does ibanez have a bad rep?

[Solarmist]

No matter what basses I've tried out - I always come back to Ibanez SR because of the nicely profiled thin necks, the sound via the Bart pu's w/3band active EQ, the lightweight smaller bodies, and excellent quality including the fretwork.

[Sonic]

I've got an Ibanez Rb690 that was my main bass from 04 to about a month ago (Got me a Warwick). That said I still love it. I wasn't a fan of the 5 string SDGR I had but I still love the 4 strings. I prefer vintage Ibbys (I prefer vintage everything) but I've yet to meet a modern one I'd consider "crap". Even their bottom of the barrel GIO stuff is alright for the price.

[ehque]

Light bodies, fast necks, and good-for-the-price build quality. Not for everyone, but smaller dudes will appreciate their playability compared to fender et al. The Prestige BTB I owned was great. It wasn't as good as the used Zon i got for a little bit more, but it was still really good, and new that's a double-in-price difference.

[bass_man86]

Originally Posted by ROFLMFAO

after looking over a few threads, i'm getting the idea that ibanez basses are considered to be crap by a lot of bass players. my current favorite bass is my ibanez SR506, i don't have any problems with it whatsoever. am I missing something?

I believe that stems from the days of the "lawsuit" instruments; when I was 19 I bought an Ibanez P-bass and it was indeed crap. That is no longer true and has not been so for a very long time. My biggest beef with Ibanez is that they put out way too many models and a lot of times they do not stick with some of the better models. The Ibanez Musician is a perfect example; Sting used to own one, nuff said. The SR models are not everyone's cup of tea, but it is not true that all their basses come with slinky little necks and bodies either, in fact the BTB models when they first introduced were quite the opposite. I believe it is mostly a matter of taste. Personally I hate Hofners, but some people love them so there you go.

[M.Wrenn]

you mean ibeenhad?

[JHandley]

Nothing at all wrong with Ibanez.
Even the "ENTRY" level GSR200 is a VERY servicable guitar with some minor tweeks.
I replaced the original electronics with EMG's and a VVT config.
Added GHS Pressurewounds and it just flat out PLAYS!!!
Not to mention the Ibanez Blazer I had WAYYYY back when. I remember it being a very solid bass with a fantastic sound
Jeff

[The Stoke]

I have an Ibanez BTB 570mfm neck through model. Love it! Bartolini pick ups, maple neck, and a decent preamp. My only complaint is they changed the way they made the BTB models. The newer ones don't feel or sound quite like the one I have does. But it's all a matter of personal opinion. If your bass is what makes or breaks your sound/tone, you're doing it wrong.

[littlenige]

Had this since 1984 and wouldn't swap it for the world.

[ChessTiger]

I've yet to hear anything bad about Ibanez. My son has an Ibanez Gio guitar and it plays great! I'm sure the compnay puts the same quality into the best thing to happen to music; that being the bass guitar!

I plan on getting me an Ibanez accoustic bass and a couple of electric basses.

[4dog]

Ibanez are the sexiest styled basses out there for the money,sound good, feel good,look good,is good,,,,,,to me,,,,,,someone else,,,,,,,not so much.

[Freez]

Originally Posted by tbassist4

People who don't like Ibanez or any other brand for that matter usually tried the crappiest intro bass in the store and then based their opinion of the entire brand on that experience.

Or worse yet, and very common; they haven't played the brand AT ALL and they've formed their opinion based on what they see online.

I've never personally played an Ibby, but the guitarist in my band has an Ibby that looks a lot like an ES-335. That guitar sounds fantastic, and he says it plays like a dream. Makes me want to go try one of their basses!

[JoZac21]

A bad rep? This is the first I've ever heard of this!

I've never owned an Ibanez bass, but I've owned at least 6 guitars from them... including a John Scofield model I, unfortunately, had to sell...

Their basses are excellent, especially for the money... the guitars are great as well... the amps... well, no... but a bad rep? No.

Ibanez is one of those companies that is sold in every major shop and is played by so many players because they have earned a reputation for building quality, affordable (and even high end, as well!) instruments.

Hating on an Ibanez ins like hating on a Toyota... you're just a hater.

[Bobster]

My '95 ATK300 (Korean) is a great-playing, very well-constructed musical instrument.

It is top shelf and a very positive reflection on Ibanez.

Bob

[tdub0199]

I had a SR505 and a SR706 & both were great basses....

[eukatheude]

Nah, they're good basses. I wouldn't pay that much for their high end models since there's a lot of better stuff for that price IMO. Still, their new Premium series with the Nordstrands seems mighty awesome, especially at that price point. YMMV.
Usually i don't like thinking that some basses are great and others are pure crap, but there's still room for objectivity: for instance, i don't think anyone should buy post-Leo Fenders, since there are much better alternatives at the same or lower prices. Plus, they're "evil".

[infamusblkdeath]

Yep, as said before there are haters for every brand. If it works for you though, it shouldn't really matter.

I'm not overly crazy about most of the common models for almost the same reason as everyone else.. if find them entirely too small even though I am honestly not very big myself. Also, the common ones just do not have enough variation in looks for me. They honestly bore me, but lots of people say they are great basses and probably one of the best when it comes to smaller people and players with back issues.

That said, I do like some of their other basses. I've played the iceman and jetking and they weren't bad basses..they have their own look and sound, you have to give them credit for that. I feel very fond of the ATK series being a music man fan and how well price the ATK's are. Oh and i'd love to run into the black eagle bass or also any of the lawsuit basses one day cause i'll bet the all look and sound killer...

[jaywa]

Other than the fact that I have waited MOST OF THIS YEAR for a replacement pot that is proprietary and can only be obtained from Ibanez...

No.

That being said, once I get that part my BTB is going on the selling block. Thought it was gonna be my answer as a second / backup bass but it really hasn't turned out to be that at all.

[YuppyPunk]

IMO, Ibanez and a few others brands like Yamaha and Peavey made the mistake of not branding their lower end instruments like Fender and Gibson did. This leads people to indentify their higher end instruments with the lower end.

[_aflores_funk]

I was actually thinking aout getting the Ibanez Premium 4-String which goes for a little over 1,000, are there any other basses I could get for about the same price that would be more bang for my buck. I play lots of funk, jazz, and latin music but I also play bass at church so something with some sweet lows and a good percussive sound.
Thanks, Abdiel

[ericdanger13]

I loved and hated my two ibanez basses. That being said quality was never an issue both were well made.