Byo Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Hi y'all, I saw a post here regarding the '15 NAMM and Ibanez's new BTB Volo bass, which is their own take on the 33" Fodera thingy strung E-C. http://www.ibanez.co.jp/usa/news/f_products/2014/workshop/volo.html Has anybody been able to try one out yet? Any prices? I am not into the BTB shape, the horns a too big for my taste but the 33" makes it look a little better than the normal 35" BTB's that are around. And to be honest, it may be the cheapeast 33" E-C bass around. Ibanez has been trying out some cool stuff over the past years at very decent prices (Fretted/Fretless hybrid, Fanned Frets, Kaoss SR bass...). Cheers! Byron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Love the idea, like BTB basses in general, but like you I find the BTB horns a big turn-off. If there were a 33" E-C bass that had a more conventional appearance I'd definitely be interested in it. Having said that, I've not yet gone out of my way to find one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 I think if they'd made a 33" SR bass they'd have been on to a winner here. Folks tend to look to the Soundgear range as a nice full scale yet compact solution, so a 33" would've been real nice and the shorter scale would've balanced well with the shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Der JD Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 I had GAS for one of these for a while. One day I tried stringing one of my current 5 string basses E-C. Sounds great and the only adjustment I needed to do was intonation. Now all my 5-string basses are E-C and I have crossed this one off the GAS list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliusmonk Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Very nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visog Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Prices coming in at about £680 although not seen one in the flesh yet. Seems to be a pre-order item in most UK outlets currently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byo Posted April 22, 2015 Author Share Posted April 22, 2015 [quote name='visog' timestamp='1429731426' post='2754447'] Prices coming in at about £680 although not seen one in the flesh yet. Seems to be a pre-order item in most UK outlets currently. [/quote] 680 quid is not bad, but I wish they had gone for the Nordstrand pups instead of the Bartolini ones in this model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byo Posted April 22, 2015 Author Share Posted April 22, 2015 [quote name='eude' timestamp='1429709268' post='2754156'] I think if they'd made a 33" SR bass they'd have been on to a winner here. Folks tend to look to the Soundgear range as a nice full scale yet compact solution, so a 33" would've been real nice and the shorter scale would've balanced well with the shape. [/quote] 100% with you mate. The SR would have been a killer bass in a 33" E-C! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flippyfloop Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 Anyone else feel that the pickups look way to big ? Horizontally. Like to play one to see if it's a hindrance or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 Yeah those pickups are huuuge!! I think Ibanez missed the mark on this one a bit, nice idea, but the SR would have been a better bassis for this model. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visog Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 Chords certainly sound good on it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCCeeE7k_Fg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 I don't thing anyone is questioning how it sounds, I agree that it actually sounds pretty decent,from that video and their official one, but I think the shape and size of it misses the mark. With regards to the pickups, anchoring your thumb on them to play the E string would suck. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flippyfloop Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 [quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1431255532' post='2769206'] With regards to the pickups, anchoring your thumb on them to play the E string would suck. Si [/quote] for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byo Posted May 14, 2015 Author Share Posted May 14, 2015 (edited) Agree with you Si. Both shape and pups are just wrong... Maybe with a SR body and some traditional looking pups (i.e. 5 string jazz bass singles size) they would have nailed it. Better luck next time Ibanez... Edited May 14, 2015 by Byo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted May 14, 2015 Share Posted May 14, 2015 [quote name='Byo' timestamp='1431568150' post='2772706'] Agree with you Si. Both shape and pups are just wrong... Maybe with a SR body and some traditional looking pups (i.e. 5 string jazz bass singles size) they would have nailed it. Better luck next time Ibanez... [/quote] Yup, the general consensus, here and on Talkbass is that they've missed the mark a little on this one. You never know, they might give it another go based on feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted May 14, 2015 Share Posted May 14, 2015 I do think there's a market for the spec (I would I guess ), and I think that if someone will do it well and this price range it's Ibanez......but it's difficult to see how this particular model got through a bassist focus group?! lol Oh well, onwards and upwards for them Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visog Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Anyone seen one in the flesh (in the UK) yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byo Posted May 27, 2015 Author Share Posted May 27, 2015 Nope... still waiting it seems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Some blithering buffoon rambling on about one here: http://www.iguitarmag.com/magazine-editions/guitar-interactive-issue-33/edition-videos/dv_ibanez_btb33_volo_bass_reviewmp4/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 I bought an SR605 and restrung it E-C. Didn't need to change the but and it plays really nice. I wouldn't spend the best part of £700 on something like this. They should've done the SR1400 (thru neck model) with a 33" scale and the Nordstrand Big Singles. Would have been KILLER and less than £1000. Missed opportunity with this I think... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byo Posted May 27, 2015 Author Share Posted May 27, 2015 I think most of us agree that they should have gone for the SR body shape... the BTB just looks weird IMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AttitudeCastle Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 [quote name='dood' timestamp='1432746370' post='2784576'] Some blithering buffoon rambling on about one here: [url="http://www.iguitarmag.com/magazine-editions/guitar-interactive-issue-33/edition-videos/dv_ibanez_btb33_volo_bass_reviewmp4/"]http://www.iguitarma...bass_reviewmp4/[/url] [/quote] Great review as always Dan, and may I say, what beautiful playing too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRBboy Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 I'm REALLY curious to know how it would work out strung conventionally B-G. Would make a super comfy, easy to play 5er I think...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassy Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 [quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1433159620' post='2788337'] I'm REALLY curious to know how it would work out strung conventionally B-G. Would make a super comfy, easy to play 5er I think...... [/quote] Me too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visog Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 [quote] Me too [/quote] Potentially but it might take some nut & neck adjustment, set-up and experimentation with string gauges to get that low 'B' intonated and ringing properly. Getting a good low 'B' is a challenge on a 34" scale bass let alone 33". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.