I found a space PJ (Ibanez SR650)

[Basta-bass]

For this reason some makers started to make P5s with two long coils of the same size and winding, think of a P6; but they don't have polepieces for one string. The two identical coils cancel each other in the same way how they do it on a P4, but the missing 'sixth string' polepiece (-s) doesn't pick any sound
Nordstrand among others does it, and the SR655 has that kind of a P5 (see pic 1)
Same is true for the Lakland P5 pup

Yeah, Sadowsky also do the same.

 

[primussucks9126]

I have the SR655 and it's my main gigging bass.

I love it. I wish they still made this model. Its a nice mesh of modern and old school to me.

I turned my P pickup around so only the B and E are on the lower half of the neck pickup.

It was completely gig-able stock, but I've upgraded mine with the Nordstrand replacement pickups, gotoh res-o-lite tuners, and a glockenklang 3 band pre.

I've got one of the newer Ibanez b505 bridges coming so I can mess around with different string spacings. I'm fine with the 16.5mm but just want to see if anything else feels a little nicer to me.

 

[Snert]

I turned my P pickup around so only the B and E are on the lower half of the neck pickup.

Why?

 

[primussucks9126]

Why?

I'm not usually crazy about PJ type setups. I don't like the inconsistency and midrange pokeyness (to my ears) that the shorter distance between the 2 coils on the D and G causes.

I didn't mind it on this bass on the B and E. I feel like it helps them cut a bit more. But the A string kept jumping out at me when I played with both pickups on. Now my ADG are more J bass flavored, and my BE have that midrange boost in a way that I don't find distracting.

 

[Snert]

The coils are the same size and impedance so they respond in the same way irrespective of the position they are in.

 

[Relayer71]

That is interesting though. When I think active, revers P, I think of spector. Certainly not ibanez. Cool!

Not too surprising, considering the SR is clearly influenced by the Spector NS:

* Smallish body size
* Completely rounded body (no hard edges/lines)
* Active electronics
* P/J (early SRs were P/J)

Spector doesn't get the credit it deserves for being influential (some 80s Yamaha designs share similar features, not to mention Warwick's Streamer, which initially was just an SR copy).

 

[Snert]

Not too surprising, considering the SR is clearly influenced by the Spector NS

I thought the influence was the Tune Bass Maniac. Which came first?

 

[Relayer71]

I thought the influence was the Tune Bass Maniac. Which came first?

I could be wrong but I think Tune was 80s. Spector NS2 released in 1977.

 

[michael_t]

The coils are the same size and impedance so they respond in the same way irrespective of the position they are in.

The whole point of "reverse P" is to flip the positioning of the split single coil so the G & D are closer to the neck than the A & E, resulting in a better-balanced tone overall by fattening the G/D and tightening the E/A.

What @primussucks9126 has done on the 5-string is to move the A closer to the neck so it would balance better with G/D while retaining bite and definition on B/E.

 

[primussucks9126]

The coils are the same size and impedance so they respond in the same way irrespective of the position they are in.

Nope. I'm moving the part of the pickup that covers the A string up about a full inch towards the neck.

The whole point of "reverse P" is to flip the positioning of the split single coil so the G & D are closer to the neck than the A & E, resulting in a better-balanced tone overall by fattening the G/D and tightening the E/A.

What @primussucks9126 has done on the 5-string is to move the A closer to the neck so it would balance better with G/D while retaining bite and definition on B/E.

Exactly this!

 

[murphy]

I am eager to know if your neck is stable ...after needing such adjustment.

When I bought my used Soundgear...it had a forward bow...easily remidied with a turn of trussrod.
Stayed stable after that.

 

[B-Mac]

I have a thing with PJs. I don't know what it is, I just think they're cool. I've had my eye on a Markas Miller active/passive PJ for a while, just hadn't pulled the trigger. One day I walk into my local guitar shop and my eye is instantly caught by what can only be described as a space PJ. An Ibanez 650. I had never seen one before. They apparently only made them for four or five years before discontinuing them. I had no idea Ibanez had ever made an SR PJ. I've only ever seen the miKro and the Talman, neither of which are particularly interesting to me.

As best as I can tell, it's a 2015 which means It's an ash body with a five piece jatoba/bubinga neck, rosewood fingerboard and Abalone inlays. It doesn't say in the specs but I belive the body to be three piece. the seems are damn near impossible to see though. The neck is extremely thin in all dimensions. I have an SR250 as well which as, I thought, the thinnest neck I'd ever seen but this thing is actually even thinner, to the point that, even with my small hands, it can still seem TOO thin at times. But, it still plays well over all. it needs a small bit of care. The frets need to be polished and board needs to be conditioned but other than that it's in really excellent condition. only a few minor scratches on the body that you need to be in the right light to see.

