Ibanez Basses and Fender Basses

[Relayer71]

I can't deny my SR 300 ($185 used) has a great sound and plays great, but I really don't like the looks of it as much as my jazz bass ($900 used).
Two different sounding basses. Two different price ranges.

And two different looks which is another reason to choose one over the other.

I was more a fan of the classic look but the first thing I thought when I picked up an Ibby SR was, damn, that feels so sleek and sexy!

But I think the Musician is the best looking bass Ibby has made (and I liked the SRs with the pickguards, the PGs alone gave them a different look) and if they made an affordable production model instead of some ridiculously overpriced collector's edition, I'd get one.

 

[mr.black]

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.

I can completely agree with the fact that Ibanez has suffered in the image dept due to NOT branching off the lower end indo and korean made instruments under a different name ala Fender/squire or ESP/LTD. I REALLY WISH THEY HAD DONE THIS.

 

[Gimme4]

+1 for wishing for a great passive ibby. Put a couple of passive barts&a vvt layout in an sr500 w/a finish you can't scratch with a fingernail&I would be on it like ants on a hershey bar.

 

[IngerAlb]

I can completely agree with the fact that Ibanez has suffered in the image dept due to NOT branching off the lower end indo and korean made instruments under a different name ala Fender/squire or ESP/LTD. I REALLY WISH THEY HAD DONE THIS.

ALL their instruments are MII or MIK - "branching off" would be pointless since there already is an entry level line called GIO, the rest is pretty much produced to the same standard - that's actually the main difference between Ibanez and other brands that prefer to rename their cheaper models.

 

[Jinro]

I haven't owned a Fender, but I did play a Standard P for a little over a year. I own a cheap Ibanez Soundgear GIO and an SR505. Personally, I love the look of the Fender, and that's probably why a lot of people get them, on top of the "bandwagon" effect since tons of people use Fenders and its shape is probably the first thing you think of when someone says "bass". But in my (limited) experience, the Ibanez basses have been easier and more intuitive for me to play, especially higher on the fretboard. Also, running through a Fender Rumble 150 amp, I seriously could not tell any difference between the Fender P and my Soundgear GIO, though that may have been the fault of the amp. My SR505 however, is much better IMO than the Fender P.

 

[Heathen]

Funny, never had an Ibanez blow my brain out. In fact, I haven't got more than a meh feeling from Ibbys.

Funny, it's the exact opposite with me. I bought two Ibby basses because I loved the versatility, the sound and particularly the neck. Having tried several Fenders, I didn't feel like I enjoyed playing them much at all.

 

[dudelove]

i was ibanez super fanboy, til´ i tried a squier with fall all my understanding of bass

 

[garp]

I’ve got both. Enjoy them equally, for different reasons.

When I first began playing, Ibanez offered an entry-level price point that made it possible for me to own a new quality bass for relatively little dough. Fender didn’t. Of course, that has changed tremendously over the years, especially with the development of the Squier line. But back then, there was no Internet. I had a local Mom & Pop retailer — their inventory represented the full spectrum of my choices.

Even today, my taste for Ibanez instruments tends to run toward ‘80s-‘90s era Roadstars and Ergodynes. Lots of great stuff being offered by Ibanez today, but there’s something about that period in their history that I find extremely appealing. Nostalgia, I guess.

 

[iJazz]

In '68, when I made the jump from upright to bass guitar, while there were choices one could make other than a Fender, Fender was THE choice to make. Lots of big-band bassists were playing Jazz basses. That's where I looked for inspiration. A friend had a Precision which felt like it weighed a ton and had about 5 miles of nut width. When I went into a store to try a Jazz, it just felt like a dream. There was no other choice. Remember that at that time, there were no guitar superstores like we see now, with 40 basses ready to try. There were choices, but nowhere near what we now see.

After a couple of years with my '68 I picked up a '65 Jazz and that was the end of any choices I ever had to make. This thing felt like it was made for me.

