No Iceman basses before the nineties - I would know, I would have killed for one. And I don't think the set neck ICB 500 was the first one either, but rather the bolt-on ICB 300. The 500 only came a few years later and had a slightly smaller body which some people identify as it being chiefly aimed at the Japanese market.
Both models were deleted in the nineties and the first Iceman reissue only took place well after the millenium: The US only passive ICB 200 (with bolt-on neck and mini buckers), Steve Dude Barr was good enough to get one for me and liked it for the money. The mini buckers created issues with the string eveness - some people said, no issues on mine though - so they were enlarged in later models. Both the mini and larger pup versions are now deleted.
Later, there was also an active bolt-on ICB 300 EX with Musicman Stingray pup look (albeit smaller) with large large pole pieces and an ICB 200 EX with simplified "bass boost only"-electronics and cheaper pups.
Also meanwhile both deleted.
The ICB08-Ltd Flag Candy Apple was a limited edition in trademark Rick Nielsen chequered look, I suspect that had an alder rather than a maho body (like all other Icemen) from the sound.
Next in line was the Sharlee Signature model which has the ICB 300 EX pups and electronics plus a neck thru structure, a massive, heavy bass, no doubt due to the fact that it is strung B E A D from the factory (Germany distrubution nevertheless tuned mine E A D G, it speaks for the bass that the neck still had relatively little forward bow!).
That is what you have the new version of, Chris, I believe. You'll have to grunt while playing ot.
A couple of years ago they brought out a 5 string, but that didn't last long, I think it was the 5 string version of the ICB 300 EX.
I have six Icemen.
Ibanez Iceman ICB 300 (90s model, 300 pictured far-right, 500 far-left, it looks a bit more petite)
Ibanez Iceman ICB 500 (90s model)
Ibanez Iceman ICB 200 (mid-noughties)
Ibanez Iceman ICB 300 EX
Ibanez Iceman ICB08-Ltd Flag Candy Apple (notice how the pups have grown in comparison to the ICB 200)
Ibanez SDB1 Sharlee D'Angelo Signature Iceman
Folklore has it that the name Iceman is a pun on a well-known Love Gun-toting rhythm guitarist from the Bronx who played Iceman shaped guitars for much of his career even though he was adamant not to refer to them as Icemans in gear interviews. His name was Stanley Eisen and if you pronounce Eisen in its original German then it sounds like Ice-Zen, jawohl.
Chris, I am gravely offended that you would not contact me first regarding Iceman basses!!! I hope you have a good apology for your hurtful ignorance of myself (like a failed radio transmission or something similar ...). My memory can be very long.
