does ibanez have a bad rep? - Page 4

DiabolusInMusic · #61 11-09-2012, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _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

Start a new thread for more answers, this isn't the right spot.

I would honestly recommend Carvin, amazing value.

collins81 · #62 11-09-2012, 11:25 AM

I have played warwick, Ibanez, Schecter, Washburn, and Dean basses. I currently play Ibanez. I liked how my BTB played, but currently I play both soundgear 5 and 6 string models. I love the neck, love the pups and sound. The mk1's are mighty nice!

**TinIndian** · #63 11-09-2012, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

I think this may have more to do with it than anything. My SRT805 is just beautiful. The build quality is excellent as is the finish.

walldaja · #64 11-09-2012, 11:57 AM

From just the number of them out there they must be on to something or they wouldn't have the sales. Anywhere you look they are pretty much always #2 behind Fender in the number of basses in circulation. That said, I currently have two and while I have looked at other brands I keep coming back to Ibanez.

glorth2 · #65 11-09-2012, 12:08 PM

I'm curious as to why people wouldn't like the neck. Do you think it effects the sound? I've mostly played Ps. I can feel that the Ibanez necks are thin but that might be good. Conversely, I've put Spectors and BC Richs down because the necks feel like baseball bats.

Faraday · #66 11-09-2012, 01:55 PM

The bad reputation is a result of selling basses over a wide range of quality. Many of the low-end basses are terrible sounding and have lousy build quality.

If Ibanez called them Squier, they wouldn't be damaging the reputation of the Ibanez name. (And people could start another of the endless threads claiming that the cheap basses are just as good as the expensive basses, that anyone who doesn't buy that is a cork sniffer, and that their guitarist, their last six FOH guys, and their barber told them their Squibanez was the best sounding bass they've ever heard.)

deste · #67 11-09-2012, 02:13 PM

I own three of them, two are quite good (the older ones, '85 RB II 850 nd '87 MC 9420) and one is ok (a srx355). Never had a problem with them in more than twentyfive (!) years.
Ibanez has built some model which became historical, like the early Musician, and all the old Japan-made instruments were pretty fine, even the unexpensive ones.

Like any big company, they produce everything, from budget items (that doesn't necessarily means crap) to high class instruments. The less you pay, the less you get, of course.
You may like them, or not, but they deserve respect and consideration. Bashing a brand in toto is quite stupid, IMO.
And, most of all: if you like them they're ok for you. Or else there's a lot more basses to test...

By the way, I'm currently selling my srx355: I never play it because I'm not asked for a fiver anymore, and most of all I don't like that kind of active sound. But as a low-mid price bass, it's definitely ok...

imtiaz3 · #68 11-09-2012, 02:28 PM

I have an Ibanez SR405. I absolutely love it. I changed out the pickups to EMG's and it's even better now. I like ibanez because the neck is nice and thin and easy to play on, and I think this helps give the tone I like. I find other basses give a very thick woody tone, the ibanez feels more bright to my ears. but that's my preference, i know others like other stuff

xxx666 · #69 11-09-2012, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faraday

The bad reputation is a result of selling basses over a wide range of quality. Many of the low-end basses are terrible sounding and have lousy build quality.

If Ibanez called them Squier, they wouldn't be damaging the reputation of the Ibanez name. (And people could start another of the endless threads claiming that the cheap basses are just as good as the expensive basses, that anyone who doesn't buy that is a cork sniffer, and that their guitarist, their last six FOH guys, and their barber told them their Squibanez was the best sounding bass they've ever heard.)

Squibanez.... I think you are on to something!

jg42 · #70 11-09-2012, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _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

yup... makes sense. Love my SR1200 - awesome for slap, especially with big singles and upgraded pre.

garp · #71 11-09-2012, 03:11 PM

No bad rep with me. My first “real” bass was an Ibanez Roadstar II RB850 like deste’s, and then I later added an Ergodyne EDB605 to the herd. Even though I’ve assembled a collection of other manufacturers’ instruments since then — including many which cost more to acquire — the Ibanez brand will always been near and dear to me.

scHism · #72 11-09-2012, 03:25 PM

Love my ATK 305, will only consider a G&L L2K or a WAL as a replacement. But those two are way up there in the price range (can't afford them) so I stay with my ATK.

