Not happy with the SR505 - Bart MK-1 combo..

nonohmic · #1 08-02-2007, 04:23 PM

Hi all,

I have the Ibanez SR505 - I love the feel and playability of this bass, especially the Wenge/Bubinga neck. But the electronics are leaving me wanting.

The only satisfying tone I can really get is a nice warm fingerstyle tone when leaning heavily on the neck p-up. I'm definitely not happy with any slap tone I manage to get out of it, which is annoying because I'm actually starting to like the feel of slapping on this bass.

From what I can gather, the MK-1 electronics are made under license and are not Bartolinis.

So, I'm thinking about dropping proper Bartolini p-ups in - will this provide me with a nicer slap tone while still keeping the warmth that comes from the Mahogany etc. - is it worth dropping these p-ups into this bass?

This is the first electronics mod I've considered so please forgive any rookieness

chur!

coolrunner989 · #2 08-02-2007, 04:28 PM

I know what you mean about your experience with that bass - I seriously considered it for a while but decided Id save for something nicer.

From what I've heard changing the preamp opens up the range of the bass alot more than the pups - at least in the Ibanez 500 series.

I dont know first hand though, so take it as you wish.

nonohmic · #3 08-02-2007, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolrunner989

I know what you mean about your experience with that bass - I seriously considered it for a while but decided Id save for something nicer.

Yeah good option, while I like it a lot - I think I would have benefited from thinking a bit longer.

Ah well, live and learn.

worldhater · #4 08-02-2007, 08:36 PM

I tried the 4 string model at once and I was sadly surprised by the preamp. I turned the EQ knobs and it was like nothing happened, I was playing on a LTD with EMG pickups and b64 pre back then, which is extremely versatile so it was impossible not to compare them, but what sadly surprised me the most was the balance knob, dude it doesn't matter how cheap may a pickup be, when 2 pickups are are placed in different positions it must be a change of sound, it's a phisical thing, I own a Yamaha Attitude Standard with passive p/j cobination and the sound changes dramaticly when I move the switch, but in the sr500 the variation was almost unnoticeable, too poor for a bass which is 3 times more expensive than my Yamaha.
I think you should go for the preamp too man, maybe, before replacing anything, ask to your luthier/technician to remove the preamp living it passive, 2 volumes 1 tone and see how it works, this will give you a nice perspective of the pickups capabilities and then you'll know what to replace...hope is not both.
P.S. Sorry if my english sucks!

nonohmic · #5 08-02-2007, 08:44 PM

I think my pre-amp is actually physically working quite nicely, but yeah. Not too stoked about the sound.

I think that the next step is to replace the pre though - form a bit of a search it seems that that is the case with most of the 500's.

Thinking I'll drop a top line Bart pre in and see what that does. Will ask the local dude how much it's going to be to try out passive though too.

Cheers for the help fullas.