Ibanez basses played by pros?

[Pat C.]

Those are 2 gorgeous basses!

Thanks. I really dig the natural wood look. My main bass for many years was my NYBW 6 string with a quilted maple top - seen in my blurry avatar. But I got to traveling heavily in a RV/bus with my last band and I wanted a couple of instruments that looked good for wedding/corporate work and sounded good for various musical styles. These two fit the bill. And they're not so expensive (I purchased used) that I worry about them being on the road.

If I were in a blues, rock or metal band I might be making a different bass choice just based on aesthetics.

 

[BaltBass5]

I am pretty sure that Robbie Merril of Godsmack plays a Spector but yes Fieldy uses ibanez

You may be right about Robbie now but for years he played SR800’s

 

[nutdog]

this guy

 

[Starflyer59]

this guy

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i second that motion, Ibanez is the best bass for polka: for example


you dont see someone playing an ATK everyday for that genre

 

[Playbyear]

i second that motion, Ibanez is the best bass for polka: for example

you dont see someone playing an ATK everyday for that genre

I was just going to ask "What's the best bass for Polka"

 

[jonnybass1]

You may be right about Robbie now but for years he played SR800’s

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That’s cool! I was always a fan of Godsmack but I only saw them live recently and on YouTube recently so I thought he always played a Spector.

 

[jonnybass1]

I was just going to ask "What's the best bass for Polka"

Apparently the best bass for polka is a SR500

 

[nutdog]

i second that motion, Ibanez is the best bass for polka: for example


you dont see someone playing an ATK everyday for that genre

This is without a doubt my favorite polka band.

 

[Kawai2g4b]

I don't mean to trigger any Ibanez owners here but I think this is the case because there is no perceived character established by Ibanez basses. It's just not what we associate to a 'tone' we hear.

Fender tone (P bass tone, jazz tone), musicman tone (SR/sterling), wal bass, alembic, warwick tone. These all have very specific characters. Then there are makers like sadowsky, fbass etc which aim to augment and make 'newer' versions of basses with some of the aforementioned tones.

I don't think anyone knows what an 'Ibanez bass tone' is. It just doesn't seem to have a character that the general populous can associate with the brand.

For example, I think it's dead obvious that Bruno mars' treasure was 100% recorded with a P style bass. I think there's no mistake that RHCP's aeroplane was recorded with a stingray style bass. I can't say I've ever heard a song and felt "that must be an ibby". IMO this plays a huge role in pro utilization as musicians are chasing tones which usually come from benchmarks or their influences and people (non pros) tend to follow their favourite musicians.

Fieldy is an example of an ibby player but his bass tone is arguably not very interesting to the general populous of bass players either - his tone works very well in his specific style but most people aren't into that style. I feel like if you're into the heavier genres, dingwall has established a MUCH stronger 'tone' association in heavier music than ibz in the last few years.

As such, I feel like Ibanez has established itself (rightfully so imo) as a bang for buck type brand in the low-mid level of bass guitars (not saying they don't have high end models). Therefore Pro's who usually tend to aim for higher end gear with representative tones and consider other options first.

Most of why Ibanez doesn’t have an establish character is a direct result of years of offering instruments that have a close resemblance to an established brand’s offering (ATK, TR, Roadstar). For this example, Fender and Warwick typically don’t go out and try to ape each other’s construction and components. Hence, there are two distinct identities.

In addition the huge variety of bodies and construction methods used, Ibanez has used a variety of preamps in their active basses through the years. That said, viewed within their own boxes, Ibanez basses sound very nice at multiple price points. But that much variety naturally points to no singular voice across the product line. A little trickier to market perhaps.

 

[Playbyear]

Some people pronounce it:

E-bahn-yez.

It sounds more exotic that way.

 

[diegom]

I played an Peavey Rudy Sarzo bass for about 15 years. Every night. I didn't even bring a spare. A few regulars would give me a hard time about it.

I also played a Peavey RS for a while. A solid, all-around good sounding bass. No one ever noticed it being a "Rudy Sarzo" sig model...

A while later, I showed up with a Washburn... That's when they let me have it!!!

