Ibanez Updates BTB Premium Basses

After revamping their standard BTB line earlier this year, Ibanez has now announced an updated version of their BTB Premium basses for 2017. The new 1805E and 1806E BTB Premium basses feature the combination of a rosewood and ash body with a nine-piece wenge/bubinga/maple neck-through design. The neck is also reinforced with graphite rods.

Ibanez BTB1805 Bass

They’ve also changed the pickups to a pair of Aguilar DCB’s matched to Ibanez’s active/passive 3-band EQ. A three-way switch toggles the mid-frequency between 250Hz, 450Hz, and 700Hz. Other upgrades include a refined body arch and a zero fret, which the company says gives open strings a “deeper, fretted tone.”

The Ibanez BTB Premium basses are available with prices of $1,599.99 for the 5-string and $1,699.99 for the 6-string.

Ibanez BTB1805E Premium Bass Specs:

Construction:Neck-Through
Strings:5
Scale:35″
Body:Ash Wings
Top and Back:Rosewood
Neck:9-piece Wenge/Bubinga/Maple w/Graphite reinforcement rods
Fretboard:Rosewood
Frets:24 plus Zero Fret
Inlays:Abalone Off-Set Dot
Pickups:Aguilar DCB
Electronics:Ibanez Custom Electronics 3-band EQ w/Mid frequency switch
Bridge:Mono-rail V bridge (19mm string spacing)
Hardware Color:Gold
Finish:Natural Low Gloss

Ibanez BTB1806E Premium Bass Specs:

Construction:Neck-Through
Strings:6
Scale:35″
Body:Ash Wings
Top and Back:Rosewood
Neck:9-piece Wenge/Bubinga/Maple w/Graphite reinforcement rods
Fretboard:Rosewood
Frets:24 plus Zero Fret
Inlays:Abalone Off-Set Dot
Pickups:Aguilar DCB
Electronics:Ibanez Custom Electronics 3-band EQ w/Mid frequency switch
Bridge:Mono-rail V bridge (17mm string spacing)
Hardware Color:Gold
Finish:Natural Low Gloss

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