A quick test after my earlier review requires a correction to my previous comments. Despite the January NAMM press release on the GWB35 quoting Ibanez Bass Division¦s Pete Chiavarou and specifically highlighting an EQ cut-out on the GWB35 (as on the GWB1), THERE IS NO EQ CUT-OUT ON THE GWB35, so don¦t try pulling on the volume knob! The absence of any mention of an EQ cut-out on the Ibanez website¦s close-up of the GWB35¦s controls is explained. Together with the difficulty in rapidly changing batteries due to the bad design of the battery cover, the absence of an EQ cut-out is something Ibanez should really rethink. Having said that, last night¦s session again shows that the GWB35 is the sexiest, meanest bass I¦ve ever laid my hands on - go for it!

Ibanez's latest fretless, out in January 2004, is the GWB35, the mid-market version of the GWB1 signature model. When I came across it a month ago, its sleek looks with minimalist controls and a matt black finish meant I couldn¦t leave the shop without at least getting my hands on it. I¦d tried Ibanez¦s SGR basses before, and found them very smooth, even a bit too smooth as their narrow neck and lack of fret markings made it difficult for me, a composer rather than skilled technical player, to hit the right note. But the finger feeling on the GWB35 is perfect, very different from my existing range of fretlesses, a Yamaha TRB II 5 string (weighs a ton!) and a Yamaha BB four string (great sound for jazz, African, reggae). On the GWB35, your fingers just fly, making it by far and away the most comfortable fretless I¦ve played. Also, as the bassman in the shop said, Ibanez have an edge over other makers in that their quality control seems to include adjusting each bass before it¦s sent out. The shop has never had to have an Ibanez adjusted before or after sale. The GWB35¦s use of basswood reduces the weight, so even after the first all-night session, my shoulder wasn¦t aching. Fine, so it looks great, is featherweight and plays well, but what about the sound? In a word, terrific! The top end has a clear, fine fretless sound, perfect for those high solos, yet, at the same time, the bottom end has a full, fat growl. That means that from grunge and rock to jazz or ambient, you¦ll only ever need the one bass. The onboard active electronics work well too. My setting so far has been to boost the bass end by a half, giving it real punch to rival even the most cranked-up of distorted guitars. And on top of all of that, the price is right too, making it a not too expensive alternative to other 5 string fretless basses on the market. So where¦s the drawback? A first minor complaint about a lack of product information: the Ibanez website and catalogue give you no information about the material used for the fretboard. It¦s man-made Ebonol, not the ebony wood used for the GWB1. Or about a cool function I have yet to test, the volume knob pulls out to cut out the active EQ, in theory at least allowing you to keep playing if the battery goes flat on you. A related second minor complaint, this time on design. The battery panel on the back is held shut by two small Phillips/Posidrive screws, much less practical than the usual clip-off cover, particularly in the heat of a gig. Ibanez, take note! Still, if the EQ cut-out function works as I hope, at least you can still keep playing. A final complaint, potentially more of a longterm issue. The Ebonol fretboard marks easily with roundwound strings, and the ruts, while not affecting the sound or ease of playing, look a little whitish, slightly spoiling the jetblack look. A bit of spit takes the edge off it, but it will no doubt reappear. Then again, it's my first fretless with a manmade fretboard. Maybe all manmade materials are prone to such marking. But these are all minor issues compared to the fantastic ease of playing, the fattest fretless sound you¦ll find around. It's light weight and great looks. In a word, go get it! You won¦t regret it. Forgive me if I don¦t write more; I¦ve just got to go and play it again!

This bass is incredible. To start, it looks absolutely awesome. The matte black finish on the basswood body is totally sinister. It's also very lightweight and comfortable to play. The action is fantastic, it's incredibly smooth, and it sounds fantastic. The only problem is that there seems to be a bit of buzzing and noise in the treble when I play with the tone up. The electronics are not this bass's strong point. This is my second bass; my first is a Fender Jazz Bass, which is a good bass, but I was looking for something different. The low B on the GWB35 sounds demonic and awesome. I highly recommend this bass to anyone looking for a 5 string and/or a fretless. It's hard to find a better bass for this price with these features.

Good entry level fretless. Gary Willis' signature 'ramp' makes it harder to really thump. You can remove the ramp if you like, but I've stuck with it and got used to it. Its not suited for heavy slapping, but you're probably not buying it for that. Despite other reviews, this doesn't have a very beefy bottom end, but thats not to take anything away from it. Its designed for GW's own stye of playing, and the min / top range is nice. I find myself using this bass more than any other. I love the low action and it has a nice average tone. Bit of Chorus / effect doesn't go amiss to thicken the tone. Easy to play and a good starter fretless. Ibanez's always win you over in the shop as they're so comfortable to play. For the money, you can't get much better new.

I ordered this great quality bass guitar on Music123.com. It arrived here Guadalajara quickly and easily without problems by UPS. My bass teacher in Spain has the GWB1 and I wanted to purchase this same model, but I didn't have enough money to afford it, until the GWB35 showed up. Now I have one and I am very happy with it. Light weight (I am a "small sized and thin guy"), excellent pickup, affordable price, fretless, It has all I need. Don't think about it too much, Go for it!