Ibanez really?

[matt holt]

I think Ibanez has a reputation of being "low end" just because they charge much more reasonably than the "High end" brands. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'd put a $700 Ibanez up against A $1200 Fender any day of the week, both in terms of features, design, and quality control.

 

[edencab]

I'd love an ATK , but they weigh a ton!

 

[skeeler]

I currently own Ibanez BTB33, SRSC805, and SR500 basses. I also own an Ibanez S771PB guitar and a Gibson SG Standard bass. I love the slim necks and low weights of Ibanez instruments, and I feel that you get good value for money with them.

 

[wcriley]

I think a lot of those import manufacturers got a bad rep back in the 70s and early 80s and it just stuck around for a lot longer than was necessary.

A friend of mine was an Ibanez dealer in the early/mid 70s. They were very good instruments back then.

 

[Mike.C.]

My go-to is an Ibanez SR250. Yes, I had to change out the pickups (installed Bartolini's) but admittedly it was their cheapest model. Otherwise, weight, tone, everything about it is amazing.

 

[J.D. Detroit]

I've had several bass and guitars over the years. Good stuff.
The SRX400 I have has been a main player and sounds huge. (the stock wiring/bass circuit have been replaced)
ATKs are another favorite of mine. Paul D'amour turned me onto those.

 

[Up the dose]

30 years ago Ibanez basses were good "value for their price point" basses. Now they're just good basses. I have yet to play one that disappointed me. Very consistent build quality.

 

[123321]

i recently purchased an ibanez sr1500p from classifieds and I am blown away completely by this bass. It's made of paduake wood or soemthing. I have and have had some pretty high end basses and this bass is either as good or better sounding then most of them.
1) I thought all ibanez stuff was junk
2) I had always heard stuff where people would say their inexpensive basses sound as good as expensive basses. I always write this off as wishful thinking on their part
Go figure

Your bass is from (I'm gonna guess) around 1992, made in Japan, Paduak body, Wenge/Bubinga neck, Wenge fingerboard (ebony?), vari-tone mid circuit, etc... Paduak is used for marimbas and stuff because of its highly resonant qualities and "ring"...

You can tell the year of fabrication by the serial number. It'll be F92 (example)... These basses and guitars from that era are just sleepers and wonderful axes for the most part! Check out my own 1996 SR900VOL currently for sale in the classifieds for a smoking bass for CHEAP! I've always dug the SR1500 and SB1500 basses... They are more scarce than some but- obtainable with dedication...

Ibanez jumps around in models a lot over the years... A couple of great resources are:

Google these:

Ibanez Rules

Ibanez JP Anniversary

A lot of data between those two...

 

[micguy]

If Ibanez made basses with thicker necks (I have big hands) I'd probably own one or more. I like 'em right up to tge point where my left hand tells me things are too cramped.

 

[Odinbass]

Ibanez makes some great basses. My current #1 is an SR1800. I think because they don't have the history, big names, and classic design; they get overlooked by a lot of people. The hard-to-remember alphanumeric model names don't help either.

 

[DWBass]

Ibanez probably has the greatest range of basses, most good to excellent with a few solid beginner bases. I started with their GSR series, inexpensive and basic. I went away and came back, my SR655 is my go to bass.

Agreed. A friend of mine asked me to set up his bass. Was a GR200 or something like that. Very inexpensive. After I set it up with low low action, I couldn't stop playing the thing. Sounded really good. Electronics weren't bad sounding at all. I owned a 90's SR505 for about 10 years. Excellent bass.

 

[bassbooty]

If Ibanez made basses with thicker necks (I have big hands) I'd probably own one or more. I like 'em right up to tge point where my left hand tells me things are too cramped.

The BTB series have bigger necks with wider string spacing. Check 'em out, you might like 'em...

 

[placedesjardins]

I switched to Ibanez because the SR is light weight, and my Yamaha BB wasn't. I was hoping to get a Yamaha ne5 but i would have to donate a kidney or something.

The SRX, SR body with two humbuckers, is not light, but the humbuckers on it seemed to be versatile for an intermediate level bass. I liked the punch it could provide.

 

[ColonelZulu]

My 83 Ibanez MC940 musician is an iconic bass!

 

[DanAdams]

My 83 Ibanez MC940 musician is an iconic bass!

yup.
If you think those new ones are cool, just check out the mojo on the old Musicians and Studios. There is nothing finer than late 70s early 80s Ibanez.

this is a 1980 studio. Forget gigging with it, it's so heavy that it even hurts your leg when sitting It's called the Studio for a reason.
I've got a load of musicians and roadstars too. nothing touches them

 

[MarTONEbass]

I'm an Ibanez admirer as well. I have an SR1205 from the 90s that is an amazing bass. I have owned a recent SR655 with Nordstrands and it was unbelievable, it really blew me away. The low B on some of their newer basses is AMAZING due in large part to the 3-piece neck construction. Even the Ibanez models with the less expensive Barts sound surprisingly good. If you can get around the tight spacing, the new SRs are quite impressive.

 

[mwbassace]

I bought an Artcore AGB140 (Transparent Brown w/white binding all around, 34" scale) when they first came out for I believe $400 w/hardshell case. It's a beautiful looking & great playing bass, sounds good plugged in or not & has an awesome open E.

 

[LowStringNinja]

Ibanez basses are great..they're just simply Ibanez. I've had a few, and have a couple now. I've been more drawn to my Spector lately for the tone and punch for most of what I've been doing...but when I go to lay back and jam on some slap-happy jazzy type stuff, I grab the Ibanez

 

[CGremlin]

I've always been pleased with Ibanez, and I gigged an RB-800 almost exclusively from 1987 to about 2002. If I were still gigging, the RB would be too.

 

[TheMartianBassist]

I've bragged about my baby a thousand times but I'll do it again:

I sold a $7000 MTD 635-24 for the Ibanez SR 5006 Prestige.
Best 6 string I've played so far.
And significantly cheaper.