So those of you who have owned and played Ibanez fretless basses, how do you like them compared to other companies fretless offerings? I know that Ibanez seems to have a lot of different fretless basses compared to other companies. I’m assuming their more expensive offerings are quality instruments
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Ibanez fretless basses
- Thread starter Cory rich40
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Of Ibanez's current fretless basses, the only ones I haven't tried (yet) are the SRD90xF, EHB1005F and the SDGB1.
(I'm using lowercase x instead of a number since the model number changes with string count.)
Setting aside what your budget is for the moment, I'd say that each of their fretlesses are very different, both in feel and sound, so instead of picking the most expensive one you can afford you should aim towards the one that best suits the sound and the feel you want. The cheapest one (SR37xEF) is a standard Soundgear without frets. It's actually your best option if you want a conventional-sounding modern bass.
The more expensive ones are all idiosyncratic in slightly different ways. The SR50xF, SRF70x and SRD90xF are all designed in different ways to cop a more upright bass-ish tone. The SR50xF and SRD90xF are both semi-hollow, the SR50xF doesn't even have pickups, only a piezo bridge. The SRF70x is solid-body but still manages a very woody tone. The SRF70x and SRD90xF both have ultra-extended fingerboards (30 stops) to mimic the range of an upright, both have a combination of piezo and magnetic pickups which doesn't quite provide the tonal range you might expect but are still pretty flexible within the scope of what they can do.
I know the least about the SDGB1 and EHB1005F -- the first is basically a fretless BTB and aside from the color and lack of frets it doesn't seem to add any unique features that you can't get in fretted BTB basses; the second is a fretless version of the EHB1000, and I haven't had the chance to try anything in the EHB series yet (except one 6-string multiscale, it was a little too far out of what I'm interested in for me to have any strong opinions about). Both of them are only available in 5-string, so if you want 4 or 6 versions you're out of luck.
The SR50xF and SRF70x are both built to address upright tone in different ways -- the SRF70x is more flexible (it's got pickups) but is still not going to have the sort of sustain and upper-mids punch you'd be able to get with the SR37xEF, at least not without some EQ and fiddling with compression/limiting effects.
In many ways the SR37xEF might be the most versatile of the bunch -- if you want to play rock and roll on a fretless bass, that might be your best choice. I'd try that one first if I want to sound like Jaco or Pino or Kumalo or etc. Don't assume cheaper means worse, it's cheap because of economy of scale -- it can be built on the same assembly lines as the majority of Soundgears they make by the tens of thousands. This also means it's the easiest to mod if you want to change the pickups or electronics. The other Soundgear fretlesses each have unique bodies and have to be made in considerably smaller quantities.
(I'm using lowercase x instead of a number since the model number changes with string count.)
Setting aside what your budget is for the moment, I'd say that each of their fretlesses are very different, both in feel and sound, so instead of picking the most expensive one you can afford you should aim towards the one that best suits the sound and the feel you want. The cheapest one (SR37xEF) is a standard Soundgear without frets. It's actually your best option if you want a conventional-sounding modern bass.
The more expensive ones are all idiosyncratic in slightly different ways. The SR50xF, SRF70x and SRD90xF are all designed in different ways to cop a more upright bass-ish tone. The SR50xF and SRD90xF are both semi-hollow, the SR50xF doesn't even have pickups, only a piezo bridge. The SRF70x is solid-body but still manages a very woody tone. The SRF70x and SRD90xF both have ultra-extended fingerboards (30 stops) to mimic the range of an upright, both have a combination of piezo and magnetic pickups which doesn't quite provide the tonal range you might expect but are still pretty flexible within the scope of what they can do.
I know the least about the SDGB1 and EHB1005F -- the first is basically a fretless BTB and aside from the color and lack of frets it doesn't seem to add any unique features that you can't get in fretted BTB basses; the second is a fretless version of the EHB1000, and I haven't had the chance to try anything in the EHB series yet (except one 6-string multiscale, it was a little too far out of what I'm interested in for me to have any strong opinions about). Both of them are only available in 5-string, so if you want 4 or 6 versions you're out of luck.
The SR50xF and SRF70x are both built to address upright tone in different ways -- the SRF70x is more flexible (it's got pickups) but is still not going to have the sort of sustain and upper-mids punch you'd be able to get with the SR37xEF, at least not without some EQ and fiddling with compression/limiting effects.
In many ways the SR37xEF might be the most versatile of the bunch -- if you want to play rock and roll on a fretless bass, that might be your best choice. I'd try that one first if I want to sound like Jaco or Pino or Kumalo or etc. Don't assume cheaper means worse, it's cheap because of economy of scale -- it can be built on the same assembly lines as the majority of Soundgears they make by the tens of thousands. This also means it's the easiest to mod if you want to change the pickups or electronics. The other Soundgear fretlesses each have unique bodies and have to be made in considerably smaller quantities.
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I love the Gary Willis sound, so I have his signature GWB205. I don't feel it's worth it to get the 1005 for twice the money, unless you don't mind spending that. It has a real modern sound. Doesn't sound like a double bass at all unless you do some EQ-ing. If you like Gary's sound it's the way to go. I wouldn't get the GWB35 because it sounds distinctively different and with an upgraded pickup and preamp your in the same ballpark as the GWB205. The 25th anniversary will get you the same as a GWB205 but in a shiny grey color.
