The Ibanez Club (Part 5)

[stingray69]

Originally Posted by PDGood

Let us know what your thoughts are comparing the two. I've never had them side by side so that should be interesting.

Will do - it's something I've been wanting to find out myself for a while now.

[mtshaw]

Originally Posted by stingray69

FedEx delivered this beautiful new SR-705 at 8:00am this morning, but I am stuck at work and won't be able to unbox it or check it out until later tonight. I am very anxious to hear it and also very interested in the tone of the Bartolini MK1's as compared to the CAP humbuckers in the SR-375M. Lots of experimenting & playing tonight for sure!

I'll try to post some pics of my own later, but I don't imagine they could even compete with Sweetwater's own hi-res pics.

This 5-string weighs in at exactly 9lbs - I'm real happy about that.

Very, very nice indeed. I too look forward to your comparison.

[judeix808]

Originally Posted by stingray69

FedEx delivered this beautiful new SR-705 at 8:00am this morning, but I am stuck at work and won't be able to unbox it or check it out until later tonight. I am very anxious to hear it and also very interested in the tone of the Bartolini MK1's as compared to the CAP humbuckers in the SR-375M. Lots of experimenting & playing tonight for sure!

I'll try to post some pics of my own later, but I don't imagine they could even compete with Sweetwater's own hi-res pics.

This 5-string weighs in at exactly 9lbs - I'm real happy about that.

Here are a few of Sweetwater's pics:

Very nice!!!!!

[stingray69]

Thanks for the kind words guys - well, I put this through all kinds of paces for several hours both last night and today - many genres of music, fingerstyle & slap style, etc. Wow, wow & wow! That's the best way I can describe the SR705. I think I understand the high praise & love I read about when people speak of the 500-series & above models. I haven't played a 500 or 700 series - I went with this model based off of reviews & research. I am new to this model and wanted to share a quick mini-impression & some thoughts when A/B compared against my entry-level SR (375M).

The Bartolini MK1's paired with the EQB-IIIS preamp are really nice sounding! Very powerful & flexible tone. This instrument can fit well in a very wide range of music generes. The interesting thing I found in some A/B testing is that the tone of the MK1's and the CAP are not that far apart. However, the SR-705 seems like the preamp is "juiced" up at nearly twice the volume. The SR-705 started to clip the front end of my GK MB500 very easily, whereas the SR375 never has.

For those interested in the tone differences of the CAP humbuckers vs the MK1's, the SR-705 just sounds "more". More power & clarity, more punch, stronger lows and a more extended high end. The high end of the Bartolinis is a very rich, sweet sounding top end, not harsh sounding. The CAP pickups sound very good & share a voicing remarkably similar tone as the Barts (with some exceptions). The top end on the CAP pickups are not harsh at all, they just don't extend as far into the treble range that the MK1's do. The low end and mid voicing to my ear are nearly identical, but at a significantly lower volume and therefore have a perceived less powerful sound. It does makes me wonder if the CAP series are not some version of Barts in disguise. The SR-705 MK1 package is like the steroids version or "extended range" series of the CAP electronics with notable extra sweetness in the upper mids & top end. Boosting the lows & highs on the SR375, the gap closed a bunch but the Bartolinis have a more open tone in the upper mids with a more extended sweetness in top end. IMO, one clear advantage of the 705 preamp is the mid-frequency selector switch. I love the low-mid frequency point they chose on the 705's preamp - it definitely enhances the warm punch of the Bartolini pickups and through my GK MB500, kicks like a mule.

The build quality is amazing, 5-piece body (mahogany body wings, maple center block w/flame maple cap and mahogany stringers through the body). I would think a lot of attention to detail is required to build a body like that, and it feels (and sounds) like a pro instrument on every level. The build quality, tone & feel are reminiscent of some very high end basses I've owned in the past. It's been a very long time since I was this pleased with an instrument. It's definitely my main gigging bass at this point.

[scottfeldstein]

Word. Plus, it's gorgeous, plays like a dream and weighs like 9 pounds.

[IngerAlb]

Interesting

That's my impression of the 305 model as well - sounds a bit anemic compared to a SR505 or 705 - when you play those it feels like an invisible blanket was lifted up from the speakers. It seems the 375 remains closer to the 30X tone rather than 50X. But still, for the price, they're killer

[PDGood]

Stingray, your description of the tone difference between the MK1s and the CAPs is exactly the way I'd describe the difference between the MK4s and the MK1s. The 4s are more powerful with a sweeter high end. But there's absolutely nothing wrong with the MK1s.

[stingray69]

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

Word. Plus, it's gorgeous, plays like a dream and weighs like 9 pounds.

It's one heck of an instrument.

Originally Posted by IngerAlb

Interesting

That's my impression of the 305 model as well - sounds a bit anemic compared to a SR505 or 705 - when you play those it feels like an invisible blanket was lifted up from the speakers. It seems the 375 remains closer to the 30X tone rather than 50X. But still, for the price, they're killer

Yes, it's very easy to hear the blanket effect you are describing. The CAP pickups are great sounding, just less open through the upper mids and less sweetness at the top end. It's hard to say if the CAP's are just simply lower output than the MK1's or if the SR-705's preamp is souped up a little on the output volume. It is still a very killer sounding bass, and I will be using it on gigs as backup to the 705.

