Ibanez K5
| Category | Strings (electric bass) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Japan / Indonesia |
| Classification | electric bass guitar |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q5983651 |
Overview
The Ibanez K5 is a signature five-string electric bass guitar designed for Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu of the American band KoRn. Built on Ibanez’s lightweight offset Soundgear body with a bolt-on neck, a 34-inch scale, and a B–E–A–D–G tuning, the K5 uses a pair of custom DiMarzio pickups with active electronics and is intended to deliver the clicky, percussive low-end slap tone that the band’s music relies on.
Origin & History
Ibanez worked with Fieldy in the late 1990s to adapt the company’s Soundgear five-string platform into a signature instrument that matched his playing technique. The model was produced in Japan and later in Indonesia at different points during its run. It went through several revisions with different pickup configurations and body finishes before the signature line was refocused around Fieldy’s evolving preferences.
How It’s Played
The bass is played held low, slapped and plucked with the thumb and fingers in a percussive style that favours muted, clicky attacks over sustained tones. The B string extends the instrument’s low range a fourth below a four-string bass, allowing riffs to be played one octave lower than a standard guitar’s bottom strings. The active pre-amp gives the instrument a bright, scooped voice that cuts through heavy, downtuned guitars.
Cultural Significance
The K5 is strongly associated with the first wave of nu-metal in the late 1990s and early 2000s and is a reference instrument for players learning that style’s percussive five-string bass technique. It also represents the broader trend at that time of mainstream rock and metal bassists adopting extended-range instruments.
Related Instruments
- Ibanez Universe – earlier seven-string Ibanez signature
- Fender Bass V – historical five-string precursor
- Fender Urge Bass – contemporary signature bass
- Mandobass – fretted extended-range bass relative
- Gibson EB-2 – semi-hollow bass contrast
Frequently Asked Questions
How many strings does the K5 have?
Five, tuned B–E–A–D–G.
Is it active or passive?
Active — it uses an on-board preamp.
Where was it made?
In Japan and, at different points in its run, in Indonesia.
