Bensalem, PA (February 23, 2015) -- Ibanez released several new basses at the Winter NAMM show.
Black Eagle 2609B Reissue
It’s a rare instance when the bass builders at Ibanez re-visit the company’s history. But even for the very forward-thinking Ibanez design team, the 40th anniversary of the legendary Black Eagle bass was too important a milestone to ignore. Here’s a limited edition re-issue that opens the door to an alternate universe circa 1975.
The first head-turner is mahogany body with its sharp inward-turned cutaways, along with its gracefully shaped F-hole headstock, which sets the stage for this Black Eagle re-issue to brim with 70s-era cool. Its Maple fretboard boasts an intricate custom inlay, but the decorative pièce de résistance is most certainly the white-on-black Abolone eagle that lives near the lower horn.
LIST: $599.99
BTB33NTF
The mission of the Ibanez Bass Workshop is to pioneer new frontiers in bass development by pushing the boundaries of conventional designs. The impetus behind each one of these unique instruments comes from the desire of the Ibanez bass development group to satisfy the specific needs of a very particular player and to hopefully inspire new vistas of creativity.
Designed for players looking to explore the upper region of the fretboard, the BTB33NTF is a 5-string bass is factory tuned from E to C. Excellent for playing chords and soloing up into baritone territory, this 5-piece Maple/Bubinga neck helps to create the proper tension and tonal quality for the C string without compromising the deep tone of the E string. It also facilitates faster playing and easier chording.
Another innovative feature of the BTB33NTF is the inclusion of a height adjustable Rosewood Finger Ramp. The ramp prevents players from digging in too hard when plucking finger-style and encourages a lighter playing technique, which helps promote a broader dynamic range and better tone. It also acts as a thumb rest that provides access to a wider plucking area, allowing players to explore more tonal options by varying the distance of their hand from the bridge.
The BTB33NTF includes a Mahogany with an Ash top, the neck sports a Rosewood fingerboard with Abalone inlays and a Mono-Rail V bridge provides optimum adjustment for superior intonation. Electronics feature the excellent tone of Bartolini BH1-5 pickups through an Ibanez 3-band EQ with a mid frequency selector switch for advanced tone control.
List: $1377.76
SR1406TEVNF
The new Ibanez SR1406TEVNF is a stylish 6-string bass that boasts “neck-through” construction for the optimum in tone, sustain and stability. As part of the Ibanez Premium line, it delivers "Performance Beyond Expectation" at pricing friendly to the working musician.
The SR1406TEVNF begins with a beautiful figured Maple top/Mahogany body combination that produces a robust, full-balanced tone. The Vintage Natural Flat finish allows the body to resonate more freely and creates an understated look of elegance. The 5-piece Wenge/Bubinga Atlas-6 neck features “neck-through” construction, which runs from the top of the headstock down to the lower strap pin. This design increases sustain, improves tuning stability and allows unfettered access to the even highest frets. Thanks to the Premium Fret Edge Treatment, super-smooth, hand-crimped medium frets on a Rosewood fretboard with oval Abalone inlay, this handsome bass is as enjoyable to play, as it is to look at. String vibration and sustain are also optimized by the innovative Mono-Rail IV bridge for the most precise intonation.
For electronics, the SR1406TEVNF comes loaded with two Nordstrand “Big Single” passive pickups. Additional sound shaping is provided by an Ibanez 3-band Active EQ with EQ bypass switch and mid-frequency switch.
List: $2,066.65
SRFF805BKS and SRFF806BKS Ibanez is proud to introduce the first-ever production model fanned-fret basses: the five-string SRFF805BKS and the six-string SRFF806BKS. Introduced in 1989, the fanned fret system is a revolutionary concept designed to create a better sounding, better playing bass. Previously, fanned fret instruments were available only to those who could afford the high-priced boutique instruments from private luthiers. Now, as part of their Premium Instrument line, Ibanez makes this unique, high-quality instrument available to the working musician.
Built at the Ibanez Premium Production Facility, the SRFF805 and 806 each consists of an Ash body attached to a 5pc Jatoba/Bubinga SR neck with a Rosewood fretboard, Medium frets and Acrylic custom fanned inlays. The innovative Mono-Rail V Bridge system was decided as the perfect match for a fan-fret instrument, allowing for independent positioning of each string’s bridge piece to provide excellent intonation and superior vibration transference. Electronics include Bartolini BH1 pickups, for a thick, punchy, full-range of tone, and a 3-band EQ w/ Bypass switch and Mid-Frequency switch for complete sonic control.
The goal of the fanned-fret system is to even the tension of each string. Equalized tension helps to create a more “alive,” open tone. On the SRFF805/806, the scale length is 34” on the highest pitch string side, expanding to 35.5 at the low B. The slant of the fanned-frets ergonomically coordinate with the way a players hand angles as it moves up and down the neck, facilitating quick, comfortable playing action. The result is better tone, expanded harmonic complexity and improved playability across all five strings.
SRFF805BKS List: $1,333.32
SRFF806BKS List: $1,399.99
Reflecting a classic Ibanez body style, the Talman Bass Series sports a cool retro look with a sound that will inspire players of all ages.
