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Ibanez SR 1205 FL

mintondm

mintondm

Jul 28, 2010
91
1
Cherry Hill, NJ
www.drunkbyone.com
Disclosures
Engineering Manager, Community Professional Loudspeakers
#1
Hey guys, need some quick help here! Was prowling craigslist, looking for a cheap first five string, and I stumbled across this:

Labeled as an:
Ibanez SR 1205 FL, Teal Green - 350

Located locally to me for the most part, it's a woman selling off her husbands bass as he plays guitar. She's legit, and sent some pics that I'll post later but one has the above model number as well as a s/n.

The problem is I can find next to nothing on this bass other than some pictures for used maple top ones in the 1000 dollar range. Obviously not the same model... Is this some kind of knock off or is it just an old rare model?!

Again I'll attach the pictures soon that she sent, with a camera phone so not the most clear, but I wanna get my history straight before I get there an make a move!

Thanks In advance guys, I know you guys got me!
 
#2
Found an image of it on the forum here that someone else posted. This looks to be the exact bass.

It's labeled here as a 1994 Ibanez SR1205. The only difference is the one that I saw was marked as an SR1205 FL (Fretless). This was confirmed by the markings in the picture she has sent. But otherwise, it looks identical, I hadn't even noticed it was neck-through!

All in all this seems like a steal! Can anyone confirm? I wanna pounce on this she's holding it for me for now but I don't wanna wait!

Thanks guys!

:help:

0327002049.jpg
 
#5
That's a great price for a [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] in what sounds to be in fantastic condition! My main bass for 5 years of session and live work was a '96 SR-1206 six-string in which the only changes between the years were *minor* changes to the neck (using Walnut as the stringers as opposed to Wenge in '96, the size of the individual pieces of the 5-piece neck, and a Rosewood fretboard in 1995 vs Wenge in '96) and going from gold to black hardware.

It's indeed a neck-through with a Mahogany back, Flame Maple top, and 5-piece Neck (I've owned mine since January of 1997 and it's probably the most stable neck I've ever owned) and in all that I've seen the "top" has been a 1/2"-thich piece of maple that helps to bring a good amount of definition to the Mahogany back (to my ears Mahogany is a fairly "middy" wood that needs another piece to even it out sonically. Pickups are Ibanez stock ADX Split-Coil Active Pickups ("P"-shaped internally, split between B-E-A & D-G-C) with the Volume/Blend/Stacked Treble & Bass/Stacked Midrange and Sweepable Frequency "Vari-Mid 3-Band EQ" preamp which weren't half bad at all (basically Ibanez's "EMG + Preamp" generic setup) and are the same shape as EMGs so you can always switch to any manner of Aftermarket pickups (EMG, Nordstrand will make theirs in a custom EMG-sized shell, etc) and preamp. In that regard as long as the neck and body are in decent shape it's worth it just to buy as a "shell" for modern electronics. The only "problem" I seen in the picture is the Gold hardware is pretty tarnished and worn, but at that price it's still worth it to replace the tuners & bridge (Ibanez also went to Black Hardware in '96) & Electronics for a killer 5-string at a steal of a price! The only oddity is that this was the 2nd-highest 5-string in their line at the time but was made in the Cort Factory in Korea. Still, I've never had a Quality issue with mine through the years and things like the Inlays are nicely done, so MIK doesn't matter to me.

If you need any more info feel free to drop me a PM, and if you don't buy it perhaps we can work out a "purchase & ship" deal from NJ to me? (I'm originally from NY :D ) I always considered picking up a 5-string version of my 6, and this is a great deal if you don't go for it! (I'm not sure why I gave you so much info on it then... :smug: )
 
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#7
Yeah, I'm finding that this is apparently a super rare find! I actually just emailed her late last night, believe it or not, I feel horrible, but I actually talked her down to 300 flat lol. Going right after work to pick it up!

5pm is gonna take forevvvvver to get here!! Lol.

I cleaner her up, set her up and get some flatwound strings, and post some pics tonight!!

Thanks for the info guys!

If anyone has any info on the value of this specific model, please let me know! I'm really curious to see how much of a steal it is!
 
#8
mintondm said:
Thanks for the info guys!

If anyone has any info on the value of this specific model, please let me know! I'm really curious to see how much of a steal it is!
Click to expand...

SR1205FL
1994-97

5-string, fig maple, 5-pc
map/wal nk-thru, rw-fb,
prl dots, ADXP/ADXJ pu,
3-EQ, die-cast
br/tp [NT, TK, TT, BT, ]

At $300- you will prob have this bass for 1/2 its mean value
damn good score...enjoy your new bass mate! :bassist:
 
#9
Swin said:
SR1205FL
1994-97

5-string, fig maple, 5-pc
map/wal nk-thru, rw-fb,
prl dots, ADXP/ADXJ pu,
3-EQ, die-cast
br/tp [NT, TK, TT, BT, ]

At $300- you will prob have this bass for 1/2 its mean value
damn good score...enjoy your new bass mate! :bassist:
Click to expand...

