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Any experience with the Ibanez SR505?

EighthNotes

EighthNotes

Feb 12, 2007
387
46
#1
Hey guys! I'm normally a fender guy, but I have lately been thinking It would be cool to switch to a 5-string since I often find myself needed Eb or D tuning. I like to be able to do it all with one bass. I've stuck with fender for so long being that I was in a pop-punk band and it was part of the "image", and they sound and feel great. Since I'm not in a band currently, I feel I can break out of that mold even though I'm still playing that music. I'm gonna try to get to the music store as soon as I find the time, but in the meantime, what do you guys think about the Ibanez SR505? I've always told myself if I didn't play fender, I'd go to Ibanez and the sr505 looks like a nice mid-price model. Are the Barts nice? Would it sound good with a pick? I haven't really thought about a 5-string Fender because of the so-called "floppy B". But If there is nice 5-string fender model I'd love to hear which one. But mostly I'd like to see what you think of the Ibanez? The SR Prestiges look nice too but probably out of my price range. Thanks for any input!

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#2
Great buy, it's hard to find a better 5 string without hitting the 1000 dollar range imo. I play one exclusively with a pick and even if i hit one of those 1000+ dollar basses this bass will still get play time. Great stock electronics and pickups.

Link Removed listen to Fiberoptics i recorded that song with my GK1001 and the 505 with a pick in a home studio.
 
#4
I had one and LOVED it. It had awsome sound to it and an easy play neck. I thought the sound of the Barts were great, you could dial in a lot of different tones. I got rid of it because I really wanted a Fender 5 stringer. I got the MIM Jazz deluxe active. I am VERY happy with the Fender. It has a great deep sound and my "B" string is not floppy at all..build quality is great.


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They are very comparable in price. 50 difference (fender being more) or the passive Fender is the same price.

IMHO, if you are a Fender man, go for the Fender. On the other hand, if you want something new..definately get the SR505...I don't believe you will be disappointed
 
#6
Roland777 said:
Get a BTB405, or even 555. "35-scale and amazing electronics, at a very afforable price. Unless you've got a problem with wider string spacing (I won't go as far as saying "wide"), then it's all okay.
Click to expand...

the sr505 and the btb555 are both great buys.

Even though the sr505 has a 34" scale, the B string on it is wonderful and I've got no issues with it (I own one)

However, the sr505 has small string spacing (16.5mm i believe) but the btb555 has wider spacing.

For pick playing, it doesn't get any better on the 505 for the price.

I'd say +1 for the sr505, but YMMV.

Hope to see you join the Ibby club!
 
#8
I bought a 505, probably in about '99 or so.

They were super hard to find, due to the rising popularity of Korn and the like.

Found one in a store a couple of hours away, drove down to get it, got it home, and realized the neck had a permanent warp.

Took it back, and ended up getting a BTB 1005.

That's not to say that the mid-priced Ibanezes are generally problamatic; I mean, I have an old Taiwanese ATK and a Korean S-series guitar, and they're both solid as hell. I've even known people with 505s that were golden. Just thought I'd cast a bit of a different light on 'em.
 
#11
Hey thanks for all the awesome responses. I looked into the fender fiver, but as I recall even the 5 string jazz neck is huge, and Ibanez necks are always tiny (minus the ATK). I owned a SR300 awhile back and that neck was AMAZING but the input jack was broken and I didn't feel active electronics were right for me at the time. I can't wait to go check out one of these.

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#13
Since this is an active bass and my amp clips at even a light touch with a passive bass (I've had to lower my Quarter Pound P pickups almost all the way down to remedy this) will I run with the -10db pad on, or will it suck out too much tone? Keep in mind I play with a pick and don't usually play lightly. I've never really used active electronics, so I'm trying to lean as much as possible.
Thanks.

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