History of the Ibanez Iceman Bass

Chris P. · May 01, 2012, 02:28:55 AM

Hi guys,

I'm reviewing the Ibanez SDB-2 Iceman for the bass magazine. I'm diving into the history of the model and I can find a lot about the Iceman guitar, but nothing about the bass. Can anybody tell me more? Like: When did the first Iceman Bass appear and what was it called?

Thanks!

godofthunder · May 01, 2012, 11:00:58 AM

I am trying to remember I think the first one I saw was in '79 or '80. Black with abalone binding and a set neck, maybe neck through.

Aussie Mark · May 01, 2012, 04:52:16 PM

The holy grail is the ICB-500 ... the one with set neck and pearloid binding.

The catalogue scans should assist with your research ..... http://s93105080.onlinehome.us/Ibanez-Catalogs/

Nocturnal · May 01, 2012, 06:47:11 PM

I still have that 1978 catalog. I wanted an Iceman soooo bad back then. I was still a guitar player back then (at a beginners level).

Chris P. · May 02, 2012, 01:51:56 AM

Thanks for the link, Mark!

Basvarken · May 02, 2012, 02:28:54 AM

Hey Chris, there's a guy in the Netherlands who collects vintage Ibanez guitars and basses. His name is Harry Kruisselbrink.

He used to have a website about Ibanez together with a guy from Switzerland.

Chris P. · May 02, 2012, 02:33:53 AM

Guys,

From what I found on some pages with catalogues I found out the following:

- The Iceman guitar appears in '75.
- In '94 the ICB500 is the first Iceman Bass
- In '95 the more simple ICB300 appears and again the brochure states it's the first Iceman Bass. In that way it is logical that the ICB300 and 500 were introduced around the end of '94 or the beginning of '95

- In 1997 both basses are disappeared from the catalogues

(In 1996 Greco introduces the four string MB90 and five string MB100 with 3+1 and 3+2 headstock)

I think Nokturnal speaks about guitars only?
Any info about later reissues?

Thanks Rob! I think I can get his address from the guys of Musicmaker!

godofthunder · May 02, 2012, 04:13:11 AM

I think the first Iceman bass appeared looooooong before '94. Just because one is not shown in a earlier catalog does not mean they were not making them before '94.

Chris P. · May 02, 2012, 05:35:23 AM

Well, the mid 90s catalogue states 'it's the first time we make an Iceman for bassists' or something similar...

Anyone?

godofthunder · May 02, 2012, 05:56:01 AM

Wow if that's the case I'm waaaaaaaaaaaay off!

Chris P. · May 02, 2012, 06:33:03 AM

Ha ha! I don't day that... Catalogues can be wrong...

godofthunder · May 02, 2012, 06:39:29 AM

Well now I am questioning my memory!

Nocturnal · May 02, 2012, 07:58:35 AM

I think Nokturnal speaks about guitars only?

Yes, I was speaking about guitars. I really don.t remember the first time I saw the bass version. I could swear that in the mid 80's Ibanez had bass versions of the Iceman, Destroyer, and even a Flying V?? They didn't have binding tho, just solid color (like the red Destroyers that turn up with P-J pickups). This is when the Destroyers were shaped like Phil Collen from Def Leppard. I am almost positive that I saw a guy playing a metallic blue Iceman back then

Dave W · May 02, 2012, 08:26:40 AM

Quote from: Chris P. on May 02, 2012, 05:35:23 AM
Well, the mid 90s catalogue states 'it's the first time we make an Iceman for bassists' or something similar...

Anyone?

I think this is correct. I don't remember seeing an Iceman bass version before about 1995, and then only for a short time.

OTOH I never paid that close attention to Ibanez.

hieronymous · May 02, 2012, 11:51:16 AM

My question would be whether there was one made for the Japanese market? May have been available in Japan but not overseas? I only know one website with Japanese catalogs but it doesn't have much Ibanez. I couldn't find any references to the Iceman basses in the Japanese wikipedia article. The only interesting thing I found was that the Greco version of the guitar was called the "Mirage." Sorry I couldn't help more!