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2019 Ibanez Affirma

Michael Jewels

Michael Jewels

Supporting Member
Nov 29, 2000
11,462
9,925
Queens, N.Y.(Near JFK Airport)
#1
Look at what Ibanez brought back!
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I don't remember when these first came out, but I have their last incarnation, the EDA900 series

The EDA905F to be exact.

The pros: The most comfortable bass I have ever played. The body wraps around your body. No wonder they called it the Ergodyne series.

The cons: Lackluster magnetic pickup, and the weirdest EQ system.

Both the magnetic and piezo EQ boost or cut both the bass and treble together. You can't boost the bass and cut the treble at the same time - annoying.

Anyway, I've been wanting to put new electronics in mine for a while; maybe I'll just check out one of these.

Mike
Guitar_9.JPG
 
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#2
i had an EDA after getting rid of my AFR. Really no comparison. the AFR was head and shoulders above the EDA yet the AFR's electronics/pups were a bit lack luster. With 21st century electronics on these new ones this is first on my list to check out.
 
#10
I had a couple of EDA900s and an EDA905. One issue I remember hearing about was that the piezo was easy to snag when changing strings. I had to return one of the EDA900s because the piezo was dead on the E string, I'm guessing the previous owner probably snagged it. Hopefully they made it easier to replace the pickup if needed.
 
#11
AHA! There you are! ;)

Yes, Kevin, it is very comfortable to play, but I always felt the electronics held it back. I always wanted to get a good Bartolini or other magnetic pup in there, but never did.

The piezos, on the other hand were pretty good, but they can't hold a candle to the piezos in my Portamento. I don't know if they're different piezos ( I would guess so) but the Portamento has plastic saddles to soften the tone, and they sound so good.

I always thought the EDA series was from the future, and perhaps the future is now.

Maybe I will invest in new pups for the EDA905F.

And a new picture; the one I posted is about 10 years old.

Good talking to you, Kevin! :hyper:

Happy New Year! :thumbsup:

Mike
 
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#12
Maxdusty said:
I had a couple of EDA900s and an EDA905. One issue I remember hearing about was that the piezo was easy to snag when changing strings. I had to return one of the EDA900s because the piezo was dead on the E string, I'm guessing the previous owner probably snagged it. Hopefully they made it easier to replace the pickup if needed.
Click to expand...

Yes, Maxdusty, I remember reading about the piezos failing in these basses right after I bought mine, and was worried.

But, thankfully, I haven't had any problems with mine. The fact that I now have a second Ibanez bass with piezos is purely coincidental.

But I have to say, the piezos in my Portamento sound a lot better than the piezos in my EDA. By better, I mean smoother and more natural.

Mike
 
#13
Michael Jewels said:
Yes, Maxdusty, I remember reading about the piezos failing in these basses right after I bought mine, and was worried.

But, thankfully, I haven't had any problems with mine. The fact that I now have a second Ibanez bass with piezos is purely coincidental.

But I have to say, the piezos in my Portamento sound a lot better than the piezos in my EDA. By better, I mean smoother and more natural.

Mike
Click to expand...
The Portamento is one I'd like to try for sure, if I ever get to see one in a music store nearby.

Picture of one of my EDA900s, I no longer have it but I still have the matching lighter - just might have to get an Affirma.
Screen shot 2015-05-10 at 8.03.35 PM.png
 
#19
I stopped by GC in Tempe this afternoon on the off chance there was one there. Not.

They had crap customer service as usual. Not one employee even said hi or welcome to me and I was there 30-40 mins playing various basses and keyboards. Typical.
 
#20
I-play-bass, if you look at the front-on photos at the Ibanez site you'll see the B string angle to the post would be more extreme if wound the other way. The EDA photo above is taken at an angle. Also, tuners are possibly engineered for the intended winding direction.

It's a good idea that allows a narrower headstock. Affirma and EDA headstocks are some of the best looking headstocks i've seen.
Gorgeous instruments and still so far ahead of the times 27+ years later. Mainstream bass guitar design is so stagnant and still in the 1960's. I'm disappointed to see these may be limited for 2019 only, hopefully they'll decide to keep them.
 

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