As spring knocks on our doors, Ibanez reinforces the ranks with a total of eleven new models. Basses, guitars, acoustics, there`s something for everyone.
Introducing new models and series at a pretty frantic pace, Ibanez has more than earned the badge of the busiest bee in the hive. With Winter NAMM only a couple of months away, Ibanez rushes the spring with a batch of new models. All fronts are being covered, from traditional acoustics, to hyper-modern five and six-string basses, to long-scaled eight-string guitars. Name it, Ibanez probably got it somewhere in the catalog. If not, it`s on the way, for sure. This time around, four electric basses, four luxurious RG Prestige electric guitars and three Artwood acoustics are joining the Ibanez ranks. With the new Talman Bass series (it`s been derived from the acoustic series of the same name), Ibanez aims at the players who like classic looks and modern tone. Affordable TMB100 and TMB300 form the initial lineup. Ibanez Bass Workshop boasts the super fast 33”-scaled BTB33 five-stringer, while the ANB1006 comes in as the first model of the Adam Nitti`s signature series. Artwood range claims three models – the vintage styled AVN2 and AVN3 parlors, and the modern/vintage AW4000 dreadnought. RG Prestige range is refreshed with a quartet of maple-fingerboard axes. RG652AHM, RG655M, RG752WMFX and RG852 MPB are their names.
The new Talman Bass range is the answer for all the players who like modern/classic basses, are short on cash, but want their instrument to have more style and personality than a GIO four-string. TMB100 costs around $200 and, for that money, it offers: flat mahogany body, bolted maple neck, top-load bridge, J/P set of Dynamix pickups (passive, of course) and a 20-fret rosewood fingerboard. Pretty impressive for a beginner class bass. Full specs list and an in-depth review can be found on TMB100 detail page on our site or Ibanez Guitars official web page.
With a $50 higher price tag, TMB300 offers the same level of quality, same materials and same hardware. But, there`s one key difference between these two, the pickups configuration. Instead of the classic J/P set, flat mahogany body of the 300 model is equipped with a humbucker in the bridge and a P pickup in the middle position. Other than that, these two are identical. Full specs list and an in-depth review can be found on TMB300 detail page on our site or Ibanez Guitars official web page.
Ibanez Bass Workshop is a place where all of the conventions and standards of bass guitar building are challenged and put to test. This time around, the result is the lightning fast BTB33. 33 stands for the scale length. Besides the unorthodox scale length, this five-string also comes with a non-standard tuning – EADGC, instead of the BEADG. Finger ramp between the Bartolini humbuckers, 24-fret fingerboard and the neck-through-body construction are among the most prominent specs. Full specs list and an in-depth review can be found on BTB33 detail page on our site or Ibanez Guitars official web page.
Artwood Vintage series takes the players back in time to the golden age of acoustics, and eve further than that. The new AVN2 is a fully acoustic parlor guitar with all-mahogany body, V-contoured mahogany neck, and bridge and 18-fret fingerboard made of rosewood. Dark, warm tone with strong projection, and old-school playability is what this little six-string offers to the players. Open Pore Natural is the only color option available. Full specs list and an in-depth review can be found on AVN2 detail page on our site or Ibanez Guitars official web page.
Taking the players even further in time, AVN3 has a substantially smaller body than the AVN2. Mahogany and solid Sitka spruce form it. Scale is also a bit shorter on this model, while the neck width and contour remain the same. Rosewood bridge with a bone saddle, vintage-styled tuners and classical guitar rosette are also featured on this delicate six-string. Full specs list and an in-depth review can be found on AVN3 detail page on our site or Ibanez Guitars official web page.
Artwood`s new AW4000 brings us back into the present time. Some of the relics of the past are still visible in the shape of the tortoise decorations, vintage-styled rosette and the traditional dovetail neck joint construction. Brown Sunburst-clad body of this fully acoustic dread is made of solid wood (mahogany back & sides and spruce top). Neck is also made of mahogany, while the bridge and fingerboard are both made of rosewood. Full specs list and an in-depth review can be found on AW4000 detail page on our site or Ibanez Guitars official web page.
Adam Nitti is the newest member of the Ibanez signature bass family. His ANB1006 is a blue-clad, six-stringed colossus. Solid and Double-cut swamp ash/figured maple body is taken from the SR range, while the maple/purple heart neck rocks the custom profile in the back. Hipshot bridge, modern tuners, and the rest of the hardware are painted black. Bartolini soapbar pickups bring the most versatile tone featured on a bass guitar recently. Full specs list and an in-depth review can be found on ANB1006 detail page on our site or Ibanez Guitars official web page.
RG Prestige is, as its name says, a high class line of guitars made for the players willing to spend serious money on a serious instrument. In this series, looks, construction and tone are treated equally and no segment is compromised. RG652AHM is the first of four additions we`ll review in this article. Classic RG-shaped body made of ash, bolted maple/walnut neck, DiMarzio Tone Zone/Air Norton pickups and a 24-fret maple fingerboard are among the essential features. Full specs list and an in-depth review can be found on RG652AHM detail page on our site or Ibanez Guitars official web page.
RG Prestige is, as its name says, a high class line of guitars made for the players willing to spend serious money on a serious instrument. In this series, looks, construction and tone are treated equally and no segment is compromised. RG655M is the first of four additions we`ll review in this article. Classic RG-shaped body made of ash, bolted maple/walnut neck, DiMarzio Tone Zone/Air Norton pickups and a 24-fret maple fingerboard are among the essential features. Full specs list and an in-depth review can be found on RG655M detail page on our site or Ibanez Guitars official web page.
Stepping onto the extended range territory, we first encounter the stripped down RG752WMFX. It is a solid-bodied guitar with mahogany body and a maple/wenge neck. Top of the body is also made of wenge. Seven-saddled Gibraltar bridge and DiMarzio PAF 7 pickups are featured on the top. Bolted maple/wenge neck is topped with a mandatory 24-fret maple fingerboard (all four have maple fingerboards). Full specs list and an in-depth review can be found on RG752WMFX detail page on our site or Ibanez Guitars official web page.
The final eleventh spot goes to the absolutely gorgeous and also huge RG852MPB. This eight-string titan comes in with the beautiful Ghost Fleet Blue Burst color scheme which extends to the headstock, as well. Beneath the paint, there`s a bassowood body with a poplar burl top, and a five-piece maple/wenge neck with Ultra 8 profile. Pickups are DiMarzio`s passive PAF-8 humbuckers. Compulsory maple fingerboard is also there. Full specs list and an in-depth review can be found on RG852MPB detail page on our site or Ibanez Guitars official web page.
