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Do Ibanez basses have bad reputations in general
- Thread starter Cory rich40
- Start date
Yesss, I own a MC9240, a MC2924, an RD500 (converted to fretless), an SR1200VNF, an SR900 (with SC Barts + Glockenklang pre), a Talman 100, an RD905AH and last but not least an EHB1500 (with DC Barts). So these are Ibanez basses from different era's and different price categories but all of 'm are great instruments.
My favorite of the bunch is the mid 2000 SR900 with Singularity (single coil) Barts + Glockenklang pre-amp. This instruments plays like a dream (after a perfect fret leveling job) and sounds like a high-end instrument.
There are bass snobs out there who deride Ibanez basses in general, but I agree they are quite versatile and pretty consistently well-made, in my limited experience, having owned 5 various models in the low to mid price range. I imagine the premier versions are even better, but of course, with higher price comes higher expectations. I know a pro who loves his Ibanez multi-scale and another who thinks Ibanez are toys.
I often wonder if it has to do with their necks and their finish.
I think they’re a love hate and I am in the latter camp. Always wanted to like an Ibanez too. Pick them up frequently at the shops.
Ibanez has great products. The weak points seem to be the tuners. They bend and break often enough that there are many threads on TB about failed Ibby tuners.
It seems their string posts are cast metal and the 3/8” posts are just too soft and bend where they meet the spur gear, breaking eventually.
Dam cast metal, a bane to bass guitars.
Other than that, all the Ibanez I’ve played were very good. Even the bottom of the line.
It seems their string posts are cast metal and the 3/8” posts are just too soft and bend where they meet the spur gear, breaking eventually.
Dam cast metal, a bane to bass guitars.
Other than that, all the Ibanez I’ve played were very good. Even the bottom of the line.
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Reddit is the biggest echo chamber on the planet and a very poor source of bass related information.
Yep. TB has a great, established base of knowledge keepers here that you can count on. You just have to get to know who they are.
There are many terrible companies with garbage product and terrible quality control that have great sales numbers and reputations. And yes, they are lauded all over the place.
Just because the internet says something frequently, doesn't make it the truth.
Try something for yourself and if it works for you, then it works.
Don't rely on the largest source of misinformation that has ever existed (the ever expanding internet/social media) to form opinions for you.
Just because the internet says something frequently, doesn't make it the truth.
Try something for yourself and if it works for you, then it works.
Don't rely on the largest source of misinformation that has ever existed (the ever expanding internet/social media) to form opinions for you.
I don’t think any sane person who has any experience with them would say that Ibanez instruments are bad, even if people have had occasional lemons (as happens with any brand). In particular I think the quality-to-cost ratio for Ibanez is well above most brands. That’s my personal experience but I think also their general reputation.
But what they are not is cool. I say this with love and with full understanding that many of us (especially in this thread) have or had Ibanez basses that we really liked. Ibanez has just never been a brand with that ooh-aah factor. To a certain (superficial and insecure) segment of the bass playing community that would count as a bad reputation. There are a lot of people out there for whom “What are people going to think of me if I show up with this bass?” is a major factor in their buying calculus. Their only personal experience is probably seeing a million GSR200s on the wall at Guitar Center aimed at the bottom tier of the market, and, none of their heroes play Ibanez. That’s another big factor: on the guitar side Ibanez had Steve Vai and Joe Satriani to give them street cred (hence their ubiquity with shredders) but even though lots of good and famous players have used them they never had somebody on the bass side closely associated with an Ibanez bass who had that kind of icon status.
Most people (including significantly non-musicians in the audience) will not know or, if they do know, not care what you play. Then, there are people who know a little—enough to form opinions but not really well informed opinions, and some of them will look down on Ibanez. Then, there are the people who have enough knowledge and experience to know what they are talking about, and they will appreciate an Ibanez even if it’s not their personal thing because they know that they are well-made good-value versatile basses. Unfortunately that second group is very vocal on the internet and that skews perception. Within that group Ibanez may not have the best reputation. But you should not give them much weight.
