Ibanez BTB846-CBL

BTB basses feel like boutique instruments.

This is a beautiful bass. The details set it apart from most of the mass-produced herd. Stainless frets, zero fret, Bartolini pickups, "hippy sandwich" construction, and a high quality bridge system give this high end looks, feel, and sound. The neck isn't super thin, but it is easy to get around, and better still, the strings are not spaced too far apart. Pickups have plenty of solid low end, and the longer scale tightens up the low b. As for high frequency, detail is clear, and harmonics sing out. The fit and finish are great, with no flaws that I could find. Fretwork is excellent.

The only criticisms I have are firstly, that the low/mid/high pots are oriented in the wrong direction. Secondly, the variable mid has three frequency band options on a switch for the mid filter, and I wish it were sweepable, similar to the EMG BQ preamps. As for the pot arrangement, the wires are long enough you can swap the pots around to your preferred order, as I already have.