellent once again. // 10
Impression: It's defintely a bass to use in studio and on stage as well. This bass sounded better than basses over twice as expensive - and it played much better than them too. Awesome looks, awesome sound, great playability, rock solid - everything is here. This is definitely one the best bass in its price range. Flat and comfortably wide, with none of the loose buzz you get on soundgears! Easily worth twice as much. // 10
Reviewed by:
God-touched-me, on january 08, 2008 1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 620.37
Purchased from: playrecord.net
Features: The BTB series of electric bass guitars was built with the more traditional pro bassist in mind. The pickups are passive; the body is fuller and the neck is substantial which contributes to the BTB's rich tone and sustain. With its extra long 35 inch neck scale, the tension is nice and tight; there's no flopping on the low end and the high strings rise through and sustain better. And although this bass is traditional in concept and size, it's got the high tech hardware and active EQ you have to have for today's live performances and recording. What's more, it features Neutrik locking jacks and Monorail II bridges which isolate each string so it vibrates without interference from the other strings. It also features passive pickups for pure, unadulterated bass tones; however, the studio quiet Vari-Mid 3B EQ allows you to modify and color those tones as much or as little as you want. And don't forget about the 18 volt circuitry that provides much greater headroom than found on standard active EQ's. // 10
Sound: It's good for metal/fusion rock/modern jazz but not for classic jazz or ballads, becouse of growling mids that are difficult to be removed either by onboard EQ and outboard compression and EQ. There is no noise at all the settings. The preamp allows for some heavy tone tweaking although, not all sounds are musical. The sound is very versatile. Where as it may lack in the traditionnal tone department this bass really Shine if your looking at "hi-fi" kind of tone. All in all it sounds great for its price. // 10
Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar was set up very well by the factory. The action was nice and low, great factory fretwork, the neck action is nice and smooth with no dead spots. All the hardwear is silver and looks great. The quilted maple under the transparent red finish is absolutely beautiful under stage lights. The neck is wide and thick, combined with the extended scale, probably not good for those with small hands. // 10
Reliability & Durability: This is very reliable and durable instrument as long as you remember to change the batteries for the active EQ. This bass is solid, all seems fine on that front. The strap buttons are really nice. All you really need is to keep the finish clean and looking new, otherwise the bass just looks older than it is. Excellent once again. // 10
Impression: It's defintely a bass to use in studio and on stage as well. This bass sounded better than basses over twice as expensive, and it played much better than them too. Awesome looks, awesome sound, great playability, rock solid, everything is here. This is definitely one the best bass in its price range. Flat and comfortably wide, with none of the loose buzz you get on soundgears! Easily worth twice as much. // 10
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