It has Nordstand pickups that where custom designed for Ibanez (more info in this thread) and an Ibanez pre-amp with active/passive toggle. When in passive mode, the treble knob becomes a tone knob.

Even in passive mode, it's EXTREAMLY bright. it's the brightest passive P i've ever heard and when you put it into active mode, you can send the treble through the stratosphere. You can, of course, also cut the highs which I do most of the time. You can also easily send it into wub territory by cutting the highs and mids and cranking the bass. If you played around with it I think you can dial in most sounds you could want from it, especially going through something like a sansamp.

Another interesting note, after I got it home, I realized the strings where part of what drew me to it. I found out that they're an older set of Blue Steels when they still had silks. I didn't know they ever had silks but that powder blue looks great against the headstock. I've never used Blue Steels but I liked them immediately. They're more flexy than I'm used to and make bends feel great. And even though they're steel, they don't feel as gritty on my fingers as other steel rounds I've used. they've actually got a pleasing texture to them.

It had a bazar setup on it though. They had a massive radius like an upright where middle strings are a lot higher than the out two strings. I like my strings flat with low action so I set about adjusting it and it was hands down the easiest setup I've ever done. Everything moves so smoothly and is so accessible. I've never adjusted a neck where the movement was so obvious a visible with such minor adjustment.

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My only complaints about the bass are nitpicky. It wats to lean into a very bright tone by it's nature but it can be tamed. I love the dark neck but it is stained, not roasted so the color of the neck is not indicative of the character of the wood. The bridge is nice, but it's slightly recessed into the body so if you ever wanted to replace it, it won't be as simple as just screwing another one down. The control cavity is also cluttered and complicated. Won't be straightforward to repair if anything goes wrong. The worst part of the bass is the battery compartment. The lead that connects the 9v battery is WAY to short and doesn't clip onto the battery very well. Ibanez really dropped the ball there but luckily it's not something you have to deal with often.

It's quite the interesting bass. It's my first experience with a higher end Ibanez. My first bass was an SR250 which was about $300-$350 new. I believe the 650 retailed for about $700 from what i've seen. not totally sure about that but it is undoubtedly of much higher quality than my 250. I think it'll fill the role of a PJ nicely. it has tones of tonal options and it feels great to play. I also just love the oddity that it is. It's that time Ibanez made a space PJ and I love that I found one out of nowhere. And if I decoded the serial number correctly, it looks like it was made within the first two months of the model's production.

I may have been screwed by the shop. I traded my T-40 plus $250 for it. Ultimately, I had gotten to a place where I just never played the T-40. It's a cool bass but mine seemed off. It was a little dead sounding, the neck was really fat, wouldn't stay still and you need a proprietary tool to adjust it that's impossible to find. Ultimately, I'd rather have a bass I play than one I don't, But still feel kind taken advantage of. He only gave me $300 for the T-40. was only going to give me $250 until I reminded him it has the original case. oh well, is what it is. I still came out of it with a much more playable instrument in the end.

SR650​

The SR650 is a Soundgear series solid body electric bass model introduced by Ibanez for 2015. It was made in Indonesia as part of the standard line. The SR650 features a double-cutaway ash body bolted to a jatoba and bubinga neck with a 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with abalone oval position...

ibanez.fandom.com

SR650E​

The SR650E is a Soundgear series solid body electric bass model introduced by Ibanez in 2019. It was made in Indonesia as part of the standard line. It replaced the SR650 with only minor changes. The SR650E features a double-cutaway ash body bolted to a jatoba and walnut neck with a 24-fret...

ibanez.fandom.com

Other Ibanez P/J style basses:

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ibanez.fandom.com

 

[B-Mac]

I just noticed, that doesn't look like the original nut. Ibanez nuts are a lot more blocky and not that thick. Did you have it replaced or did that happen somewhere along it's journey in-between you and your friend?

The nut looks no different than what is in the catalog.

 

[Geogio]

I don't know man, it just looks hyper modern. it's that super thin Ibanez body shape with big weird P and J pickups that you never see. it just looks like a bass made by aliens trying to replicate a PJ with their technology

I thought aliens were telepathic... or stuck strictly to theremin's...

 

[OldBlue61]

I also found a SR650 on GC. They had an extra 10% off used gear until 10/23, so with a couple of discounts I picked up one for a good price. Now to have the patience for it to arrive....