A Testament to Brutal Fretless 5-string Tone
A true metal trailblazer with a résumé that boasts the likes of Death, Sadus, and Testament, Steve Di Giorgio is all but synonymous with fretless bass playing in the metal world. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that Ibanez has chosen to honor Steve with the company’s first signature bass in its revered BTB series: the Steve Di Giorgio SDGB1 signature fretless 5-string bass guitar. This premium boutique instrument is crafted to meet the exacting demands Steve’s virtuosic bass playing, sporting an ebonol-topped 9-piece maple/bubinga/panga panga neck-thru construction, with graphite-reinforced rods for superlative stability. The ash/okoume body features a stunning flamed maple top for a tinge of treble brightness, allowing the two Nordstand Big Single pickups to growl and grind with an articulate edgIt’st’s all topped off with an incredibly stable MR5 Mono-rail bridge and Gotoh machine heads. Whether you’re a fretless metal phenom or simply seeking a fretless 5-string with unparalleled performance, the Steve Di Giorgio SDGB1 delivers in spades.
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An all-new addition to the Ibanez BTB lineup
The SDGB1 marks the very first signature bass in Ibanez’s premium BTB (Boutique Bass) lineup, in addition to being the only BTB fretless bass. Frankly, it’s only fitting that this honor should go to Steve Di Giorgio, as his fingerstyle metal bass playing in Sadus, Death, and Testament arguably set the foundation for the fretless bass’ role in the heavy metal realm. Furthermore, the SDGB1 delivers fretless 5-string performance matched by few other basses, accommodating Steve’s ultra-technical rapid-fire fingerstyle playing without breaking a sweat.
Massive, aggressive tone from Nordstrand pickups
With a “super-packed” coil, the Big Single is considered by Nordstrand as the “tonal giant” of its pickup offerings. Steve Di Giorgio personally spec’d these pickups for his signature bass, as they pack enough brightness and grit to sharpen up the naturally rounded-over tone of the fretless bass — especially when it’s doused with gain and played in Steve’s lightning-fast fingerstyle technique! In addition, you have the powerful sound-shaping capabilities of Ibanez’s custom 3-band EQ, which gives you control over boost/cut for bass, mid, and high frequencies, a mid-frequency switch to fine-tune your midrange, and an EQ bypass.
Mono-rail bridge enhances definition and sustain
Steve Di Giorgio’s technique-heavy style demands superior performance, which is why Steve specified the rock-solid Mono-rail V bridge for the SDGB1. Unlike single-body bridges, each Mono-rail saddle is completely separate from the others. This configuration does two things for you. First, since they aren’t connected, the saddles create minimal sympathetic vibration, preventing unused strings from ringing. Second, each saddle is double anchored, allowing energy to transfer efficiently between the string and the body. As a result, bassists here at Sweetwater are raving about the MR5S Mono-rail’s astonishing clarity and sustain.
Ibanez Steve Di Giorgio SDGB1 Signature 5-string Bass Guitar Features:
- Signature 5-string fretless bass of Steve Di Giorgio (Sadus, Death, Testament)
- Marks the first signature bass entry into Ibanez’s BTB series, as well as the first fretless BTB bass
- Neck-thru 9-piece maple/bubinga/panga panga neck-thru design with graphite reinforcement rods offers extreme sustain and remarkable stability
- Glossy fretless ebonol fingerboard in a 400mm radius, fit with luminescent side dot inlays
- Ash/okoume body wings complete with a gorgeous flamed maple top
- Dual Nordstand Big Single pickups deliver a clear, articulate, and treble-tinged growl that’s ideal for cutting through the mix in brutal metal arrangements
- 3-band EQ, mid-frequency control, and EQ bypass switch for superior sound-shaping potential
- Gotoh machine heads and MR5 bridge for rock-solid stability
