I'm Moving On From Ibanez

Moving Beyond Ibanez

Jacky T reflects on moving beyond his long-standing attachment to Ibanez. It is not because he dislikes the company; his needs and tastes have simply changed. He wants more consistency in his sound and is less interested in buying gear just because it fits his identity as an Ibanez player.

Practical Gear Choices

Jacky has moved away from heavy amplifiers and now uses digital equipment to make travelling to gigs and setting up easier. He also plans to focus more on the sound of his equipment, particularly his Darkglass gear, rather than frequently changing basses.

What He Wants from a Bass

He increasingly favors a simple setup, especially a bridge-position humbucker with minimal controls. He likes the sound of the bridge pickup on his modified Ibanez Black Eagle and wants to use that approach more consistently when playing live.

Thoughts on Ibanez Models

Jacky appreciates ideas and designs across Ibanez’s range, including the headless EHB basses, Iceman models, vertical basses, Talman-style basses, and some BTB single-cut and multiscale designs. However, many recent releases feel too similar to him.

He also dislikes plastic knobs on expensive instruments and some pickups that appear difficult to replace.

Next Direction

Jacky expects to explore an Ernie Ball Music Man Custom Shop bass designed around a straightforward humbucker setup. He plans to keep his Black Eagle, which remains a treasured instrument.

Strings and Consistency

Jacky switched to Ernie Ball strings so he can rely on a familiar sound and product while touring. He likes Cobalt strings and may try Ernie Ball tape wounds when they become available in Australia.

Notable Names and Products

• Speaker: Jacky T
• Brands and gear: Ibanez, Ernie Ball Music Man, Bartolini, Nordstrand, Darkglass, and Dingwall
• Ibanez models and series: Black Eagle, EHB, SR, BTB, Talman, Iceman, and Mode
• Places and events: Australia and NAMM