Originally Posted by PDGood

Stingray, your description of the tone difference between the MK1s and the CAPs is exactly the way I'd describe the difference between the MK4s and the MK1s. The 4s are more powerful with a sweeter high end. But there's absolutely nothing wrong with the MK1s.

I'd really love to hear some MK4's in person (never have). I can't imagine getting too much sweeter with the top end. It may be too much of a good thing for me. But then again, my GK's treble knob is centered at 7Khz & can add a beautiful shimmer on the top by itself. For my setup, the MK4's could prove to be over the top - too much of a good thing. I'm digging the MK1's a whole bunch & think I'll stay put for a good while. They have beautiful punch & clarity/sweetness.

[PDGood]

Definitely! When you have the magic don't mess with it. GK amps are very bright and clear and sounds like you've got it locked in to great tone on a great bass.

[IngerAlb]

Originally Posted by stingray69

It's hard to say if the CAP's are just simply lower output than the MK1's or if the SR-705's preamp is souped up a little on the output volume.

I think the preamp makes the difference; IMO it has a very hot & powerful signal.

As for GK amps, yup, they work very well with Ibbys (and with any other bass in general) - they make good stuff.

[flashboom]

Thanks for the MK1/CAP comparison, Stingray69. I fell in love with the SR700 four string version and I think your description of the MK1 sound is right on. I'm trying to decide whether to pay the bucks for a SR700 or just have some MK1's installed in my SR400. Your review helped me decide that, one way or the other, I need a pair of MK1's in my bass.

[anandogs]

I have an Ibanez SR300 iron pewter black. Can I please get a number?

[danomite64]

#1138 FerK
#1139 anandogs

[stingray69]

Originally Posted by flashboom

Thanks for the MK1/CAP comparison, Stingray69. I fell in love with the SR700 four string version and I think your description of the MK1 sound is right on. I'm trying to decide whether to pay the bucks for a SR700 or just have some MK1's installed in my SR400. Your review helped me decide that, one way or the other, I need a pair of MK1's in my bass.

Thank you - it was definitely enlightening to hear the differences between the two. I was a bit surprised to hear that the low & mid range voicing were so strikingly similar between the two, but I love the extended top end sweetness & the clarity (plus the noticeable extra power) of the MK1 setup in the SR-705. The MK1's are a more modern tone with great clarity & the CAP pickups are close but sound a little more traditional by comparison. I like the contrast & it's nice to have the tonal options of the two.

The MK1's ones are incredible sounding, IMO & would probably sound great in your SR-400. However, I'm not sure if MK1's are for sale to the public - I'm starting to get the impression that USA Bartolini's are the only thing one can buy from any Bartolini distributor (but I may be wrong about that).

[kleinenenten]

Originally Posted by stingray69

Thank you - it was definitely enlightening to hear the differences between the two. I was a bit surprised to hear that the low & mid range voicing were so strikingly similar between the two, but I love the extended top end sweetness & the clarity (plus the noticeable extra power) of the MK1 setup in the SR-705. The MK1's are a more modern tone with great clarity & the CAP pickups are close but sound a little more traditional by comparison. I like the contrast & it's nice to have the tonal options of the two.

The MK1's ones are incredible sounding, IMO & would probably sound great in your SR-400. However, I'm not sure if MK1's are for sale to the public - I'm starting to get the impression that USA Bartolini's are the only thing one can buy from any Bartolini distributor. (but I may be wrong about that).

You may be right. I've recently been looking for some MK-1s to put in an old Ibby of mine, but can't find any sellers!

[porkdog324]

My pair of Ibanez:

A 1999 BTB505



A 1989 SR800LE



Coming soon an Ibanez Jet King

May I have a number please?

Brent

[TolerancEJ]

I'm still enjoying my SR885 but I've been GASing for the budget Gerald Veasley model GVB36. If bass funds permit, I might also be interested in a BTB 6-string.

[Basstovsky]

I'm pretty sure you are not allowed to sell stuff on the forums without paying for a supporting membership, you may want to edit or delete that post it could get you into trouble with the mods, I'm not 100% sure but I have seen people get in trouble for it before.

[PDGood]

Yup, and it needs to go in the classifieds, not in this section. But what you can do is include it in your signature. That's totally legal.

[kleinenenten]

Actually, that leads me to a question. What's the preamp that goes with the MK-1 pickups? I don't want the pickups, if I change them I'll need six string pickups. But shouldn't the preamp for a 5 or a 6 string be the same? I want the preamp only, but haven't been able to figure out which one goes with the MK-1 pickups. I love the sound of my SR505, and would kill for a mix of its high end tones and clear bass with the thump of a denser body. (Yes, I know that body wood is controversial when it comes to contributing to tone, but after A/Bing many Ibbys in a store, I concluded that as far as I can tell, denser body = more thump for me. So there! :P )