Ibanez EDB405 Ergodyne 5-String Electric Bass

Feature:
I like the fact that you can get both active and "passive" sounds out of this bass (although it does not really have a passive mode feature like some basses). It has extremely high output. It is extremely light weight and comfortable. I also tried the ergodyne model with the luthite body and this one has a basswood body that is lighter, more resonant, and it has a more natural sounding high end. The clear satin black finish makes it look almost like ebony. The neck is thin (but not too thin, for me anyway) and it was nice and straight with the proper relief and the action is very low. The intonation and pickup heigth was perfect. It is so effortless to play on this bass compared to my old four-string (a '79 Peavey T-40) although I kept the old one for a backup.

Quality:
Everything fits great and the fretwork looks great. I have not had this bass very long and am slightly concerned about tuning stability, although I've had no problem yet. It just seems so easy to turn those tuners! Also, mine has a couple of small dents in the body although it is new (I got some money off the price because of that). So, I'm a bit concerned that the body wood may be soft and prone to dents. The neck is maple and it looks like very high quality wood. This bass was made in Indonesia, by the way.

Value:
Others have given high marks to the "regular" luthite ergodynes for value. With this one, you get even more for your money in my opinion because I prefer the real wood body for both looks and sound.

Desirability:
This is a very sexy bass. My woman thinks it's cool and my jam mates almost drool over it!

Sound:
This bass offers a very wide range of tones. At one extreme, you can use the "phat boost" control to boost the bass frequencies to insane levels and it also increases the treble somewhat for a real "in your face" modern bass sound. At the other extreme, you can turn the "phat boost" down and also turn the "tone" control way down as well. The "tone" control functions pretty much like a classic passive tone control. With it almost all the way down and on the neck pickup, the bass will give sort of a passive P-bass sound. This bass sounds great for the alternative rock stuff my band is doing. It has great sustain and the notes sound unusually even all the way from the low "B" to the top of the "G". Mine does not have any noticeable "dead spots" - this is unusual even for extremely expensive basses. Even though it is 34" scale, the low "B" string is not floppy and sounds very strong.

Ease of Use:
Very easy to get many great tones. Very easy to play. String spacing is just right (for me, anyway) for thumb and snap playing and there's a special carved out place in the body just for your snappin' finger!

Support:
I have not contacted them but the web site looks pretty good. The store said they were out of manuals so I went to the web site and found a PDF of the manual there.

Overall:
Honestly, I initially wanted a high-end passive, traditional bass such as an American P or J bass because I like classic rock and motown and wanted that sound. Then I joined this alternative band and wanted that 5th string and that active in-your-face sound. I had to compromise a bit on the traditional sound but it's really as close as my old, truly passive bass and now I can get all the new sounds I wanted.

Feature:
It came with a worthless guitar cable and the Allen wrenches necessary to set it up. Its components are an excellent balance of price and quality.

Quality:
Its quality was incredible for the price. The screw holes for the plastic plate covering the electronics in the back were slightly mis-drilled. This thing is solid; it will last forever.

Value:
ABSOLUTELY!!!

Desirability:
This bass looks great; I've gotten a lot of good comments on it, especially from other bassists.

Sound:
I love the sound of this bass with steel flatwounds; however, it is very harsh with the stock strings.

Ease of Use:
The tone knob and the phat EQ can change the sound enormously with just a simple twist. It came with the clearest manual I have ever seen Its neck makes playing this bass a dream.

Overall:
I don't plan to get rid of this one! If it got stolen, I'd buy another (after crying for a week).