2019 Ibanez Affirma Reviews?

[rashrader]

What's the word on these? I'm looking for a new fretted 5'er (maybe a 6'er) and these caught my attention. Has anyone purchased the new version?

Does anyone know the spacing at the bridge?

Thanks.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[yellowmiata]

I own a 4 string. What do you want to know about the spacing at the bridge?
Kevin

 

[Aidil]

Ibanez 2019 Product Book PDF file says all Affirma basses (4 & 5 strings, both Walnut & Maple body) have 19 mm string spacing at bridge.

 

[mtdkingstonheir]

Can't afford it, but really like the looks of these - I'm a big Ibanez fan. Hope you find yours.

 

[gadgetgirl]

I own a 4 string. What do you want to know about the spacing at the bridge?
Kevin

How does the 4 string Affirma sound? Feel? Do you enjoy playing it? What are pluses and minuses for this bass? Thanks!

 

[Relayer71]

I was *this* close to picking one up recently - no idea how it sounds but I love the look, and have been appreciating Walnut lately. I got the Spector Euro 1977 LE instead (got my Spector, Walnut and P-Bass fix in one shot). But still gassing for one of these Affirma basses.

They shouldn't have put the signature on the body, though - not a good look.

 

[yellowmiata]

How does the 4 string Affirma sound? Feel? Do you enjoy playing it? What are pluses and minuses for this bass? Thanks!

My thoughts on how the Ibanez Affirma 4 string sounds and plays:

The spacing of the strings is slightly wider than an SR, noticeable when switching between but the space feels good - room to move and bend. I'm still faster on my SR, but have more fun on the Affirma.

The bass sits nice and close, and falls right to hand. The neck feels closer to my left hand, makes it easy to run up and back. The neck is a "half-neck-thru" and has a very smooth transition from neck to body- much better than the bolt-on of the SR (and the SR is still a great feel). Supposedly there are graphite rods in the neck - is it stiff? Yes. The headstock is sexy & small. The tuners feel expensive: smoothing & tight.

There is a recessed thumb rest that is so easy to get used to that I immediately missed it when shifting back to the SR.

The matte finish is exquisite, smooth and clean, the look is second to none.

The two types of pickups provide a variety of types of sounds. The Bartolini is all electric with wholeness and harmonic bite. An onboard hi/low equalizer can bring up the sparkle and bump the bottom. I tend to enjoy articulation and push the highs for clarity.

The Piezo has more thump - so sensitive that I can hear my fingers touching the strings - fat, even and wide. The piezo has a tone n on that adds in the highs. With the highs fully rolled off, it leans towards a fretless flavor with upright thump; sensitive to varied plucking. Roll up the highs and all sensitivity is returned with strong mids and upper mids, without losing open lows.

Each pickup has its own volume pot and blending or isolating opens a variety of tones and levels of articulation.

It is a delight to play, I look forward to picking it up every day. I feel bad, like I'm cheating on my old girl with a new hottie.

One drawback is that the tuners are angled downward and finding a stand that is narrow enough to hold the wood part of the headstock / neck rather than resting on the e-string tuner. I had to try 3 different Hercules stands until one worked.

I can try to record the same lick with the same setup between the Affirma and SR for a sound comparison.

 

[gadgetgirl]

Thanks so much for the review. Very helpful! Would appreciate listening to your sound sample whenever you have time to post.

 

[yellowmiata]

Here are sound comparisons of the Affirma's different pickups both solo and combined in a few different ways.
The names of the tracks are what pickup(s) is/are in use.
I have also included one of my SR for a reference point.
Forgive my playing, but I'm just jamming on the bassline of our song "One of 'dem days"

Here are the clips:

AFR Bartolini by yellowmiata | Free Listening on SoundCloud

• yellowmiata
• May 2, 2019
• affirma

Stream AFR Bartolini by yellowmiata from desktop or your mobile device

AFR Piezo Tone Off by yellowmiata | Free Listening on SoundCloud

• yellowmiata
• May 2, 2019
• affirma bass solo

Stream AFR Piezo Tone Off by yellowmiata from desktop or your mobile device

AFR Piezo Tone Up by yellowmiata | Free Listening on SoundCloud

• yellowmiata
• May 2, 2019
• affirma bass solo

Stream AFR Piezo Tone Up by yellowmiata from desktop or your mobile device

AFR Bartolini Piezo Tone Up by yellowmiata | Free Listening on SoundCloud

• yellowmiata
• May 2, 2019
• affirma bass solo

Stream AFR Bartolini Piezo Tone Up by yellowmiata from desktop or your mobile device

