Ibanez Blazer Bass

Bought it in 1981 new, so I assume it was made in '80 or '81. Standard solid body with the frets set in the neck, natural finish. P-Bass style pick-ups volume and tone controls. Came with a hard shell case, which has long since bit the dust. I won't give it a rating for features, because I don't demand a lot of features. Who's got time for all that adjusting?

Was using a Crate BT350 with a "copied" trace elliot 1-15 cab. Have played it through many rigs, including a new trace 2-10 combo on top of a 1-15. It always sounds great, and always has. Everyone who hears this bass loves it. I have actually tuned it down a whole step in the studio, and it sounded even better! For the money, you couldn't buy a better bass when I bought it, and you still can't today. If anyone has one to sell, I could use a backup.

This bass came with a Tony Benneman set-up (he's the best in the world, lives in Gainesville, Florida) and has incredibly low action. In the 24 years I've owned it, I've never adjusted it once. Even guitar players are shocked at how low the action is. I don't do a lot of popping, so this is perfect for me. The original nut was plastic, but a friend of mine copied it (using equipment at the aerospace engineering department of a major university) in a piece of brass, which did improve the tone. The bass itself is kind of beat up, since I bought it when I was 17 and it's been played for probably 4,000 hours or better, but it was beautiful when I bought it. Pretty close to perfect when I got it, and still the only bass I own.

24 years, and I just replaced the pots this week. It's been rained on, dropped, just about any kind of abuse you can imagine, and it still is a great live or studio bass (you can hear it on Matt Jones' "Friend or Shadow" and "Journal from the Home of a Human" CD's. You can really hear it on "Speakeasy" from Journal. Go to Grassroots for a download clip). The tech who replaced the pots said the pickups were still very hot. I have used it for years without a backup, but I probably need another one since it is so old.

Never needed it.

As stated above, I've been playing for over 24 years, and this has been my instrument of choice. I've toyed with buying another bass, but nothing under $2,000 compares. The only bass I've been around that is appreciably better is a Tobias, and unless I get a sponsorship deal, that ain't happening. If it were stolen or lost, I would definitely be looking for another one. I know a couple of reviewers noted that they got their's for $100, but I've seen them for as high as $400 in the last few years. For the money, there just simply isn't a better bass.

Made in 1981, some where in Japan. You can read the specs below, mine's a P-bass copy. Natural ash body, in really good shape. When I got it from the pawn shop, it came with a gig bag. It gets an 8 simply because it's a pretty meat-and-potatoes bass. No frills, just tons and tons of TONE!

Man, I love this bass. It has the warmest, squishiest tone in the world. Which isn't to say it's muddy. Just slap on a new pair of strings and depending on the gauge it can sound as bright as you want. Just squishy 'cause that's how I feel when I play it. In a good way. I play primarily funk, and this bass has funk to spare!

I imagine the set-up was crap from the factory, but that was 20 years ago so how would I know? Initial set up was about a 5, but a couple of turns of a screwdriver & allen wrench, and I had the action dialed in perfect. Great intonation, no buzz, wicked action. All the parts fit great, and the natural ash is beautiful. I get complements all the time on what a great looking bass it is, and how nice it sounds. It's a dream to play - like butter!

This was my main gig bass when I started actively playing again. It's no frills, but it has worked for almost any style. Never a problem. It doesn't look brand-new, but for a bass that's over 20 years old that I rescued from a pawn shop, it's the shadizzle!

Pretty sure it's no longer under warranty. :)

I've been playing for over 24 years. There is no other bass on the planet that will give you this much bang for the buck. I play with a BNX3 modeler, through a Crate 200XL head and a Trace Elliot 2x10 Cabinet. Yeah, my equipment isn't the greatest, but I still shred and can play ANY style. This bass is a big reason why. I also own a BTB405. I only play it when I absolutely need that low B. Otherwise, I always pick up my Blazer. If you can find one, buy it, cherish it, and never let it go. If anyone were to ever steal this, I wouldn't buy another. I WOULD HUNT THEM DOWN TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, GET IT BACK, AND MAKE THEM PAY DEARLY FOR THE TROUBLE. That pretty much says it all.

i love this damn bass. the one i play is an 1980s natural finish with a black pickguard and a maple neck with the frets slotted directly into the neck (no fingerboard). however, its not packed with many features (single passive p-bass style pickup, volume, and tone controls), although it does have a 21 fret neck which i think is a really good idea. i don't know why fender basses stop at 20, cuz adding just one more fret makes the bass have a full three octaves.

