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ibanez Soundgear Question

#21
Ibanez's are great. You really can't go wrong with any of them, given their price points. Personally, I'd look at a Prestige simply because the Nordstrand Big Singles that they use are amazing pickups, but the Bartolini's in the Standard models don't slouch either. Granted, the Barts could be better if they were USA made, but they're not bad, though a tad muddy to my ears (as it seems all Barts are).

If you're looking for a more clear tone, I'd direct you to either a Spector Legend 5 (chunkier neck, 2-band EQ, bolt-on), or a Schecter Stiletto Studio (slim neck-through, 3-band EQ).
 
#22
JustForSport said:
Thick wood warps as well as thin wood. It's the construction that matters. 3 piece or 5 piece necks don't have the one-way grain orientation that single piece necks do, and are as a group, more stable. Ibanez 3 piece and 5 piece necks don't have the 'ski-jump' and 'S- curve' issues that some other 'name' necks do, even as thin as they are known for. Decide if you want full passive, passive pickups with EQ and a bypass, or full active system for your needs.
Ibanez SR models have the slimmest necks, the BTB ans SRX models have a little beefier necks, still nice, tho. SR's have the narrowest string spacing followed by SRX, then BTB at 19mm.
Nice used BTBs (35" scale/neck-thru) can be found for <$600, and SRX 705s (34", thru-neck, AlNiCo pickups) for around $400.
Click to expand...
hate to disappoint you - I have an SR370F (fretless) with 5 piece neck which developed "ski jump". No issues with SR1200 and GVB36 though.
 
#23
Trayster2 said:
Soundgears, to me, are the absolute best value. From their low end to their higher end, you get the best bang for your buck. Their playability, comfort, sound, and versatility has kept me a loyal fan. If Soungears are good enough for a guy like Adam Nitti, they're certainly good enough for me.

But check what others say: The Soundgear Club part 4 | Page 66 | TalkBass.com
Click to expand...

That's awesome Keep in mind that Adam Nitti plays a bass that retails for 7 grand and has whisper quiet electronics. Inexpensive active basses do not, especially when you compress them a little bit (which is going to happen on a record). Since the OP wants to make records, I do not think inexpensive active basses are a great choice.

Jason Carota said:
As a Squier fan, I'm not sure what brand you two are talking about. ;)

I'd recommend the SR505. I had an SR506 for a year or so, and it was a solid bass. Great tone and construction. Not much to really look for buying a used one, except for condition. Make sure you shop around. A "like new" used example can be had for the same price of one that is "well-loved."
Click to expand...

I am sick of dealing with autocorrect when I type the brand name, so I gave up and let it have its way.
 
#26
Great stuff here, apologies for pissing off Squier fans...and I know Tony Levin plays Music Man....just to give you an idea what the used market is like here in Toronto:
All of these are 5 strings - I think that the two that jump out are the SR Premium for 500, the G+L and Lakeland


SR505 549
SR Premium 500
SR505 no case 300
25th Anniversary premium 750
K5 Korn edition 700
GSR550 (new) 399
SR305 479
SR505 750
GSR205 300
SR485 275
SD405 400
SR305 DX 250

Lakeland (Korean) 55-01 750
G+L 2500 USA 400
Fender Jazz MIM 400
Fender Jazz USA 700
 
#27
Ibby Soundgear are the best, most consistent, value-for-money basses made. When I went on tour to Japan with my band a couple of years ago, the back line was comped. So instead of taking my own gear and risking it, I asked for an SR305. It felt and played just like my SRA305 here at home. I just strapped it on, had a minimal sound check, and went for it. No muss, no fuss, no fiddling trying to tweak the set up or "dial it in" or anything like that. Just played. I didn't even use the favorite set of strings I brought with me. Just played. On the stock OEM D'Addario 45-130 strings. And that is in spite of the fact that my personal bass was wired V-V etc. at the time and the SR305 provided was MV-Bal etc., with slightly different soapbar pickups and eq system.

I think one reason people don't like Ibby pickups is that the body woods can sometimes be non-standard woods, like agathis or asian mahogany or Japanese ash, instead of American red alder or swamp ash, so the pickups need to be voiced a little differently and strung up with more neutral sounding strings, like D'Addario XL's or La Bellas, instead of strings that have a stronger character or personality, like DR's, Rotos or such.
 
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#28
iiipopes said:
I think one reason people don't like Ibby pickups is that the body woods can sometimes be non-standard woods, like agathis or asian mahogany or Japanese ash, instead of American red alder or swamp ash, so the pickups need to be voiced a little differently and strung up with more neutral sounding strings, like D'Addario XL's or La Bellas, instead of strings that have a stronger character or personality, like DR's, Rotos or such.
Click to expand...

