On offer we have a EBBM SR5H in the 20th Anniversary edition.
For pictures:
http://gallery.me.com/joebone1
For soundclips of the two-pickup version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97ULm6_Y-fU
Ernie Ball is constantly offering all sorts of limited editions with cosmetic doodads, but this is an entirely different beast.
First off, it has alnico pole pieces in the pickup - which to my mind have more purity, focus, tone (but a wee bit less gain) and a clearer attack than the ceramic poles...I guess someone at EBBM agreed; as of 2009 the SR5 now comes standard with alnico.
Next, let's talk wood. The body features a mahogany "tone block" sitting in a channel from neck pocket to bridge, with the pickup nestled in that fine tonewood, and a flamed maple cap. The cap looks great - I apologize for all of those pictures, but tried different lighting situations to try to capture the grain of the maple and also maintain the deep red/black "California Sunset" burst. The neck is rosewood, but it's a dark, dense piece that has the great sound of rosewood but it almost looks like ebony. The maple neck also features great "cathedrals" in the grain.
All of this great wood makes for a bass with an incredible feel and tone. I play jazz duets, and the guitarist remarks on how this axe sings...I show up at a power trio, and the guitarist and drummer say it's one of the ballsiest basses they've heard. For a while I had some flats on it while playing with an assortment of acoustic pickers, and it worked great in that context. It's not a light bass (10.5 lbs. on my bathroom scale), but it has the SOUND...you can tell when you play it before plugging in, especially when up in the middle of the neck. For a while I had another 20th Anniversary, the 5HH, but gave it up because I got so much more pleasure from this axe.
Condition is great - you might find some light surface scratching, but certainly no dings or dents. I'm leaving on some DR Black Beauty strings that sound superb on this bass, and also look pretty cool. This was my main bass for a while (I'm the second owner) and it has traveled and gigged, but lightly and with respect. All the common SR5 bugaboos re the G string have been sorted out, or were never an issue in the first place. It's a killer axe, and the only reason I sell is that I've converted to 19mm spacing at the bridge.
Asking $1600.00, including hardshell case in great condition, with faux rubber black lizard finish. You may find SR5 basses for less, but none better than this one.
