How Ibanez got it right.

[Bassamatic]

I got a good deal on an SR100E Prestige a few years back. It was beautifully made and played like a dream, but I was not happy with the sound so I sold it. However, I made a serious mistake - I never played it on a gig. It could have been awesome when mixed with the band. Listening to soloed tracks, I find many basses don't sound so good by themselves. This taught me not to judge a bass on the "bedroom sound" but on listening to recordings of our gigs. I miss it and hope to have another Prestige some day.

 

[Kmrumedy]

I wouldn't be seen dead with an Ibanez - no one of note uses them.

Ever heard of Gary Willis?

 

[Bass Viking]

I wouldn't be seen dead with an Ibanez - no one of note uses them.

This is a classic example of "sheeple".

 

[eccles77]

I recently bought a SR750 4 string. Great bass with the Norstrand designed P and J pickups.

Had it a couple of days and then noticed the J pickup was a 5 string pickup not a 4 string one. Don`t know why I never noticed it but hey ho.

Contacted the shop, sent it back the next day and Ibanez gave me a brand new one within 3 days, with a nicer wood finish on it!

The shop said that Ibanez are the best for customer service as they don`t mess around if there is a problem. As for the bass, it`s a treat to play.

 

[mongo2]

I've used a few Ibani over the last 20 years and I'm currently having a blast gigging pretty much exclusively with an Ibanez AF-55 hollowbody six string guitar I converted to a 24.75" scale 4 string bass.

 

[Lowness]

This is a classic example of "sheeple".

You'd still be a sheep to play Ibanez, just a low grade, live export sheep - stud merino rams play other brands.

 

[punisher911]

I love Warwick tone. I've owned 4 different German made... for me they are one trick ponies. That growl is just rock for me... plus they are a bit heavy....

My SR1800 is light, beautiful, has a large tonal variety with the onboard eq, and just sings when played cleanly... same for my current personal favorite, my SRFF806...

 

[JustForSport]

The SR series bridges were made out of a soft metal and would get bent out of shape. It was an ongoing problem for some time and, as far as I know, still is.

That is a blanket statement that in that context is not true. There were a couple/ few casting batches that were softer than the rest, but Ibanez offered to replace any of those.
Better than sloppy pockets/neck joins, ski jumps, tuners too close to the nut that don't fit the same strings everyone else has no issue with,...

 

[JustForSport]

It wasn't an issue 25 years ago, it was a recent issue. I have nothing against Ibanez but it was a major, widespread issue.

A few of the mid '90s 506s had an issue bending (they then put side rails on them) and one of the new model bridges had an issue with the strong slots widening. You only hear of the few soft ones, tho and none of the good ones.
How many (checking thru the threads about it) bridges did people actually have a problem with- a dozen- 20?
I have had a weak one from each series, first I replaced with individual string bridges, and the second I replaced with a used take-off of the same model/series, and no further problems.

 

[JustForSport]

Ibanez quality for the buck is good. Their basses are very stable and durable.
But why don't they offer wider necks as an option. To me, apart from the ATK, they are way too thin to play comfortably.

Great basses, but I prefer a beefier neck.

Try BTB and SRX series?

 

[Jay2U]

Try BTB and SRX series?

...but those are different basses. The OP mainly aimed at the SR series. This series of basses offers great value for the money, so it would be even greater if Ibanez would offer two neck sizes.

 

[bdplaid]

Ever heard of Gary Willis?

you stole my line!

 

[Bassworship1]

I've owned more Ibanez basses than probably anyone on here with at least 8-9 Premium level basses and 3 of the newer Prestige level basses. They have all been superb basses in tone and build. Most have played with or outplayed some of my boutique basses that was $3000-5000 basses. People put the name down but honestly I get man compliments on the looks and tone after ever gig. My latest 2 Ibanez Basses are amazing. Here's is my BTB 1605DTF Premium and my Ibanez SR5005 Prestige.

 

[IngerAlb]

I really tried to read everything that's been posted, but gave up around page 6... man, what a bunch of crap some ppl keep passing as "known truth"...
Ok, I get it, some folks ended up with a lemon... but that doesn't mean it's common. Quite the opposite, I'd say.