THIS BASS HAS THE BEST TONE I HAVE EVER HEARD FROM AN ELECTRIC BASS! This Blazer is not actually mine, its my homosexual friend, Marc's. however, Marc is so busy being gay that he has no time to play bass and therefore i play it nonstop. when he first showed it too me i thought it looked like a piece of shit, but when i plugged it in, i heard the sound of heaven. the action is set fairly low too so when you dig in the strings give a nice punch as they rattle against the frets.

this is a pretty ghetto looking bass. the bridge is made of brass and it has long since rusted over. the wood finish has held up but it just looks damn dirty. but the tone! god, the tone!

since its looks have already gone to hell, there's no worry about further damage being done to it by dropping it/having it crapped on/etc. its a big solid piece of wood (ash i think) and it'll hold up forever.

n/a never had to deal with ibanez

this bass is heaven sent. it possesses the tone i've dreamt about and although its a little rough on the eyes, its brute ugliness gives it individualistic character. p.s. marc is a homo.

This here Blazer is probably the best buy out there, providing you can find one. Nothing has come closer to Fender quality than this bass. Mine is from 1980. Made in Japan. Of course, because of the Ibanez lawsuits, this is an off p bass shape. Natural color, pickguard removed (I cut out a small piece of a clear lucite pickguard for the vol and tone section of the bass, you can see right through to the electronics!. This is the one with the growling Humbucker. I dont know what the body is made of, but the neck is all maple with maple fretboard, really stunning to look at, when you consider the natural finish of the body as well. Brass bridge is turning green. Got it with a hard shell case. I bought it off a guy that ran a classified ad, for, get this, $100 WITH a hard shell case! You may as well say I got it for free....

Oh my, although it looks like a fender, it sounds like a Gibson EBO with this growling Humbucker pickup. I use a GK 200 head with a sonic 15 cab, I basiclly do cover band gigs at bars and private partys. pots have a little noise if you turn them but I always keep both on 10 so does not apply. Its great for all styles of music, very low maintenence instrument. I also play A Gibson Victory standard also from 1980, with a dark and murky tone, so this bass provides an interesting contrast. There is nothing to dislike about this bass, it's equal to any Fender bass out there, certainly better than anything Ibanez has put out in the past 14 years.

I bought it used and the action was high, but I lowered it in minutes, very easy to handle for any little tweeks you'll have to make. PIckup is set in body, not on the pickguard. I take it the P bass version of this bass has the pickup on the pickguard? Hmmm I dont know...

I alternate between the Ibazez and the Gibson from gig to gig, because I luv em both so much.

The only comment I would make to Ibanez would be: Why do you put out such inferior products now?

Y'now its amazing. You can go into a Chain Music Store (ie Sam Ash, Guitar Center) and none of the brand new models can compare to this bass. This is perhaps the best fender copy bass EVER (for me the playability, I understand the P bass pickup version is a clone for vintage Fenders). The best way to sum it up is to paraphrase an old saying. When you pick this bass up and begin to play it, you cant help but think, "They Dont Make Em Like This Anymore"......

Bought my fretless Blazer in 1983 new for $240.00 USD. Saw it hanging in a music store dusty from sitting there. I saw Philip Lynott play one in 1981 and thought if it was good enough for him....any way. I found another fretted version of the same bass ten years later. No frills, no fancy finish, no active electronics and for the $400.00 I have invested in these two instruments you can't even buy a Mexican Fender. They are definately P-Bass knock-offs but they were made right. Mine are both natural colored. Both came with identical cases and hardware. The fretless neck is lined. I use them mainly in the studio and drag my Boat Anchor Fender out on to the stage to impress all the fans. If there were another available I would buy it too because these things do what they are supposed to do--hold down the low end.

They sound more like a vintage P-Bass than any Fender I've owned.
I have owned plenty of the West Coasts Planks and some of them you practically have to stand on one foot and jump up and down to get em to sound right! Just plug the Blazer in and play. Tonality is limited by the single volume and tone knobs--and of course your fingers--but I defy anyone to argue that they don't nail the old P-Bass tone right on the head. I believe this was the sole purpose of their creation! Round wound--flatwound both sound great.

I am old school--I learned to play on a cheese slicer-so the action is fine--to me a "sixteenth note" happens around the middle of a song! The brass hardware tarnishes easily, but the tuners are great and my basses might sit for months and are always ready to play right out of the case.

While I was playing professionally I never was without a backup--most of the time it was these instruments. They are available fairly cheap nowadays and I would recommend them to professionals and amateurs alike.

The company made Fender very nervous in the 70's--enough said!

I would like to buy a red one, they made them with a Massive Humbucker and I have yet to see one locally--anybody got one to sell?

My blazer was made in 1981 in Japan.
4 strings, 22 frets with two volume controls, p-style, passive pickups.I bought it used in small shop in Kalisz,Poland

Sounds perfect in almost all kind of music. I use handmade bass combo with Peavey's Scorpion speaker, with no effects. This guitar can play very loud and it has very rich, warm bright sound like no modern guitar.I love this "meat" :)

Action litte high, but I never had any problems with tunning etc...

This bass will withstand everything :) Very reliable guitar, I can depend on it everytime.

I stardted my bass journey with Jolana Disco - nice but soundless bass.After 6 months I bought used Blazer and I think I won't change it :)
I love the sound, guitar fits perfectly I LOVE IT ALL !!!

