Displaying some timely forethought, Ibanez has announced that the new Ibanez Promethean Bass Amplification System will be at the forefront of their Summer NAMM 2009 presence. As if Nashville isn't hot enough in July!

The Ibanez Promethean series is centered around the P500H head, a class-d, 500-watt solid-state amplifier that slides neatly into a pocket carved into the back of the Promethean-series cabinets. The most distinctive feature on the Promethean head -- other than the Zeus-baiting fire-red finish -- is a large "Vibe" control. Basically a color control, the Vibe knob takes your overall tone from a vintage-vibe to a modern one, and is footswitch-bypassable.

In addition to Vibe, the P500H features:

• 6-band graphic EQ/bass and treble shelving tone controls
• Peak limiting circuit
• 2-way Clip Indicator
• Auxiliary input (1/8")
• Balance line out (XLR)
• Phones out, tuner out (1/8")
• Footswitch jack (Mute/Vibe)
• 11"W x 10.4"D x 2.2"H
• Weight: 6.4 lbs

The P500H is currently available as part of the Ibanez P5110, a combo mating the Promethean head with a 1x10"-plus-tweeter enclosure for a 250 watt (500 watts with extension cabinet) combo the weighs a total of 27.6 lbs.

Judging from graphics on Ibanez's website, the Summer NAMM show will see the introduction of a few more cabinets, including a 4x10, a 1x5, and a vertically-stacked 2x10, all with HF-tweeters. Video on their webpage offers a quick glimpse of the tone on these guys, which seems downright piano-like and technicolor, if you'll forgive the poetic descriptors.