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Ibanez Basses and Fender Basses

#21
A bass player who formerly played at my church had a beautiful Ibanez. I don't recall the model #, but saw one at a Music-Go-Round for $350.00. He put TI Jazz flats on it. It sounded fine through his Ampeg combo amp. He later got a Squier Affinity P-Bass. He had not got around to replaceng the round wound strings on it. I hope he never does because it had a growl to it that he did not get out of the Ibby. Like some of you, I can see uses for both tones and understand that the difference in strings is significant.

I know I've heard lotsa great music played on both brands of bass as well as on many other basses.

Me, I like my Squier.
 
#22
Why do people go for Fenders instead of Ibbys? Hmm...because they're "standard", because many folks look at the name on the headstock (and I'm not reffering to musicians...there are situations when a Fender would get you the gig or not...weird, I know), because they can fit in many music genres/styles, because many ppl prefer the traditional look, etc...

Why are Ibbys dissed so much? Because "metalheads" play them, because of their toyish feel, because ppl hate their looks, because they're too modern or flat sounding with no personality, because theor necks are pencil thin, because their 5ers have too narrow string spacing, because of the horrible resale value...I've heard it all.

Basically ppl like or not certain things and will come up with whatever justification to support their choices.

Now I've played a Fender Jazz for years and then moved on to Ibbys. IMO there's no comparison between the ergonomics and playability of an Ibby and anything else. There are many good sounding basses outhere, but not so many that can be played effortlessly; the neck of a SR is to die for - if ppl can't dig it it's ok, but they're missing a lot - just because they can't nor want to adapt.

I personally hate the looks of any Fender type bass and I prefer a modern tone. I love the design of the Ibbys SR and I like their tone. They're outstanding bang for the buck and a real pleasure to play. But I'm not here to defend Ibbys or diss the Fenders - play whatever you like folks, it's (still) a free world :)
 
#23
I love the play-ability of my Ibanez SRX it sounds great too(IMHO). It growls like a crazy cougar. I love everything about it except the looks. I would prefer a more "traditional/old school" look(like Fenders) but I am willing to overlook the aesthetics of my bass for the aspects of it that I do love.

One thing I don't like about Fender is that a lot of Fender fans seem to think that their opinions about Fenders being better than other brands are facts rather than opinions. That's not really Fenders fault but it annoys me anyway.
 
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#27
I can understand the question from the OP. I keep finding myself looking at Fender basses all the time and wondering if I really like them or just think I'm supposed to. Honestly, every time I've tried one, regardless of model or type, I put it back down and can list at least 4 or 5 things about it I don't like and very few things I do. I've also tried the Ibby's, after having them recommended to me, and found that, at least in my mind, what others have said is true; light, flimsy feeling, thin sounding.......just not my cup of tea, either.

At some point I will probably buy a Fender, maybe just to say I've owned one, I don't know....but there's only one in the new catalog that interests me and that's the Duff McKagan signature model......

For me I like the look, feel, fit, and sound of the Schecters. Although sound is largely affected by strings and amplification, so opinions always vary. My second choice is probably Peavey, as pretty much every one I've played from both manufacturers just fits me, from their entry models to their more expensive models.

In the end, play what fits you, go your own way and get what you like. Playing a Fender doesn't make you a sheep, as long as you really love it for the right reasons and not because somebody told you that you should. And, IMO, picking a bass out just to be different and playing it but not liking it doesn't make you an individual, it makes you someone who made a bad decision.
 
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#28
electroasim said:
Why do you think Ibanez Basses are not as popular as Fender Basses?
Click to expand...

I think you make some good points. They say that every American boy has to own a pickup at least once in his life. Well, every American bass player has to own a Fender. Fender's are well made, reliable, great sounding basses at their price points and in many cases perform well above their price points. And they are Fenders, or in the case of Squiers, almost Fenders.

Ibanez tends to give you more features for your money and though I don't own one they play well in stores and seem well made. If I do decide to get a fiver (been having doubts the last day or so) the SR series is high on the list because it is one of the ones that fit me best. The wide string spacing of the Fenders does not work well for me with five strings. I tend to like painted basses though so the exotic woods of the upper end SRs are a negative for me. And Ibanez has gone and discontinued the Starlight Blue that I loved in the SR305. I'd buy an alder bodied, Starlight Blue SR505 in a heartbeat! Nevertheless Ibanez is a strong contender for my next bass.

Another one I like pretty well, the Peavey Millennium 5 AC BXP gets even less love here so don't shed too many tears for Ibanez.

Ken
 
#29
If you plan on reselling the bass at some point, Fenders are better investments.

Ibanez are more designed for players who actually play, while Fenders haven't been designed at all since 1959. They are still making exactly the same thing they made 50 years ago, and have this media campaign to make them appear all-American, and there is a perceived value at the price point that makes people sugar coat their experiences. Fenders sound, at best, generic. Some Ibanez basses do as well, but Ibanez is in the position of trying to rebuild it's reputation after the 90s, and they are producing quality well above the price point. Fender's reputation has been carefully maintained by it's PR people and endorsees for decades now, and they don't have any need to produce a great product at a low price. Fender could switch all production over to making Squier Affinity basses, throw an MIA price tag on them and people would still rave about them.

I've owned 3 Fenders (2 MIA, 1 MIM) and 3 Ibbys, all bought new, and for the cash, the Ibanez basses were superior in every way to the Fenders.
 
#31
I own two jazz basses, and an SR600. Both have their ups and downs, but this is how what I've determined: Fender, classic sound, recognizable, good sound, etc. Ibanez, better electronics, hardware, woods, etc.