The TMB300 delivers a one-two punch by combining a passive P/J pickup configuration with a retro Ibanez body design. Features include a Mahogany body, Maple neck, Standard bridge, bound Rosewood fretboard with Block inlays and a tortoise shell pickguard for a stylish, finished look. Electronics consist of a Custom 2-band Active EQ with an Ibanez DXP neck pickup and a DJ2 double J bridge pickup for extra punch. A Split Coil Switch provides a single coil option in the bridge position for heightened definition.
The TMB100 also combines a passive P/J pickup configuration with the Ibanez-retro Talman body style. Features include a Mahogany body, a Maple neck, Rosewood fretboard with dot inlay, a Standard bridge and a tortoise shell pickguard. Electronics consist of an Ibanez DXP neck pickup and a DXJ bridge pickup and a Custom 2-band active EQ for increased tonal options.
TMB300 List: $428.56
TMB100 List: $258.70
For more information:
Ibanez
Boss’ firstWaza Tube Amp Expander, built with an integrated power amp that enables boosted signal as well as attenuated sounds, was and remains the OX’s main competition. Both products have copious merits but, at $1,299 (Boss) and $1,499 (Universal Audio), each is expensive. And while both units are relatively compact, they aren’t gear most folks casually toss in a backpack on the way out the door. The new Waza Tube Expander Core, however, just might be. And though it sacrifices some refinements for smaller size, its much-more accessible price and strong, streamlined fundamental capabilities make it a load-box alternative that could sway skeptics.
Micro Manager
The TAE Core is around 7 1/2" wide, just over 7 " long, and fewer than 4 " tall, including the rubber feet. That’s about half the width of an original TAE or OX. The practical upside of this size reduction is obvious and will probably compel a lot of players to use the unit in situations in which they’d leave a full-size TAE at home. The streamlined design is another source of comfort. With just five knobs on its face, the TAE Core has fewer controls and is easier to use than many stompboxes. In fact, the most complicated part of integrating the TAE Core to your rig might be downloading the necessary drivers and related apps.
Connectivity is straightforward, though there are some limitations. You can use TAE Core wirelessly with an iOS or Windows tablet or smartphone, as long as you have the BT-DUAL adaptor (which is not included and sets you back around 40 bucks). However, while desktop computers recognize the TAE Core as a Bluetooth-enabled device, you cannot use the unit wirelessly with those machines. Instead, you have to connect the TAE Core via USB. In a perfectly ordered world, that’s not a big problem. But if you use the TAE Core in a small studio—where one less cable is one less headache—or you prefer to interface with the TAE Core app on a desktop where you can toggle fast and easily between large, multi-track sessions and the app, the inability to work wirelessly on a desktop can be a distraction. The upside is that the TAE Core app itself is, functionally and visually, almost identical in mobile and desktop versions, enabling you to select and drag and drop virtual microphones into position, add delay, reverb, compression, and EQ effects, choose various cabinets with different speaker configurations and sizes, and introduce new rigs and impulse responses to a tone recipe in a flash. And though the TAE Core app lacks some of the photorealistic panache and configuration options in the OX app, the TAE Core’s app is just as intuitive.Less Is More
One nice thing about the TAE Core’s more approachable $699 price is that you don’t have to feel too bad on nights that you “underutilize” the unit and employ it as an attenuator alone. In this role, the TAE Core excels. Even significantly attenuated sounds retain the color and essence of the source tone. Like any attenuator-type device, you will sacrifice touch sensitivity and dynamics at a certain volume level, yielding a sense of disconnection between fingers, gut, guitar, and amp. But if you’re tracking “big” sounds in a small space, you can generate massive-sounding ones without interfacing with an amp modeler and flat-response monitors, which is a joy in my book. And again, there’s the TAE Core’s ability to “expand” as well as attenuate, which means you can use the TAE Core’s 30-watt onboard power amp to amplify the signal from, say, a 5-watt Fender Champion 600 with a 6" speaker, route it to a 2x12, 4x12, or virtual equivalent in the app, and leave your bandmate with the Twin Reverb and bad attitude utterly perplexed.
The Verdict
Opting for the simpler, thriftier TAE Core requires a few sacrifices. Power users that grew accustomed to the original TAE’s super-tunable “resonance-Z” and “presence-Z” controls, which aped signal-chain impedance relationships with sharp precision, will have to make do with the simpler but still very effective stack and combo options and the “air feel level” spatial ambience control.The DC power jack is less robust. It features only MIDI-in rather than MIDI-in/-through/-out jacks, and, significantly, 70 watts less power in the onboard power amp. But from my perspective, the Core is no less “professional” in terms of what it can achieve on a stage or in a studio of any size. Its more modest feature set and dimensions are, in my estimation, utility enhancements as much as limitations. If greater power and MIDI connectivity are essentials, then the extra 600 bones for the original TAE will be worth the price. For many of us, though, the mix of value, operational efficiencies, and the less-encumbered path to sound creation built into the TAE Core will represent a welcome sweet spot that makes dabbling in this very useful technology an appealing, practical proposition.
