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1995 Ibanez SR1205

Oldguybasser

Oldguybasser

Jul 7, 2017
6
2
Virginia
#1
I'm looking at a finally getting a 5 string (my first after playing 4s for 50 yrs) and wonder if anyone has an opinion about this bass. According to the serial number it was made in Korea (by Cort) in 1995. It's a neck through design, which I like. Current basses are all 4s, a 2010 MIA Jazz, a 1995 MIJ fretless Jazz, a 1981 Ibanez Musician and a 2014 Schecter Studio 4 fretless (which I plan on selling in the near future). I believe the 1205 is active. I prefer passive on my Jazzes, but don't mind active controls on others. Has anyone owned a mid 90s SR1205? What can you tell me?
 
#2
Haven't owned that particular model, but I'm a big fan of Ibanez! The SR1205 is a high series model, top of the line. Active electronics. It will probably be very nice. It will also be very different from your other basses, since the SR series have small bodys, light weight and very slim neck, particularly on the 5-strings. The string spacing is tight compared to your other basses.
 
#3
Oldguybasser said:
Has anyone owned a mid 90s SR1205? What can you tell me?
Click to expand...

Owned one of them briefly when they got released, pretty sure it was my final attempt to get along with a 5-string bass.

Solid build quality, but not really comparable to your '81 Musician. If that's what you expect, disappointment is likely coming your way.

To me personally, SR necks are a "love or hate" kind of thing, and I've owned many Soundgears back in the days. I love their necks, but have found the string spacing on 1205 to be too narrow for me.

Electronics are OK, neither fish nor fowl IMO, can do quite a few things well but excel nowhere, at least in my recollection. Had I kept the bass I would've probably swapped them out.

I have absolutely no idea what these go for nowadays, but if it's inexpensive enough, by all means give it a shot. Not a bad instrument IME.

That's the best I've got after 20+ years....
 
#4
Thanks for the feedback; exactly what I was looking for. The band I'm playing in is doing some songs that would really benefit from the lower range of a 5 so it seems a good time to plunge in. The guy selling it is local so I will definitely play it before buying. I'm also looking at an almost new SR655 for around the same price. I know it's a lower end model and I assume not built as well and/or with cheaper parts. The narrow string spacing does concern me but most of the 5s I've tried seem to have the same issue. The ones with wider string spacing are not that comfortable either because you have to stretch too much. I haven't found one that is "just right". I'm hoping it's a matter of just getting used to it. If not, there's always Reverb or Craigslist...

(Thanks for the comment on the '81 Musician which I think is a highly underrated bass. I bought it new in '81 and will never part with it. It is, by far, the best playing and sounding bass I've ever owned. It has such a solid feel and the neck is perfect for me. The main downside is that it's quite heavy. As I've gotten older, my shoulder just can't handle it for gigs, though I do play it every day at home for practicing).
 

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