AFR Bartolini Piezo Tone Off by yellowmiata | Free Listening on SoundCloud

• yellowmiata
• May 2, 2019
• affirma bass solo

Stream AFR Bartolini Piezo Tone Off by yellowmiata from desktop or your mobile device

SR1800 by yellowmiata | Free Listening on SoundCloud

• yellowmiata
• May 3, 2019
• bass solo sr1800

Stream SR1800 by yellowmiata from desktop or your mobile device

Here is the equipment:
2019 Ibanez AFRWAP Affirma
2014 Ibanez SR1800
EB Extra Slinky Flatwound Cobalts (40 - 95) on both
GK MB200 Head
Barefaced BB2 Cab
Shure MV88 Mic

Ibanez SR1800 & Affirma

• yellowmiata
• May 2, 2019
• affirma sr1800

Ibanez SR1800 & Affirma

 

[gadgetgirl]

Here are sound comparisons of the Affirma's different pickups both solo and combined in a few different ways.
The names of the tracks are what pickup(s) is/are in use.
I have also included one of my SR for a reference point.
Forgive my playing, but I'm just jamming on the bassline of our song "One of 'dem days"

Here are the clips:

AFR Bartolini by yellowmiata | Free Listening on SoundCloud

• yellowmiata
• May 2, 2019
• affirma

Stream AFR Bartolini by yellowmiata from desktop or your mobile device

AFR Piezo Tone Off by yellowmiata | Free Listening on SoundCloud

• yellowmiata
• May 2, 2019
• affirma bass solo

Stream AFR Piezo Tone Off by yellowmiata from desktop or your mobile device

AFR Piezo Tone Up by yellowmiata | Free Listening on SoundCloud

• yellowmiata
• May 2, 2019
• affirma bass solo

Stream AFR Piezo Tone Up by yellowmiata from desktop or your mobile device

AFR Bartolini Piezo Tone Up by yellowmiata | Free Listening on SoundCloud

• yellowmiata
• May 2, 2019
• affirma bass solo

Stream AFR Bartolini Piezo Tone Up by yellowmiata from desktop or your mobile device

AFR Bartolini Piezo Tone Off by yellowmiata | Free Listening on SoundCloud

• yellowmiata
• May 2, 2019
• affirma bass solo

Stream AFR Bartolini Piezo Tone Off by yellowmiata from desktop or your mobile device

Here is the equipment:
2019 Ibanez AFRWAP Affirma
2014 Ibanez SR1800
GK MB200 Head
Barefaced BB2 Cab
Shure MV88 Mic

Ibanez SR1800 & Affirma

• yellowmiata
• May 2, 2019
• affirma sr1800

Ibanez SR1800 & Affirma

Thanks so much for taking the time to record and post these tracks- good demos!

 

[Aidil]

Here are sound comparisons of the Affirma's different pickups both solo and combined in a few different ways.
The names of the tracks are what pickup(s) is/are in use.
I have also included one of my SR for a reference point.
Forgive my playing, but I'm just jamming on the bassline of our song "One of 'dem days"

Here are the clips:

AFR Bartolini by yellowmiata | Free Listening on SoundCloud

• yellowmiata
• May 2, 2019
• affirma

Stream AFR Bartolini by yellowmiata from desktop or your mobile device

AFR Piezo Tone Off by yellowmiata | Free Listening on SoundCloud

• yellowmiata
• May 2, 2019
• affirma bass solo

Stream AFR Piezo Tone Off by yellowmiata from desktop or your mobile device

AFR Piezo Tone Up by yellowmiata | Free Listening on SoundCloud

• yellowmiata
• May 2, 2019
• affirma bass solo

Stream AFR Piezo Tone Up by yellowmiata from desktop or your mobile device

AFR Bartolini Piezo Tone Up by yellowmiata | Free Listening on SoundCloud

• yellowmiata
• May 2, 2019
• affirma bass solo

Stream AFR Bartolini Piezo Tone Up by yellowmiata from desktop or your mobile device

AFR Bartolini Piezo Tone Off by yellowmiata | Free Listening on SoundCloud

• yellowmiata
• May 2, 2019
• affirma bass solo

Stream AFR Bartolini Piezo Tone Off by yellowmiata from desktop or your mobile device

Here is the equipment:
2019 Ibanez AFRWAP Affirma
2014 Ibanez SR1800
GK MB200 Head
Barefaced BB2 Cab
Shure MV88 Mic

Ibanez SR1800 & Affirma

• yellowmiata
• May 2, 2019
• affirma sr1800

Ibanez SR1800 & Affirma

Thanks for posting the sound clips. What were strings used on both basses?

