Do Ibanez basses have bad reputations in general

[Paul New]

I have a SR506 from probably about 25 years ago, built in korea. It was about $700 then, and you can get one for about the same now. I have absoulety no criticisms, and it’s only a mid-level bass. I like the design, the comfort, tge sounds, and its construction details are much better than my Fenders.

I think maybe the problem with Ibanez, why they aren’t seen as “sexy”, is that they ARE so popular, and easy to get.

If Ibanez increased MSRP by about $1K across the board, they might be seen as more desirable.

Ibanez jazz box guitars are very popular, for some reason.

 

[twinjet]

Gerald Veasely is a total pro-level player and has used Ibanez for decades. I'm sure he wouldn't attach his name to a poor product.

 

[InhumanResource]

Do Ibanez basses have a bad reputation with bass players, especially pro’s? I know there are a few signature models out there. I just read an article on redditt and it mainly said that outside of metal they are not really popular. Every music store I have ever been in sells them. I have owned a couple of their BTB line basses over the years that were great basses. I have noticed that NBD’s on here don’t usually consist of Ibanez basses. As a matter of fact, a line that receives its share of criticism, sterling by musicman seems to be more popular than Ibanez. Educate me with Ibanez. Is it quality control? Are they largely beginner basses? Is it their designs? As I’ve said, with my limited experience with the BTB series, those seem to be pretty solid.

They had a reputation of being “cheap but fine” when I started out many years ago. I’ll tell you that some of the best, growliest sounding bass tones I’ve ever heard live were from a cover band with a good PA and some kid playing a scuffed up Ibanez whatever model from lots of years ago.

The ones I see in the store now are pretty damn nice, IMO. I don’t always get along with the electronics they choose, but their ergonomics are super comfortable. I do have qualms with their build quality here and there (wobbly or binding pots, fret ends, etc) but these are minor complaints really. The higher end models are VERY nice for the money.

 

[Gaolee]

Yep....couple of them knocked-over my corner 7-11 last night.

Riis

Yeah, I hate it when a bass goes bad. I keep the Precision locked up for exactly that reason. If it gets out, it beats up the neighbor's guitar, takes its money, and then goes looking for singers to hit in the head.

 

[REV]

I have spent the last two weeks dealing with neck adjustments and fret sprout on my Fender basses. I have two Ibanez basses that I've never had to make any adjustments to.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Plenty of good Ibanez basses out there, even if you don't see people playing them on TV or on the big tours. Not my jam, but they have a loyal and devoted fan base, again, because they have a solid reputation.

 

[MrAB4003]

Also, I remember seeing a thread asking the age demographic of TBers and the majority was over 50. A lot of these guys love their boomer burst Fender Precisions with flats and think having to change the battery of their active basses is as much as an endeavour as fighting commies in Vietnam.

With all due respect to those TB-ers, this is an unspoken truth here on TB. The amount of TB-ers who love P Basses with La Bella flats is insane!

lol at people saying “consider your source,” as if TalkBass is any more reputable than Reddit.

Reddit is based on groupthink at it’s core while with TB, it depends on the topic. Ibanez basses are an example of a topic where there’s mixed options about them. Some people love them and others don’t. But healthy debates are one reason why I love TB.

 

[Discount Bassy]

I've never owned one, but gigged a couple of loaners when traveling without an instrument. Both were well set up and played very nicely. My only complaint was that both were 4's and had what seemed to be very narrow necks, but I usually play 6's with 17.5mm spacing, so mebbe not actually an issue.

 

[sdjfoh]

Ibanez makes reliable instruments, I just think they’re ugly outside the 70s/80s musician line.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Do they have a bad reputation?
No.
They are willing and able to do things other established makes won't do.
Example:Fanned frets and headless basses.

And that's a win in My book!

 

[MultiScaleMale]

My opinion, Ibanez gets less prestige (and I know they have that line) because they didn't separate their budget / beginner lines into a different line like Fender did with Squier, of Gibson/Epiphone. So from a few feet away the budget basses look like the top of the line basses. Fender gets away with it because their outline is *the* shape of a bass.

 

[Gino t]

I would've kept the SR506 and the BTB 5 string i had, they were fun to play and both around $600 10 years ago, great value. I was just moving around too much and had to pare down belongings among lots of guitars, bikes, skis etc.

Their only real shortcoming, aside from pickups weren't that versatile, were kind of flubby low B strings. The BTB wasn't bad but expected more from 35" scale. Also the SR506 mahogany was reeally soft wood. If somebody were going for a budgetish 5-er, I would recommend trying some Rockbasses too if you can, more tension on the low B for some reason (maybe more mass in neck and body)

 

[RGerhart]

I've had nothing but great experiences with Ibanez--quality gear that has models and price points for just about everyone.

 

[Dana R Gregory]

I don't know where you heard this but It is false. Ibanez has an excellent reputation. Just look at the love it gets on TB.

 

[DWBass]

I've NEVER heard anything negative about Ibanez! Former SR505 (mid 90's) owner. I did a setup on a friend's cheaper lower model and after I was done, I didn't want to give it back to him. That thing played and sounded so sweet!!

 

[meisi]

Not a bass but a MIJ Ibanez with Floyd rose and locking nut has been on my wishlist forever.

And I say this as a strictly Strat/LP player.

Anyone who says the company can’t make good gear doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

 

[Pings Bass]

Ibanez makes high-quality instruments at very good price points.

There's no name caché since it's a mass-market brand; that's probably why people don't talk them up.

But my one Ibanez is a better bass in every way than any of my three fenders.

 

[GreyBeard]

I've owned several Ibanez basses over my long career. My luthier told me not long ago that when he started out at a local music store (that is long gone now) the Ibanez catalog was nothing but knockoffs and nothing original. I think this reputation of only making knockoffs has stuck with them. Also, they don't seem to keep their originals in their lineup for very long. I personally like their ATK line of basses but, they discontinued them a couple of years ago. So, because they have made so many different styles and models of basses and keep replacing them with different models every so often, they don't really have a signature model like a p-bass, stingray, 4003 etc.

 

[Just Wrong]

Reddit is based on groupthink at it’s core while with TB, it depends on the topic. Ibanez basses are an example of a topic where there’s mixed options about them. Some people love them and others don’t. But healthy debates are one reason why I love TB.

I don't find the bass subreddits to be anymore prone to groupthink than TB (subreddits on current affairs filled with bots are another matter), although it might seem that way because of the upvote/downvote system.

Just go down the list of sub-forums on TB and you can guess the answer to every question:

• Basses: Fender Precision
• Amps and Cabs: Haven't been there in a while, but last time I checked, Mesa
• Effects: Broughton or 3 Leaf Audio
• Strings: TIs

 

[Ostie]

I owned a TMB100 for a while and the QC was VG. I only sold it because I don’t go for actives. But I liked the playability and the styling. Fit and finish were VG.