_aflores_funk · #73 11-10-2012, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jg42

yup... makes sense. Love my SR1200 - awesome for slap, especially with big singles and upgraded pre.

Yeah, I should be able to get one by Christmas although I'm getting the 1205. Really want the low B. How did the upgraded pre sound with the pickups? I'm curious since the electronics,especially pickups, are what I'm after, aside from the gorgeous finish that is.

meatwad · #74 11-10-2012, 08:34 AM

Ibanez is the Chrysler of basses, IMO. They either nail the hell out of it with a classic design (RD/RG, SoundGear, for example), or they can put out some of the ugliest crap known to man. I will always have a fetish for the RD basses of the 80's, and one of the coolest basses I've ever owned was an SR890 in turquoise w/gold hardware.

I plan on acquiring another 890 someday, along with an RD727 in metallic grey. The latter being the one that got away years ago..

kjpollo · #75 11-10-2012, 08:48 AM

I has a Musician (MC924) back in the 80s and that bass was a KILLER. I only reluctantly got rid of it because I traded it in toward my first and only Alembic. I so wish I had it back.

Fast forward to about 2007 and I was buying my first brand new bass in decades. I was spending about $800 and I A/B'ed an Ibanez against an ESP. I chose the ESP for one main reason- I felt the Ibanez neck was too thin for my liking. It was beautiful to look at and the Bartolini electronics were excellent- but it was the neck that was the deciding factor for me. And I cant remember the model of the Ibanez because their product numbers always confuse me. All I remember was that the bass had a burled poplar top under a gorgeous trans amber finish.

I also agree with the people who said that Ibanez should've launched an alternative line under a different name to differentiate their entry level stuff from their better stuff. I ALSO wish they would use more model names instead of model numbers. Names resonate better with me than numbers, but thats strictly me, YMMV of course.

And the one Ibanez that I liked the neck feel on, I cant stand the looks- the BTB. My Sam Ash had a used one and I tried it. I liked the neck but I just couldnt bring myself to buy it, even though it was very well priced (right around $350 IIRC). I ended up buying a used G&L L2K Trib here on TB instead.

Root 5 · #76 11-10-2012, 09:04 AM

IMO, there's nothing wrong with an Ibanez bass. A versatile working pro could play their entire career on an SR300, an instrument which sells for only a few hundred bucks.

It's possible now to get a ridiculously good instrument for little money.

Bassist Jay · #77 11-10-2012, 09:12 AM

With Ibanez, I have found that with their mid range stuff, you get your best bang for your buck. The low end stuff I don't like at all with their basses but I think they do okay with their guitars. Their mid range stuff across the board is great. With their high end stuff, I like their guitars but can't stand their basses. For what the cost of their basses are, I can get much better stuff for the same money.

devilman666 · #78 11-10-2012, 09:26 AM

Got an ATK 805e and it smashes basses twice the price so people need to try and buy before they assume .

**TinIndian** · #79 11-10-2012, 09:44 AM

I recently bought a beat up '84 RB850. Even beat up it sounds and plays amazing. I even brought it to my last gig for a last hurrah before I start to rip it down and fix it back up. Very lightweight - 7.5lbs. The neck is Jazz width but has a more round profile and the Super J6 massive humbuckers that are in this are incredible. It's passive and the controls are Blend, Volume and Tone, but the Volume And Tone are Push/Push pots for coil taps.

Gonna be sweet when I get it done. Definately a keeper. They should reissue these things with the Super J Pups, I don't think they could keep them on the shelf!

hampulator · #80 11-10-2012, 09:55 AM

For the $$,especially used on EBay(And man they go cheap!) ... I think their decent. I don't like thin necks at all ,so most of thier models arn't for me. But I just think they're associated with a "Begginers guitars" rap, 'cause alot of players start out with an SR,so people think "Aww they're crap."
Anyways..Play what ya can afford and like,and you can rock the F out with damn near anything so... Thump away! !