But what they are not is cool. I say this with love and with full understanding that many of us (especially in this thread) have or had Ibanez basses that we really liked. Ibanez has just never been a brand with that ooh-aah factor. To a certain (superficial and insecure) segment of the bass playing community that would count as a bad reputation. There are a lot of people out there for whom “What are people going to think of me if I show up with this bass?” is a major factor in their buying calculus. Their only personal experience is probably seeing a million GSR200s on the wall at Guitar Center aimed at the bottom tier of the market, and, none of their heroes play Ibanez. That’s another big factor: on the guitar side Ibanez had Steve Vai and Joe Satriani to give them street cred (hence their ubiquity with shredders) but even though lots of good and famous players have used them they never had somebody on the bass side closely associated with an Ibanez bass who had that kind of icon status.
Most people (including significantly non-musicians in the audience) will not know or, if they do know, not care what you play. Then, there are people who know a little—enough to form opinions but not really well informed opinions, and some of them will look down on Ibanez. Then, there are the people who have enough knowledge and experience to know what they are talking about, and they will appreciate an Ibanez even if it’s not their personal thing because they know that they are well-made good-value versatile basses. Unfortunately that second group is very vocal on the internet and that skews perception. Within that group Ibanez may not have the best reputation. But you should not give them much weight.
I've never played an Ibanez that had quality issues . I've owned five and they all were built great . My favorite was a Premium SR1405 . Played great and introduced me to Nordstrand Big Singles , awesome sound . The neck didn't seem too small for me and the B was great . Just seemed like a botique bass to me . I also had a SR 1205 that was the same quality . A lower end BTB 5 and a Talman 605 . All were built great .
Here's a pic of my 1405 with some of it's pals .
Here's a pic of my 1405 with some of it's pals .
We have @agedhorse, reddit does not. QED.
Well, there is some of that to be sure, but I'm over 50, don't own a Fender, don't like flats, and play mostly active basses so maybe the brush you're painting with is a bit broad.
Yeah, just to be clear, being in your 50s now means you grew up in the 80s. To be sure there's always overlap between eras, but Ibanez did very well in the 80s - Sting played Musicians on tour with the Police,and so did Adam Clayton in the early days of U2 and Colin Moulding of XTC. If you couldn't afford a JayDee, Wal, or Alembic, Ibanez' Musician range had you covered.
Good thread on Ibanez' 70s-80s golden age here: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/ibanez-basses-1979-1987.1363412/
Thanks for your service. My father was in Vietnam as well.
I performed and recorded with an SR406, they're solid. Upgraded to a Schecter Studio 6 when one came up for sale and sold the Ibanez, but I'd have no problem recommending them.My first "serious" bass was an SB900 - at the time advertised by Gerald Veasley (and he was Zawinul's bass player).
I play regularly gigs on an Ibanez SR506 (where the only mod is a new preamp) ... but I am not a pro-level player
Let’s see
Ibanez has been around since the 70’s and makes a ridiculous amount of guitars and basses (have you looked through any of their catalogs?) many made by Cort and Samick, are innovative and creative (much more than a certain boring and stogy brand that’s worshipped) and are still going strong today.
Yeah, right.. they’re terrible. Keep telling yourself that based on reddit posts. The rest of us will live in the real world and benefit greatly by continuing to keep open minds and checking them out and playing them. Especially the SR models numbered 700 and over and Prestige and Premium.
This reminds me of the group that go out of their way to down talk Gibson basses.
There’s more and better than Leo’s goods out there… much more and much better.
Ibanez has been around since the 70’s and makes a ridiculous amount of guitars and basses (have you looked through any of their catalogs?) many made by Cort and Samick, are innovative and creative (much more than a certain boring and stogy brand that’s worshipped) and are still going strong today.
Yeah, right.. they’re terrible. Keep telling yourself that based on reddit posts. The rest of us will live in the real world and benefit greatly by continuing to keep open minds and checking them out and playing them. Especially the SR models numbered 700 and over and Prestige and Premium.
This reminds me of the group that go out of their way to down talk Gibson basses.
There’s more and better than Leo’s goods out there… much more and much better.
Carol Kaye has played one of these for many years. SRX690DX
Doubt many on reddit ever heard of her. Especially the bots.
Doubt many on reddit ever heard of her. Especially the bots.
Remember, I purchased the BTB 806 ms last week that is in my opinion flawless. I can’t say it sounds better than a full Ernie ball stingray but it does it’s own thing. It however does sound better than a sterling by music man darkray that I own and both basses are around the same price. I don’t know what the problem is with the Reddit crowd.