Japeneese - brought in 1980 brand new
22 frets - 4 strings
lovely blond wood with black pickguard
Pickup is a humbucker type
Headstock is different to all the other Blazer basses I have seen.

Played in (proper) Punk/Mod bands, very toppy sound, with Rotosound strings
Played through either my 1960's WEM tube amp or my Crate 160 amp no effects (doesnt need them!)
Best sound I have ever had out of a bass in 25 years
Ver bright sound
Never really tried any other sound than the one I have its good enough for me and the band
Better live, probably not clean enough for the studio, use a MM 4 string

Mucked about abit with set up over the last 20+ years

Been dropped, bashed against amps etc. rock solid!
A well made bass for the price around #100 in 1980.
Volume pot has just about given up the ghost and will need replacing

Never needed to

A perfect looking bass, not complicated, solid, does the job , very well in deed. And I think its quite rare due to the pickups and and headstock, unless you know otherwise?

tried many different types over the years but wouldn't swap my Blazer apart for a Rickky 4005!

My blazer was made in october of 1982
it is a 4 string 22fret instrument
solid top maple with a trasparent finish an a black pick guard.
it is stock in every way with passive Pstyle pickups
I got in trade for doing some vocals and comming up with vocal melody lines during a recording session in the late 80s

This sucker thumps. great low end, great sustain, I've used it for more than 10 years and done hundreds of gigs with it. It has never let me down. You could drag the bass through gravel behind a pickup truck for an hour, then plug this sucker in and be good to go.
warm woody tone in the upper register, and deep pure sustaining lows in the bottom register. I use a 150W Hartke 15" aluminum cone combo to drive it and have yet to find a sound that beats it.
Dislikes: funk, crackel and pop are definitly not its strong suit.
this bass is for rock, blues, folk, church, etc...

the bass was wonderfully beat up when i got it and i havent changed a thing. who is responsible for the dings scratches and cigarette burns?
the factory or the red kneck who owned it before me? I'll never know.

Hundreds of gigs, never had to do anything but change the strings.
I get comments on the tone all the time. people dig the soundz.
the only reason i bring a back up bass to gigs is my playing style is very agressive and i break a lot of bass strings. otherwise i would definitly only bring my blazer to gigs.

I've been playing for 25 years
and played through many different rigs and axes
the Blazer Hartke combination works great for my rock blues soul pop gigs. but i am in the process of getting a jazz fusion rig together.

this log was made in 1980, in japan. it's a 22 fret 4 string with a very cool transparent ox-blood finish. the pickups are p-style. it's all stock. whats even cooler, is i'm the second owner. i even have the origional case.

it suits my style just fine. it can be noisy with the tone all up, but for christmas, i'm sticking in some active emg's. that and flat-wound strings. i'm trying to get a dark warm sound. i find having the tone at about 3/4,and a mild distortion on a pedal, with the level pretty high works well.

it has a nice stock set up. people tell me to never lose the bombproof brass bridge, but i'm not to fond of brass, so, mabye a bad ass will be slapped on soon. all the contols are nice. i wish the tone wasn't so on or off-ish.

this is a log. it will last.if i decide to not have it buried with me, my daughter will rock with it. so will her daughter. the finish is a bit soft. the strap buttons are solid. i get it over-hauled once a year. because of the mint shape, i would use it with-out a back-up.

it needs no repairs. but i wish ibanez could provide more info about it. not much out there.

it's the only guitar i have. i've been playing for a few years, but i've been bass-head for much longer. if it were stolen, i'd be out for blood. i love the old-school look and reeeally like the transparent dark red finish. i wish it was a little lighter, but im used to it. i would compare it to a fender p, with a warmer sound. i was very lucky to get this bass for a hundred bones.

I purchased my Blazer bass used in 1989, made in Japan, 4 string 22 frets.maple neck and fretboaed. the prev. owner upgraded the split style pickups with active EMGs that really sound great. The Scale is good, nice and long for better tone. unfortionly worn down frets are now causing problems. The body is a solid top P style and has a nice transparent natural finish but the soft wood is prone to dings. I can press my finger nail into the surface and creat a nice size ding. It has two knobs, tone, and volume, which are probably not original, but upgraded with the pickups.

I used it to record backing tracks for my guitar playing. I record direct, but sometimes I use a line6 POD. Very clean, smooth tone, highs are brite, lows are Warm. Great sound for slapping, but high action makes popping hard. No real variety, but if it souds good, who cares.

Action alittle high, but over all an solid built bass. Never any problems with tuning, etc.

So far very reialible. Soft wood used for the body is easy to ding, but all hardware, and electronics are solid. I have depended on this bass and have not been disapointed.

NA

I have been playing guitar for 14 years, and bass on and off for the same amount of time. I bought this bass because of it's sound and scale. The only thing this bass is missing is a 5th string, and a hard wood top. I can't comment on the OEM pickups but the active EMGs are nice.