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Willis Music Oxmoor Product Profile
Ibanez BTB 450QM®
Basswood body with Quilted Maple top, 5-piece Maple/Walnut neck, custom wound Bartolini pickups, 18-volt active circuitry, 35” neck scale, Neutrik® locking input jack, Mono-Rail bridge
Viewed by many bassists to be “The” Ibanez bass series, the BTB line has enjoyed massive success since its introduction. 2006 brings several new advancements into the line so I wanted to give the upgraded BTB a test run to see how it compared to the previous model.
Most players feel the BTB’s neck is the star of the instrument, and it’s definitely a unique one. Slightly wider in width than most necks, the BTB is designed for players wanting a bit more room without sacrificing excellent playability. The nearly flat fretboard radius makes walking lines and scales as easy as whole note rides. The medium jumbo size frets are comfortable for sliding, and their polishing is immaculate; something lacking on many basses under $1,000. Scale length has been increased slightly to accommodate dropped tunings without string flop giving the BTB a great advantage over most other 4 strings on the market. The 5-piece Maple/Walnut neck is super rigid and can easily perform at the low tunings being used by many of today’s current rock acts. Even the effort of drop tuning has been considered by Ibanez; they’ve angled the tuners downward to allow for quick adjustments for players not used to a 35” scale length. The neck is attached deep into the body via 5 screws ensuring serious resonance.
Electronically this bass is terrifying! As a longtime supporter of Bartolini pickups, I was thrilled to see them incorporated by Ibanez. Most companies immediately go to EMG when wanting to upgrade a bass to active electronics, and as such most active basses sound about the same. Not this one. Bill Bartolini designed 2 humbucking pickups that deliver a frequency range from startling highs to window rattling lows. That means the player has available to him/her practically any sound they can imagine. Amazing control over tone is provided via the 18-volt 3 band EQ; another great upgrade for players over the standard 9-volt systems since this more than doubles the clear headroom available. Plugged in to a Gallien Krueger 700RB head and GK Neo 412 cabinet, this bass dished out sounds reminiscent of everything from Aerosmith and James Brown to Tool and Shadows Fall. The possibility of excess buzzing is all but eliminated by the Mono-Rail bridge which prevents any physical contact between individual strings and saddles. The locking jack is great and I wish every company thought about stage situations and included it on instruments.
The BTB delivers massive sounds with very little effort. The easy to use controls make it friendly to a player used to non-active basses, and the great playability will be a welcome addition to any bassist.
Reviewed by: Mike McAfee
Contact reviewer at: oxmoorstore@willis-music.com
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About the Contributor:
Manager Mike McAfee is a 13 year plus Willis veteran who has hand picked each employee on his floor because they excel in providing a superior experience to every customer. The confidence, knowledge and courtesy you encounter lives up to an environment tailored for each department of their store. The home-like piano experience alone is worth a visit, and no other store in town carries the stock or selection of Willis’ Oxmoor location. Please accept Mike’s personal invitation to see first hand how hard we’ll work to make sure you’ll always come back home to Willis Music at Oxmoor Center.
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