Hmmm, I looked up the SR600E. Looks to go for $200 more than the 500. Is it just the pick ups that are different?
Last edited:
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Ibanez bass?
- Thread starter NYgiant
- Start date
Hmmm, I looked up the SR600E. Looks to go for $200 more than the 500. Is it just the pick ups that are different?
if you sign up with musiciansfriend rewards, you can get 8% back in rewards on a new bass. or wait for valentine's day and GC and MF will probably offer 10 or 15% off - with MF. you'd still get rewards. or you could get one right now just because 
Ibanez Bass Club
Ibanez Artcore Bass Club
Ibanez Artcore Bass Club Membership List
IBANEZ ARTCORE TONE PROBLEM SOLVED !!!
Ibanez ATK Bass Club
Ibanez BTB Bass Club
Ibanez Blazer/Roadstar Basses Club
Ibanez Ergonomic Headless Bass (EHB) Club
Ibanez SR Bass Club
Ibanez SRX - Got 'Em?
Ibanez Soundgear Bass Club
Ibanez Mikro Bass Club
Ibanez Musician Bass Club
Ibanez Musician Bass Club Wiki
Ibanez Portamento Club
Ibanez TMB Talman Bass Club
I have and have had a number of Ibanez basses. It hasn't exactly been mentioned in this thread so I will say that every Ibanez bass I have had has had a really stable neck and a tight neck joint and I have never experienced fret sprout with any of my Ibanez basses. They typically play really well, sound great and they are reasonably priced. I still wish they would make the Gary Willis fretless bass in a four string.
Other than that wretched “brown mahogany” finish that universally wears and chips right back to bare wood, a superb bass. I’ve always thought of them as a great candidate for refin in something like TruOil, or maybe Watco Danish Oil. Well balanced, fast neck, good electronics. Like most Ibanez, very well made, but with odd finish choices. I think they had some issues with the “hook” retaining strings at the bridge on some models, but the defective ones broke pretty quickly, for a while they were replacing them as a sort of recall.
I picked up an older Ibanez SR505 five string a few weeks ago. I got it relatively inexpensive because of a bridge defect that is common with these. Ibanez/Hoshino replaced it at no cost to me. I'm pretty happy with it so far
D
My experience with the Ibanez SR series has mainly been either the entry level series (like the 300) or the more expensive 1xxx and 2xxx series. For some reason I've never felt the attraction of the mid-level Ibanez SRs, even though they are perhaps the best value of the lot. Probably because I'm not a huge fan of those Bartolini pickups. That's just a matter of personal taste.
What I can say about SRs in general is that the quality can vary a LOT. In my experience the necks on the cheaper models can be very unstable, needing frequent truss rod adjustments throughout the year for a good setup. They're still great value though, if you like their tone/feel.
The more expensive SRs can also vary a bit. Some of them are severely flawed, like the SR2600/2605 which can't be intonated properly because they've installed the saddles in the wrong positions. These are mono rail saddles, recessed into the body, so they can't really be moved. Very poor.
But this is an exception. Mid-to-higher range Ibanez SRs are generally very good instruments for the money.
I would like to comment on the following though:
"The active EQ from what I’ve read seems to really make a huge difference in some of the tones you can get."
Yes, an active eq can give you a wider range of tones than a passive tone control but not necessarily more USEFUL tones. It's also much easier to dial in a poor tone with an active eq. A little goes a long way! It's also impossible to roll off the highs, like you can with a passive tone control. Personally I've always found the active eq to be the weak point of Ibanez SRs. I just don't like the eq points they use. There's a slightly nasal quality to the mids that just can't be dialed out.
But an SR will certainly compliment your J-bass. It will give you a COMPLETELY different range of tones (but never sound like a passive J-bass).
What I can say about SRs in general is that the quality can vary a LOT. In my experience the necks on the cheaper models can be very unstable, needing frequent truss rod adjustments throughout the year for a good setup. They're still great value though, if you like their tone/feel.
The more expensive SRs can also vary a bit. Some of them are severely flawed, like the SR2600/2605 which can't be intonated properly because they've installed the saddles in the wrong positions. These are mono rail saddles, recessed into the body, so they can't really be moved. Very poor.
But this is an exception. Mid-to-higher range Ibanez SRs are generally very good instruments for the money.
I would like to comment on the following though:
"The active EQ from what I’ve read seems to really make a huge difference in some of the tones you can get."
Yes, an active eq can give you a wider range of tones than a passive tone control but not necessarily more USEFUL tones. It's also much easier to dial in a poor tone with an active eq. A little goes a long way! It's also impossible to roll off the highs, like you can with a passive tone control. Personally I've always found the active eq to be the weak point of Ibanez SRs. I just don't like the eq points they use. There's a slightly nasal quality to the mids that just can't be dialed out.
But an SR will certainly compliment your J-bass. It will give you a COMPLETELY different range of tones (but never sound like a passive J-bass).
