Ibanez BTB Bass and Premium Series get a cool boost for summer
5,0 / 5,0 | 
Summer is the season of the low, smoothly rolling bassline, and Ibanez has just announced an expansion to its BTB model range, with four and seven-strings joining the ranks of its BTB700 series. Ibanez is also tooling up its BTB Premium line, with options for figured maple tops.
Summertime Rolls
Traditionally, the BTB Series consisted of five- or six-string basses. The new BTB740 and BTB747 add a new four-string and a massive seven-string version to the line up.
Ibanez BTB740 4-String new for Summer 2017 · Source: Ibanez
New Forms
Both have the same features standard to the BTB700 series, including a newly contoured body, with a 35″ scale length and a design with a longer upper horn. Other features common to the series include Bartolini BH2 pickups, an Ibanez custom 3-band EQ, a zero fret, and a Mono-rail V bridge.
Both instruments are built using mahogany and ash body wings topped with walnut. The BTB747 seven-string bass has a nine-piece maple, rosewood and walnut neck for added strength, while the BTB740 four-string has a more regular five-piece maple and rosewood neck.
Ibanez BTB747 bass. Nearly as many strings as a harp! · Source: Ibanez
BTB740 RRP – USD 1171
BTB747 RRP – USD 1377
BTB Premium 2017
Ibanez reintroduced the BTB Premium range this year, and has decided to add the BTB1905E and BTB1906E models. They are both built with figured maple tops matched to an ash and figured maple body and share the same body design. Ibanez is now offering a different choice of woods. Both models come with a nine-piece Wenge, Bubinga, and Maple neck with graphite reinforcement and have a rosewood fretboard with Premium Fret Edge treatment.
Ibanez BTB1906E Premium · Source: Ibanez
Electronics include Aguilar DCB pickups and an Ibanez Custom 3-band EQ. They also use Gotoh machine-heads and Neutrik locking input jacks.
BTB1905E – RRP USD 2,204
BTB1906E – RRP USD 2342
Summer
I think all four new models are very well priced and if you are in the market for a 7-string bass, then the BTB747 does appear – on paper, at least – to be ridiculously well priced for its specification. I do wonder, though, how Ibanez is going to deal with CITES regulations whilst using all that rosewood in the construction…
Ibanez BTB Bass Series main page
Ibanez BTB Premium Series main page
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