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Dean Edge with EMGs or Ibanez SRX500?

T

Tigerclaw_x

Apr 25, 2016
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#1
I happen to be given some Reverb bucks. I can't redeem them for cash, so I MUST spend them on reverb. There are two basses I am looking at:
1. Dean Edge with EMGs. Basswood body, maple veneer. 5 piece neck, passive EMG HZ
2. Ibanez SRX500. PFR 4 pickups. 1 piece neck, Basswood body, maple veneer, PFR4 pickups.
Basically at this point both are used. Sellers on both claim no issues with neck/frets.
So it comes to which one is more solid/better made, and also which neck is better: 5 piece neck on Dean (maple/walnut/maple/walnut/maple) or 1 piece on Ibanez (Maple)
and which has more solid/heavier body. Ibanez definitely has a more massive bridge.
Cost is 200 for each. So money is not an issue. Which one is better as far as BODY and neck?
I happen to have a set of PFR4 pickups laying around... and a set of EMG HZ laying around (pawn shops are your friends) so swapping pickups is NOT an issue. I would like a bass with more massive body and better neck (as far as construction goes).

Thank you
 
#3
I have a lot of experience with Ibanez basses, and with the SRX series specifically through setting up and playing a friend's while he lived with us for half of last year. Love the pickups, love the neck, love the quality.

I was given a Dean Edge by another friend that was stored in a closet that had periodic water leak seepage, and while in theory a 5-piece neck should be sturdier than a 1-piece the Dean took on a serious bow. I DID manage to get it out, though. Been fine since.
My Dean's bridge seems like it's made with a heavier steel alloy than Ibanez uses, but I greatly prefer a slotted tailpiece.

My LTD Viper has EMG Hz pickups, and I seriously love those. No clear winner.

Both necks are pretty narrow at the nut but have a decent "C" shape that is comfy and stronger/heavier than the thin necks on regular SR series Ibanez.

To me it's also too close to call with the basswood/maple bodies. Variation between any two given trees can be huge so density/mass is a roll of the dice unless you can get the sellers to weigh each bass.

Personally, I always lean towards Ibanez. Mostly because I've been playing their guitars and basses for my entire career--since 1977.
On stats alone these two basses are very close.
At $200 each, maybe you should put up the cash so you can get both and then sell the one you don't like as much?
 
#5
I have never been impressed with Dean in terms of quality, I've had a few come through from trades and have to say that even though I'm pretty tolerant and try to give every brand I've tried a chance (maybe the particular bass I had was a lemon, or maybe the model is not reflective of the brand in general) but after 5 or so different models, I have to say I wasn't happy with any of them. Just not as good in quality as basses in the same price range. Necks on a few of them didn't feel comfortable and pretty shoddy fretwork, all of them had terrible electronics. That being said, the Dean guitars are far better than their basses imo, I've had much better luck with them- so I'm not adverse to a Dean guitar but I've since steered clear of Dean basses.
I would recommend the SRX500.
 
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#6
I own 53 basses.
5 are Ibanez’
20 are Dean’s

The Edge 1 you’re looking at is a 1998 model, is passive and is actually a good bass; I know this from a different thread where you posted a picture of it and provided info on it from Reverb.

The Ibanez SRX 500 is an active bass.
If you can buy an Ibby SRX 500 for $200 bucks you’d be crazy not to. The Ibby isn’t 20 years old either.

In fact you’re very lucky you didn’t post the link for it because I’d buy it out from under you.
 
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#9
Killed_by_Death said:
SRX (SR eXtreme) are probably the best value for money out there in a pre-owned bass
It's possible to find a SRX700 (neck-thru) for around $300.

Carol Kaye started using one when she was endorsing Ibanez & she still is using it:

Click to expand...

You’re quite correct, however the OP stated he only has Reverb Bucks to spend and listed each bass specifically.

Reverb has two SRX 700’s listed currently.

One for $565 and one for $425

Spotlight On: Legendary Bassist Carol Kaye
Spotlight On: Legendary Bassist Carol Kaye
 
#10
Nevermind about 1-pc neck vs. multiple-pcs. The neck on my SRX2EX2 was just as stiff as the Titanium reinforced 5-pc neck on my Ibanez Premium.
OTOH I've experienced some really flimsy 5-pc necks from this past Summer until now.

The SRX700 is a little heavier, but if you want a neck-through, that's probably the cheapest you'll find one.
 
#11
Killed_by_Death said:
Nevermind about 1-pc neck vs. multiple-pcs. The neck on my SRX2EX2 was just as stiff as the Titanium reinforced 5-pc neck on my Ibanez Premium.
OTOH I've experienced some really flimsy 5-pc necks from this past Summer until now.

The SRX700 is a little heavier, but if you want a neck-through, that's probably the cheapest you'll find one.
Click to expand...
Not to hi-jack this, but do you know anything about the 690 that CK refers to in the link I posted? Apparently the 700 she had became the 690 after the 700 was ‘updated’?

I figured you’d know since you’re all over Ibby’s
 

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