I have an SR1700 and it is fantastic. I love thin fast necks, and the Nordstrand Big Singles that came with it sound very good. The active preamp gives me every tonal option I ever wanted and I'm still finding new ones. Or go passive and it performs just as well. I play clean tones almost exclusively, so I cannot say much about more gritty playing situations, but for me it is the right bass. Looks nice, too. Some comments above noted the finishing, this one has no issues with it at all, hard wearing clear finish, but I do look after it when gigging. I got it new in a sale for £800, so less than $1000.
There's a lot of choice out there, give it a try and see for yourself if they are what you're looking for.
There's a lot of choice out there, give it a try and see for yourself if they are what you're looking for.
I own three Ibanez instruments, one very old Musician bass, one also very old AS200 guitar and an SR655 5 string that’s only a few years old. All are very well made with great necks and are very comfortable to play. The SR655 is in the mid price range of Ibanez basses but still not expensive at all and punches way above it’s weight in my opinion. It has Nordstrand pickups in a J/P configuration that sound great and record very well. I prefer them to Bartolinis but that’s just me. It can be played either in passive or active mode but I prefer passive. I don’t need a wide range of tones for the material I play but it can go there if that’s what you want. In passive mode the treble control becomes a passive tone control the same as normal tone controls work. I like the narrow string spacing too. I stripped mine back to natural because I didn’t like the fake ‘Antique’ finish and the natural finish isn’t available in Australia. These are definitely gig worthy basses.
Last edited:
I’m intrigued by the 5ths tuning. I know violins are tuned that way but upright basses aren’t. What are the advantages in your opinion?
Been own the Korean made SR705 with USA Bart P2 and ntmb 3band EQ Preamp upgrade.
Once I bought the CIC Squier Classic Vibe 60s P bass, I immediately let it go and never look back and no regret at all.
The Ibanez bass that truly impress me are ATK 800 walnut in term of playing feel and stock pickups tone.
Once I bought the CIC Squier Classic Vibe 60s P bass, I immediately let it go and never look back and no regret at all.
The Ibanez bass that truly impress me are ATK 800 walnut in term of playing feel and stock pickups tone.
Last edited:
Someone's gotta be the lone opponent, so I'll bite. I've been disappointed with the recent build quality of the BTB series. So make sure you try before you buy.
Misaligned or mounted too close/too far back?
Misaligned or mounted too close/too far back?
I found out through TalkBass that this mangled-tooth look is a well-documented defective bridge. The ball ends wont secure because, for whatever reason, the clasp opens up too wide. I called Hoshino, who were aware of this issue, and they immediately sent a replacement
I found out through TalkBass that this mangled-tooth look is a well-documented defective bridge. The ball ends wont secure because, for whatever reason, the clasp opens up too wide. I called Hoshino, who were aware of this issue, and they immediately sent a replacement
Happy ending- score!!!
I've owned three Ibanez basses in my ~45 years of playing. The first was bought new in 1984/85, and the other two were more recent. In my experience, Ibanez is absolutely crushing the "bang for your buck" category. They are well made with a lot of attention to the small details. And they are not just limited to the beginner/intermediate category - their high-end basses are great too, including the BTB series.
Ive loved and played Ibanez SR 5 strings for the past 25 years. (love the string spacing -16.5mm)
500 series is where they start getting good (imo), although I do still own an older 405.
OP, GET THAT IBANEZ!!!
My "latest" is this baby, that I finally got. Ive been wanting for over a year now:
(yes, I show pics whenever I can)
Ibanez SR5FMDX
(pic from the store I got it from).
Green fo 'da Money, Gold fo 'da Honeys
T$
500 series is where they start getting good (imo), although I do still own an older 405.
OP, GET THAT IBANEZ!!!
My "latest" is this baby, that I finally got. Ive been wanting for over a year now:
(yes, I show pics whenever I can)
Ibanez SR5FMDX
(pic from the store I got it from).
Green fo 'da Money, Gold fo 'da Honeys
T$
Ive loved and played Ibanez SR 5 strings for the past 25 years. (love the string spacing -16.5mm)
500 series is where they start getting good (imo), although I do still own an older 405.
OP, GET THAT IBANEZ!!!
My "latest" is this baby, that I finally got. Ive been wanting for over a year now:
(yes, I show pics whenever I can)
Ibanez SR5FMDX
(pic from the store I got it from).
View attachment 5322549
Green fo 'da Money, Gold fo 'da Honeys
T$
Wow, that’s bass is beautiful!
The SR500 is a very comfortable bass to play, extremely light, thin neck, feels good. The tone is a little thin compared to a Fender, different pickups or EQ would probably help, I never swapped any parts when I had mine. I don't recall plastic knobs, pretty sure they were metal cast on mine. The big issue with them is the finish, its a joke, it isn't stained wood, its like a candy shell on an m&m, it will just start flaking off. If you buy new I would suggest the black aurora burst instead of the brown mahogany. Why Ibanez can sell a dozen different colors on the SR300 but have been using the same flawed brown mahogany on the SR500 for 2 decades I don't know.
Here is mine before and after I refinished it.
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/refinished-my-ibanez-sr500.1173968/
Here is mine before and after I refinished it.
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/refinished-my-ibanez-sr500.1173968/