Now, after 37(!) years of not playing, I'm getting back to a bit of woodshedding. My '65 is long gone (sob), so a buddy gave me an Ibanez his kids had, but it just didn't motivate me to dig in and work on my chops. It feels like dragging a stone around.

Reading here at TB got my Fender mojo burning, but not having much cash for the enterprise I was resolved to stick with the Ibanez, but it wouldn't hurt to go look at some Fenders just for kicks, now would it? I must have plunked on about 5 or 6 MIA, MIM, Jazz whatevers before I picked up the Squier Jazz CV. Then it was like a trip back in time. The neck profile and the vintage frets just felt exactly right, even though needing some setup help. None of the "real Fenders" had that touch. It was obvious what I had to do. Buy a CV Jazz if I hoped to make any headway. I might find that feel in another Fender Jazz of more cubic dollar volume if I really searched, but when a Jazz Bass connects in the hand, that's what it's all about, regardless of price.

Much has been written in another thread about player vs. axe as to where "your sound" comes from. I feel that unless you have that natural at ease feel with the instrument in hand, the value of the tone is near nothing if it won't let you bring out the fullness of your innate inner potential. Great tone that you have to fight even a little bit to play with isn't great at all. A potentially more limited spectrum with a feel that allows your body to rock the limits of the axe is enough of a challenge to master. Quite honestly, I think a lot of people are much too caught up with "my sound" when it is actually "my musical value" that is what it is all about and what they should be focusing on.

For me, it will always be a Jazz.

iJazz

 

[mr.black]

ALL their instruments are MII or MIK - "branching off" would be pointless since there already is an entry level line called GIO, the rest is pretty much produced to the same standard - that's actually the main difference between Ibanez and other brands that prefer to rename their cheaper models.

point is they should have branched the all lower end GIO's, MII, and MIK under a diff BRAND NAME. and use "Ibanez" only for the MIJ gear.

 

[IngerAlb]

point is they should have branched the all lower end GIO's, MII, and MIK under a diff BRAND NAME. and use "Ibanez" only for the MIJ gear.

There is no MIJ gear anymore - except for the Prestige line. EVERYTHING ELSE is MII or MIK. Now I don't know exactly how many Prestiges they sell each year, but I suspect it's a very small percentage compared to their regular lines (including the Premiums). You expect them to rebrand most of their products? Funny

PS: the folks that diss their instruments just because they're MIK or MII probably tend to listen with their eyes, instead of their ears. Their non MIJ basses are very well built instruments and there's no reason to consider them inferior in any way.

 

[muzikman7]

Found this on facebook.

 

[atomicdog]

The comments about Fender's quality control and the limited number of bass models is well taken. Still, it's Fender and Fender was first. That said, I have an Ibanez SR705 and find it to be versatile and I love the narrow thin fast neck. What the heck--buy one of each.

 

[Ben Heard]

How about a [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]?

I'm an Ibanez guy myself at the moment, but I haven't had the opportunity to really sit down with a Fender and really get to "know" it. I'm just a sucker for Ibanez necks!

EDIT: Forgot to add that, a Fender is a Fender, as posted above, they were the first to really break through and Leo did a ton for bass guitar as we know it. Not just the P and the Jazz, anybody ever heard of the Stingray? Most of the time, being a groundbreaker in the development of anything will leave you with tons of respect.

 

[atomicdog]

You really can't beat those fast Ibby necks.

 

[Crystalman85]

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

I own an Ibanez and a peavey bass too. I have an Ibanez sr305 in an Iron pewter finish and a peavey millennium bxp 5-string bass(which is the passive version) in a metallic blue finish. they're both great sounding bass guitars. there are many people here who likes peavey basses as well as people who likes Ibanez basses. I happen to like them both. so there plenty of love for both these basses.

