Ibanez BTB806MS-TGF

I purchased this bass a month ago and I can't seem to put it down. It's like it calls to me every time I don't play it.

What I love about it:
- The sound: passive mode is awesome and is set for metal and rock from the start. It sounds like a beast as is and if you add some effects, it becomes a monster. It's like the more attack you put into it, the better it sounds. I feel like the active circuit is useful in making it suitable for other genres more than anything, but maybe that's just me. Passive rules anyway.
- The shape: it looks amazing, it feels amazing and it's perfectly balanced. The width of the neck is totally manageable for me up to the 17th fret (who plays the B string that high up the neck anyways, right?).
- The way it plays: I felt an immediate effect on my playing overall (speed, accuracy, etc) even though it's my first 6 string. It requires some technique adjustments, though. Due to the extra long scale, the fanned frets are even more...fanned...than other multiscale basses. That's why playing in the lower part of the neck feels kind of stretchy in the beginning. Also due to this, the plucking hand needs to go at an angle up and down the strings (you kind of need to parallel the pickups with your motion) in order to keep a constant tone on all 6 strings. So you will need to put in some time to adapt to these things.

What I don't like about it:
- The weigth: it's deffinitely on the heavy side. But that's why John Myung once said that a bass player needs to be strong and that's a given.

I would totally recommend this bass. Ibanez did a great job with it. The only thing I regret is not buying it earlier, because I had lots of doubts about it, as it's a huge step up from my trusty Squier Affinity Jazz bass.

PS: no need to comment on Thomann's services. Thanks guys!

And all my habits have changed. Coming directly from a 4 string that I played daily for the last year.. I tried the smaller cousin BTB605MS and nearly bought it, but always saw and read reviews for this one, so eventually took the plunge.
6 strings of pure raw power.. EQ is mental, tonality changes are incredible.. connected to the PC.. or to the small Rumble 15, it just wants to bring the house down.
Despite being on the heavy side, broader neck and 37'', it is by far the most comfortable bass I have ever played. From neck profile, to frets, the way picks are placed, everything is on point.
Space between strings could be a bit wider, but it's perfectly adaptable.
The bass looks and feels even better up close, but it is not for everyone, some people say it's "camo" paint, but it's the wood natural design.
If you are looking for a 6 string and multiscale, this is for sure one to put in your shortlist!!

I wanted an upgrade to my 35" 5 string (that I didn't like to take below Ab due to muddiness), and I play in a band tuned to F#0, so wanted a 37" bass, at a £1-1.5k range. It was a choice between this and the Spector Dimension. However, I also wanted a 6 string so i could have my F#, B and regular EADG to have everything covered by one bass. This bass allowed me to do that, looked stunning (as did its sibling the 866MS), and sounded great from YT videos. When I was measuring it, the scale length is actually 34.5
-37.5", so you get a 1/2" extra free if, like me, you are looking at this to handle F, F#, or G.

I have been playing this as my main instrument for a couple of months now, so feel qualified to speak on it.

SOUND: The range of tones I can get out of this thing is exactly what I wanted, even without running intricate signal chains from it. The T1 pickups are so responsive to string attack and tone control, I have not felt need to adjust their heights from stock. I use mainly fingers and slap with some pick, and I have felt like I easily get the tones I want to recreate. On my simple overdrive preset, I can go from a heavy djent slap riff to a bluesy muted scale run and it cuts right through. The pickups still maintain their bite and body on the thickest three strings way past the 12th fret, which was an issue on my other bass.

I have swapped the stock nickel strings for stainless steel (be mindful at this scale, you're limited to Dingwall strings or custom ones from Newtone, the D'addario Super Long isn't long enough for the 6th string), and again, I have such control over my tone.

PLAYABILITY: In terms of weight, it is 4.6 kg / 10 lbs which is not the lightest bass, but it is finely balanced with no neck dive. The neck on this is super thin, I have short fingers so was concerned about playing it comfortably, but the design has made adapting to its width and the multiscale really natural, and relearning fretting hand (and thumb) position has made me evaluate and really improve my technique. It holds its tune super well, even after a heavy slap practice with lots of pops and bends. Out of the box, the action was low (2-2.5mm), and have been able to drop it to 1.5-2 with only a minor tweak of the truss rod, and no fret buzz at this low level, incredibly happy with the build quality for that.

