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How Ibanez got it right.

#181
IngerAlb said:
They ain't any Fender, that's for sure.
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I'll take Ibanez over Fender anyday. (price points being equal)

IMO Ibanez has been getting it right for a long time. SR series not for you? They make plenty of different basses with different necks, and pickups.
I just wish I hadn't spent to much time and money early on looking for something "better".
Fender, Peavey, Lakland, Guild, Warwick, G&L..... all good, but better? Nope! IMO of course.

Now go to the used basses classified ads here and look at all the astronomical prices.
Now go price a 500 series or higher new Ibanez bass OR better yet a used one made at fujigen factory. Shop around get the best one for the lowest price. ask questions. Have to make a small repair? So what? You're still many $$$ ahead.

I bought a used 1993 SR 895 (ash body/Gold hardware/Transparent red) $250 with case. Had to replace a couple knobs. ($6) now it's my main player.

Just bought a used 2010 SR755 (Mahogany body with walnut center panel) as a backup (made in Indonesia)
Somebody replaced the gold hardware with black and silver (don't care) and I'll probably have to replace the barrel jack output. ($10?) $350

Guess I'm an Ibanez fan boy for life! :woot:
 
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#182
I don't play 6 string that often but wanted one. Bought a GSR206SM for $349. Beautiful Six String for the money. Then I found the deal of a lifetime. A brand new set of Aggie DCB's (for six string) , and an OBP3 Pre all for just $100. I have one of the baddest GSR206SM's on my block :-)
 
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#184
cb56 said:
I'll take Ibanez over Fender anyday. (price points being equal)

IMO Ibanez has been getting it right for a long time. SR series not for you? They make plenty of different basses with different necks, and pickups.
I just wish I hadn't spent to much time and money early on looking for something "better".
Fender, Peavey, Lakland, Guild, Warwick, G&L..... all good, but better? Nope! IMO of course.

Now go to the used basses classified ads here and look at all the astronomical prices.
Now go price a 500 series or higher new Ibanez bass OR better yet a used one made at fujigen factory. Shop around get the best one for the lowest price. ask questions. Have to make a small repair? So what? You're still many $$$ ahead.

I bought a used 1993 SR 895 (ash body/Gold hardware/Transparent red) $250 with case. Had to replace a couple knobs. ($6) now it's my main player.

Just bought a used 2010 SR755 (Mahogany body with walnut center panel) as a backup (made in Indonesia)
Somebody replaced the gold hardware with black and silver (don't care) and I'll probably have to replace the barrel jack output. ($10?) $350

Guess I'm an Ibanez fan boy for life! :woot:
Click to expand...

I'm with you. Cheap Ibanez works. Mid priced Ibanez is flawless. High priced Ibanez ranks with the best in any category.

A premium series ATK is the best value in bass guitars. A 700-750 depending on 4 or 5 strings, J, P, MM and more tones, nice preamp, plays great... I'm heartbroken to see how the line has shrunk in recent years, when the basses themselves are so good.
 
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#187
Personally, as much as I like Ibanez... no Soundgears for me. Then super thin, slim neck thing doesn't work for my bear paws. I prefer P style necks. ATKs and Talmans are fantastic, and I like the width and nut spacing on BTBs, but even those, I'd prefer a little thicker. Too thin and I get an ache in my palm, and it just doesn't feel right to me.
 
#189
Even their cheapest basses are quality, I only play short and sub short scales. I own a Mikro 5 string I just got a week ago and missed the 4 string version so much, I ordered another one that will be here on Friday! They certainly dont play, feel or sound like sub $200 basses at all.
 
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#190
mhartman29 said:
I've been through plenty of top end basses (fenders, rays, yamahas, pedulla, g&l, etc) and the ibanez sr 1800 I just bought is simply the best, imo. It's damn near perfection for me. The playability, tone and looks are unparalleled, especially for the price!

I am amazed (and a little sad) the premium ibanezes don't get more love!
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Their cheaper basses are so nice, many people are already satisfied with something like an SR500 and feel no need to buy a more expensive one!
 
