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ibanez sr neck... any similar?

mkrtu9

mkrtu9

Mar 2, 2006
2,138
61
USA
#1
I think my sr500 finally took a crap. It had a crack in the neck and it was repaired and I played it like that for nearly two years. Now my A string drops a half step every time I pick it up :scowl: I really like the neck on this but I want to leave my options open. I think I want to move to a 5 string, but stay with a similar neck design as the sr.

Do you guys have any suggestions of basses that have a similar sr neck that isn't an sr?
 
#2
The Laguna Ocean/Cort Artisan basses are really similar to the Soundgear basses - thin neck, tight string spacing, lightweight body. Overall, I'd peg their quality as beneath that of the SR Prestige, but superior to the other SR basses. They sound quite similar, as they use the same Bartolini Mk. 1 electronics. They can also be had for hella cheap if you can find them used.
 
#5
Not sure about carvin. They have the whole 19 mm thing going on, which is definitely not Ibanez.
If you like the SR series, i say you go higher up and take a look at the SR705, and possibly the prestige models. The new Ibanez's look slick!
 
#6
thanks for the responses. I've now looked at the Laugana Ocean, Cort artisan and I have previously looked into Carvin. I can't seem to like the Carvin, for some reason I never have. The Laugana seems like you get a lot for your money and they look pretty nice. The Cort's look nice too, but if I'm going to spend that kind of money I will just step up in the SR line like Kenbuntu suggests.

But that Laugana looks pretty nice too. Wish I could play one.

thanks
 
#11
First of all: Schecter, Cort, etc are good instruments, but the necks are not similar to Ibby SR/EDB necks. I currently own a Cort Artisan and the neck is wider and chunkier; very comfy, but not as thin & narrow as a SR's. In fact I find it more similar to my W Thumb's profile & feel rather than to a standard SR neck (and I owned my share of Ibbys btw: SR500, SR400PB, all the EDB line, and so on). As for Schecters...pretty much the same as Corts.

Second: the typical Ibby spacing for a 5er is 16,5 mm - which is a very narrow spacing. If you're not familiar with such small distance between the strings, you might find the switch difficult (I must confess, for me it was impossible so in the end I switched back to 4 stringers). There are some BN models (such as the BTB475), but most Ibbys (and especially the SR line) have the 16,5 distance. So it's a good idea to visit a GS and test a few Ibby 5ers to see if you can adjust to it.

3rd: some 5ers have a 34" scale, others 35. It might seem a small difference, but when you play them, you can tell the difference. The 35 scale helps tightening the B, but in the same time you will have to readjust your finger memory.
 
#12
IngerAlb said:
First of all: Schecter, Cort, etc are good instruments, but the necks are not similar to Ibby SR/EDB necks. I currently own a Cort Artisan and the neck is wider and chunkier; very comfy, but not as thin & narrow as a SR's. In fact I find it more similar to my W Thumb's profile & feel rather than to a standard SR neck (and I owned my share of Ibbys btw: SR500, SR400PB, all the EDB line, and so on). As for Schecters...pretty much the same as Corts.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I own a 5-string Ocean, and I thought it was essentally an A5 copy. Not so much, I guess. It has one of the thinnest necks I've ever seen on a bass, though, as well as a 16.5mm string spacing. It's definitely one of the more attractive basses to be had in its price range, too, provided you have one of the earlier models without the godawful ugly black headstock they grafted on towards the end of the production run.
 
#16
The Spector NS2QM I used to have had a neck that felt similar to that of Ibanez. It wasn't as narrow a string spacing but it wasn't a huhttp://www.talkbass.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=7255870ge gerthy neck either IMO.

If you do decide to go with a 5 string Ibanez, then take this into consideration. There are no significant differences between the Sr505 and Sr705 other than the figured maple top and the color option. IMO/IME there isnt a noticable difference in tone between the 2 basses either. There is also not much of a difference between those 2 basses and the Sr535. The necks are the biggest difference here, Sr535 is a 5 piece Maple/Rosewood compared to the 5 piece Jatoba/ Bubinga, on the Sr705 and Sr505. Again, when I played all these basses a little over a month ago I heard no audible differences in tone amongst the 3.

The Sr605 was the exception to the rule. It sounded a bit different than the 3 I previously mentioned. It's got an Ash body instead of Mahogany like the other 3 do. It was brighter sounding to my ears than its Mahogany counterparts. Which seems like a moot point to me because the Mahogany bodied Srs are already very bright sounding basses. But string spacing and neck radius' are all identical.

I personally went with the Sr535 because of its finished neck. I found it easier for me to play than the other 3.

Model: SR505
Neck Material: 5pc Jatoba/ Bubinga
Neck Type: SR5
Body: Mahogany body
Frets: Medium frets
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Inlay: Abalone oval inlay
Bridge: Accu-Cast B25 bridge
NeckPU: Bartolini® MK1-5-F

Model: SR705
Neck Material: 5pc Jatoba/ Bubinga
Neck Type: SR5
Body: Mahogany body/ Figured Maple top
Frets: Medium frets
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Inlay: Abalone oval inlay
Bridge: Accu-Cast B25 bridge
NeckPU: Bartolini® MK1-5-F

Model: SR535
Neck Material: 5pc Maple/ Rosewood
Neck Type: SR5
Body: Mahogany body
Frets: Medium frets
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Inlay: Abalone oval inlay
Bridge: Accu-Cast B25 bridge
NeckPU: Bartolini® MK1-5-F

Model: SR605
Neck Material: 5pc Jatoba/ Bubinga
Neck Type: SR5
Body: Light Ash body
Frets: Medium frets
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Inlay: Abalone oval inlay
Bridge: Accu-Cast B25 bridge
NeckPU: Bartolini® MK1-5-F
 
#17
^ Any of those come with the same Bartolini 3-band EQ, and cosmetic differences only. They are all very nice basses with the same neck dimensions. I went with the SR405QM for several reasons - the quilted maple finish, the price, and I do like the "stylesweep" EQ.
 

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