I've owned maybe 15 Ibbys - from cheap GIOs, to SRs, EDBs, Ks, or SRT. Currently down to 6 (4 SR 5ers, a SRT-905 DX and a K5). NONE had bridge issues whatsoever. The only 2 small problems were: a tuning key on the GIO 205 was slipping and couldn't keep the string in tune for long, and a plastic washer mounted on one of the tuning machines of my SR 605 snapped and I had to replace it. That's it - in 15 years of regular playing & gigging. They stay in tune, necks don't twist/warp, they're perfectly balanced and lightweight. How can ppl complain about a SR being "unbalanced" is beyond me, tbh...

Yes, SRs are not everyone's cup of tea, but honestly that's the whole point - the world is full of Fender clones or Fender-type basses, so if you're into that type of instrument, there's a lot to choose from. There's no need to force yourself on liking a SR. But if you do try one and it feels & fits like a glove, you will soon understand no other bass would match it. And it's not because some ppl have small hands or whatever, they're simply ergonomically perfect (5ers in particular).

And I've yet to ruin the finish on my 505s, while playing them (almost) daily. Yes, the oil coat is thin (depending on the manufacturing year), but it's not watercolor either.

Call me a fanboy if you like, I don't mind Fact is, I've been through a lot of brands & models trying to find that perfect one, and after years and years of going back and forth, the answer in my case was Ibanez SR. I guess it takes a lot of switching before understanding how awesome these basses really are - and why

 

[zontar]

I love Ibanez--the SR series have such a comfortable shape & balance very nicely--I love the necks-they play great--and even the lower end ones sound good.

 

[Whippet]

I am no fan of Ibanez but I have a SR4006, ATK1200, GR105 and a SRFF 4505. The fret work was not that great on all four but once set up correctly, they play well. GR105 is insanely good. If you need a good jazz bass, the Grooveline is your answer. It is the only one most people will ever need.

 

[Axstar]

You'd still be a sheep to play Ibanez, just a low grade, live export sheep - stud merino rams play other brands.

Come on now, this isn't how adults discuss things. Besides, a healthy proportion of this forum are way beyond prime breeding age if the photos are to be trusted. And what bass brands signify virility to you anyway? Does a Gibson Thunderbird or Fender Precision indicate a healthy sperm count? Gross.

SD Curlee basses are the manliest basses I think I've ever seen, albeit in a sort of clumsy '70s double-denim manner.

Ibanez make, and have made, way too many different instruments in way too many different styles to reach any sort of conclusions. My '80s Axstar bass is nothing like an ATK or an Artcore bass, for example. Using Occam's Razor to jump to the simplest of conclusions, there is clearly a segment of guitar and bass players that still don't accept "MIJ" manufacturers regardless of what they are or aren't manufacturing. Nothing any more cerebral than that.

 

[Whippet]

I wouldn't be seen dead with an Ibanez - no one of note uses them.

I am curious, what do you play?



I'll be polite and tell you what I play . In no particular order: Fbass, Xotic, Takamine, NS design, Dingwall, Nordy, Smith, Warwick, Cort, Ibanez, Fibenare, and a bunch of others.

 

[Whippet]

Come on now, this isn't how adults discuss things. Besides, a healthy proportion of this forum are way beyond prime breeding age if the photos are to be trusted. And what bass brands signify virility to you anyway? Does a Gibson Thunderbird or Fender Precision indicate a healthy sperm count? Gross.

SD Curlee basses are the manliest basses I think I've ever seen, albeit in a sort of clumsy '70s double-denim manner.

Ibanez make, and have made, way too many different instruments in way too many different styles to reach any sort of conclusions. My '80s Axstar bass is nothing like an ATK or an Artcore bass, for example. Using Occam's Razor to jump to the simplest of conclusions, there is clearly a segment of guitar and bass players that still don't accept "MIJ" manufacturers regardless of what they are or aren't manufacturing. Nothing any more cerebral than that.

You know the other week I almost fell in love with an avatar only to be told the guy was some old guy.

Are you sure there is nothing more cerebral than that? Or do you mean the lack of cerebellum?

 

[Axstar]

Or do you mean the lack of cerebellum?

Wah? Huh? Ugg?

I didn't write "MIJ manufacturers" in my original post. On the Basschat forum there is a thread specifically for "Japcrap spotting". Two forums, two different standards of decorum!