Awesome man! Thanks for the info! Is there any data base or document history on this one? It's one of the only ones that I haven't seen online at all! I mean I'm still buying it lol, just wanted to know if there was any manufacturers spec sheets, msrp, anything like that! Thanks again!
 
#10
Ok, here are the photos sent to me by the seller, she only had her Blackberry to take the pics, so they kinda suck, but it should help verify the validity of the bass. Obviously after I set-up, polish, and clean her, I'll have better pics of both!

Again, 300 bucks... hopefully I'm making a good purchase here!! Lol.

:hyper:

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#12
RichardCranium said:
I used to have that exact model it's a great bass. Payed $1000 for it new in 96-97. It grew legs & walked away when someone wanted to buy it and it was never seen again. :hmm:
Click to expand...

Damn man, that sucks! I feel your pain though! I had an old guitar player of mine borrow a Jackson guitar off me and a budy of mine asked me like a week later if I pawned it. Apparently he found it in the pawn shop in Philly... Talk about livid! I could only imagine on an item with a $1000 tag on it! Krikey!

I appreciate the input? So it was a pretty nice bass overall? Even Fretless and all? I know 300 bucks in cheap for a bass period, just want to make sure I'm not getting in over my head. ;)
 
#15
mintondm said:
Damn man, that sucks! I feel your pain though! I had an old guitar player of mine borrow a Jackson guitar off me and a budy of mine asked me like a week later if I pawned it. Apparently he found it in the pawn shop in Philly... Talk about livid! I could only imagine on an item with a $1000 tag on it! Krikey!

I appreciate the input? So it was a pretty nice bass overall? Even Fretless and all? I know 300 bucks in cheap for a bass period, just want to make sure I'm not getting in over my head. ;)
Click to expand...

I had temporarily relocated and left my gear in the care of some friends and the story I was told is someone wanted to buy it so they let him try it out then he got arrested and no one ever heard from him again or some BS like that. All I know is I was out a grand for a mint condition bass. :confused:

At the time it was the second to the top of the line Soundgear just under the Prestige models according to this:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I also had the 4 string version same color and finish almost like bookends! $300 is a good deal depending on the condition and I know they also came from the factory as fretless models too.
 
#16
RichardCranium said:
I had temporarily relocated and left my gear in the care of some friends and the story I was told is someone wanted to buy it so they let him try it out then he got arrested and no one ever heard from him again or some BS like that. All I know is I was out a grand for a mint condition bass. :confused:

At the time it was the second to the top of the line Soundgear just under the Prestige models according to this:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I also had the 4 string version same color and finish almost like bookends! $300 is a good deal depending on the condition and I know they also came from the factory as fretless models too.
Click to expand...


That BLOWS man... yeah, heads would have rolled! Never the less, I do appreciate the expertise! I'll look over it with a fine tooth comb tonight for sure!

Just gotta figure out a good way to polish up the gloss finish and clean the fret board! This will be my first gloss bass and my first five string, let alone my first through neck! Super excited! Thanks guys for all the input! I'll post some post purchase pics!
 
#17
that bass is almost as ugly as your face man. haha just kidding. hey cousin. i didn't know you were on here. i opened this thread without seeing your name first then i saw the last name i thought man someone has my last name on here haha. duh. good luck with that buy. sounds like a great deal!
 
#18
justin_beerd said:
that bass is almost as ugly as your face man. haha just kidding. hey cousin. i didn't know you were on here. i opened this thread without seeing your name first then i saw the last name i thought man someone has my last name on here haha. duh. good luck with that buy. sounds like a great deal!
Click to expand...

LMAO! Yo Justin! Sup man! Shoot me a text some time man!! Haha! Yeah I didn't know you were on here either!
 
#19
Cleaned her up a little, noticed some issues...

1) Pickups have been changed, one isn't working (See pics below)
2) Missing the pickup screws
3) Knobs are a black plastic, so I'm assuming that they are not stock
4) Missing the cover on the headstock (See pics below)

Other than those issues, she looks to be in fantastic shape (Especially for being 16 years old now!!)

Taking it to guitar center tomorrow after work, drop it off so they can set it up, get some flat-wound strings, see if they can figure out the wiring/pickup issues...

Either way, not too bad for 300 bucks lol.



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:hyper::hyper::hyper::hyper::hyper:
 

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