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Ibanez really?
- Thread starter happychicken
- Start date
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.
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A friend's end who I lost contact with had a 5-String version of this, a SR3005e (MIJ) I believe. It was an amazing bass. Great workmanship and I loved the Bartolini's. It was an awesome player and sounded great. I wanted to buy it off of him but it was a go to bass for him so he never had any interest in selling it.
I'm an Ibanez guy myself and have owned probably 8 or more Premium bad Prestige basses over the last 3 years. Loved all of them and they are all just players. I do wish they would make some with 18mm spacing. I think it would be better for alot of people.
My goto and backup are both Ibanez. SR805 and SR655 respectively. In every genre I've seen someone playing a Fender; I've also seen someone playing an Ibanez. I think there used to be some mis-placed stigma or perception that Ibanez were "metal" basses but I've played latin, gospel, R&B, Top 40 and metal on mine.
Ibanez makes some fantastic basses, and impressively inexpensive too for the quality you get.
My own main is an Ibanez Mikro, and I never owned a bass more comfortable to play, even if it is the cheapest one I ever owned.
The pickups could have been better, although they are not exactly bad sounding either, I guess they had to save money somewhere for that price, but I am planing to swap them at some point anyway, even if it is going to cost me almost as much as I payed for the entire bass, it is worth it.
My own main is an Ibanez Mikro, and I never owned a bass more comfortable to play, even if it is the cheapest one I ever owned.
The pickups could have been better, although they are not exactly bad sounding either, I guess they had to save money somewhere for that price, but I am planing to swap them at some point anyway, even if it is going to cost me almost as much as I payed for the entire bass, it is worth it.
- Aug 3, 2007
- 1,678
- 2,146
- Disclosures
- Current: Blackstar, DR strings, Nady. Previous endorsements with: GK, Rotosound, Ernie Ball, Cleartone, EMG, Dean, Dava Picks, Rebel Straps, Dickies
I love the feel of my Prestige SR4005. Out of all my basses it has the most playable neck, and I can play it for hours without any fatigue. But there's something I dislike about the sound I just can't put my finger on. Pretty sure it's the preamp... I've floated a couple of related questions on TB here over the last few years but haven't done anything about it yet. Seeing as we have such a fine gathering of Ibby aficionados in the room, I thought I'd ask whether others have replaced the PowerCurve preamp with anything else and could share any experiences?
I had a Ibanez Prestige 4505 that I replace the Power Curve with a Aguilar OBP-3 and it was simply amazing. Made a huge diffrence.
Very interesting! I have an OBP-3 currently in another bass that I'm thinking of pulling out. What did you do with the extra pots on the Prestige? And can you still switch it into passive mode?
I had Bestbassgear build it to fit the 6 knobs and switches that the older Ibanez Prestige basses have. They will work with you and build it anyway you want.
I prefer all my tuners on the top side, but If it's good enough for Carol Kaye, I'm guessing it's fine.
I've owned two Ibanez basses: A bolt-on 6-string BTB from the mid-2000s, and an ATK200. Both great basses, the ATK200 in a "bang for the buck" way (I bought it in early 2012 when I got back into bass after a six-month hiatus), the BTB in a "I consider this a pro-level instrument" way - it wasn't from the Prestige or even Premium lines, but it was a beautiful bass, and the thing never went out of tune. The only complaint I had about it was that the pickups (stock Bartolinis) were a little bland for me, I probably would have had to swap 'em out for something else eventually. But I do miss that BTB 6...
My Ibanez basses are twin neck-through SR Premium models, SR1400TE (4-string) & SR1405TE (5-string). I acquired them both last year within 6 months of each other and upgraded the preamps on both basses to the Aguilar OBP-3.
These two have become my main go-to basses > one for each of the two bands I perform with. I love that they are light, balanced, have amazing playability with low action and are beautiful specimens! Plus the combination of the Nordstrand Big Single pickups and Aguilar OBP-3 preamp provides an amazingly powerful, punchy and clear tone!!!
These two have become my main go-to basses > one for each of the two bands I perform with. I love that they are light, balanced, have amazing playability with low action and are beautiful specimens! Plus the combination of the Nordstrand Big Single pickups and Aguilar OBP-3 preamp provides an amazingly powerful, punchy and clear tone!!!
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I'll be getting into the Ibanez world starting tomorrow with a 1996 SR1300pm. Not really sure what to expect and this thread seemed like a good place to ask.
According to many of the Ibanez responses, quality shouldn't really be an issue. My question is, what types of styles/genres of music do you all find lends itself well to the Ibanez "sound?"
Cheers, all.
According to many of the Ibanez responses, quality shouldn't really be an issue. My question is, what types of styles/genres of music do you all find lends itself well to the Ibanez "sound?"
Cheers, all.
IMO With the plethora of different Ibanez bass models available, they make a bass for pretty much any style/genre. I prefer the Premium Series basses, not only for the quality of the wood, parts and build but also because I love the tone of the Nordstrand Big Single pickups.
The best bass I've ever had in my hands is my current Ibanez SR5005 Prestige. It simply plays and sounds as good as any bass I've ever played. That including some 3-$5500 basses.
Got her today. I dig it. I'm normally a flat-wound player so it'll get a new set in a bit (maybe half-rounds). It's in great shape with minor wear and battle scars. I'm most impressed with the balance on a strap. I've only had it a few hours so any idiosyncrasies have yet to show themselves but not much to fuss about, though. Nicely done, Ibanez. This is my first of your kind.
I'll play .... my main bass 90s was an Ibanez SR 885. I bought it as a replacement for an Ibanez SR05 which had been stolen. Both were excellent.
I moved on to other things but here i am 16 years later and I've once again got an Ibanez in the stable, an SR805. It just happen to pop up on local classifieds, and I it was love at first sight-
It's fabulous!
I moved on to other things but here i am 16 years later and I've once again got an Ibanez in the stable, an SR805. It just happen to pop up on local classifieds, and I it was love at first sight-
It's fabulous!
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