Ibanez EHB1505MS - Overview and Best Prices

Ibanez EHB1505MS Review
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  • 3 Prices - New from $1,799.99 >
  • From Ibanez's 2020 EHB series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 5 strings
  • 35" to 32"'' scale
  • 19.685" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar Burl top
  • Selected light weight African Mahogany body
  • 9pc Pangapanga/Walnut neck
  • Bound Panga Panga fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Nordstrand Custom Big Split (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • MR5HS bridge
  • Bass EHB5 Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Medium Stainless Steel frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Side-By-Side Comparison
Show Specs
Ibanez EHB1505MS Specifications
Ibanez EHB1505MS
General
Brand: Ibanez
Year: 2020
Configuration: Split S
Strings: 5
Made in: Indonesia
Series: EHB
Colors: Black, Blue, Green
Left-Handed Version: No
Body
Top: Poplar Burl
Type: Solid Body
Body Material: Selected light weight African Mahogany
Bridge: MR5HS
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On
Tuners: Ibanez
Fretboard: Bound Panga Panga
Neck Material: 9pc Pangapanga/Walnut
Decoration: Off-set abalone dot inlay
Scale Size: 35" to 32"
Shape: Bass EHB5
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.768'' (19.5mm) - 12th Fret: 0.846'' (21.5mm)
Frets: 24 Medium Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 19.685"
Nut: Plastic
Nut Width: 45mm (1.772'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Nordstrand Custom Big Split (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Nordstrand Custom Big Split (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 0
Knobs: Dome
Volume Controls: 1
Tone Controls: 0
Hardware
Strap Lock: Yes
Hardware Color: Black

Our Scores and Tone Evaluation

Playability 75
Sound 81
Build quality 78
Value for money 73
Overall Score 78
Tone Evaluation
  • Heavy Metal
  • Hard Rock
  • Jazz
  • Blues
  • Funk
  • Country
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez EHB1505MS
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Active/Passive Preamp
  • Strap Lock
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Price Overview

Its average competitor's price is $730, which means that the Ibanez EHB1505MS costs around 147% more than the competition. It might be due to it having additional features, but know that you can find cheaper similar alternatives. This takes into account all instruments of the same category in our database with 5 strings and Fixed bridge that are made in Indonesia.

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User Reviews & Feedback

Not all instruments are created equally. That's why it's important to have different opinions. Here's what our users who have played this instrument say. If you've played it before, help others by voting below!

Weight

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Tuning stability

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Neck speed (thickness)

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Neck access to high frets

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Neck profile shape

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Fret edges

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Pickups noise

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Pickups power

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Often Compared With

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Hand Size Comfortability

After taking into account the neck profile, scale size, fretboard radius, and nut width, we can conclude that the Ibanez EHB1505MS's construction favors people with relatively small hands.

Nevertheless, this comes down in the end to personal preference. Make sure you test this bass—or another one with similar characteristics—before buying.

Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Ibanez EHB1505MS meets 2 out of our 6 criteria items for beginner friendliness, which means that it's not recommended for complete beginners. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players to get used to.

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez EHB1505MS
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

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Playability

Scale Length

Scale length is the distance the strings will span between the bridge and the nut. It can tell you a lot about the overall playability and tone of the instrument. A longer scale length means longer distance between frets, brighter tone and more string tension—which means lower action, but more difficult bending of the strings.

Here's the Ibanez EHB1505MS's 35" to 32" scale length compared to other common sizes:

Ibanez EHB1505MS Scale Length Comparison
Ibanez EHB1505MS's scale length (at the top) compared to other popular sizes

The Ibanez EHB1505MS features a multi-scale fingerboard, which means that it incorporates two scale lengths at the same time. This allows it to give a different tension to the lower strings and the higher strings. The thick strings need more tension to avoid fret buzz (especially when tuned low), so the scale is made longer for them, while the thinnest strings will need less tension (because they have a lower gauge), so they have a shorter scale to reduce stiffness for bends.

It can feel awkward if you've never played a multi-scale because the frets will have more separation for the higher strings, but a lot of people love their versatility.

Neck Profile

Ibanez EHB1505MS Neck Profile
Ibanez EHB1505MS's neck profile

The neck profile tells you the thickness (neck depth) and shape in cross section. Every difference will completely change the feeling and comfortability of the neck. This is a highly subjective thing, but most players indeed prefer certain types of necks (like Cs and Ds) because they feel nice in most hands.

