Ibanez discontinued models.

[Swin]

Why is it that Ibanez comes up with literally hundreds of exemplary models, but discontinues each after a few years of production?

the only one that's been around for any notable period of time is the SR500 series. All of the others have been demised.

Not entirely correct, The 500 series was absent for a few seasons around the turn of the century when the 400's were around, and there are plenty of other models that have been stable throughout the years, such as the SR300/400/800's and so on...and popular discontinued models usually make a return either to full production (Attack basses) or in limited runs (Musician basses). The models that really get axed are the ones that failed to drive decent sales, such examples are the Affirma's, Axestars or American Master series etc.

Also remember that instrument fashion styles change, material costs and factory costs fluctuate, and all play an important factor in
deciding what models make it into the seasons lineup. And you want to mix things up every now and then to keep attention to your product, for example i know of a few music retailers that switch all of the guitars on their walls every week or two so regular customers feel the shop is constantly changing and still have a urge to 'find new items' when there are none...all of these tactics help keep it fresh!

 

[dmonroe]

I'd love to have my old Musician back.

 

[74jazzbass]

I wish I had my black Roadster II back. 24 frets and p/j pickups,

 

[TinIndian]

I've got a SRT805DX - the neck thru series. It is a terrific bass.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Ibanez bass.

 

[tercesyrev]

I just got a SR5005e Prestige . . . Unbelievable! Ok, they're $2k but I'll put it up against all others at that price and many others that are higher. Interestingly, the manager at Guitar Center told me the most popular basses they sell is the SR series. Seems Ibanez must be doing something right.

 

[DerHoggz]

Innovation? At least they are changing things up.

 

[James Mobius]

I have a soundgear V, from around 89 I spoze, 88/89, which I LOVE, FAT sound, thin neck, awesome green colour no one else wanted because they thought the metallic aqua green paint looked like an Acura or something, I love it though. also a black 6 string soundgear from oh, cor when did I buy it... sometime in the last decade I guess, hah. less than 10 years ago, maybe 8, tops. very fat sound, the sound isn't that clear in the upper register, it was only about $600, but I tried the pricier version at the time, and it was buzzing, this one wasn't. I love the tone for funk, and metal. would absolutely buy more Ibanez products. (unpaid plug). the neck on my V does need some tweaking. I hate adjusting truss rods, scary. : / still. they're awesome. look feel and sound great, comfortable to play, the best reasonably priced commercial bass I've had, and I've owned and tried many things over the last, 31 years.

oh I want to add, the green bass, as my band calls it, was the first V I tried out in a store, and I hated it, did not like the balance knob, but that was just on principle, I don't really ever use any setting other than 50/50 or just the bridge pickup, and it was set up horribly with super heavy strings. next time I tried it, it was set up better, and I bought it. traded in my Alembic 4 string persuader for it, with a little cash, which hurt a little to part with, but it only had 1 pickup, and 4 strings. I don't really regret it. would love another Alembic next time I find a spare 7 grand in an old coat pocket.

 

[SpecialBlender]

I bought a Roadstar II Jazz new in the early 80's and really liked it. I had a lot of back & neck problems back then & just found it too heavy to play on stage all night. Spent another 6 years trying different stuff before I found my Precision Lyte. Would have kept that but I wanted to go the 5 string route and could only afford to own one bass. I tried a bunch of Ibanez 5'ers but unfortunately didn't like any off them.

Sure would love to have my old Roadstar back, it really was a sweetheart.

 

[Freelancer]

I really enjoy my 4 year old SRX390. I feel it has some of Ibanez's better pickups without going 3rd party.

 

[seeksthebalance]

I dig the old sr800. I got my first one in the early 90s. It wasn't the cheapest thing available at the time, but when I picked it up I could instantly play things that I could only hear in my head before. I've tried newer sr models, but none of them stand up, in my opinion. I love my Fender jazz basses, but the narrower neck of the 800 is quicker and easier for my short fingers.

