Ibanez Single Cut Bass.

[ambient]

Just found this.

[attachment=153298:GALLERY_BAS0007222-000_1_images1600.jpg]

Looks pretty cool.

[Roland Rock]

To me, the lower horn protrudes a bit too much. Bet it's great though

[BassBus]

Brings to mind my self imposed rule of "if you can't say anything positive then don't say it".

[Roland Rock]

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1390752398' post='2348999']
Brings to mind my self imposed rule of "if you can't say anything positive then don't say it".
[/quote]

Ha, I normally abide by that rule myself, but in this instance offered a bit of design criticism, with a bit of token positivity tagged onto the end to soften the blow. It was hardly vitriolic, and there is much more inappropriate negativity on the forum than that!

Edited January 26, 2014 by Roland Rock

[Mikkoantt]

There is something and at same time there ain't....

[Machines]

Hmm proportions are all out. The horn is too extruding and the top part seems too fat.

[BigRedX]

Proportions look all wrong to me too.

I seriously hope that this isn't the outcome of the work Martin Petersen of Sei Bass was doing with Ibanez a few years ago.

[Machines]

It's was maybe done by the same designer that did the Grooveline.

Mad Eyes Murdoch.

[Img]http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1647/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1647R-93426.jpg" class="ipsImage" />

[ezbass]

It's good to see a mainstream company embracing the singlecut as a design alternative, after all it's a BTB underneath all that, but, as Machines said, the proportions seem a bit 'off', but still - kudos. Now a singlecut SR, that'd probably work. Ibanez have also brought out a Fender Vl type instrument; once again good to see them trying something new (for them anyway) rather than just sticking some player's name on an existing model with a couple of tweaks

[cocco]

I prefer the double cut BTB. This looks odd to say the least.

[White Cloud]

I admire Ibanez for putting this out there. In my opinion it isn't the prettiest single cut that I have seen - but beauty is in the the eye of the.........

[shizznit]

It's massive

[Machines]

If you look at it side on it's definitely a hippopotamus with the tongue of a lizard.

[Machines]

[quote name='Machines' timestamp='1390764581' post='2349260']
If you look at it side on it's definitely a hippopotamus with the tongue of a lizard.[/quote]

I forgot the bug on the end being the headstock.

Edited January 26, 2014 by Machines

[ezbass]

[quote name='Machines' timestamp='1390764581' post='2349260']
If you look at it side on it's definitely a hippopotamus with the tongue of a lizard.
[/quote]Snakes alive you're right!

[visog]

Posted a link on this too from the Namm show. I think it looks better than the fugly Warwick!

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='Machines' timestamp='1390755426' post='2349060']
Hmm proportions are all out. The horn is too extruding and the top part seems too fat.
[/quote]

I think it looks more normal than the Spear S2.



Though, I played one of these a few years ago. And I think I remember the one I played looking more normal and more like the Ibanez. Maybe the designed has been changed over time.

[ambient]

It's good that a company are gonna put out something like this, after all its only gonna have a niche market, I doubt it'll sell thousands.

[Annoying Twit]

If they're using CNC machines to cut the body, would it really cost them all that much more to have a body variation. Couldn't they have one person working one day on the files that define the shape, then after that they could run a batch of them pretty much without having to do anything really different compared to the normal BTBs?

[Machines]

The top section follows the exact same contour as the top horn on the standard version, but it's too much of a gap and just looks, how else can I put it other than sh*te ?

[visog]

BTB 'Terrafirma' apparently...

[url="http://www.ibanez.co.jp/eu/news/f_products/2014/workshop/terrafirma.html"]http://www.ibanez.co...terrafirma.html[/url]

On sale in the States for $1000. Reckon it'll be a similar amount, perhaps a shade less here.

Lot bass for the buck if it is!

Edited January 26, 2014 by visog

[Scott S]

I like a nice singlecut but this reminds me of the whale off spongebob squarepants...actually, no, the whale off spongebob squarepants is better looking.

[ambient]

[quote name='visog' timestamp='1390769858' post='2349356']
BTB 'Terrafirma' apparently...

[url="http://www.ibanez.co.jp/eu/news/f_products/2014/workshop/terrafirma.html"]http://www.ibanez.co...terrafirma.html[/url]

On sale in the States for $1000. Reckon it'll be a similar amount, perhaps a shade less here.

Lot bass for the buck if it is!
[/quote]

£746 according to todays exchange rate.

[url="http://www.musicstore.de/en_EN/EUR/Basses/6-strings/Ibanez-BTB-686-SC-NTF-Natural-Flat/art-BAS0007222-000"]http://www.musicstor...-BAS0007222-000[/url]

Edited January 27, 2014 by ambient

[visog]

Mysteriously GAK in the UK have a page for it: http://www.gak.co.uk/en/ibanez-btb686sc-ntf/92488

But with no details :-(

[cytania]

AT you are right the Spear S2 design has mutated very slightly over the years. The one you show is the current spec, the top horn is more rounded and the top strap button points down more , the body looks less chamfered with less of a carve on top (but that may be the photo). More importantly the new ones are 9v not 18v which I assume means a different preamp (may be wrong but there's scant info around). Headstock looks more swept back too. Still better than the ones with the sleazy lady inlays.

Aesthetically I never thought I'd pickup a single cut, I remember calling it a Caveman Bass in the shop but the top horn just fits perfectly against my ribs and the body thrums with resonant life, subtle yet forceful.

Could learn to like the Ibanez although their necks can be super thin. To me their mistake is trying to make the lower horn sleek, better to punctate it with a 'jigsaw piece' like the S2 or the Grooveline and deny any reference to double horns at all.