The Ibanez's sound is far more hi-fi than the Fenders (matter of opinion).

Also, the quality control of Ibanez is much better than the Fenders I've played. Of my two jazz's one is a great player, and the other I have because it was a gift and has this interesting kind of muddy sound. The latter doesn't play very well, and when I got it the neck wasn't even on straight. Every Ibanez I've ever played is perfectly built.

Also both my jazz's require new pickups. The pole pieces (they pop out of the pickups somehow) on one are so high it interferes with the strings and is totally unusable for slap.

The SR600 doesn't quite have the tone of the Fenders, but has been problem free its whole life.

I played a couple SR Premiums and they blew the Fender's at the shop out of the water tone-wise, and is probably one of the best sounding basses I've ever played, second only to my Dingwall ABZ5 (which is my main bass, and replaced the SR600 as the main player).

That was quite a bit of typing, haha.
 
#32
CORBS said:
If you plan on reselling the bass at some point, Fenders are better investments.

Ibanez are more designed for players who actually play, while Fenders haven't been designed at all since 1959. They are still making exactly the same thing they made 50 years ago, and have this media campaign to make them appear all-American, and there is a perceived value at the price point that makes people sugar coat their experiences. Fenders sound, at best, generic. Some Ibanez basses do as well, but Ibanez is in the position of trying to rebuild it's reputation after the 90s, and they are producing quality well above the price point. Fender's reputation has been carefully maintained by it's PR people and endorsees for decades now, and they don't have any need to produce a great product at a low price. Fender could switch all production over to making Squier Affinity basses, throw an MIA price tag on them and people would still rave about them.
Click to expand...
HAHAHA!! I nominate this post for "Funniest Dopey Post Of The Week!"

Little helpful hint...if a bass ever sounds generic in your hands, it ain't the bass.
 
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#33
Why do we like what we like. Imo, it's what we grew up hearing, if you're as old as me, you became conditioned to the sound of what we listened too, mostly fenders. That is the sound I learned to like, that to me is the bass sound.

So to me the best the other companies can do is try to copy the Fender sound.
 
#34
I don't buy into the "conditioning" argument. That takes away any sort of thought process and implies that those of us who bought Fenders didn't do so of their own free will but because we're under some mass hypnosis. The reason people buy Fenders is because they sound freaking great every time in any situation.
 
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#36
Lake said:
Nothing sounds like a fender. (IMO)
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Exactly...well with the exception of Squiers, Lakland, Sadowsky, Schecter Diamonds, Lull, My Ibanez with a roll off on the highs and lows, and anything with Seymour Duncan, Aero, Nordstrand vintage, certain Bartolinis, and certain EMG pickups, or really anything with passive vintage voiced single coil or split coil pickups.:hiding:
 
#38
It seems more people buy fender for the brand name than anything else. Or because their hero(es) plays it.

Ibanez basses never came across to me as a "metal brand". Their guitars? Yea of course, hello!...the RG. But the basses? No. Seems like the people buying Ibanez basses are the ones that tend to weigh pros and cons to get the most instrument for their money.
 
#39
Well, I own a 2008 MIA Precision and a 1980 Ibanez Musician and both are outstanding instruments that I would hate to be without. In terms of craftsmanship I think the Ibanez has a slight edge. In terms of sound, a fairer comparison would be between the Ibanez and a Jazz, but both the Fender and the Ibanez do good things. The Fender sounds better if you just take the raw sound of the bass into a board, but into a good preamp the Ibanez is more flexible.

I think Ibanez trashed their branding in the 1990s by putting out instruments at all levels, where Fender differentiates between Fender and Squier. Ibanez actually started down the same road with a brand called Cimar, but didn't continue. Not sure if Cimar was a subsidiary or a licensing deal. In any case, it gets confusing to figure out what price point a used Ibanez should be at compared to Fender. I think this has damaged their resale, as has a preference in the USA for American-made basses. As a non-American I don't share that bias, but it still affects resale value.

So here's a tip - if I keep my eyes open in Australia, I will pick up an 1980 high end Ibanez like an MC924 for less than half what I would pay for a Fender Jazz of the same period, and odds are it will be a better instrument, especially if you replace the pickup switch with a blend knob (a mod I intend to do on my Ibanez this year if it can be done without routing wood).

P.S. I also own a 1972 Ibanez which is a jazz copy, so accurate that Fender parts fit it unmodified. It was my first bass and has great sentimental value, and gets some nice comments at gigs. But it is not as good an instrument as the others I've talked about earlier.
 
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#40
No need to hate on Fender just because you like another brand.

JimmyM said:
I don't buy into the "conditioning" argument. That takes away any sort of thought process and implies that those of us who bought Fenders didn't do so of their own free will but because we're under some mass hypnosis. The reason people buy Fenders is because they sound freaking great every time in any situation.
Click to expand...

Spot on.

I was not a Fender lover by any stretch in my youth. My bass brand was Rickenbacker (in the day, it was sorta the "anti-Fender" thing to have).

Then while in my music club at college I had the chance to trade my 4003 "for a day" in exchange with a fellow bassists 196? vintage Fender Jazz. First real Fender I'd ever had my hands on.

After that, I knew the Rickenbacker would have to go.

Point is, don't assume some sheep mentality or whatever.

And that tends to go both ways.

Not liking/playing a Fender (or whatever) just because of the brand is JUST AS DORKISH as you *think* it is when someone plays a Fender (or whatever) just because of the brand. ;)


EDIT: By the way, not dissing Ibby's at all. My very next musical purchase is going to be an Ibanez V200S acoustic guitar for my daughter. Awesome neck!
 

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