The Bass Workshop equates to something of a sandbox for Ibanez, a company continuing its rich tradition of pioneering low-frequency machines, driving ingenuity and innovation via untethered experimentation and imagination. The Bass Workshop EHB1675MS is a 5-string multi-scale bass that’s booming with craftsmanship, creativity, and character that has more than earned its namesake categorization. Luthiers at Ibanez spared no effort in taking the exploratory spirit of the Bass Workshop to its outer reaches with this EHB1675MS bass, and our low-end theorists are in deft agreement: its pale moon ebony-topped ash body is joined to a nine-piece neck, comprising panga and walnut, with a matching, bound panga fretboard. Moreover, its multi-scale moxie is brought to life by an electrifying array of active Fishman Fluence pickups and multimode coil switching to supercharge your onboard sonic sculpting. Headless, hard-hitting, and hardly an all-arounder, the Ibanez EHB1675MS wields its Bass Workshop title with unabashed panache, succeeding precisely because it embodies the Ibanez Bass Workshop ethos — these basses are not for everyone, which is exactly what makes it perfect for you.

Four degrees of foundational firepower

In true Bass Workshop fashion, Ibanez pulled no punches in forging a formidable foundation with this EHB1675MS’s tetrad of tonewoods. An ash body that’s topped with pale moon ebony serves as the 5-string’s aural anchor, keeping sounds resounding, robust, and brimming with sustain that remains bold and balanced across the spectrum. Its nine-piece — yes, really — neck weaves walnut and panga panga into a menagerie of musicality, as the panga panga’s physical makeup pairs well with ash, amplifying resonance and sustain. Meanwhile, the walnut imparts shades of shimmering harmonic-rich voicing. Up top, a complementary, bound panga panga fretboard brings out its rosewood-like qualities, completing the EHB1675MS’s tonal quadrumvirate with a crystalline veneer that lets mids, trebles, and basses shine and sing with power, presence, and precision.

A Fishman-fueled garrison of gargantuan sound shaping

Considering the aural assemblage at its base, the EHB1675MS required the proper electronics to activate its latent sonic potential, and the Ibanez Bass Workshop knew precisely where to turn: Fishman. A dyad of active Fishman Fluence soapbar pickups deliver a deluge of seriously versatile sonic-sculpting, boasting a 3-band EQ, balancer control, push/pull single-coil mode, and 3-way Voice Select switch. Dual Ceramic VIII bar magnets power this pliable pair of pickups, with multitudes of malleability augmenting the aural aperture of the bass’s voltaic voicing — for historic, hefty, and well-rounded tones, Voice 1 gives you plenty of passive possibilities, while the active-mode performance of Voice 2 serves up full-frequency firepower that drives detail and clarity across an immense dynamic range. When funky and focused 5-string fervor are on the agenda, just sweep the mids and Voice 2 transforms your tone into a cutting-edge configuration of precision, presence, and panache that handles Louis Johnson-worthy slap playing with ease. What’s more, the push/pull single-coil mode can be used in combination with either voice selected via the 3-way toggle, further opening the tone-shaping gates to support jazz and djent with equal aptitude.

Strategically weight reduced and poised for performance

Producing a bass that looks and sounds amazing is one thing, but that doesn’t mean much if it’s a burden to bear, right? Fortunately, the Bass Workshop’s wizardry took care of that, deploying their exacting craftsmanship to create a rich, balanced bass that you won’t be able to put down. Opting for a 9-piece neck was key to ensuring the EHB1675MS would be an ideal road warrior, as this not only increases the instrument’s harmonic depth, but also maximizes its structural stability while making it possible for the Bass Workshop to include graphite reinforcement rods, reducing weight and increasing resilience to environmental wear and tear. Moreover, building the body with a separate top meant Ibanez could strategically chamber the bass, further reducing weight and augmenting its resonant faculties. Its multi-scale 35–35-inch spread is adorned by 24 stainless steel frets, while a 19.685-inch fretboard radius caps Ibanez’s EHB5 neck profile. Taken alongside its comfort-focused beveling and immense treble-side cutaway, accessibility for players of the most-ambitious persuasions is available with speed in spades. With rock-solid Ibanez hardware bookending this headless haymaker, the Ibanez Bass Workshop EHB1675MS is teeming with tone-crafting tenacity, supporting a kaleidoscope of dropped-tuning, technical-minded, and virtuosic playstyles that advance the Ibanez Bass Workshop’s mission: summitting the uncharted peaks of bass-guitar design and unearthing exciting new ways to play.

Ibanez: a brief history

Ibanez began its life in 1908 as the Hoshino Gakki company in Nagoya, Japan. However, the company didn’t get into the guitar business until 1929, when it started importing Salvador Ibanez guitars from Spain. In 1935, Hoshino Gakki began building Spanish acoustic guitars under the “Ibanez Salvador” name, which was later shortened to Ibanez. Although Ibanez began manufacturing electric guitars in 1957, the company was relatively unknown in the West until the 1960s, when it started producing guitars based on American designs. By the late 1970s, Ibanez stopped producing derivative instruments and began manufacturing the innovative original guitar and bass designs that the company is now known for. Ibanez is also famous for its effect pedals, most notably the Tube Screamer. we are proud to offer such a fine line of distinguished musical instruments.

Features

• Crafted in the Ibanez Bass Workshop to deliver an innovative, exploratory design that challenges bass-guitar norms and offers players a new take on a classic instrument
• Ash body and pale moon ebony top elicit a balanced blend of resonance, sustain, and projection
• 9-piece panga panga and walnut neck elicits bright, warm tones and full-spectrum articulation
• Panga panga fretboard conjures crystalline character and powerful presence
• Dual Fishman Fluence soapbar pickups, 3-band EQ, Balancer control, push-pull single-coil mode, and 3-way voice selector ensure unrivaled tone-crafting potential
• Multi-scale 33–35-in. design ensures multitudes of conventional and experimental tuning or performance configurations are superbly supported
• Methodical body contouring, EHB5 neck profile, and 19.685-in. (500mm) fretboard radius collectively provides unbridled access to all 24 hard-wearing, stainless steel frets
• Strategic weight reduction via chambered body, headless design, and graphite reinforcement rods guarantees balanced and fatigue-free playing for all-night studio and stage performance

Specifications

• Number of Strings:5
• Left-/Right-handed:Right-handed
• Body Shape:EHB1675MS Bass Workshop
• Body Material:Ash (body), Pale Moon Ebony (top)
• Body Finish:Satin Polyurethane
• Color:Silver Wave Black
• Neck Material:9-piece Panga Panga/Walnut
• Neck Shape:EHB5
• Neck Joint:Bolt-on
• Radius:19.68"
• Fingerboard Material:Bound Panga Panga
• Fingerboard Inlay:Offset Dots
• Number of Frets:24
• Scale Length:33"-35"
• Scale Length Type:Multi-scale
• Nut Material:Plastic
• Tuners:Ibanez
• Neck Pickup:Fishman Fluence Humbucker
• Bridge Pickup:Fishman Fluence Humbucker
• Strings:.045-.130
• Case/Gig Bag:Gig Bag
• Manufacturer Part Number:EHB1675MSNTF