For the seasoned player who defies the status quo and demands more from a high-performance hot rod bass, these brand-new Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Bassmodels do it all by combining modern appointments with throwback Charvel DNA.
The sleek alder body shape is a familiar one—straight from the original Charvel San Dimas basses of late 1970s, with the deeper cutaway that gave adventurous bassists effortless upper-register access.
The super-thin bolt-on maple Charvel speed neck is crafted in the original style, with a gorgeous caramelized treatment, graphite reinforcement and heel-mount truss rod wheel for easy adjustment. The 12"-16" compound radius caramelized maple fingerboard gradually flattens from nut to heel for fast, smooth playing, and has rolled edges, 20 jumbo frets and Luminlay side dots.
Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Bass Demo
And like the originals, these models feature the powerhouse voice of DiMarzio pickups. The Pro-Mod San Dimas Bass PJ IV has a Model J at the bridge for well-rounded punch and a Model P in the middle for warm and fat tone with a mid-range growl when pushed. The Pro-Mod San Dimas Bass JJ V features an Area J DP551 pickup in the bridge and an Area J DP550 pickup in the middle that combine for well-balanced tone with warmth, sustain and clarity.
Versatile electronics include master volume, pickup blend and active three-band active EQ, while a Charvel HiMass bridge, Graph Tech TUSQ XL nut and open-gear tuners combine for stellar tuning stability with improved note punch and sustain.
The 4-string, 34" scale Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Bass PJ IV is presented in electrifying Lime Green Metallic and Mystic Blue finishes with chrome hardware and cream pickup covers, while the 5-string, 35"-scale Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Bass JJ V is offered in Lambo Green Metallic and Candy Apple Red finishes with gold hardware and cream pickup covers. Both models are topped with a licensed Fender Precision Bass headstock shape.
For more information:
Charvel
Is neck bowing making your favorite instrument harder to play with each passing season? This comprehensive video shows how to easily get it just right on all your acoustic, electric, and bass guitars.
[Updated 7/27/21]
What’s loaded with tones, has an ergonomic body with cool lines, and a burl top … but no head?
Recorded direct using PreSonus FireStudio and PreSonus Studio One 3.
Clip 1: Both pickups blended equally. Slight bass boost, slight treble boost, mids scooped.
Clip 2: Both pickups blended equally. Slight bass boost, slight treble boost. Played with pick.
Clip 3: Bridge pickup soloed with slight bass and treble boost.
RatingsPros:Modern, funky tones. Passive-mode tone control. Cons: Body so thin it almost feels too fragile to rock. Street: $1,599 Ibanez EHB 1505 ibanez.com | Tones:  Playability: Build/Design: Value:  |
Ibanez has enjoyed a rich history, with a who’s who of musicians relying on the company’s instruments, and innovative models for players of all levels. And when your instruments are so ingrained in the vernacular of players, the bar has to be kept high to maintain your reputation, while pricing needs to be kept in a zone that feels comfortable.
So Ibanez certainly has its share of budget-friendly offerings, but the company is also firmly rooted in the higher-end market with its Bass Workshop, which—either directly or indirectly—influences all their new bass models, including the EHB 1505 we recently had our hands on.
Ichabod’s Ghosts
When the EHB 1505 came out of the gig bag, I wasn’t sure where to look first. It was like being at a Lego store as a kid. There are many eye-catching and striking features on this bass that will keep the most discerning bass nerds happy (me included). First and most obvious, it’s headless, which is an ’80s-throwback kind of cool. The dragon-eye-burst finish over a poplar burl top is stunning. Thanks to a chambered African mahogany body, the bass is light as can be. The rear of the body is also contoured, which allows the bass to ease in closer to my body.
With all this aesthetic styling, one will likely wonder what the bass could have under the hood to match. The EHB 1505 is loaded with Nordstrand custom Big Split pickups, which are noise-canceling single-coils that can run a wide range of hybrid P/J tones. For tone sculpting, there is a 3-band active EQ system onboard, along with a bypass switch and passive tone control. I’m always a fan of having a tone control for passive mode on an active bass, so kudos to Ibanez for including this sometimes neglected feature.
Once my initial swooning subsided, I was anxious to dive in and hear what the 1505 could do. I plugged the bass into my PreSonus Studio One DAW to start, but later used an Eden CXC210 combo to move some air.
Here Nordy There
The EQ-bypass toggle switch is well placed and big enough for no-look practical applications. In passive mode, we have just three controls: the blend, tone, and volume. The neck pickup on its own is pretty robust and has a very modern punch. One could slam some rock tunes with this simple setting alone. Soloing the bridge pickup gives a pointed and extremely articulate upper voice with funk-drenched licks and provides solo inspiration for days. With both pickups running, the bass gave me a very clean and usable tone for rap loops to country to blues. Note: I found the tone control needs to be at least halfway up in passive mode for any usable tone, but once it is up, the pickups breathe nicely.
When I switched on the EQ, everythingopened up. Called the Vari-mid system, the Ibanez EQ gives incredibly detailed possibilities for the most discerning audio junkie. The two dual-stacked controls include the bass boost/cut paired with the treble boost/cut, as well as a mid-frequency selector coupled with a mid-boost/cut. For a traditional volume/tone bassist, this all may seem a bit complicated, but the learning curve is quite easy, and the achievable tones are pretty fierce.
EHB Activate!
The neck pickup in active mode is powerful. With the EQ set flat, this bass can really move some air. Add in a little more low end and a touch of high-end sizzle, and then you are rattling timbers. The modern edge to the EHB 1505 is inspiring and the feel of the 9-piece low-profile neck makes it very easy to, well, want to play this bass.
A super-funky fingerstyle point is found in the bridge pickup, and adding a little low end gives it a very nice feel. The upper-register riffs almost play themselves, and with the help of the super-deep access of the upper bout on the treble side, all 24 frets are easily accessible.
The 5th string is tight and responsive, which brings me to my next favorite tone: the mid-scooped “smiley face” EQ setting. It delivered piano-like tonal variations and gave the low-B string its special purpose. The 1505 is a true joy to play, and taking this bass into a modern rock, funk, R&B, country, or blues gig would be perfectly acceptable. (As long as your bandmates dig the fact that the headstock is missing.)
You know what? I really didn’t miss the headstock. The design provided hand support at the nut, so I didn’t feel as if I would fall off the Earth while sliding down to the first fret. On the opposite end of the bass, the tuning bridge is super-precise and allows variable string width to boot.
The Verdict
The Ibanez EHB 1505 checks all the boxes for a modern bassist’s fantasy. Modern design, a superb finish, excellent wood choices, and aggressive electronics make this one a looker—and player—for sure. Even if you aren’t a headless fan, you will still find some impressive comfort zones in this bass. While I really do appreciate the body’s design, I did feel it seemed a little too thin in spots, almost making me cradle the instrument more than I normally would. Other than that, the EHB 1505 has the makings for a great tone machine for someone looking to get a bit more forward in their approach.