The Ibanez EHB1505MS's neck thickness is approximately 0.768'' (19.5mm) at the first fret, and 0.846'' (21.5mm) at the twelfth.

These measurements were taken either from the official Ibanez website, or, in case this information wasn't provided, by researching multiple online marketplaces and forums where owners of this model have posted their measurements.

It has a C type neck. C-shaped necks like this have been the most popular for the last years. The reason is that they feel good in most hands. It's generally a thin neck that doesn't get in your way when playing fast, but that also has enough mass to give your hands a comfortable grip for chords if they aren't too big.

Thin necks like this make it easier to move your hand across the neck and it helps when playing fast solos, especially if you like to leave your thumb free while playing high on the fretboard. However, thinner necks are also weaker and will need adjustment more often than a thicker neck.

Fretboard Radius

When it comes to fingerboard radius, personal preference will dictate which one is better for you. However, most people seem to agree that a more curved (lower) radius will make it easier to play chords while a less curved (higher) radius is better for soloing and bending.

The Ibanez EHB1505MS has a 19.685" fingerboard radius.

Compound radius fingerboards give the best of both worlds. Unfortunately, the Ibanez EHB1505MS has the same radius across the board.

Playability compared to main competitors

Multiscale Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.772'' Nut Width
19.685'' Fretboard Radius
Multiscale Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.772'' Nut Width
19.685'' Fretboard Radius
34'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.772'' Nut Width
19.685'' Fretboard Radius
Multiscale Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.772'' Nut Width
19.685'' Fretboard Radius
Multiscale Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.772'' Nut Width
19.685'' Fretboard Radius

Nut Width

Ibanez EHB1505MS Nut Width
Ibanez EHB1505MS Nut Width

The Ibanez EHB1505MS has a nut width of 45mm (1.772''). This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 5-string bass. This is what most players find as a balanced width for both playing chords and single notes across different strings. If you have an "average" hand size, or you're not sure what nut width you'd like, this is a safe bet.

Frets

The Ibanez EHB1505MS has 24 frets. A lot of people mistakenly believe that having more frets will always be better because it gives you a higher octave. This is certainly an advantage, but there's also a disadvantage to this.

Since the fretboard will be longer, the neck pickup will need to be placed closer to the bridge. And as you may know, the further away the neck pickup is from the bridge, the warmer it sounds. This means you'll have a brighter-sounding neck pickup when using a 24-fret bass, even if you use the same pickup on a 22-fret bass.

Finally, these are stainless steel frets. They're the best fretwire available. This means you won't need to change your frets since they should last as long as your bass. Some people also feel easier bendings after swapping to stainless steel.

Fret Size

Ibanez EHB1505MS Fret Size Comparison
Ibanez EHB1505MS's fret size (in orange) compared to other popular sizes

Finally, let's talk about fret size. Some people prefer tall frets because it's easier to press the strings and perform bends since there's less friction against the fretboard. On the other hand, some people like shorter frets because they like to touch the fretboard when playing, or because they got heavy hands and tend to press too much on the string and alter the of the note pitch accidently.

The Ibanez EHB1505MS's frets are Medium size. With medium frets, you can feel the fretboard more than with jumbo frets, but it's still easier to press the strings cleanly than with small frets; notes might change their pitch just slightly if you press hard on the fret. Also, if you need to do some fret leveling after years of playing, you'll have some room to sand them down without having to replace them.

Playability Score

Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 75

Tone

Wood will have little influence in the final tone of an electric guitar or bass. Instead, the hardware, especially the pickups, will be the most important thing to look at. Bur first, let's see the quality of the wood.

Wood

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany Body
Panga Panga wood pattern used for guitar building
Panga Panga Neck, Fretboard

Mahogany Body: This is the type of wood found in many top-of-the-line guitars, so that's a positive point for the build quality. This red-looking wood Mahogany is found in Africa and Central America and has great sustain and a warm tone due to its high density. The downside about this type of wood is that it's relatively heavy.

Panga Panga Neck and Fretboard: It's an African wood often confused with Wenge. It has a dark color with tight grain with a tone that emphasizes mids and lows.

