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Epiphone or Ibanez?

#21
Zureta said:
From what I've heard the Ibanez SR300 series is a fine "budget" instrument.

Fast neck, modern sound and feel, looks good in a sleek, nontraditional way.

If you've tried it and liked it, I don't see what's keeping you from just getting one and being happy with it. :)
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I tried a 300 yesterday at Sam Ash; I also tried a MIM Jazz. I have several SR800's, and a (heavily modified) fretless MIM Jazz, and I really like all of them, but that stock SR300 was way, way better sounding than the stock MIM Jazz. And $100 less!
 
#22
danomite64 said:
I tried a 300 yesterday at Sam Ash; I also tried a MIM Jazz. I have several SR800's, and a (heavily modified) fretless MIM Jazz, and I really like all of them, but that stock SR300 was way, way better sounding than the stock MIM Jazz. And $100 less!
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It's actually $300 less.

SR300 is $299, MiM Jazz is $599... unless you came across a great deal on the MiM Jazz?
 
#25
frogpond1 said:
After looking at the specs side by side the 300 is not much different than the 400. Those little changes make a 150$ difference?!?! Not in my world. I'm going back to GC after work tomorrow to try out my Epi again side by side and aganonize some more.
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My point exactly. Glad to see TB is helping you decide!

But now I have to add to the confusion... I think that if you have no particular complaints about your current bass, maybe you shouldn't trade it in.

I mean, you usually lose money doing that, and if it's your only bass and you're happy with it, you might want to consider saving up a bit more so you can get the Ibanez and keep the Epiphone. After all, when you start getting more serious about bass playing and doing live gigs and such, having a second bass as a backup is usually a very good idea. It would be more expensive in the long run to trade your Epi for the Ibanez, and then having to buy yet another bass to have a backup.

Just something to make you have doubts again now that you were almost sure of something. :D
 
#26
SpamBot said:
+100000000000000000000
Today's Epiphone is a joke. If they all retailed at $100 below what they retail at now, I'd consider buying one. All they are good for is producing overpriced Gibson copies that people buy based on looks, not knowing how a bass should actually sound.
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Overpriced? What models are you talking about? I think the Epi Eb-0 I got is priced very reasonably at $200. It's better to me than a$150 Squier and worse than a $300 Squier, so I don't think it's a hundred dollars too expensive for what they are.

And I don't know what the heck you are comparing "today's Epiphone" to call it a joke, but your attitude of "everyone who buys this brand is an idiot" is rude, uncalled for, and not even very accurate. :rollno:
 
#27
I think both are pretty hot and cold. I owned an SR 400 when they came out that I liked, but it lacked bottom end. I have also played Epi's that I thought lacked any treble.

For the money, I think there are other things I like better in terms of playability and sound. The Yamaha BB414, Peavey's Grind bass, Cort's GB and curbow series. There are lots of other good alternatives besides these.
 
#29
I have a SR400QM, and a SR405QM. The pickups are twin humbuckers with active 3-band "stylesweep" EQ. The SR300/305 have the same great sounding system. The 400 series have the same B20/B25 bridge as on the 500 series (and up) where as the 300 series has the B100/B105 bridge pieces. And like stated the 400 series have quilted tops.
 
#30
frogpond1 said:
After looking at the specs side by side the 300 is not much different than the 400. Those little changes make a 150$ difference?!?! Not in my world. I'm going back to GC after work tomorrow to try out my Epi again side by side and aganonize some more.
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There's more than just a little difference between Agathis and Basswood when it comes to tonality. There is also a difference in the quality of each wood used in the different lines. The slightly more expensive 400/405 with basswood body is more than likely going to be of a higher quality wood than used in the Sr300.

Play the 2 basses side by side and if you don't notice a difference in tone then more power to ya for it. IMO/IME the 400 sounds a tad warmer than the agathis bodied SR300.
 
#31
SpamBot said:
+100000000000000000000
Today's Epiphone is a joke. If they all retailed at $100 below what they retail at now, I'd consider buying one. All they are good for is producing overpriced Gibson copies that people buy based on looks, not knowing how a bass should actually sound.
Click to expand...

For their price, the Epiphone Les Paul and Thunderbird's aren't bad sounding and playing basses. They IMO have more warmth and presence than the Ibanez's do and those two models IMO play just as well. They are just very different than the Ibanez's in the same price ranges.
 
#33
Actually its not trading in, at GC if its within 30 days you can exchange it no questions asked.

Here are a few things I noticed the first time around when I compared the two. I used the same amp in the store as I have at home. To me the Ibanez had better "pop", "response", and bottom end than my Epi even after tweaking the amp and my bass. The Epi seems to have more of a mid range sound. I don't know if these are the correct terms but thats the way it seemed to me.
 
#36
NateDogg said:
Bah! Ibanez? A glorified marketing company is all they are, buy Cort if you want one of their basses, as Cort make all of Ibenez's basses
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While I agree that Cort is awesome and the real maker of maybe half the world's basses (seriously, it's crazy how many brands have "made by Cort in Korea" models), I'm not sure they have any models available comparable to the SR300.

I do know that the Cort Artisan B4 is practically the same bass as the Ibanez SR500, probably even made in the same factory, with small cosmetical differences and a much lower pricetag. Awesome deal if you can find it.

Not even kidding, check it out:

NB4OPM.gif


SR500-BM.gif
 
#38
DerHoggz said:
I'm sorry, I see very few similarities.

But, Corts are very good instruments.
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Well, I said the appearance was the main difference, didn't I? :D

They have similar proportions, the exact same electronics, same body tonewood (mahogany) and are built by the same people in the same place so they should sound pretty similar even if one looks like an Ibanez and the other looks a Cort.

There's a thread comparing the SR500 to the Cort A4 (which is actually a bit more different than the B4 as it's neck-through) where people who have played and even owned both models — so they know better than me — talk about the similarities and differences in better detail.
 
#40
I work for a footwear company and I happen to know that some of the factories we use also make other brands. It does not mean the quality is the same.

The factory only constructs the shoes, it does NOT make the materials used (outsoles, leather, linings, hardware) nor does it come up with the design.

If the factory is capable it can make very similar looking shoes at both extremes (low and high end).

Still doesn't mean that Nike knock off is going to perform similarly to the real thing.

Of course some of the so called higher end brands also take short cuts and some of those shoes are made of the same exact crap as the stuff you see at Payless or Wal-Mart :)

I imagine it's the same with guitars.

Just because one factory makes different brands doesn't mean they will all perform the same. Different specs, designs, materials.
 

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