 

[rashrader]

Why haven't I been getting notifications on this thread? Wow!! So much great info. Thank you.

I ended up really getting the itch to own another 6 String and went with an Ibanez SRSC806. I'm truly enjoying it. The Affirma was definitely on the shortlist.

 

[yellowmiata]

Thanks for posting the sound clips. What were strings used on both basses?

Good question - I use Ernie Ball Extra Slinky Flatwound Colbalts (40 - 95) on both. I'll update the post with that info.

 

[VerryBerry]

Appreciate the soundclips and the review, YellowMiata!
I ordered the 4-string Walnut version of the Affirma two days ago. These have just come into Canada, and I should get mine within a week. If I really like it, which I suspect, I will probably follow this up with the 5-string. Will be trading in a few lesser basses for these two, in an attempt to go down from 9 basses to 6 when all is said and done.

EB Flatwound Cobalts - haven't tried those on anything yet. I liked the tonal range you were able to achieve with them. Will keep this in mind.
Thanks again!

 

[gadgetgirl]

Good question - I use Ernie Ball Extra Slinky Flatwound Colbalts (40 - 95) on both. I'll update the post with that info.

Hi- what strings come stock on the bass?
How low can you get the action on the Affirma and how does that compare to how low you can get action on your other Ibanez ?

 

[yellowmiata]

Hi- what strings come stock on the bass?
How low can you get the action on the Affirma and how does that compare to how low you can get action on your other Ibanez ?

I dropped the action twice on the Affirma and have yet to feel any buzzing. My guitarist (who likes to moonlight as a bass player) says my action is high, but I have never felt so. It does tell me that others like their action lower. I did note that when adjusting the bass, it responds really well - my guess is the graphite rods' stiffness is adding something there. I think I could bring the action down a third time. I'll measure where I'm at and post back, and to directly answer your question, yes, I can likely get the action way low.

If you have any questions, want pics, sounds, don't hesitate to ask. I play every day and know that buying sight-unseen can be frustrating.

Here's a 1.11 hour FB Live of my band rocking the American Airlines Party on the Plaza in Dallas a month ago - I use the Affirma exclusively. There's everything from country to hard rock in there. And check out the Sir Duke solo at 17:25.

 

[nonohmic]

That Affirma sounds sweet! Dig the piezo+bart sound.

 

[yellowmiata]

Hi- what strings come stock on the bass?
How low can you get the action on the Affirma and how does that compare to how low you can get action on your other Ibanez ?

Here's a pic of the action height on the E string in playing position. It could be a lot lower, but I'm not inhibited by the spacing.

674B0E90-36BA-495B-90BD-656B7E9BA67D

• yellowmiata
• May 3, 2019
• affirma

AFR E string height at 12th fret in playing position

 

[yellowmiata]

Appreciate the soundclips and the review, YellowMiata!
I ordered the 4-string Walnut version of the Affirma two days ago. These have just come into Canada, and I should get mine within a week. If I really like it, which I suspect, I will probably follow this up with the 5-string. Will be trading in a few lesser basses for these two, in an attempt to go down from 9 basses to 6 when all is said and done.

EB Flatwound Cobalts - haven't tried those on anything yet. I liked the tonal range you were able to achieve with them. Will keep this in mind.
Thanks again!

Love the SRSC body! I tend to favor 4 strings but I may make an exception for that beauty.
EB Cobalts, especially the thinner gauge, helps me pull some zing back out of the flats. It's fun to get so many sounds just from bass. Then I top it off with a GK MB800 Fusion and run some tube heat thru the tone.

It's never been a better time to be a bass player!

 

[gadgetgirl]

Here's a pic of the action height on the E string in playing position. It could be a lot lower, but I'm not inhibited by the spacing.

674B0E90-36BA-495B-90BD-656B7E9BA67D

• yellowmiata
• May 3, 2019
• affirma

AFR E string height at 12th fret in playing position

Thanks so much for the photo and video.
Do you remember if DAddario or Elixir strings came stock on this bass?
Also did you hear any hum from the Bartolini?