Ibanez SR370F?

[Flyingfrets]

Hey guys, was killing time at a couple of GCs waiting for our guitar player (looking for a Casino or similar).

Anyway, just wandering around when an Ibanez SR370F (brownburst with fretlines, no actual frets) caught my eye. Liked that it was attractive but not flashy so I sat down with it and was surprisingly impressed. Comfortable fast neck, weight not excessive...felt really good in my hands (once I found one that both pickups worked on).

I gather it's not one of their higher-end models (I haven't played any Ibanez gear since the early 80s, so I'm not familiar with their line anymore).

My question is this: anyone here own/play this particular model for any length of time? I have no interest in the 5-string models or the 500 & up series. Something about this bass just really connects (tried 4 of 'em in 3 different stores). My concern is durability & reliability.I'm a pretty regularly working musician and I'm envisioning using it as my number 1 in a Beatles cover band. Yeah, I know it would take some fiddling with the active cicuitry to get it to sit properly in the mix (the versatility might actually be a plus in my instance), and I wouldn't mind putting in the time to find the settings that would best serve the band since it feels "right" to me.

I don't actually need another bass, but the price ain't much more than pocket change ($249 used/$399 new) and I really liked the ones I tried.

So for anyone that owns/plays one, can you tell me if it would be likely to stand up to heavy use without intonation problems (any neck stability issues)? Is the active circuitry reliable? At this price point, I'm not looking for miracles, just a solid bass with the value for the dollar the old Ibanezes I was familiar with were known for.

I'd appreciate any honest feedback before I pull the trigger. Thanks...

[Wallace320]

To all your questions

If you don't think about, say, Sr505f (the well reknowned Soundgear 500 series in same lined fretless configuration)
Sr370f is the bass for you

Especially because this particular electronic you tried out
is the recent upgradin' and by far the best entry circuitry
they ever offered

Ownin' a hollow Violin bass myself, I'm not that sure that
Soundgear it's optimal for early Beatles "beat" sound, but
I'm sure will serve you well for songs from White Album on

Cheers,
Wallace

[Flyingfrets]

Have a hollow viola bass as well (modded Rogue VB100 that I love playing) and my trusty old 4001. Got the Beatle sound covered pretty reliably as is so, as I said, I don't actually need another bass, but I liked the SR370F enough that I'm seriously considering adding another one anyway. With the active circuit and the tonal variety, it'd be a plus being able to justify the purchase by actually using it.

Thanks for the input (I'm just about sold). Anybody else care to push me over the edge & chime in?

[4StringsEnough]

Have a look at the Cort B4 Fretless. Cort make Ibanez guitars and basses so many of their own models use the same parts and construction techniques in the exact same factory yet are significantly cheaper because you're cutting out the middleman.

The B4 is essentially the same as the SR500 (or SR600, depending on which body wood you choose) but is priced at the same sort of level as the SR300/SR370. Available fretted or fretless.

[Flyingfrets]

Took a look at the Cort B4. Nice looking bass, but the quick online scan I did brought back prices $50 - $120 higher for used gear than the Ibanez is going for new. Could just be the few places I looked though.

Biggest downside is that the fretless doesn't have the fretlines like the Ibanez does. As I said, I wasn't looking for another bass at all, and definitely not a fretless in particular. In fact, I was playing the SR370 for a minute before it dawned on me it was fretless. Saw the fretlines & didn't really give it another thought until I ran the bass line to "Come Together." I thought, "Damn! That slide is really smooth!" That's when I looked at the fingerboard again & realized it was actually fretless. I liked the familiarity of the lines being there. In fact, there's not much about the bass I didn't like. That's why I was looking for more info specifically on the SR370F. If I buy another bass at all, that'll be the one.