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Ibanez Basses and Fender Basses

#41
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.
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It's an interesting question. I see it the same way as you, that a Fender just has a great sound plugged in. Great because we are used to that sound? Who knows. There were a lot of non-Fenders on 1960's recordings. There has to be a reason why Fenders triumphed over Gibson, Rickenbacker and others. (And I say that as a Ric lover).

Did the Fender / Ampeg combination become famous because it was lucky to be on some great records, or was it part of what made those records great? For example the Beatles had a modicum of commercial success, but I see few people other than Beatles tribute bands lusting after Hofner / Vox combinations, even those of us who admire McCartney's lines.

An Ibanez is a beautiful bass, and I've heard them get some really nice sounds. I would say they were really more versatile than Fenders and then I watch a clip like this one.....

Guy Pratt's great disco bass lines - YouTube
 
#42
I have 2 Ibanez at the moment. 1) ATK and 2) Roadstar 2 PJ. I guess it is kinda funny cause these may be the most "traditional" Ibanezes. The ATK is like a Musicman and the P/J is like a typical Fender PJ. I dont have any Fenders but I have in the past and they have been good instruments.

IMO both these companies make some great and some fair basses. I can't get with the SD sound and feel but thats just me. The Fender is a more standard tone so it sells more. People that think Ibbys are crap don't know much about them. In the end play what you will and enjoy!
 
#43
fingerbun said:
It's an interesting question. I see it the same way as you, that a Fender just has a great sound plugged in. Great because we are used to that sound? Who knows. There were a lot of non-Fenders on 1960's recordings. There has to be a reason why Fenders triumphed over Gibson, Rickenbacker and others. (And I say that as a Ric lover).

Did the Fender / Ampeg combination become famous because it was lucky to be on some great records, or was it part of what made those records great? For example the Beatles had a modicum of commercial success, but I see few people other than Beatles tribute bands lusting after Hofner / Vox combinations, even those of us who admire McCartney's lines.
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Exactly my point.
 
#45
For me personally, I've never played an Ibanez that did it for me. Couldn't name anything wrong in particular, I've just never played one that made me go "wow" or feel excited. Plus, I'm not a fan of the modern, trebly, kinda character-less tone.
 
#46
I think the OP has been somewhat slightly misunderstood. I don't think this was so much meant as an Ibby vs. Fender post in the complete sense. What I took from it was that for the PRICE, Ibby's are a better value and I agree with that.

I think for $550 - $600 you can't beat the SR500/600 considering all you get - and I'm not saying they're better than the Mexican Fenders which are around the same price, just that in term of bells and whistles you get more with the Ibby compared to a no-frills basic Jazz or P.

Even when you move up to the higher priced versions, it seems you get more with an Ibby. Just compare the new Premium SR1200E to the American Standard Jazz Bass which is $300 more. That being said, not everyone needs or wants fancy wood finishes, active EQ, gold hardware, abalone inlays, and brand name pickups.

And it's a testament to Leo Fender's genius and the instruments themselves, that the Jazz and P Bass have changed so little since they were introduced (and copied so much!).

They're both very good instrument makers and each have their own niche to fill, and it's a great world we live in where we have so many choices :)
 
#47
Relayer71 said:
...Not everyone needs or wants fancy wood finishes, active EQ, gold hardware, abalone inlays, and brand name pickups.
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This is part of why I play a Fender instead of an Ibanez. I really like the look & feel of SR basses very much. I used to have the SR500. If Ibanez put out a well-built passive SR then I'd definitely check it out...especially if it had a single pickup :cool:
 
#49
I think the SR500's are better QC wise than MIM fender's. But not tone-wise. If you are looking at bang for your buck, I think $299 VM's, $349 CV's, $650 Sterlings by EBMM, and $699 G &L tributes are all better value for the money than the competing Ibbys in those price ranges. I've never played an Ibby that retails over that price range so as to them I have no idea. The prestiges look great and I would love to see the individual string bridges they have.
 
#50
They're rock solid.There's no need for a spring in the Mono-Rail bridges. The ball end of the string slides in from the side and goes over the saddle and the forward pull of the string provides the tension. This Rail has a locking set screw holding it to the Bridge plate. When you loosen the set screw, the screw at the back of each Bridge plate moves the saddle (on the Rail) forward or back to set the intonation. Then tighten the set screw on the Rail and your good to go.
 
#52
I'm really surprised no one has mentioned this yet... Ha, i have played plenty of Ibanez I think play rad. Sadly they are all from the Ibanez lawsuit era. Honestly those copy cat basses did a great job. I have seen some ever better quality ones than the fenders at the time. Growing up as a young bass player I avoided Fender basses, Ampeg/SWR amps and anything I saw reliquary in the bass world trying to be different. Plugged a Fender jazz into an Ampeg one day and hung my Gibson Thunderbird on to the wall. Sold my Ashdown and did a walk of shame at every show for the next year after telling every other bass player i would never play that stuff. Just play what you like guys. No use in what is better or what isn't better. Its all just opinion.
 
#54
darius8 said:
I play a Fender Jazz and will forever play Fender Jazz but recently I tried an Ibanez SR300 and was blown away. The sound from the stock PU's sounded HiFi-ish, the neck was very slim and straight, actions were awesome. If I was a slapper, this thing was begging to be slapped. If I needed another bass I would want something that doesn't sound like the Fender. Why have two basses that sound alike? My next bass would be an Ibanez SR series.
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So much of this reflects my reasoning. Got a MIM Jazz in hand. After reading lots of posts on various forums I ordered an Ibby as my second. I wanted a different brand and a different sound while keeping a thin neck and good value. When I get a 5 string it may be a different brand.
 
#55
I have a Marcus Miller Jazz. I went to GC today to check out the Ibby. I was impressed. Totally different vibe from the Fender which was part of what I liked about it. I was looking for a fretless which the store didn't have but came to realize that now I need a 5 string too, darn it.
 
#57
I had a SR300DX for years, liked it just fine,(except the color, sangria? at times it looked red, sometimes Pink/coral) anyway, I had that bass for about 6 years. I still like them but I now play Fender jazz. Honestly, i'm now at the point where i can afford the Fender price tag, I like passive basses, and I"M NOBODY'S SHEEP.
 
#58
Ibanez is a huge manufacturer. You're not a "rebel" if you play Ibanez. Quite the opposite. Ibanez also runs the gamut of quality from inexpensive-but-acceptable beginner instruments to excellent quality pro-level guitars.
 
#60
I have two Ibanez basses and although I'm new to the bass world, I know what I like. I played quite a few basses in many different music shops and the Ibanez basses had the tone flexibility I liked, were comfortable, had thin/fast necks, and had pickup arragements I liked. In contrast, the Fenders seemed to have overly thick necks, were "clunky" and didn't feel as natural as the Ibanez basses did. I really tried to like the Fenders, I wanted to get a Fender P bass because of the iconic/class vibe but just couldn't get into it.
 

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