Any idea how much you paid for it back then?

I'm doing some research on a 1992 sr800... nice instrument.

 

[Greevus]

Blazers and Roadstars kill everything else for me. i love the shapes and differences, but nothing sounds like the early to mid-'80s P style basses with maple necks.

 

[kayakbass]

Why is it that Ibanez comes up with literally hundreds of exemplary models, but discontinues each after a few years of production?

the only one that's been around for any notable period of time is the SR500 series. All of the others have been demised.

This is an easy one....sales numbers! No company will continue to build something that isn't selling....except GM ;o)

 

[tercesyrev]

Link Removed

Wish Ibanez didn't discontinue these . . . The Affirma model

 

[neversilence]

Looks like they no longer have the BTB700DX. I love my ibanez BTB700DX : )


Sometimes I thought wow if they discontinued maybe not so good. But then I found this thread in google seems they rotate a lot of basses over the years.

 

[rapidfirerob]

I wanted an inexpensive fretless, and couldn't afford to spend lots of money, so picked up the SR300, not expecting it to compete with my 85 Alembic Spoiler. It's perfectly fine for what it is. I wouldn't own one otherwise most likely. Those that have large budgets can look elsewhere.

 

[Bongolation]

To answer the question...

It's pretty simple: Like a lot of other brands (you can't really call them manufacturers), Ibanez contracts for so many of this design to be made in a run by Cor-Tek or some Chinese mill and that's that. It's over.

If it's a tremendously successful design, then maybe it's worth renegotiating a contract for an additional run, but their marketing model dictates that additional runs of one design are not as profitable as just coming up with something a little different. CAD makes switching designs around very inexpensive. More novelty = more interest.

It's really just that simple. Other brands do exactly the same thing with their contract imports, even when they keep their domestic in-house production more flexible. If you watched Fender's Cor-Tek contract instruments, they did exactly the same thing. Made a run, sold a few, dumped the rest at 60%-80% off at the end of their marketing cycle and contracted a new run of completely different instruments for the new catalog year. They're still doing it.

Business as usual!

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I have no inside contact for correlating information, but I believe you are probably 100% right.

 

[Mechanical]

Bongolation is wrong for the most part.

Soundgear basses have been around for over 25 years. Ditto with RG guitars. They have been because they are Ibanez's bread and butter. They are super popular. You can get a very Indonesian one for $400. You can get a Japanese Prestige for 4 times that. There are many price points for the instrument because you'd like to have customers with different means have accessiblity to the Ibanez products. Ibanez (and others) switch their manufacturing to Korea and Indonesia (and the PRC) for the same reason that every other company does: cost. The cost of manufacturing in these countries is lower and to compete at a particular price point means using these manufacturing sites.

Others are attempts to recreate that magic or to capitalize on a trend. Ibanez does not completely mirror the Fender business model of making the exact same model for decades with a variety of manufacturers to have instruments along the price spectrum, because of their ability to do market research, implement their designs based upon that research, and manufacture then sell the product.

 

[Maxdusty]

I'm hitting myself on the head for getting rid of my 80's Musician bass - (yes, the top of the line back then). It was too heavy for me, but sound was fantastic.

That being said, another Ibanez I really liked was the Ergodyne EDC700. Best Ergodyne imo.- Can't really find a Soundgear that plays quite like it.

 

[gregmon79]

I got my hands on an ATK300 on clearance just before they were discontinued. Now I see they have 200 andd 1200 models.

I too picked up an ATK 300 in a Sam Ash maybe 11 or 12 years ago and I absolutely love that bass, Im really happy I did it. It is my go-to over my P and or P/J. It also depends on what Im playing but the band Im in now does all original hard rock stuff so the ATK is my main bass. It is a ridiculously versatile and cutting bass. I have to give props to Ibanez for constantly trying new things, they usually do great work at very affordable prices. Something is working for them and Im happy to be an Ibanez supporter/user.