Announced at the 2025 NAMM show, Cory Wong’s new collaboration with Ernie Ball Music Man scratched an itch—namely, the itch for a humbucker-loaded guitar that could appease Wong’s rock-and-R&B alter ego and serve as complement to his signature Fender Strat. Inspiration came from no further than a bandmate’s namesake instrument. Vulfpeck bassist Joe Dart has a line of signature model EBMM basses, one of which uses the classic StingRay bass body profile. So, when Wong went looking for something distinctive, he wondered if EBMM could create a 6-string guitar using the classic StingRay bass body and headstock profile.
Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay II ReviewErnie Ball Music Man StingRay II ReviewDouble the Fun
Wong is, by his own admission, a single-coil devotee. That’s where the core of his sound lives and it feels like home to him. However, Wong is as inspired by classic Earth, Wind & Fire tones and the pop-punk of the early ’90s as he is by Prince and the Minneapolis funk that he grew up with. The StingRay II is a guitar that can cover all those bases.
Ernie Ball has a history of designing fast-feeling, comfortable necks. And I can’t remember ever struggling to move around an EBMM fretboard. The roasted maple C-shaped neck here is slightly thicker in profile than I expected, but still very comfortable. (I must also mention that the back of the neck has a dazzling, almost holographic look to the grain that morphs in the light). By any measure, the StingRay II’s curves seemed designed for comfort and speed. Now, let’s talk about those pickups.Hot or Not?
A few years ago EBMM introduced a line of HT (heat-treated) pickups. The pickups are built with technology the company used to develop their Cobalt and M-Series strings. A fair amount of the process is shrouded in secrecy and must be taken on faith, but EBMM says treating elements of the pickup with heat increases clarity and dynamic response.
To find out for myself, I plugged the StingRay II into a Fender Vibroverb, Mesa/Boogie Mark VII, and a Neural DSP Quad Cortex (Wong’s preferred live rig). Right away, it was easy to hear the tight low end and warm highs. Often, I feel like the low end from neck humbuckers can feel too loose or lack definition. Neither was the case here. The HT pickup is beautifully balanced with a bounce that’s rich with ES-335 vibes. Clean tones are punchy and bright—especially with the Vibroverb—and dirty tones have more room for air. Individual notes were clear and articulate, too.
Any guitar associated with Wong needs a strong middle-position or combined pickup tone, and the StingRay II delivers. I never felt any significant signal loss in the blended signal from the two humbuckers, even if I could use a bit more midrange presence in the voicing. The midrange gap is nothing an EQ or Tube Screamer couldn’t fix, though. And not surprisingly, very Strat-like sounds were easy to achieve for having less midrange bump.
Knowing Wong’s love for ’90s alt-rock, I expected the bridge pickup to have real bite, and it does, demonstrating exceptional dynamic range and exceptional high-end response that never approached shrill. Nearly every type of distortion and overdrive I threw at it sounded great, but especially anything with a scooped-mid flavor and plenty of low end.
The Verdict
By any measure, the StingRay II is a top-notch, professional instrument. The fit and finish are immaculate and the feel of the neck makes me wonder if EBMM stashes some kind of secret sandpaper, because I don’t think I’ve ever felt a smoother, more playable neck. Kudos are also due to EBMM and Wong for finding an instrument that can move between ’70s George Benson tones and the hammering power chords of ’90s Blink-182. Admittedly, the nearly $3K price could give some players pause, but considering the overall quality of the instrument, it’s not out of line. Wong’s involvement and search for distinct sounds makes the StingRay II more than a tired redux of a classic model—an admirable accomplishment considering EBMM’s long and storied history.
Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay II Cory Wong Signature Electric Guitar - Charcoal Blue with Rosewood Fingerboard
Korg Pitchstrap Guitar and Bass Strap Tuner - Black
KORG Pitchstrap is the world’s first strap-mounted tuner and features a state-of-the-art technology that allows the tuner to detect the pitch of the guitar or bass from the strap’s vibrations.
Peterson StroboStomp Mini Pedal Tuner
The StroboStomp Mini delivers the unmatched 0.1 cent tuning accuracy of all authentic Peterson Strobe Tuners in a mini pedal tuner format.
Peterson StroboClip HDC High-definition Rechargeable Clip-on Strobe Tuner
The StroboClip HDC features a high-definition, color backlight display, rechargeable battery and over 65 Sweetened Tunings. With tuning accuracy of 0.1 cents, the StroboClip HDC is the ultimate clip-on tuner.
Cherub Pix Tune (WST-915Li)
The latest Cherub Pix Tune (WST-915Li) offers 16 vibrant display modes, allowing users to customize their tuning experience to match their own styles. There are 5 meter styles, 3 animal cartoon styles, 2 sports styles, and 6 user customizable styles. You can conveniently upload your boot-up animation and tuning display pictures through the accompanying APPs. With its engaging visuals, tuning has never been this enjoyable!
Taylor Beacon Digital Clip-on Tuner - Black
The Taylor Beacon combines a tuner, metronome, timer, and flashlight in one compact device, offering five tuning modes, 12 time signatures, and up to 100 minutes of practice timer.
