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Am I crazy.... Ibanez SR Basses

#101
You aren't crazy at all. Honestly...the best feeling basses I've played were a USA Spector and an Ibanez SR Prestige. I'm strongly considering a P/J style SR and an SR prestige as my main gigging basses...may even sell off my Warwick to get started lol
 
#102
I have an SR500 that was the first bass I ever bought...I spent a couple hours in the local GC, trying out everything they had...even basses costing 3-4 times as much, I didn't like half as well...was only looking to spend 200 bucks on my first bass, but for 550 bucks, the Ibby couldn't be beat...so I took her home...after a few months, I put some TI flats on her...I get compliments on my tone all the time, and everyone I've let play her LOVE the way she plays...in fact, most of 'em like her better than their own basses...I've played a number of Alembics, including one that used to belong to Phil Lesh...nice bass, but I wouldn't trade it for my 500...I've also got a SR1200 premium and an "arterial blood" red srx2ex2 that I bought just because I liked the way it looked:) They're my nos 2 and 3 players...I've got an SR800 fretless on the way...I also have a gretsch which I play when I'm in a hollowbody mood, and I have a lovely spector euro5...every so often, I take it out and play it...for about five minutes...then I pick up my 500...and grin:) So no, you're no crazier than I am...
 
#106
Short-sighted or not and although I deeply appreciate my SR500, it is not the iconic musical instrument I'd like it to be.

Admittedly, I dislike most instruments that don't fit my ideal of design and eye appeal like a Fender style with it's headstock and dichotomy of purpose: social acceptability in the inner circle of fellow bass players, and musical expression.

There MAY be other basses out there to which I am not- or choose to not be- privy, and that's just my thing. I'd consider it blasphemy to play a MM or a clone of a Fender no matter who built it; my own design and built basses as an exception.

I still stick to a Fender-esque design however, as I find it just exudes charm, stoic purpose and satisfies what a bass should look like.

So I have a mixed feeling about the Ibanez, and the whole other world basses as it is: I don't really find them wrong. It's just that I don't find them appealing in a Ford vs Chevy kinda way.

There are places where the Ibanez bass just fits perfectly, but I'd rather be playing my Fenders and Squiers. Or my Tuxs.
 
#110
SurferJoe46 said:
So I have a mixed feeling about the Ibanez, and the whole other world basses as it is: I don't really find them wrong. It's just that I don't find them appealing in a Ford vs Chevy kinda way.

There are places where the Ibanez bass just fits perfectly, but I'd rather be playing my Fenders and Squiers. Or my Tuxs.
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More like a Ford-Chevy vs Honda VW kind of thing. I own Fenders, an Alembic and a SR506 and a even an SR206. You can't compare these. They are each nothing like each other. Each is a "classic" in it's own way. Personally I don't worry about trading an Ibby for a Fender or an Alembic because I've got them all. When I want classic "old School" Fender is the one. When I want that classic modern active "clean" the Alembic does it all. But when I want to rock the house, I'm sorry, but that fat modern tone of an SR is simply IT. And you don't have to suffer for your art either! Those Ibbys play like dreams.

So which is "best"? Well, when they are all classics, they are all "best"! Sure, sometimes I get into one of these sounds more than the others. Sometimes I have a Fender phase or an Alembic phase, but currently since the two Ibanez 6ers were the last thing I bought I'm really into those. The only thing is that now I keep thinking I should have bought the Ibbys FIRST!
 
#111
I played an SR400 for years, as my main bass, with my GSR150 as a backup. When I first started on bass, the thin neck was really what made it easy for me to transition from playing guitar. I still have my SR400, although it doesn't get as much playing time as my p or my j - mostly because the band I've been playing in calls for more of a old school, rock sound. Agreed with bassbenj though, when I want a nice fat modern clean tone, the ibanez is the weapon of choice.
 
#114
I've always been a big Ibanez fan (although now, I pretty much play only Laklands...for me, the visual aesthetic is as important as feel/sound and I prefer Laklands)

The price point can't be beat for sound and quality. Of course you're not crazy. Crazy is passing up a bass you love!
 
#115
Unlike so many "boutique" basses that try to be souped up Fenders, Ibanez have their own sound -- clean, clear (some may say a little "thin") which for certain things record astoundingly well. (And look fantastic).

And anything over the SR 500 line is an outstanding instrument.

I think the Prestige line is way overpriced and meant tio appeal to people who jus want to spend more money. But the new Premium model with the Nordstands are the only thing that's got me gassing in the last few years.

I don't need it. But it's damn nice instrument.
 
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#118
IPA said:
If the SR700 wasn't so ugly (what can I say, I like traditional designs) I would buy it. Every time I go to Guitar Center I spend some time playing it. Sounds great, feels great.
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I think the sleek design is beautiful without coming off too gimmicky. The flat brown finish isn't beautiful but this one is comparable to a boutique IMO:
 

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