How Rubbish Are Ibanez cheap basses!

[floatingaxe]

I've never really liked any of the SR-whatevers that I've played, but...
My BTB575 is awesome. Plays like a bass that would cost you twice what I payed.
Lots of BTB love here in TB.
I bought a Brice as a backup, but I'm married to my BTB and don't plan on getting anything else unless/until it falls to pieces on me.
I even gave her a loving defrett.

 

[IngerAlb]

Problems I have found....... Frets not finished off properly... Pickups not straight! And these were notb stock.

My W Thumb (CS, btw) came with sharp fretboard edges and rough frets

On the other hand, I owned a lot of Ibbys during the past years and I still regret selling some of them - to me those seemed very good value for the money. And most of them come "ready to play" right out of the box, with perfect string height, intonation and all. IMO Ibbys are better built than their competitors.

I'm actually thinking of getting back to Ibanez...the new models are amazing...and there are 2 things that make them one of the best options: very fast narrow necks and incredibly lightweight - which is essential for someone with health issues such as myself.

 

[danomite64]

Back in the mid-90's, I paid about $225 for an Ibanez Soundgear TR-70. It's still my main axe.

The TR-70 isn't a Soundgear, it's an Expressionist. I think originally the TR meant "Traditional", but later they called them Expressionists.

 

[darkstorm]

All Ive seen and examined from $250 and up selling price have had excellent fretwork and no workmanship problems that I could find.

 

[whatitstrue]

oldprussians
How Rubbish Are Ibanez cheap basses!

I own a few Ibanez including a bottom of the barrel GSR and they are all great basses ( no quality issues). Maybe the OP should give them a second chance. If not, no big deal I know there are plenty of us out there that will.

 

[queevil]

I don't care for Ibanez basses except for a slight interest in the BTB. However, I've played several of the SR basses and I think they represent a really good value at a given price point. IMO,they make some of the best massed produced necks out there.

 

[Beej]

I've owned and played several Ibanez' over the years. I've also owned and played several Fenders over the years. I've also set up and repaired dozens of guitars over the years. Very low end Ibanez' can have some problems, even new, but they are head and shoulders above much of the cheap stuff out there anyway. As far as the Ibanez midline and higher end stuff, I've had to do fewer setups and repairs on new guitars and basses than I have on MIM and USA Fenders. I pretty much equate their quality...

 

[AMp'D.2play]

For an entry-level, beginner's bass, I'm satisfied with my <$200 GSR200. I was getting some fret buzz in some spots on the upper half of the fretboard, which a small shop near me has identified as some uneven frets &/or some fret ends lifting up slightly. I'm not necessarily blaming Ibanez, as these minor flaws could very well have developed while hanging from the wall of a low-humidity Guitar Center for who knows how long before I bought it.

I didn't think putting the $$ into correcting the frets was worth it considering what I paid for the GSR200, but I enjoy playing it so much, I'm now leaning towards tossing a few bucks towards the fix. But first, every extra penny I have is going towards paying off the balance on my new Lakland!

 

[invalidprotocol]

While I won't champion any particular line of basses I do have to admit that Ibanez probably has some of the best QC of any manufacturer in the low end of the price spectrum. They are very consistent. Try 2 or 3 and you'll find a decent one.

I've not much cared for their GIO and GSR's but step into the SR's, SRX, etc. and you find some really outstanding basses.

+1 to the comment that you have to try 10 or so to find a good Fender MIM. That is just unacceptable. And unfortunately it is so true, but Fender isn't the only one either. I think even Yamaha has gotten sloppy.

 

[Rilander]

a few years ago i bought an ibanez sr300 and it was terrible. i bought it online new from sam ash. took it in to get set up and the guy was like "this neck aint too good". THEN, i went in to a local music store and played the exact same bass and it played very nice. so annoying

 

[oscarmeyer777]

I feel that the lower-line soundgears aren't fanatastic, but the 80s MIJ Ibanezs that can be had for cheaper used are phenominal.

 

[williamk]

On the contrary, the Ibanez SR range (which starts about £250) are without doubt the best made and set up basses I've ever come across at that price.

so true!
no other cheap basses come close.

 

[Meddle]

I've always had an eye on cheap Ibanez basses. Not my style at all, but nothing wrong with them. In my last band the bassist played an Ibanez 6 string and the fit and finish was amazing throughout.

Therefore I take exception to OP's claim. I am 20, and I am so glad I didn't grow up at a time whereby I would have been buying a starter bass made by Tiesco or Kent or some other monstrosity. CNC basses can have their faults, can generally be soulless and can on ocassion have bad frets or crooked pickups, but they are nothing compared to what that sum of money would have bought in the past.

 

[Bongolation]

People don't seem to understand that these instruments -- for the most part -- come out of exactly the same guitar mills as a dozen or two other brands. In my experience, the problems are the same no matter what the brand on the headstock says, particularly dubious electronic work, which is a killer with a complex active system.

Most recent Ibanez basses came from Cor-Tek's (now closed) Korean plant, same as everything else that had "Made in Korea" on it, no matter what the brand.

Now, I imagine they're transitioning to Cor-Tek's Indonesian plant with cheaper labor.

Setup is a separate issue from build quality and is usually more an issue of what the bass has been through en route to the ultimate owner. Ibnez was doing setup in the US upon importation, at least on their better stuff, but every piece I saw come through with US setup needed to be re-done again anyway after shipping.