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1976 Ibanez Precision Bass...Any good?

#2
The short anwer is not really... but they are kinda cool in their own way. I played a buddy's for a while and is was heavy and thuddy. But it's kinda punk rock too.
400 is about normal selling price depending on condition maybe even a little on the lower side.
My advice, if you like it and think it's worth it then get it. I also believe that there are "better" basses out there for the the money.
 
#5
I've never played one but I know that Ibanez "lawsuit" basses had and continue to have a very dedicated cult following. That following has to be based on SOMETHING and, from what I've heard, it was based on many people believing that the Ibanez knock-offs were better than the Fenders being produced at that time.

That's actually how Ibanez got their foot in the door. Before their proprietary and wholly unique instruments, they were known as the makers of the best "cheap knockoffs" on the market.

Unless it's obviously and fundamentally flawed in some way (meaning major damage to body or neck that can't be fixed with a replaced part or a set up) I'd say go for it. They are still desirable collector's items.

Then again, this is just based on what I've heard. I've never played one.
 
#6
nocontrols said:
That's actually how Ibanez got their foot in the door. Before their proprietary and wholly unique instruments, they were known as the makers of the best "cheap knockoffs" on the market.
Click to expand...


I've got a '77 Ibby P (P/J actually) that is built, sounds, &
plays better than any 70's Fender P I've tried-
Its my main bass in my band "Cheap Knockoffs"!

I payed 550.00 for mine a couple years ago (near mint),
I would have payed more as it is the same color/model that
Graham Maby used on the 1st 2 Joe Jackson albums
(check out THAT tone!)-$400.00 bucks is a good deal.
 
#7
punkrockmike said:
Yea im sure there are a bunch of better basses out there i could get for $400, but im looking for a vintage bass, preferably a p bass, and just about everything I've come across is waaaay out of my price range, and then i stumbled upon this thing. JimmyM, do you know anything about them/had any experience with them?
Click to expand...
it was decades ago when i last played one, but honestly, i didn't think there was a whole lot of difference between the ibanez and a real fender. and neither did fender, so they sued ;)
 
#8
I nearly always like old Ibanez, if it's in good shape $400 sounds very fair, maybe even good. I doubt you'd lose much if any money on it if you bought it and decide over time how much you like it. Some older Ibanez are downright fantastic instruments.
 
#9
Yeah, if it's only $400... that's a good deal for most any P-bass, Fender or otherwise.

I say this with the caveat that if it was trashed beyond being fixable, it's not really worth anything, of course.
 
#11
I paid 375 for this one about 3 and half years ago with hardshell case. Excellent bass. I own 3 more ibanez lawsuits (j, rick, and ripper) and they are excellent. I've had real 70s and 60s fender ps and the ibanez is as good as they are. Thats why I sold the fenders, made some nice money and stashed it in the bank (the $$ later became musicman stingrays)

I currently have mine strung with flats and use it to play ska and it does the job very well. I like an old school tone by the way and run it through an acoustic 370 and mesa powerhouse 1000. The ibanez p bass has excellent fretwork, robust tuners and your standard vintage styly bridge, strong pickup, nice body, good weight, you can't go wrong. And its made in japan. How much does MIJ fender costs these days? 600 to 800 new? The obvious choice is a vintage ibanez if you're on a budget or even if your not.

Mandatory pics, even though I've posted them before...
9ad5_3.jpg

9fcc_3.jpg

ba8e_3.jpg

pbassad.jpg
 
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#12
I had one for awhile. I liked late 70s early 80s Ibanez basses. They're almost all awesome players.

I think mine was a 78 or 79 from what I remember. It played really well but I didn't like the stock pickups. All thump and no grind. A quick pickup swap later I had a great bass.
 
#13
garmenteros said:
I paid 375 for this one about 3 and half years ago with hardshell case. Excellent bass. I own 3 more ibanez lawsuits (j, rick, and ripper) and they are excellent. I've had real 70s and 60s fender ps and the ibanez is as good as they are. Thats why I sold the fenders, made some nice money and stashed it in the bank (the $$ later became musicman stingrays)

I currently have mine strung with flats and use it to play ska and it does the job very well. I like an old school tone by the way and run it through an acoustic 370 and mesa powerhouse 1000. The ibanez p bass has excellent fretwork, robust tuners and your standard vintage styly bridge, strong pickup, nice body, good weight, you can't go wrong. And its made in japan. How much does MIJ fender costs these days? 600 to 800 new? The obvious choice is a vintage ibanez if you're on a budget or even if your not.

Mandatory pics, even though I've posted them before...
9ad5_3.jpg

9fcc_3.jpg

ba8e_3.jpg

pbassad.jpg
Click to expand...

An old-school P-style strung with flats through an Acoustic 370... nice. :) I just wanted to compliment your taste in gear and tone.

And how gorgeous are those Ibby's?

GeneralElectric said:
I had one for awhile. I liked late 70s early 80s Ibanez basses. They're almost all awesome players.

I think mine was a 78 or 79 from what I remember. It played really well but I didn't like the stock pickups. All thump and no grind. A quick pickup swap later I had a great bass.
Click to expand...

All thump and no grind actually sounds pretty good to my ears. :)
 
#14
The question of "lawsuit Ibanez" bass quality has come up before. I've copied in a bit that I posted a little while back:

I picked up a '78 Ibanez fretless lawsuit P-Bass on ebay for a hair over $300 with shipping about a year or two ago. Plays and looks great and sounds fat.

The Matsumoku factory in Japan is credited with producing copies that rivaled the american examples of the time.

Matsumoku - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

for a bit on the "lawsuit":

Ibanez - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
#19
The new July 2011 issue of Vintage Guitar magazine has a couple pages on 'the first golden age of Ibanez 1973-1982', it's worth pickup up that issue. My RB924 / Roadstar II deluxe is an '83, apparently it's too new, but it's an awesome bass.
 

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