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| Sound: | |
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Pros:
- Expressive Sound
- Lovely Design
- Powerful Output
Cons:
- Not Cheap
- Fretboard color and body color contrast
The beauty of an expensive bass guitar lies not within the guarantee of quality you get when you buy it. If the guarantee was always present, than there would be no point in a review like this. No, the beauty of an expensive electric bass guitar lies within the specialization it goes through to cater to a specific type of musician. Whether it is a specific need in tone or look, there is an expensive bass guitar to fulfill it. So here is one of them, the Ibanez Bass Workshop SRFF806BKS Multi-Scale. Let us take a closer look and see what needs it fulfills.
Body Quality
The design of the guitar, in terms of shape, seems to not stand out in any single way. It seems to not provide the player any new eye candy, or any unique eye candy, that would prove to the musician that it is unique. The design is traditional, with a double-cutaway neck and a rounded bottom to the guitar. The part that stands out the most is the ashen coloring of the guitar, one which catches the eye and makes the 6-string guitar feel just as unique as it sounds. A great piece of beauty to have in your life.
The body of the guitar is made out of ash, which is always a great choice for a bass guitar. In the case of this guitar the ash is northern, which is a heavier choice, but also the choice with a whole lot more character. Northern Ash has a characteristic of producing a great resonance with the entire spectrum of tones, with the midtones being well pronounced, low tones strong and thick and the high tones remaining bright. The northern ash is heavier than its swamp cousin, and yet it is just as sturdy, making it the perfect choice for most bass guitars.
The neck of the guitar is made out of a combination of Bubinga and Jatoba, a combination that feels exotic most of the time. The bubinga is sturdy and provides another level of resonance with the low tones of the guitar, while the Jatoba reinforces the overall sturdiness of the bass guitar. What you get is a great neck that helps the sound and also provides a warp-resistant, sturdy guitar. The neck is set into the body of the guitar, which further enhances the sturdiness of the instrument. The fretboard of the guitar is made out of rosewood.
Hardware
The guitar comes with a six-saddle, custom bridge. It provides a good level of action for the guitar strings. The string stability of the guitar is also easy to appreciate.
The nut of the guitar is made of a high quality synthetic material. This provides the guitar with cleanliness in sound and some nice harmony through the strings.
The tuning machine of the guitar works well with the rest of the instrument’s design. The tuning stability of the guitar is exceptional so that you will not be bothered by the annoyance of re-tuning too often.
Electronics
The guitar comes with two pickups, one located at the neck of the guitar and the other located at the bridge of the instrument. The two Bartolini BH1 pickups provide the instrument with a whole lot of positivity that you won’t find in many bass guitars. The sound of the guitar is powerful thanks to the humbucking nature of the pickups. The tone of the guitar is nuanced and detailed, so that every note feels unique and well expressed. Great pickups overall.
The controls of the guitar are detailed, providing the musician with all the tools to customize their sound. The guitar comes with a master volume control, master tone control and three pickup blending knobs covering the entirety of the tonal range.
Ibanez Bass Sound
The sound of the guitar is powerful and incredibly enjoyable. The low tones of the guitar are extremely thick and warm, while the high tones are well expressed and bright. The mid-tones are where the guitar shines, as they are sharp, funky and incredibly detailed. The output of the guitar provides a whole lot of volume and power. Overall the guitar seems to be born to be used in the jazz world, though it seems to also be capable of a wide range of genres without a single issue.
Conclusion
This is an amazing instrument that will not bankrupt your pocket by too much. The sound of the guitar is lovely, full and powerful with the design being unique and eye-catching. Great stuff all around!
Click here to find out more about Ibanez Bass Workshop SRFF806BKS Multi-Scale.
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