A Fusion Bass Legend's Signature Axe
Revered by a worldwide legion of fans, Gary Willis is a master of the 5-string fretless electric bass. Between a brilliant solo career and the groundbreaking fusion band Tribal Tech, Gary has recorded and gigged with music's best and brightest. Gary's long-running preference for Ibanez basses is a well-known fact. Ibanez built the first Gary Willis signature bass in 1999, and the two have been partners ever since. Now, Ibanez and Gary have teamed up to celebrate 25 years of fruitful collaboration that's aided not only Gary's stage and studio performances but also helped his acolytes achieve similar jaw-dropping tones and techniques. The Gary Willis 25th-anniversary signature 5-string fretless electric bass is the only sure bet when it comes to re-creating this legend's style and swagger. Designed to Gary's exact specifications, you'll find the bass packed with ash and maple tonewoods, a signature Bartolini pickup, custom hardware, and, of course, the must-have Willis ramp that takes your low-B-string technique to professional heights.
Special features facilitate high-octane performance
This commemorative anniversary edition is packed with Gary’s signature specs: a fretless ebony fingerboard with fret-line markers, a detachable finger ramp (the "Willis ramp"), and specially shaped tuning keys. In addition to those expected GWB features, the Gary Willis signature features a beautifully grained ash body with three strap buttons — one on the front horn and two in different positions behind the bridge — that let you ergonomically position the bass according to your hand positioning. A single Bartolini GWB pickup in the bridge position and bypassable NTBT 2-band EQ pump out fat, growling fusion bass tone by the boatload.
The Willis ramp accelerates lightning-fast note articulation
Key to his incredible right-hand technique, Gary's secret weapon — the Willis ramp — serves as a versatile thumb rest while plucking the low B string. Five-string devotees at Sweetwater find that the Willis ramp prevents your fingers from digging in too deep, resulting in a lighter touch with a more consistent attack and quicker recovery time. You'll be amazed at how the Willis ramp improves your tone and facilitates lightning-fast note articulation.
Bartolini GWB pickup plus 2-band EQ for maximum tone
Ibanez basses are used in every style of music from metal to rock to jazz fusion. The versatile pickups and active electronics let you shape your tone to best fit the gig. The Ibanez Gary Willis signature model features a Bartolini GWB humbucking pickup that delivers a huge tonal range to suit any style of music. Bartolini's excellent NTBT active 2-band EQ is also onboard, giving you a stacked pot for tweaking treble and bass to dial in your signature sound.
Fretless, with fret line markers for spot-on intonation
Gary Willis is a living bass legend, but it was the legendary Jaco Pastorius who first put the fretless electric bass on the map. Believe it or not, there was a time when you couldn't simply buy a fretless. Any that existed were modified fretted models. Much of the mythos surrounding Jaco's infamous "Bass of Doom" centers around what, exactly, he did to the fingerboard during the de-fretting process. Common wisdom is that he ripped the frets out and patched the holes that remained with wood filler; sanded, and then slathered the fingerboard with several coats of marine epoxy to withstand the use of roundwound strings. The takeaway is that the wood filler remained visible. Now, with fretless players at this level, intonation is typically flawless regardless of fret lines, but most of us could use some visual aids when we pick up a fretless. The Gary Willis signature bass sports tidy white inlaid fret line markers, as well as offset front and side dot position markers.
Ibanez Gary Willis 25th-anniversary Signature 5-string Fretless Bass Features:
- Signature 5-string fretless bass of fusion legend Gary Willis
- 25th-anniversary edition celebrates a long and fruitful collaboration
- Ash body exhibits a musical tone with the perfect blend of brightness and warmth
- Detachable finger ramp (Willis ramp) injects your playing with lightning-fast note articulation
- Hyper-playable titanium-reinforced maple neck with super-smooth ebony fingerboard
- Fret line markers make playing with proper intonation easier
- Bartolini GWB pickup and active electronics turbocharge your tone
- Ibanez Standard bridge facilitates intonation and maximizes sustain
- Slick-looking black hardware, including Gary's custom Gotoh tuning machines
