A Fanned-Fret 5-String That Means Business
There's a certain kind of bass player who needs more — more range, more tonal control, more thoughtful engineering. The Ibanez BTB805MS was built with exactly that player in mind. From its neck-through construction and multi-scale fanned frets to its active 3-band EQ with passive bypass, this is a 5-string that takes the low end seriously without turning the learning curve into a wall.
The Transparent Gray Flat finish lets the Poplar Burl top do the talking — every grain pattern is unique, so the bass you're getting is genuinely one of a kind. Pair that with the dark panga panga fretboard and black hardware, and it has a look that's refined without being showy.
Whether you're tracking in the studio, playing a long gig, or just exploring what a fanned-fret bass can do for your playing feel, the BTB805MS offers a lot to work with — and it rewards players who want hands-on control of their sound.
This item is a B-Stock guitar sourced directly from the manufacturer. It is new and has never been previously owned. The photos shown are of the exact instrument you will receive. Before shipment, our licensed technician will inspect and professionally set up the guitar to ensure it is playing its best. During our inspection, we noticed Flaw near neck bolts. (see pictures) Please note, these may not be the only cosmetic imperfections. As a B-Stock instrument, there may be additional minor blemishes that are small in nature and do not affect playability or performance.
Multi-Scale Design: Better Tension, Smoother Feel
The BTB805MS uses a multi-scale fretboard that runs from 35" on the high string up to 37" on the low B. That span of scale lengths means each string sees more appropriate tension — the B string stays tight and defined even at lower tunings, while the upper strings feel comfortable and easy to bend. The fanned frets take a few minutes to get used to visually, but most players find the ergonomics actually feel very natural pretty quickly.
A zero fret sits at the nut end of the neck, helping achieve consistent low action across all strings and giving each open string the same tonal character as a fretted note. Combined with 24 medium stainless steel frets, you get a long-wearing, smooth-feeling playing surface that's built to last through serious use. The bound panga panga fretboard — known for its tight low-mid response and crisp attack — rounds out the playing surface with abalone dot inlays and dark binding for a clean, finished look.
Neck-Through Construction with a 5-Piece Maple/Walnut Neck
The neck on this bass runs straight through the body — a construction method that contributes to extended sustain and seamless upper-fret access. That neck is a 5-piece Maple/Walnut build with graphite reinforcement rods, combining the brightness and attack of maple with the warmth of walnut and the rigidity of graphite. The BTB5 neck profile is a familiar shape for BTB players — comfortable for extended playing without feeling chunky.
The wing body is Okoume and Ash — a combination that delivers bright, punchy fundamental tones with solid sustain. Topping it all is a Poplar Burl cap that gives each instrument its own character. The nut width comes in at 47mm, giving the 5-string spacing room to breathe without spreading out uncomfortably wide.
T1 Humbuckers + Active 3-Band EQ with Passive Bypass
Two T1 humbucking pickups sit in the neck and bridge positions, each built from two independently mounted coils. That independent mounting isn't just for looks — it means you can raise or lower each coil individually, letting you shift from full humbucker tone to a more single-coil character on the fly. The rounded pickup edges also make a natural, comfortable thumb rest across the whole board, which is a thoughtful detail on a multi-scale instrument where thumb placement matters more.
The Ibanez Custom Electronics 3-band EQ gives you treble, mid, and bass boost/cut, with a 3-way mid frequency switch that lets you choose between three different mid peak frequencies (250Hz, 450Hz, or 700Hz). The EQ bypass switch drops you into passive mode instantly — with the treble knob then acting as a global passive tone control. That's a genuinely useful feature for cutting out battery dependency mid-set if you need to.
Product Features:
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Body: Okoume/Ash wings with Poplar Burl top — solid body, neck-through construction
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Neck: 5-piece Maple/Walnut with graphite reinforcement rods, BTB5 profile, neck-through
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Fretboard: Bound Panga Panga with abalone dot inlays
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Scale Length: Multi-scale 35"–37" (fanned frets)
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Frets: 24 medium stainless steel + zero fret
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Nut Width: 47mm plastic nut
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Pickups: 2x T1 Humbucker (neck + bridge), independently mounted dual-coil design
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Electronics: Active — Ibanez Custom Electronics 3-band EQ, 3-way mid frequency switch, EQ bypass switch with passive tone control
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Bridge: MR5S with adjustable saddles (±1.5mm string spacing)
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Hardware: Black
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Finish: Transparent Gray Flat (satin polyurethane)
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Strings: 5-string
Brand: Ibanez
Model: BTB805MS
SKU: BTB805MSTGF-2ND|I250710100
Condition: B-Stock
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