Ibanez GWB35 Gary Willis Signature Fretless 5-String Bass
$679.99
 

Ibanez GWB35 Gary Willis Signature Fretless 5-String Bass. Ibanez`s latest fretless, out in January 2004, is the GWB35, the mid-market version of the GWB1 signature model. When I came across it a month ago, its sleek looks with minimalist controls and a matt black finish meant I couldn?¦t leave the shop without at least getting my hands on it. I?¦d tried Ibanez?¦s SGR basses before, and found them very smooth, even a bit too smooth as their narrow neck and lack of fret markings made it difficult for me, a composer rather than skilled technical player, to hit the right note. But the finger feeling on the GWB35 is perfect, very different from my existing range of fretlesses, a Yamaha TRB II 5 string (weighs a ton!) and a Yamaha BB four string (great sound for jazz, African, reggae). On the GWB35, your fingers just fly, making it by far and away the most comfortable fretless I?¦ve played. Also, as the bassman in the shop said, Ibanez have an edge over other makers in that their quality control seems to include adjusting each bass before it?¦s sent out. The shop has never had to have an Ibanez adjusted before or after sale. The GWB35?¦s use of basswood reduces the weight, so even after the first all-night session, my shoulder wasn?¦t aching. Fine, so it looks great, is featherweight and plays well, but what about the sound? In a word, terrific! The top end has a clear, fine fretless sound, perfect for those high solos, yet, at the same time, the bottom end has a full, fat growl. That means that from grunge and rock to jazz or ambient, you?¦ll only ever need the one bass. The onboard active electronics work well too. My setting so far has been to boost the bass end by a half, giving it real punch to rival even the most cranked-up of distorted guitars. And on top of all of that, the price is right too, making it a not too expensive alternative to other 5 string fretless basses on the market. So where?¦s the drawback? A first minor complaint about a lack of product information: the Ibanez website and catalogue give you no information about the material used for the fretboard. It?¦s man-made Ebonol, not the ebony wood used for the GWB1. Or about a cool function I have yet to test, the volume knob pulls out to cut out the active EQ, in theory at least allowing you to keep playing if the battery goes flat on you. A related second minor complaint, this time on design. The battery panel on the back is held shut by two small Phillips/Posidrive screws, much less practical than the usual clip-off cover, particularly in the heat of a gig. Ibanez, take note! Still, if the EQ cut-out function works as I hope, at least you can still keep playing. A final complaint, potentially more of a longterm issue. The Ebonol fretboard marks easily with roundwound strings, and the ruts, while not affecting the sound or ease of playing, look a little whitish, slightly spoiling the jetblack look. A bit of spit takes the edge off it, but it will no doubt reappear. Then again, it`s my first fretless with a manmade fretboard. Maybe all manmade materials are prone to such marking. But these are all minor issues compared to the fantastic ease of playing, the fattest fretless sound you?¦ll find around. It`s light weight and great looks. In a word, go get it! You won?¦t regret it. Forgive me if I don?¦t write more; I?¦ve just got to go and play it again! Ibanez GWB35 Gary Willis Signature Fretless 5-String Bass

Gary Willis`s absolute mastery of the fretless bass is well documented in recordings with Tribal Tech, Wayne Shorter, Allan Holdsworth, Hubert Laws, Joe DiOrio and his own solo recordings.With Ibanez, he has designed a no-frills fretless bass to suit the beginner and professional alike. We help you buy Ibanez GWB35 Gary Willis Signature Fretless 5-String Bass online and get the best prices on supplement products. The Gary Willis signature model bass features a Basswood body with GWB custom electronics and pickups, a detatchable ramp/finger rest and 3pc. maple neck. GWB 3-piece maple neck Basswood body Ebonol fretless fingerboard B105 bridge SFR-GWB Custom neck pickup Offset pearl dot inlay Black hardware EQB-GWII 2-band EQ Ibanez GWB35 Gary Willis Signature Fretless 5-String Bass Order today with the no-risk assurance of our Total Satisfaction and Low Price Guarantees!

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