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Are you ready?! Ibanez catalog 2014 is here!!
- Thread starter Thomas Kievit
- Start date
After a lifetime of being a Fender fan and snob (and continue to be so), in the past few years I've bought several SR's and I gotta say, these are fabulous basses. For well under a grand, you can get a top-notch bass that plays, sounds, feels and looks great.
What I'm NOT a fan of is any company which thrives by knocking off Fender designs. So there ya have it.
What I'm NOT a fan of is any company which thrives by knocking off Fender designs. So there ya have it.
I've been hitting my local Guitar Center about monthly lately. Every time I end up playing the wall hanger SR500. And every time I put it back. Why? Because as much as I love the shape of the body and the feel of the neck, I just don't like the sound of those Bartolini's, no matter how I fiddle with the knobs.
Today, however, I stopped in, mentioned how I didn't like the Bartolini sound, and the sales kid said "wait a minute" and walked away. He came back with a SR1800E, which has the Nordstrand pups. Big difference. It was a "scratch n dent" (little scratch on the back) so it was discounted about 17%. So I bought it. I've got a gig tomorrow night and rehearsal next week, so I'll know whether I'm happy with it in the mix pretty quickly. If not, it goes back.
Are you sure you hated the sound of the Barts, or the pre? 
Anyway, it's pointless to compare a regular SR with a Premium - the only things in common are the body shape and overall dimensions. The neck has a different wood combo, same for body. Different bridge, totally different electronics.
Anyway, it's pointless to compare a regular SR with a Premium - the only things in common are the body shape and overall dimensions. The neck has a different wood combo, same for body. Different bridge, totally different electronics.
FINALLY somebody that I can shake hands with. Man, how many times did I read ''they both sound the same, only the pickups and top woods are different?
Are you sure you hated the sound of the Barts, or the pre?
Anyway, it's pointless to compare a regular SR with a Premium - the only things in common are the body shape and overall dimensions. The neck has a different wood combo, same for body. Different bridge, totally different electronics.
Heh, it feels I've been away from these forums far too long 
But don't worry, I'm here 
Seriously though: Yeah, I don't get that either. I've played both. I own pretty much all the regular SR basses. I can safely say each one does sound different. And the Premiums are totally different animals - I've said this before, they're not just a SR with some fancy finish, they're Prestige quality instruments with a distinct tone: growly as hell and very balanced on all strings. I've even A/B the Premium with an earlier Prestige model (granted, a lower model number) and it smoked it. They're incredible basses But of course, everyone is entitled to an opinion
But don't worry, I'm here Seriously though: Yeah, I don't get that either. I've played both. I own pretty much all the regular SR basses. I can safely say each one does sound different. And the Premiums are totally different animals - I've said this before, they're not just a SR with some fancy finish, they're Prestige quality instruments with a distinct tone: growly as hell and very balanced on all strings. I've even A/B the Premium with an earlier Prestige model (granted, a lower model number) and it smoked it. They're incredible basses
But of course, everyone is entitled to an opinion 
Are you sure you hated the sound of the Barts, or the pre?
Anyway, it's pointless to compare a regular SR with a Premium - the only things in common are the body shape and overall dimensions. The neck has a different wood combo, same for body. Different bridge, totally different electronics.
The Premiums are the real deal. SRs are good cheap basses IME, nothing more generally.
Comparing the 2 is similar to comparing a Fender American Deluxe to the Squier Affinity line IMO.
Well I wouldn't consider a 500 - 600$ bass to be cheap (price-wise)...
And IMO your comparison is exagerated
Yes, there's a significant difference between the 2 lines, but the regular SR line is solid. From 50X and up, they're better than most other brand basses in the same price range, and even the lower models have their own charm
Well I wouldn't consider a 500 - 600$ bass to be cheap (price-wise)...
And IMO your comparison is exagerated
Good point. I was referring to the lower end models. Entry level Gio is an example.
The SR Prestige models just sound a lot more brighter than the Sr Premium models, especially the SR 500x series.
Heh, it feels I've been away from these forums far too long
Seriously though: Yeah, I don't get that either. I've played both. I own pretty much all the regular SR basses. I can safely say each one does sound different. And the Premiums are totally different animals - I've said this before, they're not just a SR with some fancy finish, they're Prestige quality instruments with a distinct tone: growly as hell and very balanced on all strings. I've even A/B the Premium with an earlier Prestige model (granted, a lower model number) and it smoked it. They're incredible basses
@Baird6869: I understand But GIO is not actual part of the Soundgear line Thing is, with all these new 2XX models released in the past 2 years it becomes increasingly difficult to make the distinction between Ibby's entry level line and the main SR line They had to make a bass for every extra 50$ ppl may be willing to spend, heh!
@Thomas Kievit: the comparison with the Prestige line was quality-wise. There were a few complains about the Premiums being poorly made/finished a while back, but from my experience they are better put together than some older Prestige models. Sound-wise...I really don't see the point of going up to the Prestige line unless there's something about a specific model that you can't live without. IMO Ibanez really nailed it with Premiums and they're prolly the best basses they've made in a veeery long time.
But GIO is not actual part of the Soundgear line Thing is, with all these new 2XX models released in the past 2 years it becomes increasingly difficult to make the distinction between Ibby's entry level line and the main SR line They had to make a bass for every extra 50$ ppl may be willing to spend, heh!@Thomas Kievit: the comparison with the Prestige line was quality-wise. There were a few complains about the Premiums being poorly made/finished a while back, but from my experience they are better put together than some older Prestige models. Sound-wise...I really don't see the point of going up to the Prestige line unless there's something about a specific model that you can't live without. IMO Ibanez really nailed it with Premiums and they're prolly the best basses they've made in a veeery long time.
Where on earth have the sr1600 and 1605 gone? I've been through it a couple of times to check I wasn't being thick and they aren't there. They are some of the best basses ibanez offer (offered?)!
True! But I think a lot of luthiers have this kinds of things. You know, they all get more experience over the years, so I can agree with you about the quality of some premiums being better put together than older Prestige models.
@Baird6869: I understand
@Thomas Kievit: the comparison with the Prestige line was quality-wise. There were a few complains about the Premiums being poorly made/finished a while back, but from my experience they are better put together than some older Prestige models. Sound-wise...I really don't see the point of going up to the Prestige line unless there's something about a specific model that you can't live without. IMO Ibanez really nailed it with Premiums and they're prolly the best basses they've made in a veeery long time.
Question: does this mean that the tuning pegs are metal? It looks like it from the photo. I think that the previous versions of this has plastic pegs, which kind of turned me off.no return of the roadstar/blazer *sob* but this one's lovely. been waiting for them to come up with something in the artcore range that has chrome hardware.
might pull the trigger on one of these next month.
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