 

[SwagAttack]

I was would have been a Fender guy since I used to think that Ibanez put out weak instruments. Sadly, like most people, I judged the models that are cheaper since the better Ibanezes aren't typically in music stores. Then I bought a new prestige. Totally changed my look on Ibanez. Now I would rock Ibanez before I rock Fender

 

[soulman969]

In '68, when I made the jump from upright to bass guitar, while there were choices one could make other than a Fender, Fender was THE choice to make. Lots of big-band bassists were playing Jazz basses. That's where I looked for inspiration. A friend had a Precision which felt like it weighed a ton and had about 5 miles of nut width. When I went into a store to try a Jazz, it just felt like a dream. There was no other choice. Remember that at that time, there were no guitar superstores like we see now, with 40 basses ready to try. There were choices, but nowhere near what we now see.

After a couple of years with my '68 I picked up a '65 Jazz and that was the end of any choices I ever had to make. This thing felt like it was made for me.

Now, after 37(!) years of not playing, I'm getting back to a bit of woodshedding. My '65 is long gone (sob), so a buddy gave me an Ibanez his kids had, but it just didn't motivate me to dig in and work on my chops. It feels like dragging a stone around.

Reading here at TB got my Fender mojo burning, but not having much cash for the enterprise I was resolved to stick with the Ibanez, but it wouldn't hurt to go look at some Fenders just for kicks, now would it? I must have plunked on about 5 or 6 MIA, MIM, Jazz whatevers before I picked up the Squier Jazz CV. Then it was like a trip back in time. The neck profile and the vintage frets just felt exactly right, even though needing some setup help. None of the "real Fenders" had that touch. It was obvious what I had to do. Buy a CV Jazz if I hoped to make any headway. I might find that feel in another Fender Jazz of more cubic dollar volume if I really searched, but when a Jazz Bass connects in the hand, that's what it's all about, regardless of price.

Much has been written in another thread about player vs. axe as to where "your sound" comes from. I feel that unless you have that natural at ease feel with the instrument in hand, the value of the tone is near nothing if it won't let you bring out the fullness of your innate inner potential. Great tone that you have to fight even a little bit to play with isn't great at all. A potentially more limited spectrum with a feel that allows your body to rock the limits of the axe is enough of a challenge to master. Quite honestly, I think a lot of people are much too caught up with "my sound" when it is actually "my musical value" that is what it is all about and what they should be focusing on.

For me, it will always be a Jazz.

iJazz

With the exception of the 37 years layoff this sounds awfully close to my story as well although I only stayed away from my basses for about 6 years.

When I first went shopping for a pro bass I tried a friends 63 PBass and while I eventually ended up buying it a few years later I just could never fall in love with that big wide neck. So I bought a 66 Jazz and despite wandering into some other territories over years I always came back to a Jazz Bass.

What iJazz describes is exactly what I felt when I played the CV Jazz I bought. It reminded me so much of my old 66 that it was like old home week with an dear old friend. It just fit. Maybe those of us who played those older Fenders are more in love with these CV's than other Fenders because they truly sound and play like those we cut out teeth on and the newer Standards just don't feel or sound quite the same. ?????

I think Ibby basses look pretty nice and I have played a few but I just can't get attached to anything else like I can a Jazz Bass.

 

[atomicdog]

I also like the small, lighter body of the Ibby--easier on the shoulders and back.

 

[jthurston]

Ibanez has a bass for every occasion and every player.

Ibanez quality is better than Fender at any given price point.

Ibanez is a more intelligent purchase than Fender.

Best of all, you're not a sheep if you buy an Ibanez. ;-)

Strongly disagree. I have owned and played both, and in my experience the typical sound quality, fit and finish and overall playability of a Fender (especially MIA) is superior to that of an Ibanez.

ALTHOUGH I should also point out that I love Ibanez Soundgear basses for the sleek neck and light overall weight. Properly set up and played through the right rig, they can be made to sound pretty dern good.

In general, it's simply a matter of personal preference. I think a strong case can be made for either Ibanez or Fender, which is why my collection includes both (well, it will, anyway...)