Pickups

This bass comes with pickups from one of the top brands: Nordstrand. So you can expect well built pickups with great sound that shouldn't need an upgrade anytime soon.

These are passive pickups, so you can expect a rounder sound and a moderade level of output.

Preamp

The preamp is an electronic circuit that serves as an intermediary between the bass's pickups and the amplifier. Its primary function is to boost and shape the bass's raw signal before it reaches the amplifier. This allows for greater control over the bass's tone, volume, and other sound characteristics. Preamps often include tone controls, equalization settings, and sometimes even onboard effects, enabling bassists to tailor their sound to their preferences and the musical context.

This bass has a Active/Passive preamp. This means it combines both passive and active electronics in one instrument. This versatile setup allows the player to switch between passive and active modes, providing a wide range of tonal options. In passive mode, the bass relies on traditional passive pickups and tone controls for a warm and organic sound. In active mode, the onboard preamp circuit is engaged, offering enhanced EQ shaping capabilities and sometimes a signal boost. This flexibility caters to a broader spectrum of musical styles and playing preferences, as it allows the bassist to switch between the classic, vintage tone of passive operation and the more versatile and finely tuned active mode, all within the same instrument.

The Ibanez EHB1505MS's configuration is Split S. It has a classic, warm, and punchy tone, characterized by a strong midrange presence and noise reduction. Its design cancels out interference, making it suitable for various musical styles and ideal for live performances and studio recording.

More with the same pickups

24 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Nordstrand Custom Big Split Bridge Pickup
Nordstrand Custom Big Split Neck Pickup
24 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Nordstrand Custom Big Split Bridge Pickup
Nordstrand Custom Big Split Neck Pickup
24 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Nordstrand Custom Big Split Bridge Pickup
Nordstrand Custom Big Split Neck Pickup
24 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Nordstrand Custom Big Split Bridge Pickup
Nordstrand Custom Big Split Neck Pickup

Versatility

Unfortunately, it doesn't come with more options for coil split or coil tapping. This makes it less versatile than some competitors.

What music genre is it good for?

As a 5 strings, Solid Body bass with Split S configuration and Passive pickups, we'd recommend it for genres like Hard Rock or similar. However, you can use almost any bass for any genre. This is just the typical type of music for this particular one.

Sound Score

Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 88
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 81

Build Quality

Country of Origin

Knowing where the instrument is produced is a good way to know how well it's built. Some manufacturing countries are known for having higher quality standards. For example, most expensive instruments are made in the US or Japan, but there are some exceptionally great countries—like South Korea—that are building a good reputation.

The Ibanez EHB1505MS is made in Indonesia. Many people prefer the quality of an Indonesian guitar over a Chinese. Respectable brands like Epiphone, Ibanez and Schecter are building in this country because of the great quality and lower price. Some people like to compare them to the ones built in Japan during the 80s, when Japanese guitar makers made a name for themselves.

Still, remember that we're taking about Ibanez here, which is a brand with good renown. They know how to use cheap labor in this country without sacrificing too much quality. So you shouldn't end up receiving a useless or ugly instrument.

Bridge

MR5HS: The advantage of fixed bridges is that they don't require any kind of set-up. This makes it extremely easy when changing strings because you don't need to adjust anything besides tuning the guitar. Also, the fact that the bridge is directly attached to the body will help to increase sustain. The disadvantage is the lack of versatility since you can't create the same vibrato effects as with tremolo bridges.

Nut Material

Another important thing to analyze is the nut material, as it's one of the most important aspects that can affect the sound and playability of your bass. A well-cut nut will make sure it stays in tune and will make it more comfortable to play.

In this case, the Ibanez EHB1505MS has a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

Neck Joint

The neck joint is the part where the neck of the bass meets the body. There are three main techniques to attach both parts together: Set-In, Bolt-On and Neck-Through. The latter two provide different advantages, although neck-throughs are the most expensive.

This bass has a Bolt-On neck joint. Even though this type of neck was looked down upon for a long time, nowadays bolt-on necks are well built and provide just as much sustain as any other join method. First of all, it's cheap to make because it consists of simply 4 bolts that attach the neck to the body. And you can travel with the guitar more easily, swap out the neck if you damage it, or upgrade to a more comfortable neck later on.

Build Quality Score

Quality of materials 65
Features 90
Quality Control 80
Build Quality 78