Ibanez really?

[BassGH]

I don't own an ibanez bass, but my go-to 6 string for many years has been a $500 ibanez semi hollow. At the time I bought it I was ready to drop $2k on a Gibson 335, but liked the sound and feel of the cheap guitar better. Still love that guitar. I'm assuming the basses have to be pretty high on the bang-for-the-buck scale too.

 

[TimE75]

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

Yeah, all their 'Japanese' work is very good - they also produce from Korea and Indonesia now, those are average. I have a 1986 RB850 from Japan, it's one of my favourites, active twin humbuckers, the neck is as good as any new/MIJ model, the other model just come out looks very good to, the SRSC looks amazing.

 

[Chinchano]

The SR505 I have will never leave me.

 

[Bassworship1]

For the one above that said the Premium Ibanez basses are average at best. I would rather have one of these than several 1500-2200 basses I've played and owned. My Prestige is as good as some $5000 basses I've owned. These are top of the line through build and tone.

 

[MoeTown1986]

Ibanez makes some great basses. None that I've played did it for me. But, they didn't do anything wrong.

 

[Deleted member 264575]

My SR1000 is a fantastic bass in every way. Yeah, it is my #2 bass, but it passed a lot of other basses to get to the #2 spot. It's smooth and fast and incredibly expressive. I had to check the headstock to see where it was made (Korea). This bass plays like a dream. It has virtually zero quality issues (I wish I could say that about my #1 bass). It sets up real low, which combined with the thin neck makes it incredibly fast and effortless to play. You can get a lot of tones with the Vari-Mid system (or whatever it's called). It's real light and the body is curved, so it is a very comfortable bass, too. Also, It really likes effects. it has a very high quality sound, IMHO. Lastly, I think it's nice to look at.

 

[wraub]

I have 2 '85 RB 885 basses- 3 piece necks, ebony fingerboards, active PUs- great basses for pretty cheap.

 

[FourBanger]

Ibanez products span the same range as Squier/Fender/Fender Custom Shop and do it for a little better value all around.

My brag story is recently buying a Korean SR400 with a solid maple body in like new condition for under $200. Can't beat that for $200 unless you steal something.

 

[Antisyzygy]

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.

I have this model too. I like pretty much everything about it except the electronics. I found it at a pawn shop. What Barts did you end up putting in there? I'm just curious because I'm not sure what pickups will work for these routes.

I mean, I can measure it, but soapbars come in all sizes so it's hard to figure out what the standard is.

Thanks!

 

[yakmastermax]

I was trying to buy an SR1400 in blue today but it got sniped on ebay.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I used to play both P and J basses in the 70's. In 1980 I bought an Ibanez Roadstar. All of a sudden I found my sound. No dead spots. No baseball bat necks! Up front in your face tone! I never looked back. One day though I will have another P bass out of recognition that was the first pro bass I ever owned.

I agree with you. So many people make stupid assumptions about a brand then discover later that they were very wrong. I'm glad I enjoyed my professional career using an Ibanez and never having an issue with them. Ever.

 

[BurningTheAltar]

My first bass was a 5 string Ibanez Ergodyne and I've been hooked ever since. Some people like to write them off as junk, which I don't get. As far as body styles go, Ibanez is far more innovative than most of the higher end companies. I'll take a mid to high end Ibanez over a Ric, Fender, or Lakeland any day of the week, aesthetically those basses bore me.

 

[bearfoot]

I sold a SR506 a few months back......missed it so much, I had to get another one

This one is not so pretty, but a great bass

Hard to go wrong with any Ibanez

Edit: I wish I never sold my MIJ Roadstar either

View attachment 852241

I have the same bass, similarly worn, since January. Been having a blast with it - recorded a slower, sinuous version of "When the Doves Cry" with it tonight, through a fretless preset on a Boss GT10B - it might be the best growly tone I've recorded, and a bass solo that goes all the way to the top C...too much fun, that bass is.

 

[vbchaos]

I was an Ibanez fanboy, really. I played an SR605 and was really happy with it. Especially with the very fast and slim necks. Until I bought a Dingwall NG2. Sorry, but there is not even the slightest possibility of comparison. And that is OK, because there is about 1000$ in between the two. But remember, the NG2 is just the entrance-model
I recently went to a bigger guitar shop and tested some of the newer ibanez basses, including the fanned-fret versions, and they just don't do the trick anymore. The fanned-frets basses are even dangerous because the nut has very sharp edges and you can cut your hand open when playing the lowest registers on the E and B string. Sorry, but a ~2000$ bass should be better.

That doesn't mean I hate mt SR605, I still play it. Have put it in different tuning and use it at home alot

 

[Max Blasto]

I've been using a BTB five string as my main rock bass for years now. I have plenty of other basses, but if I want to sound like "me" in a rock band, the BTB gets the gig. This one is a bolt on MIJ from 2002. The modern ones are cool too, but the neck through body shape and tone are a little different.

I like the SR models too, but I prefer the 35" scale of the BTBs. If they made SRs in biggie size, I'd go for it cuz they look great and sound terrific.

On the other hand, my guitarist has a Soundgear bass for around the house and while the neck is ridiculously thin and fast, everytime I hear a recording of me playing it I want to throw it out on the freeway. All big companies have a range from lame to fame. Gotta pick what you like.

 

[bassbooty]

I've been a fan of the mid to high end models in the SR series when I played them in stores, but didn't purchase any until I discovered the SR Premium neck-thru model last year. Now I own both a 4-string & 5-string version of it > SR1400TE and SR1405TE. For the past 6 months these two basses have gotten more play than my Warwick Streamer Stage II basses. I like that they are lightweight, well balanced and feature premium woods such as wenge/bubinga neck and flamed maple top. I prefer the sound/feel of through-body wenge necks so that was big for me in my decision to purchase them. Plus I absolutely love the tone that the Nordstrand Big Singles put out! I also upgraded the preamp in both basses to the Aguilar OBP-3, which brought a vast improvement in overall tone. It's hard to find this quality at this price point for a neck-through bass, but Ibanez has done it!

 

[el murdoque]

Yeah, i can totally relate to the OP.
I own two Ibanez basses, a fretless P from '78 where i suppose that it easily takes on any Fender from the seventies in Terms of Sound - - and a BTB 6 string that sits beside
basses that cost at least twice as much - but can compete in terms of sound and quality.

 

[Liam Kidwell]

Ibanez is awesome! I think they make some of the best 6 strings. I have one of the lower end models (SR256 I think) and its a spectacular bass!

 

[MNAirHead]

there was someone that posted "they're not botique quality."

I own several $$$$$$$$$$ botique basses... the prior statement is less than factual -- I'd confidently say that the upper end ones are on par with my dreamlist botiques.

For the money... USA Peavey and Ibanez seem to be predictable values.... bring them in and have them setup...a nd they're very giggable...

I'd rather gig an ibanez than my $$$$$$$$ collectable era fender

 

[Wolfenstein666]

I have an Ibanez Prestige SR3000SOL from either 99 or 2000. I got it when I first started taking playing seriously as an upgrade from a Soundgear. I had no idea what I was buying or looking for, I did the classic 'oh that one looks cool, gimme' thing and ended up lucking out. Its a great bass. Ibanez has a weird stigma about them but they (for the most part) do not make junk.

Old picture.

edited for insertion of old action shot.