[Bass of the Week] Modified Ibanez Destroyer DTB100

For the first time since starting Bass of the Week, we have our first Ibanez Destroyer, sent by owner Hugh, and modified by Dave Crowder.

Hugh writes:

Diablo the Destroyer! Here’s a bass that will always stand out in the crowd!

This bass started as an Ibanez DTB100 Destroyer limited run based the 80’s Model:

Ibanez only made 120 of them. It has a mahogany body, a maple neck with a rosewood fret board and jumbo frets.

Originally the bass came with just a basic single P pickup (cream colored of course!) and gold hardware from the big hair band days. Very retro, a classic to be sure but, meh, just not my style!

First, I did some light modding myself and I bought most of the parts from Best Bass Gear! 🙂 Black Gotoh tuners and a Hipshot replaced the original gold tuners and I slapped on some Schaller Strap Locks.

I also changed out the gold Ibanez bridge for a black Ibanez counter part.

I swapped out the P pickup for an EMG PAX P pickup and shortly after that, replaced the tone knob for an EMG EXB Control.

While closer to my liking, I still wasn’t totally happy with how the bass sounded having long since been spoiled to 3 band EQs on my other basses. But I had taken the work as far as I could. It was time for a professional.

Enter Mr. Dave Crowder of Crowder Guitar Works in Memphis, TN.

To get the bass to were is is now took a lot of routing work on his part. The added Kahler 2400 Tremolo and EMG JAX pickup needed routing of course but also he had to route out a larger control cavity to make room for the EMG BQC 3-band System plus moving the input jack to the tail.

To prevent marring that awesome candy apple red paint, he did all the work by hand with a Dremel Tool! He also installed a custom fitted graphite nut. The tremolo stays in tune well even with “crazy” use.

With a bass like this, any old neck plate simple would not do so I came up with my own graphic design and had it lazer etched.

Then once I got the bass back home I did a little more of my own modding, I added the extra long whammy bar that Kahler now sells and for the icing on the cake, I put 3M Carbon Fiber vinyl on the headstock and added a chrome Ibanez logo on top of the carbon fiber. I also added the carbon fiber look to the control cavity cover, too.

And in case your wondering about the Kahler and the Hipshot, I’ve got the Kahler locked from going up so the Hipshot works without causing tuning issues. I can still use the Whammy in dropped D too, no problem!

It is strung with Roto Sound 66 Swing Bass strings. The EMG Pickups have Alnico Magnets and the 3 band EQ has sweepable mids so yeah, tone for days and days!!! I couldn’t be any happier with the bass now. It’s wicked rock-n-roll devil!

These mods are done so well that some would even be fooled into thinking this was a stock model. Well done!

Want to be featured for bass of the week?
Submit yours now using our easy web form,
or email direct with at least 3 large,
high-quality photos and a story
of the build to featureme@bestbassgear.com