Ibanez BTB515

I can't recall the year but I got it in 2003. Japanese-made Ibanez BTB515. It's tehnically a 24 fret instrument. 5 strings, solid mahogany top. Controls: volume, 3-band active EQ powered by two 9 volt batteries - bass, treble, mid, plus a mid-range toggle switch. I can't quite figure out if it makes a difference. Pickups: 2 Bartolini MK-1 pickups. Neck: Maple/ 2 Walnut stripes. Bridge: Monorail II with independent string saddles - great for quick string changes & no interference between strings. Medium frets. Neck: Assymetric - makes playing easy for people with small hands.

I play all styles, particularly Caribbean - soca, calypso, reggae, spooge..you name it. I also play R&B, funk, a bit of alternative... The BTB can handle them all with ease. I have played through good and bad setups, but with a really good setup like for a big concert using a Gallien-Krueger or Hartke head & decent cabinet, this bass gets people's attention. The low end is thunderous but clean and clear as a bell. The treble is crisp. I can go from a real bottm end groove to soloing or chording without having to change EQ. I have also recorded with this bass & the difference is noticeable. I begun using a Spector but when I heard the playback from the BTB I was shocked. It was clean clear and really growled. Even when using minimal recording equipment the results surprised me and the engineer!!!

The setup was flawless. I have done absolutely nothing to the instrument - apart from changing strings. The action is fast and the assymetrical neck makes playing in the higher frets really easy. I don't like the half frets at the end of the fretboard though - I can actually reach the B string up there but there are no frets on the B,E and A strings. Once tuned, the BTB hardly ever moves so I can risk playing right out of the case. But I always tune before playing as a precaution.

I play live mostly - I have no complaints whatsoever. The hardware is solid - the tuners don't move once set, and the control knobs move smoothly. The strap buttons are solid, but because the bass is a bit heavy the eyelits are a bit wider and the bass has slipped a few times. Maybe I should get some straplocks. I only have one bass - the BTB has never let me down.

I haven't had any problems with the bass so I wouldn't know. I previously owned an SR305DX & needed a pot but couldn't find it on Ibanez's site but now they have all the parts on their site.

I've been playing maybe close to 10 years. I'm trying to get a good Hartke or Gallien-Krueger head & a good solid cabinet. At home I have a Peavey 110. If this bass got lost or stolen I'd definitely buy another one. I wish that the tuners and control knobs were the same color - either chrome or black. The mix spoils the bass IMHO. I researched this bass for many months before it was bought so I'm pretty satisfied. If it could bypass the active circuitry like the Lakland or Carvin, that would make it even better. When I changed the strings to a lighter guage, they broke very easily when I popped on the G string - which was really annoying. The body is mahogany, which makes it a bit heavy - it weighs like 12lbs or so. But I have a 3.5 inch strap on it so it doesn't feel too bad. I love the bridge which is a Monorail II. That makes string changes reall quick and easy. However, tapered-end strings may be best especially for the low B.

Solid Mahogany body; WIDE 5-piece maple and walnut neck; rosewood fretboard; treble, bass, mid, mid freq, pickup balance, volume controls; passive humbuckers; monorail bridge

I play mostly hard rock and metal, but I appreciate the great bass tones of the growly funk players as well. I play this bass through an SWR Super Redhead combo, and I must say that I am not as impressed as I thought I would be. I ordered the bass from Music 123 since it was on closeout, I figured for $484 I couldn't go wrong. Anyway...I will say that the strings that come on the bass really suck ass. The tone dies rather quickly and they tear the crap out of your hands; I've been playing quite a while too!
The actual sound of the bass is somewhat hard to describe. The electronics give it a lot of versatility, but something about it just won't let it get nice clear highs without having that annoying blocky high-mid range sound as well. I CANNOT get a deep bassy sound with some nice highs with this bass (for slap tone). If you want a good low growl with flat highs, this is a great bass, but something about this bass (or at least mine) cannot do the highs. I'm going to change the batteries to see if that helps the problem, but I'm doubting it will; it's been like this since day-one.
I own another Ibanez with the exact same electronic configuration (EDC) and I have NO trouble getting outstanding sound from it, but something is lacking with the sound of this bass for my tastes.
I'm not saying this is a bad bass at all, but if you're looking for a good slap-sounding bass with nice crisp highs, look elsewhere.

The action was a bit high due to the 35 inch scale, but you get used to it quickly. The finish is really nice...well, it was until this moron friend of mine decided to dry hump it and leave a nice ding on the front...the bastard will die!
All the electronics are totally quiet and the bridge is a dream to work...I imagine having a tapered low B is a must with this bridge though!
The tuners kick ass; nice and tight and they keep the tuning very well. I have downtuned my bass to ACGCF, and it holds!

With the exception of the finish, I think this bass is very durable. The finish really blows and scratches and dings quite easily, so TAKE CARE of this bass if you get one!
The neck and body are both really sturdy. There are two truss rods in the neck, so I don't imagine having any problems any time too soon.

Never dealt with Ibanez, but I hear they're pains in the ass...

Well, if my previous descriptions didn't already say this, I love everything about the bass except that it sounds like shit when you try to get crisp slap tone out of it. This could be my strings or something else with the bass, so at least try one of these out before deciding against them. I hear nothing but good about BTBs, and I am personally quite shocked at how crappy the sound can be out of this bass. Only thing keeping it from being a 10 is the damn sound!
I'd probably replace this bass with a Yamaha RBX765 if someone jacked it. I know a friend who has a RBX, and I love that bass! Much better highs ;)