DESIGN / BUILD QUALITY: The style choice of this is stunning, I love it, and it catches attention. I will say, and this is why it dropped a star, the nut is slightly out of alignment over one edge, and the edges of some frets could have been smoothed off more. A minor gripe, but disappointing from an instrument at this price, but the rest of the build is fantastic quality. The routing for the bridge of pickups is tidy, the finish and detailing of the body is beautiful. Personally, I think the gray-brown stain hides the beauty of the poplar burl, and have sanded and restained parts of the wings an amber colour (which might make you discount my judgement in this entire review).

OVERALL: For the price, for the look, for range of sounds and responsiveness of the pickups, for how comfortable it is to play.. I am very very happy with my decision, and this is going to be my main bass for some years.

Das ist mein erster Multiscale Bass. Es gibt nicht viele leistbare 6 Saiter Multiscale. Dingwall habe ich mir überlegt aber die sind meisten sind 5 Saiter, fast doppel so teuer und Lieferzeit ist in Monaten.
Ich hab vorher auch Ibanez Bass gehabt. Und wegen der Halsaufbau und Saitenabstand, wollte ich wieder Ibanez.

Features sind tool. Für mich wichtige waren: Neckthrough design, aktiv EQ mit Bypass, multiscale und BTB Korpus wegen balance Hals/Korpus.
Was bei 6 Saiter problematisch ist, dass der Hals nach unten zieht (neck dive). Bei diesem Modell muss ich sagen, dass der Balance ganz gut ist. Viel besser als bei meinem SR 6 Saiter.
T1 Pickups kenne ich nicht klingen aber toll. Das ist natürlich Subjektiv. Mit dem EQ lassen sich die mitten sehr gut anpassen.
Der Bass ist recht schwer aber das habe ich auch nix anders erwartet. Dafür zieht der Hals nicht nach unten. Abhilfe hier wäre ein Doppelgurt vom GruvGear.
Der mitgelieferte Koffer is leicht und passgenau. Ich weiss nur nicht, wo ich den Bassgurt in dem Koffer hin tun soll!? Ibanez könnt vielleicht aus Erfahrung wissen, dass Bassisten einen breiten Gurt tragen und es gern im Koffer verstauen.

Was mit nicht so gefällt ist die recht feste Neutrik Buchse. Mit einer Hand den Stecker entriegeln & ziehen ist extrem schwer. Dafür ist die Buchse auch unzerstörbar. Ich empfehle hier nur top Qualität Kabeln mit 90 grad Stecker zu verwenden . Die Farbe ist mehr schwarz wie Braun. Das kann man nicht als natürliche Variation vom Holz bezeichnen. Die Farbe fand ich dennoch schön, auch wenn nicht wie erwartet. Akkudeckel lässt sich nicht so gut schließen. Ich muss es sorgfältig einrasten ohne viel Druck. Aber es hält zumindest noch.

Ein Punkt Abzug, weil die Saiten korrodiert waren und Koffer wegen Platz gründen werde ich einen neuen besorgen müssen. Und Ja Akkudeckel konnte besser sein.

Ich finde den Bass für mich Top und werde es behalten. Der erfüllt meine Anforderungen. Die Kleinigkeiten, die mich stören, lassen sie eh wieder gut machen. Wichtig ist, dass das Instrument akustisch gut gebaut ist. Denn dass lässt sich nicht ändern.

Abwicklung/Verpackung vom Thomann war sehr gut. Das funktioniert recht gut finde ich. Ich hätte mit nur gewünscht, dass der Außenkarton ein TOP Zeichen gehabt hätte. Und vielleicht für Instrumente auch HANDLE WITH CARE drauf schreiben. Der Postler hat es irgendwie getragen und verkehrt hingestellt. Der Bass war zum Glück in seinem eigenem Koffer. Die Verpackung war gut daher Gott sein Dank nix passiert.