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Ibanez Prestige vs Premium

MEKer

MEKer

Supporting member
May 30, 2006
6,081
3,586
#1
Using the Ibanez site prices (yeah, I know, stores can be lower): The $2266 Prestige has Barts for pups and the $1399 Premium has Norstrand Big Single pups. The other differences just don't add up in my mind to an over $850 price difference. Personally I'd prefer the Premium with the Big Singles. If I had the bucks I'd buy it today. YMMV.

Anyone else think the price difference is a bit high between the two?
 
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#5
I tried both prestige and premium some time ago. They both were same quality but sounded a little different. Prestige was more "Hifi" and maybe a little neutral sounding. Premium was also Hifi but it had more traditional edge on it. I bought the premium straight away. best bang for the buck i have ever spend.

Oh, and I got some sound samples of my premium on my youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/JesseMalaska
 
#7
I love Ibby basses. I own a few and planning on adding more in the near future. I've played older Prestige models and the current Premium - I don't know how the current Prestige models sound/feel - BUT: IMO the Premium basses are killer! Amazing quality for such a decent price! I wouldn't pay more for a Prestige not even if I'd be rolling in cash...the Prestige are pretty damn perfect in my book.
 
#9
I have to say I love my Premium, the SR1205E, and it really did shine when gigging it this last week. I moved some gear to get it and there are no regrets on my part. Very solid basses.

I can't say anything bad about the Prestige models, I just couldn't afford one. If I could, I would give them a serious look as well.
 
#10
Mr.Typhus said:
I tried both prestige and premium some time ago. They both were same quality but sounded a little different. Prestige was more "Hifi" and maybe a little neutral sounding. Premium was also Hifi but it had more traditional edge on it. I bought the premium straight away. best bang for the buck i have ever spend.

Oh, and I got some sound samples of my premium on my youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/JesseMalaska
Click to expand...

Wow, great playing and I see what you mean on the tone !! I love the tone you're getting from your Premium. I own a Prestige but all I've been hearing lately is that player's who's opinion's I trust go with the Premium over the Prestige. I may need to get one. Oh, and reviving a two year old thread...
 
#11
Wow was just searching For a prestige And came across this. I have 2 SR805's & love them. Just bought the premium a month ago and it blew my mind. Thought if I spent the money on the prestige it would even be better but now I might just get another premium facebook Adestaband has 3 live videos of my premium. I'm using an svt4pro with sansamp but the tone is all premium. Almost want to use my 2 thousand dollar musicman as firewood.
 
#12
Hi, Im from Indonesia, and I must tell you that there are quite famous brands that build their products here in Indonesia such as Squier, MTD Kingston, Ibanez, Cort, Dame, Clive, ESP, Schecter, GnL, etc. When I read some positive comments about the build quality, I was quite enthusiastic because those positive comments means that Indonesia can be accounted for good quality product with affordable price. :bassist:
 
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#16
I can't say about the Prestige but it would be hard for me to imagine a bass being worth about 600 more than this beauty. These basses are amazing and worth every penny.
image.jpg
 
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#17
I've owned several Prestige basses over the years and have found that their greatest strength is in their fretwork. I would feel bad everytime I pressed into those strings because I didn't want to tarnish or wear into them. The quality is a direct result of the skill-level of the builders; and that is directly related to experience-levels and experience costs money. Somewhere in here you can make a sports analogy (among many others).

At the end of the day, what matters is what works for you. You can find a Premium that knocks it out of the park, but that's all subjective. Different strokes for different folks!

Best of luck!
 
#18
I did a side by side comparison of the SR5006e Prestige & SR1206e Premium for 30 days thanks to Guitar Center's trial period. I really struggled on which one to select but in the end I chose the SR1205 Premium. The price differential was a main reason and the fact the Premium just sounded better. I think Ibanez missed the boat on the Presitge's electronics & PUPs. Very Hi-FI, dead quiet but with less bite. Great for studio work but I play mostly live venues. I don't think the Prestige is overly priced based on other boat oar looking basses that demand the same $$ but don't play as nice. I just think the Premium model may be under priced and thus a fantastic value. And because of that the Premium depreciates less than the Prestige. I thought craftsmanship was just a tad more refined on the Prestige but the difference didn't add up to $850. I must say though the SR5000 Prestige series is one awesome looking bass with that Bubinga / Mahogany combo. Overall both trim levels have excellent fit, finish & fret work.

The older Prestiges (before Premiums were introduced) are fantastic basses as well.
 
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#20
Having owned both a premium and prestige at the same time I'll weigh in a vote for the premium. They're close enough to be considered exactly the same bass excepting electronics/pickups. The prestige may be ever so slightly nicer but its not enough to matter. I preferred the premium for the sound and the much lighter weight. It was enough for me to sell the prestige and buy another premium.

Ill agree that ibanez is missing the boat by having the cheaper bass made with the same materials but sound much better. Had the prestige used the nordstrands and the premium used the Bart's I'd have kept the prestige, might have even kept it if they both had nords but as they sit now its a no brainer.
 
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