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[abarson]

I'm by no means an Ibby fanboi, but after seeing the @wintremute NAMM 2020 thread I'd say that there is no other major manufacturer who is taking more risks (headless, multi-scale, finishes, etc.) and has more models (TMB SS, TMB MS, Artcore, ATK, SDGR, etc.) covering more of the market. In other words, if Ibanez is tracking the market and delivering on demand at a high quality and reasonably affordable, do they really need a bass poster child?

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

Dave Swift.

 

[wintremute]

I'm by no means an Ibby fanboi, but after seeing the @wintremute NAMM 2020 thread I'd say that there is no other major manufacturer who is taking more risks (headless, multi-scale, finishes, etc.) and has more models (TMB SS, TMB MS, Artcore, ATK, SDGR, etc.) covering more of the market. In other words, if Ibanez is tracking the market and delivering on demand at a high quality and reasonably affordable, do they really need a bass poster child?

Preach!

 

[A9X]

There are still plenty of folks out there that believe it is the end all and be all of instruments to say “Made in USA” on it. “Made in Japan” (as Ibby’s most top quality line is) just doesn’t have the same appeal.

That assumes you're from the US. Most of the world isn't so the MIA moniker doesn't neccessary mean best in many parts of the world.

If it's build quality, I would easily put my 90s Korean Ibanez up against a modern USA Fender. In fact, I would said the better quality 90s Korean Ibanez I have is a much better build bass overall than either USA Fender that I have. My Japanese Ibanez is nicer still.

Same here. I've bought and sold a lot of instruments over the years including many Fenders and the F&F of the MIA units surprised me how poor it was compared to modest MIA/MIK units. I'd put my 83 RB620 up against any MIA Fender in that regard.

 

[DTRN]

View attachment 3677834 I don’t know your definition of a Pro and I don’t consider myself one at least not at the level of Wooten etc. but I’ve been playing sine I was 16 I’m 59 now so go with that. I’ve always wanted a Fancy wood bass because I always had and have your classics Fender, Lakland, etc. Ive been on the fence for sometime about this SR650E, anyone have any feedback on them? Every time I go to a music store and I see these Ibanez basses or similar ones I try them out and they feel really good and sound and look cool as hell!

I hope I can help. I own that model as well as 2 other Ibbys. The GSR100EX(best $150 I ever spent) and the SR1820. Also own 2 Fender PJ's, MIA & MIM. Both very nice players with Jazz necks. Also have the Chapman 5 string MLB1-5...very nice bass. That all said...The SR650e is my got to. Covers all the sounds I need. So the versatility and those Nordstrands will certainly wear my frets out in a hurry.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

That is Phil lynott from Thin Lizzy (Boys are back in town)

thanks... wasn’t sure.

What is interesting is when he toured when The Boys are back in Town came out, he played a Rick Ric-O-Sound Bi-amped.I saw a picture of that rig... Hiwatt 100 into a 4-12 Hiwatt Bottom for the bridge pickup, and a neck pu went into an SVT, not sure of the bottom, either the 8-10 fridge or the V-4B 2-15 reflex coffin bottom. What is interesting, well to me at least, I had that same rig about a year before that picture was shot. It was a killer sound, but totally obsolete by today’s standards.

 

[Kukulkan61]

I hope I can help. I own that model as well as 2 other Ibbys. The GSR100EX(best $150 I ever spent) and the SR1820. Also own 2 Fender PJ's, MIA & MIM. Both very nice players with Jazz necks. Also have the Chapman 5 string MLB1-5...very nice bass. That all said...The SR650e is my got to. Covers all the sounds I need. So the versatility and those Nordstrands will certainly wear my frets out in a hurry.

Thank you Sir

 

[Leo Thunder]

That assumes you're from the US. Most of the world isn't so the MIA moniker doesn't neccessary mean best in many parts of the world.

"Made in America" stated as an expression of value mostly means that a prejudiced ignorant is speaking.

 

[Scootbass1]

I also played a Peavey RS for a while. A solid, all-around good sounding bass. No one ever noticed it being a "Rudy Sarzo" sig model...

A while later, I showed up with a Washburn... That's when they let me have it!!!

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I had two of those B-70 basses. One in 1985, it was a first issue bolt on. The second was a 1986 neck through I had around 1993 or so. The bolt on sounded better to me and was lighter. I have owned many Ibanez basses, and all of them were great basses to me.
Cheers,
Mike