That's a good observation-
I always move strings around basses 'til I find which ones work on what, and mostly, my guessing is not as good as I'd like it to be. Sometimes really surprised. Could be that Ibanez knows which of the generally avail stings sound best on their different models...I would think so.
 
#34
Seratone1 said:
OP Back again, what do you guys thing of the SR 755 with the Nord(something) humbuckers? got a handle on one an hour drive away in London On for $450 (with a practice amp)....that sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
Click to expand...

Make sure it is the one with the Nordstrand P/J pickups...There's an older version with Bartolini Soapbars. Not the same even though they share the same model #.

The new SR750 and SR755 are awesome basses, got to try one. $450 is a killer price, but check as I mentioned if it's the right version. It seems a little strange that one is selling for that little even though it just came out this year.

Here's a picture of the SR755. Old one with Bartolini pickups on the left, and the new Sr755 that came out this year on the right with Nordstrands.

Screen shot 2015-07-11 at 9.30.25 PM.png
 
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#35
Yeah, unfortunately is 's the older one with the Bartiloni pickups - i't a bit of a distance away so I'll likely pass on that.

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There appear to be several 505's out there for the same price...There are a lot of Soundgear 5's out there so it's a bit of a buyers Market - I'll hold out from something special.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

So, you say, hold out for something 7 series and up? and what are the best pickups? Nordstrom?
 
#36
I have an SR700 and I really like the Bartolini pickups. I have not done a side by side comparison with the Nordstrands so I can’t give an opinion on which I like better. It’s really a matter of opinion. Either way, avoid the lower models with the CAP pickups.

As for what to look for on a used bass, check the frets (especially the lower ones) and fingerboard for signs of wear. Also look closely at the body (front AND back) for scratches and dings. These will give you a better idea of how used (or abused) it is. Usually online pictures won’t show enough detail so any signs of wear will not be obvious.
 
#37
Trayster2 said:
Soundgears, to me, are the absolute best value. From their low end to their higher end, you get the best bang for your buck. Their playability, comfort, sound, and versatility has kept me a loyal fan. If Soungears are good enough for a guy like Adam Nitti, they're certainly good enough for me.

But check what others say: The Soundgear Club part 4 | Page 66 | TalkBass.com
Click to expand...

Adam Nitti is the man!
Adam Nitti really rules

Cheers,
Wallace
 
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#38
raventepes said:
Ibanez's are great. You really can't go wrong with any of them, given their price points. Personally, I'd look at a Prestige simply because the Nordstrand Big Singles that they use are amazing pickups, but the Bartolini's in the Standard models don't slouch either. Granted, the Barts could be better if they were USA made, but they're not bad, though a tad muddy to my ears (as it seems all Barts are).

If you're looking for a more clear tone, I'd direct you to either a Spector Legend 5 (chunkier neck, 2-band EQ, bolt-on), or a Schecter Stiletto Studio (slim neck-through, 3-band EQ).
Click to expand...

Well, Premium not Prestige
For Prestige bear US Bartolini
Premium series bear Nordstrand just like present "upper standard" Sr750 series with the P/J configuration
From Sr700 down to Sr500 there are Bartolini mk1 (aka "import Barts")
Sr250/300 bear CAP soapbars which are not bad at all for the price... they should stand for Custom AlNiCo pickup-problem bein' the cheap electronic

Cheers,
Wallace
 
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Reactions: raventepes
#39
Seratone1 said:
Great stuff here, apologies for pissing off Squier fans...and I know Tony Levin plays Music Man....just to give you an idea what the used market is like here in Toronto:
All of these are 5 strings - I think that the two that jump out are the SR Premium for 500, the G+L and Lakeland


SR505 549
SR Premium 500
SR505 no case 300
25th Anniversary premium 750
K5 Korn edition 700
GSR550 (new) 399
SR305 479
SR505 750
GSR205 300
SR485 275
SD405 400
SR305 DX 250

Lakeland (Korean) 55-01 750
G+L 2500 USA 400
Fender Jazz MIM 400
Fender Jazz USA 700
Click to expand...

Lakland 5501, especially if made in south korea, are wonderful basses, you know what?
with same Bartolini mk1 pickups and three band active eq off Ibanez Sr505-605-705

But more you have a traditional look and overall approach and a volume push/pull for active/passive operation (exceptional in the studio)
You won't be disappointed: look no further IMHO

Cheers,
Wallace

PS: for the same price, XXVth anniversary edition Premium
Why? Because it's the smartest out there (padauk top on mahogany body) and Nordstrand Big Singles practice what they preach: three band active eq with midfreq switch and on/off switch and, soapbars, they don't hum like traditional singles, still they retain singles growl:thumbsup:
 
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