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#191
Having just moved over from guitar, I was checking everything out I could find. I was about to pull the trigger on the LTD B-205SM, then I thought, hey, why not try an Ibbie? I always liked their guitars...picked up an SR300eb, and it just felt like home. Perfect for someone with smaller hands, and for someone used to a guitar. The new preamp lets you get an endless spectrum of tones, and for the money, I just don't think it can be beat. Yeah, it's a 'cheap' bass, but it's a lot of bang for the buck.
 
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#193
mhartman29 said:
I've been through plenty of top end basses (fenders, rays, yamahas, pedulla, g&l, etc) and the ibanez sr 1800 I just bought is simply the best, imo. It's damn near perfection for me. The playability, tone and looks are unparalleled, especially for the price!

I am amazed (and a little sad) the premium ibanezes don't get more love!
Click to expand...

I'm a boutique guy, but this 5-string is a keeper and I'm still pondering the 6'er

 
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#194
I personally think the nordstrands really opened a sonic gateway that really makes these basses shine. I don't hate the Barts I have in my 505, but I really love the sound of the Nordys in these basses. I've never been fond of the stock preamp, which is the weakest link on my 505.

A little surgery really opens these basses up, as you just can't beat the feel and playability.
 
#195
How would you describe the difference in sound between the Bart's and the nordys on the sr505? I've been considering that for some time but haven't pulled the trigger.


JGbassman said:
I personally think the nordstrands really opened a sonic gateway that really makes these basses shine. I don't hate the Barts I have in my 505, but I really love the sound of the Nordys in these basses. I've never been fond of the stock preamp, which is the weakest link on my 505.

A little surgery really opens these basses up, as you just can't beat the feel and playability.
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#196
mhartman29 said:
A victim of their own success?
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I would t say that. Look at BMW. Their 3 series is about as nice as their 7 series but less than half the price. Does the 3 series being so nice discourage people from buying the 5 or 7 series? No. Someone in the market for a 5 or 7 series is usually not going to buy a 3 just because it's cheaper. I think companies who intentionally make their lower end products poorly are quite foolish. That would make you never want to touch their product again.
 
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#197
mbell75 said:
I would t say that. Look at BMW. Their 3 series is about as nice as their 7 series but less than half the price. Does the 3 series being so nice discourage people from buying the 5 or 7 series? No. Someone in the market for a 5 or 7 series is usually not going to buy a 3 just because it's cheaper. I think companies who intentionally make their lower end products poorly are quite foolish. That would make you never want to touch their product again.
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But! We are talking about Ibanez, not BMW. It is very different comparison. I have often felt that it is overkill to buy a high end Ibanez when an SR5xx or SR6xx is already an excellent instrument. They're one of the few companies that don't change their name for their budget line of instruments, and for good reason!

They've had a couple hiccups (Talman basses incorrectly wired, leading to battery drain, Artcore basses wired incorrectly, causing poor sound) but they're generally on point!
 
#198
pica said:
Now I know not everybody likes Ibanez basses and Ibanez basses are not for everybody but you have to give the Japanese credit for this one. Ibanez basses are fantastic. I play the SR models usually the 500 and higher because I like the Bartolini pickups so I can't really speak for the other models. But even the lower number SR's with the stock Ibanez pickups sound good.

I have not played one bad Ibanez bass. Unfortunately I can't say the same thing about other basses I've played. The Ibanez brand name has been around since 1929, 17 years before Leo Fender founded the Fender Musical Instrument Corporation. Whatever Ibanez is doing I'd say their doing it right.
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Ibanez haven't made a bass I was interested in for over two decades.
 
#199
BluesOnBass said:
How would you describe the difference in sound between the Bart's and the nordys on the sr505? I've been considering that for some time but haven't pulled the trigger.
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The big singles, which are the only Nordstrom's I've heard on a 505, gave it a nice growl. Coupled with an Aguiliar pre amp really gave it a nice mid area and got rid of the bland boom/sharp highs that were stock. I'd describe the stock sound as dark, and the other as throaty.
 
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#200
IMO the 50X is already growly stock. That's precisely why I prefer playing it over any of my other Ibbys (70X included). And you guys are right, the 50Xs are so well made that there is no need to go higher - the tone quality is already there. Now I'd love to buy another higher number model, but only for aesthetics.


PS: SR505 straight into the audio soundcard w/ just compression & eq. Growly enough? :)
 
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