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Differences between Ibanez sr800 sr600 and sr500 made in japan

#7
THany said:
90's Sr800 vs sr500 vs sr600 m.i.j
Can anyone tell me what are the main differences between those two? Thanks
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uh...I see three basses you're trying to compare, not two.
The 1990's SR800 and SR600 are MIJ, the SR500 is made in Korea or Indonesia I believe. The SR500 has two humbuckers, the SR800 and SR600 are PJ basses so they're going to sound tonally different. Another difference is that the SR800 has active pickups with active preamp., The SR500 and SR600 are passive pickups with active preamp- so greater tonal range on the SR800.
 
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#8
Maxdusty said:
uh...I see three basses you're trying to compare, not two.
The 1990's SR800 and SR600 are MIJ, the SR500 is made in Korea or Indonesia I believe. The SR500 has two humbuckers, the SR800 and SR600 are PJ basses so they're going to sound tonally different. Another difference is that the SR800 has active pickups with active preamp., The SR500 and SR600 are passive pickups with active preamp- so greater tonal range on the SR800.
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Ok. So tell me more about the sr600. How does it effect the sound? What are the main diff in the sound from the sr800?
 
#9
THany said:
Ok. So tell me more about the sr600. How does it effect the sound? What are the main diff in the sound from the sr800?
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Well, to be honest, I haven't even seen an SR600 in my neck of the woods (might be rare to find) but from what it looks like, the SR800 with the active pickups will give you more range, more control over your tone. They come with a 3 band EQ, the "newer" SR800 models with the stacked knobs have a mid-sweep as well. I've owned a couple of SR800 basses, they're terrific if you can find them inexpensively.

Just pulled up some info on the MIJ SR600 from 1999, from what I can see, 3 knobs - 1Vol, 1Balancer, M.Tone control. So it may not even be an active bass at all, I could be wrong but I don't see a battery cavity on the back.

Maybe get the SR500 if you want the humbuckers and a more recent model, get a SR800 if you want a higher quality but older bass with PJ pickups.
 
#11
Let me add, the string spacing is wide considering the narrow neck (which is high quality on most Ibanez) ....the G string on my SR800 is pretty close to the edge of the neck.

But the necks are fast and a wide variety of useable tones are there in spades with all active setup and P/J pickups...i never see the SR600...im thinking the SR800 is more abundant and easier to find a deal on used...nice piano tones.
 
#12
DavidEdenAria said:
Let me add, the string spacing is wide considering the narrow neck (which is high quality on most Ibanez) ....the G string on my SR800 is pretty close to the edge of the neck.

But the necks are fast and a wide variety of useable tones are there in spades with all active setup and P/J pickups...i never see the SR600...im thinking the SR800 is more abundant and easier to find a deal on used...nice piano tones.
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Yes, I agree, the SR800 neck is fast and comfortable.

Only SR600 I see or have seen is this one up for sale in Japan. Maybe it was never sold in the States, I don't know but I've yet to come across one, now curious about it .

Ibanez SR600 Pearl White 1999 | eBay
 
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#14
Ibanez SR800 differences thru the years
hypercarrots said:
I've compiled this info from all the ibanez catalogs i could find online:

SR800 was available 1988-2003 and then again 2013-present

body wood was basswood except for a brief period in early 1995 when the US catalog listed light american maple. in 1994, the european catalog listed resoncast. 2013-present body wood is poplar burl top with mahogany back.
there was a SR800A with an ash body in 1998-1999.

Neck
3 piece maple from 1988-1999
5 piece mahogany/bubinga from 2000-2003
5 piece jatoba/bubinga from 2013-present.

all SR800 have had rosewood fretboards and matching headstocks. inlays were pearloid dots from 1988-2003 except for part of 1995 when they had abalone oval inlays.

View attachment 2594218
Bridge
omni adjust from 1988-1990
Accu-Cast-B IV from 1991-1997
Accu-Cast B20 from 1998-2003
Accu-cast B300 from 2013-present.

Hardware color was black from 1988-2003. Gold from 2013-present and on SR800G in japan in 1991-1992.

Pickups are IBZ regulated LO Z-P/J from 1988-1991
IBZ active full range AFR-P/J from 1992-2003
Bartolini MK1 from 2013-present.

EQ BII (4 rubber knobs) from 1988-1992
Vari-Mid 3-Band (2 rubber knobs, 2 plastic stacked knobs) from 1993-2003 (knobs were metal in 2005)
EQB-IIIS 3-band (5 plastic knobs, 1 switch) from 2013-2015
Ibanez custom 3-Band (5 plastic knobs, 1 switch) from 2016-present

Output jack is side mounted 1988-2003, front mounted 2013-present.

1988-2003 were made in japan except for part of 1995 when they were made in korea. these 1995 korean made ones may be recognisable by abalone oval inlays, all metal knobs and transparent finishes (transparent turquoise TT, transparent red TR, transparent blue TB in europe) over maple bodies, although black is also listed as a color. I've yet to see a japan made SR800 with those features. Please show if you have one.

2013-present SR800 are made in indonesia
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#18
THany said:
Ok. So tell me more about the sr600. How does it effect the sound? What are the main diff in the sound from the sr800?
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This describes the 690 I bought about a year ago and thought it might be of interest to you:
SR690 Great condition...excellent quality....Made in Japan at the Fujigen factory 1999 Ibanez SDGR SR690. Not all original....Ash body(see pics). 24 fret SR4 NECK. Accu-cast B20 bridge. Has all new EMG X PJ pickkups with Volume, Blend, stacked Bass and Treble, stacked Mid range and Midrange sweep 18volt. NEW Gotoh gb 707 tuning keys. Will include a Fender deluxe gig bag. Bass is well maintained and plays great!

I do have the original pickups(working DXP AND DXJ). I also have the original preamp(VARI-MID) but it is no longer working. I will include those.
 
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#19
Maxdusty said:
Yes, I agree, the SR800 neck is fast and comfortable.

Only SR600 I see or have seen is this one up for sale in Japan. Maybe it was never sold in the States, I don't know but I've yet to come across one, now curious about it .

Ibanez SR600 Pearl White 1999 | eBay
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here are the specs on that one. it’s actually an 89 serial number. i didn’t look this far back in my records earlier
from the 88 catalog:
1988 SR600 (JPN)
colors: red RD, black BK, white WH
body: campwood
neck: 3pc maple unpainted
inlays: dot
bridge: omni adjust
hardware: black
pickups: P-4/J-4
eq: none
made in japan
¥60000
 
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#20
The SR600 was actually sold in Europe: bought one early 90's. Was then the last passive model in the range before the active SR800. Back then, active basses were The Thing To Play.

Very well built with quality hardware : Gotoh tuners, multi adjustment bridge

The SR500, a friend of mine bought, was clearly lower in quality : active but with noisy preamp, irregular grain rosewood finger board , rough neck

Edit
Sound wise , I would qualify it as "impersonal" : clean sound but without any mojo, good to be plugged into a series of pedals
 
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