It's a 35 year old design, as opposed to the usual 70 year old design.
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Anyone else think Ibanez should change their SR body?
- Thread starter SteffanB
- Start date
The SR bass is perfect and a thing of beauty to look at, hold and play. Why change perfection. Fender don't change to any significant degree. Neither do Gibsons or Musicmans. I've been playing bass since 1977 and my Ibbys are so ergonomic and comfortable to play all night. They sound fantastic too. From my 375 BlackBerry burst cheapy to my 1805 premium.
Not me. The SR series have a classic timeless style.
As I remember, when I bought my SR1800E about four years ago, the SRs mostly came in a natural wood patina finish. I just took a quick look at Ibanez’s web site. It looks like the current SRs are being offered in more colors.
Also, you won’t find SR owners posting questions here on which color pickguard to get. SRs don’t have pickguards. Personally I don’t like the look that pickguards give a bass and that’s one of the reasons why I bought mine.
As I remember, when I bought my SR1800E about four years ago, the SRs mostly came in a natural wood patina finish. I just took a quick look at Ibanez’s web site. It looks like the current SRs are being offered in more colors.
Also, you won’t find SR owners posting questions here on which color pickguard to get. SRs don’t have pickguards. Personally I don’t like the look that pickguards give a bass and that’s one of the reasons why I bought mine.
Yeah. P and J Basses look reaaaaally naked without the pickguard. SR's never have pickguards so there's less contrast if they have a flatter looking finish the way a black Jbass might have a white pickguard making it look a bit more exciting visually.
Pretty bland looking imo.
Like I said before, a lot of it comes down to finish more so than shape.
Jbass, no pickguard, gorgeous woods. Looks great.
“While writing this post, I did a quick Google image search and came across the 30th Anniversary Premium SR
(with the oval soundholes) and couldn't help but think - "Wow, that's really appealing. I kinda want one."
Considering I make basses for a living, that's saying something, I suppose.
Cheers,
Martin”
Well, you piqued my curiosity with your mention of the semi-hollow body (30th Ann.) model. Went and looked it up on Reverb and yes, it’s a nice looking bass that I’m guessing - with all that wood vibrating and chamber resonating - has beautiful tone.
Wish I had something that resembles a gig/tour schedule to justify buying another bass.
(with the oval soundholes) and couldn't help but think - "Wow, that's really appealing. I kinda want one."
Considering I make basses for a living, that's saying something, I suppose.
Cheers,
Martin”
Well, you piqued my curiosity with your mention of the semi-hollow body (30th Ann.) model. Went and looked it up on Reverb and yes, it’s a nice looking bass that I’m guessing - with all that wood vibrating and chamber resonating - has beautiful tone.
Wish I had something that resembles a gig/tour schedule to justify buying another bass.
Last edited:
- Dec 28, 2009
- 2,053
- 1,380
- Disclosures
- Endorsed by K.B. Guitars, Nordstrand Audio Pickups, Von York Strings and Gallien-Krueger Amps.
SteffanB, while I respect your opinion, I would have to strongly disagree with it. I bought my first Soundgear bass in 1993, a candy apple red SR 400. Ever since then, they have always been my main players. In fact, my 2 main Ibanez Soundgear Basses are a black, 1994 SR 500 and a crimson metallic 1995 SR 500 that I had painted immediately after buying it, because I was wanting it to match the finish of my 1993 SR 400 Soundgear bass that I had initially traded it in, in order to buy my 94’ SR 500.
The looks of the Soundgear basses are what initially attracted them to me.
Before Guitar Center went corporate, they used to have this massive 2 story Guitar Center in San Diego, not to far away from SDSU, on El Cajon BLVD. The local music store that I used to go to all of the time had gone out of business and so as a result, I had to find another guitar store to shop at to buy strings, cables, amps, effects pedals and other instruments.
I think the day that I went into the store, I was going in to buy another cable and some more strings. The moment that I walked into the store, I saw them! There was this huge display of around 30 to 50 Ibanez Soundgear basses. All of them with varying degrees of finishes and models.
I had always been a fan of Ibanez instruments since I had begun playing. At the time, concerning Ibanez basses, I was only familiar with the Ibanez RG basses and had always wanted one of them. But then I saw the Soundgear basses and I fell in love with there looks! I then played them and was even more blown away. They had fantastic ergonomics, playability and tone. And so as a result, I bought my very first one of which would be the very first of many to come!
I think since 1993, I have owned a total of either 8 or 9 Soundgear basses and with more still yet to come.
I love those basses so much that with every single one that I have ever traded in or sold and gotten rid of, I wish that I could have them back. Especially my 2007, Ibanez, 20th Anniversary, 20th 5, Prestige, Soundgear bass. If I ever find another one in 4 or 5 string, they have everything that they originally came with and are in really good condition, I would pay good money to have one or both of them again because I love those basses that much!
- Dec 28, 2009
- 2,053
- 1,380
- Disclosures
- Endorsed by K.B. Guitars, Nordstrand Audio Pickups, Von York Strings and Gallien-Krueger Amps.