Great summary of a large and slightly confusing inventory
.I have the piezo-only 4 string, purchased precisely for its simplicity. I guess it fits in their mid-tier, nicely made but no frills, very light (semi-hollow), 5-piece neck, panga panga fingerboard, lined (but quite subtly), lots of mwah (too much for my taste) with stock Chromes and set up, but obviously that can be dealt with. My only other fretless is a custom build (not originally for me, I hasten to add), so I can’t compare with other big brands. Ibanez seems to be one of the few who have a focus on fretless; some of their models (aside from the Willis) seem to have been designed as fretless but have a fretted version, rather than the other way around. They have a fairly particular neck profile, which you may or may not like (I do).
I've owned a few, I like them better than the Fenders I owned. I was able to get really nice action on all of them.
Had a GWB35 for probably 15+ years now. Plays great but I’d say if you can spring for a Warwick fretless they feel a bit better
Thanks for explaining the differences. Been wanting to explore fretless and you have made Ibanez models much easier to understand as I have not been able to find more than one or two near me. Will probably go with SR 37X.
I have an Ibanez MC-940.
It is a little bit more vintage sounding compared to a Yamaha TRB-1005F.
Playability and sound are excellent.
I don’t know other Ibanez fretless basses.
It is a little bit more vintage sounding compared to a Yamaha TRB-1005F.
Playability and sound are excellent.
I don’t know other Ibanez fretless basses.
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Excellent summaries above. I have the low-end model, the SR370EF, and I am more than pleased with it. It greatly exceeded my expectations of what a $475 fretless could do. Neck is thin and super fast, board is very nice, Brazilian cherry. I have it set up with Chrome flats, med/light, and it sounds fabulous. It is by far the least expensive of my five basses (others are fretted), but it is the one that I really want to play. Since I am not a primarily fretless player, and this is my first fretless, I like the fret lines being visible at the edge of the board. Easy to check orientation if the ears hear something unexpected while I'm playing.
Here are some pics.
Here are some pics.
Very nice, looks like an Ebony fingerboard? That is something I would like, something you don't find on them now, only Ebanol on one headless 5 string. Most are Panga Panga. The SR700 fretless used to be rosewood, but changed over a few years ago. I have Panga Panga on my SR1350B fretted and just cannot quite see it on a fretless, though they say it works.
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I think you'll be pleased. A couple things to note. It has a very high output, the p'ups are overwound dual pole to give you bright highs plus solid mids, which benefits fretless. I set the pre-amp at about half the setting I use for all my other basses. The pre-amp has three positions, allowing you to isolate of combine the poles. One setting for hum bucking mode, one for single p'up mode, one for a pumped up, scooped version of the single. I like the hum bucking mode, sounds best to my ears. Single p'up setting is a little weak sounding, scooped a little too much for me. The only downside, and this is true of most Ibanez regardless of their price level, is the Strat-style recessed output jack. It just sucks. You can only use cables which have a good connector plug. I find that Amphenol connector plugs work best.
With proper strings and a good set-up, and a decent cable, it leaves little to be desired.
The only Ibby fretless bass I've had the opportunity to play was Gary's in the early '00s after a Tribal Tech gig. He had the action set so low that I could not produce any clean, not buzzing notes from it! But hearing Gary play it from about 10' from him was pretty magical.
I have an SRD900F that I like a lot. As noted, semi-hollow with the extended fingerboard and both piezos and magnetic pickups. Only an upright sounds like an upright but the 900F on just the piezos is closer than any other electric bass I've played. (Part of sounding like an upright is technique, too.) I bet if I put tapes on it it'd be even closer but I haven't tried that yet.
On the magnetics it sounds kind of like a cross between a Tony Franklin and a jazz; more Franklin on the neck and more jazz on the bridge. This is probably because of the pickups, which are Nordstrand split-coil-in-single-coil-housing pickups. I think they sound terrific, but it is a particular sound and if that sound isn't for you, then this isn't the right bass. I think @ardgedee was implying that.
Blending with the piezos gives yet another sound profile, so there is indeed some flexibility—I actually really like the magnetics blended with the piezos—but if you want that pure Jaco jazz tone, it doesn't quite get all the way there. (The pickups are a little too midrangey. EQ gets it pretty close, though.) I have a fretless jazz so this suits me fine and actually I prefer the sound of the Ibanez anyway, but YMMV.
The one thing I do hate about it is the stupid strat-style jack, which is a somewhat common misfeature on Ibanez basses but annoying as crap (fire whoever keeps putting these on basses). Otherwise it's a winner in my book. And pretty.
Excellent points... I think a lot of arguments back and forth over finding a bass guitar that sounds like an upright kind of circle around (without acknowledging) the ways different double basses can sound from each other.
Are there any Ibanez 4 string fretless with a chunkier neck?
All I've seen (not that many) had that really thin, flat profile.
All I've seen (not that many) had that really thin, flat profile.
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I own the Steve Digiorgio signature model. So far I’m impressed. The gotoh tuners are an improvement over the standard BTB tuners. Hopefully it will sound just as good in a group setting and cut through.
I doubt it. My pretty new fretless and my 1981 fretted MIJ PJ Roadster (not Roadstar) have the same profile. The older bass is wider (44 mm vs 37 mm at the nut) but just as flat. Fortunately, I like that profile (shared by my non-Ibanez custom fretless), but if you really don’t, you may need to look elsewhere.
