Ibanez 2014: Bass!

Just look at this bass (Ibanez BTB686)! It's really too bad there's no 4-string version (in the mean time), otherwise it's a taker for me. To the uninitiated, it looks like a foul design with that very restrictive no-cutaway upper bout.

But on the flip side, the design allows for maximum reach to the upper frets. However, this idea is nothing new, big names like Fodera was there way before Ibanez. Having that bulk there equals good balance, it may look quirky but that's how it works. If you are bass inclined, you'd know how many basses are neck-heavy so this singlecut outline so to speak, provides liberation to handling issues. I agree that it looks a little awful... Do we have to wait till 2015 for a 4-string version? Darn.