That made me laugh! I have played Ibanez Soundgear basses exclusively since 1993, when I bought my first one. In 2010, to 2017, I briefly switched brands and played the basses that you are referring to. I then had a falling out with that company and went back to playing my Soundgear basses full time again. Ibanez Soundgear basses, will always have a very special place in my heart. I also have a tremendous amount of sentimental value for all of the ones that I have owned and/or currently, still own. I have done a lot of work with all of my Ibanez Soundgear basses. Especially my 94’ and 95 SR 500 Soundgear basses. I have done a ton of work with just those 2 basses. And as a result, I will never sell them under any circumstances, minus needing the money to save one of my children’s lives or something.
- Dec 28, 2009
- 2,053
- 1,380
- Disclosures
- Endorsed by K.B. Guitars, Nordstrand Audio Pickups, Von York Strings and Gallien-Krueger Amps.
Dude, your comment made me laugh and while at the same time hurting a bit! Around the same time I started playing Ibanez Soundgear basses, I also started using Crate amps. This was when St. Louis Music Company owned both Ampeg and Crate. My very first Crate amp was a combo amp. The Crate BX-80. I then upgraded to the next model up, to the Crate BX-100 and thought that it was a great practice amp. Then in 1994, when Crate released their Thunderbass series, I bought one of them and still own it to this day. The Crate rep was at the store and was telling people that the Thunderbass series was made on the same line as the Ampeg amps and that the only difference between the 2 companies amps and cabs were very subtle changes on the outside of the amps and cabs, the badging of one saying Ampeg and the other saying Crate, and then the price of the Crate Thunderbass series selling for literally, about half as much as the Ampeg line. As a result, I bought a Crate Thunderbass BXE-215 cabinet that has 2 - 15” speakers in it and a Crate Thunderbass BX-440H head.
With what the Crate rep said about the Thunderbass series being built identical to the Ampeg amps and cabs, and even on the same assembly line, I don’t know if that’s actually true or not? He may have simply been saying that to get more sales so customers would think that they are actually getting an Ampeg but at half the price. But I do know that the Crate Thunderbass series only lasted about 4 or 5 years and was then discontinued in either 1998 or 1999. 2000 at the latest? I loved their 90’s stuff. In my opinion, both their bass and guitar amps and cabs were really good in the 90’s. Then around the 1998 to 2000 mark is when they discontinued all of their good stuff and the brand went to crap. It seemed like overnight that they went from making good, quality guitar and bass amps and cabs to just entry level combo amps for both basses and guitars. Maybe that’s when St.Louis Music Company sold the Crate brand to someone else? So I agree with you on the post 1998 to 2000 and later Crate amps. They have totally sucked ever since then. But the 90’s Crate amps and cabs for both bass and guitar, were awesome.
- Dec 28, 2009
- 2,053
- 1,380
- Disclosures
- Endorsed by K.B. Guitars, Nordstrand Audio Pickups, Von York Strings and Gallien-Krueger Amps.
I totally agree with you on this! I have ALWAYS loved the Ibanez SR 500 series. I still own my 94’ and 95’ SR 500’s. To this day, those basses are my favorite basses that I own and have the most sentimental value to me. Then in the late 90’s, Ibanez briefly discontinued the SR 500 series but then when they brought the series back in I think 2001 maybe? It was that horrible turd brown color. And because the SR 500 series is my favorite one out of all of them, it broke my heart seeing what they did to that specific model. I hope that they eventually ditch the turd brown color and either go back to offering them in solid colors again or at the very least, in more durable finishes.
I would love to see more color choices in the 500 series up through the Premium line. There seems to be more choices in the lower end of the range. Recently they used a type of awesome metallic lavender on one of their 300 models. Eye catching.
Maybe it might be something they see in their marketing where they think top tier and quality is perceived to be a "woody" looking bass.
there is an SR755NTF which you might find second hand. It’s a bit fancier than the 655 but a PJ & I much preferred the colour & feel of it.
there have been many soundgear shapes since 1987. the one on the left is my 1987 SR1000.
some soundgears have flat tops, some have arched tops, some have arched backs, some are neck through, then there are the SR924, SR2000E, SRA, SRP (pickguard!) and the SRX variations. i don’t know if the singlecuts, multiscales, mezzos and mikros count but why not? i’m sure i’m forgetting some. should i attach photos of every soundgear body variant?
some soundgears have flat tops, some have arched tops, some have arched backs, some are neck through, then there are the SR924, SR2000E, SRA, SRP (pickguard!) and the SRX variations. i don’t know if the singlecuts, multiscales, mezzos and mikros count but why not? i’m sure i’m forgetting some. should i attach photos of every soundgear body variant?
I'm coming around to that single cut look, but the bottom horn looks a bit skinny to me. Very nice bass, and probably a good platform for new pickups / pre. What is the string spacing?.
I don’t have a measurement on that but I would guess it’s on the wider side. Feels closer to 4-string spacing than a 5 crammed onto a 4-string neck.
I recently finished doing a track on it that’s up on YT. I think it records well and cuts through nicely on this horn-band cut:
