Ibanez GWB1005 Gary Willis 5-String Fretless Bass Guitar Natural Flat

The Ibanez GWB1005 Gary Willis 5 String Fretless Bass in Natural Flat is a professional, signature-level instrument built for players who demand nuance, speed and control. Combining a lightweight Swamp Ash body, a super-stable 3 piece Maple neck and a smooth Ebony fretboard, it delivers the fluid, singing voice that modern fretless bass is known for, with the precision and reliability required on stage and in the studio.

Centred around a custom curved Bartolini GWB pickup and Bartolini NTBT 2 band active EQ, the GWB1005 gives you a wide palette of articulate, low-noise tones, from warm and woody to tight and punchy. The Gary Willis finger ramp encourages an even right-hand technique, while quality hardware and a DURACON nut keep everything feeling solid and consistent. Finished in a tasteful Natural Flat satin, it is a serious working tool for players who want the expressive freedom of fretless without compromising on clarity or definition.

Signature Fretless Feel

The 3 piece Maple neck and Ebony fretboard combination gives the GWB1005 a fast, precise feel that is ideal for expressive fretless lines. Maple provides strength and a snappy attack, helping every note speak clearly, while the Ebony board feels smooth under the fingers for glissando, vibrato and subtle intonation shifts. Off set white dot inlays keep your visual reference points clear without cluttering the minimalist look.

Lightweight Swamp Ash Body

Swamp Ash is prized for its balance of light weight and rich harmonic content, and the GWB1005 makes full use of that character. The body feels comfortable over long sets and rehearsals, while the wood’s natural resonance enhances sustain and note bloom. The Natural Flat satin polyurethane finish lets the grain show through and keeps the feel organic and unobtrusive.

Bartolini GWB Electronics

At the heart of the bass is a curved Bartolini GWB bridge pickup, carefully shaped to follow the radius of the strings for consistent output and response across all five strings. Paired with the Bartolini NTBT 2 band EQ, you can sculpt your sound with precise bass and treble adjustments, from deep, rounded lows to crisp, articulate highs. The passive bypass option lets you instantly switch to a more organic, direct tone when you want maximum purity.

Performance Focused Hardware

Gotoh machine heads provide smooth, accurate tuning adjustments and hold pitch confidently, even under heavy playing. The DURACON nut offers low friction and long term stability, contributing to reliable tuning and a consistent feel across the neck. A standard, solid bridge design anchors the strings firmly, supporting sustain and a focused attack that keeps your fretless tone defined in any mix.

• 3 Piece Maple Neck with Ebony Fretboard - The combination of a rigid 3 piece Maple neck and a sleek Ebony fretboard delivers a fast, articulate playing feel. This pairing enhances note definition and attack, helping your intonation and phrasing come through clearly on a fretless instrument.
• Lightweight Swamp Ash Body - Swamp Ash keeps the overall weight down while adding resonance and harmonic richness. This makes the bass comfortable for long gigs and sessions, with a lively acoustic response that translates into a more expressive amplified tone.
• Bartolini GWB Pickup with NTBT 2 Band EQ - The curved Bartolini GWB pickup ensures even string balance, while the NTBT 2 band EQ gives you powerful yet musical tone shaping. From warm, singing fretless voices to tighter, more modern sounds, you can dial in exactly what the music demands, with the option to switch to passive for a more natural response.
• Gary Willis Finger Ramp and Gotoh Hardware - The included finger ramp encourages a consistent plucking depth and smoother right-hand technique, supporting dynamic control and speed. Gotoh machine heads and a DURACON nut keep tuning stable and reliable, so you can focus on playing without fighting the instrument.

Body

• Body Wood: Swamp Ash
• Colour: Natural
• Finish: Satin Polyurethane (Natural Flat)

Neck

• Neck Construction: 3 piece Maple
• Scale Length: 864 mm
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Number of Frets: 24
• Inlay: Off set white dot
• Nut: DURACON
• Number of Strings: 5

Hardware

• Bridge: Standard
• Machine Heads: Gotoh
• Hardware Colour: Black

Electronics

• Pickup Configuration: Bridge pickup only
• Bridge Pickup: Bartolini GWB
• Electronics Type: Active
• EQ: Bartolini NTBT 2 band EQ
• Passive Bypass: Yes
• Batteries Required: 1 x 9V

General

• Artist: Gary Willis
• Series: GWB
• Included Case: Hardshell case included
• Net Weight: 4.2 kg
• Packaged Weight: 12.2 kg
• Length: 1121 mm
• Width: 323 mm
• Depth: 41 mm