Ibanez SR305E or Yamaha TRBX305?

Pick or fingers?

 

This could have been an interesting poll.

 

In that case I'd go with the Ibanez. The tighter spacing makes it both a shorter throw and less real estate to mute.

 

I personally think that the Yamaha is the better bass between the two. The Ibanez is nice too - don't get me wrong. But having played both, I just felt like the Yamaha was nicer. It setup how I wanted it easier, the controls work in an intuitive manner, the hardware feels quality. It's hard to describe. I was underwhelmed by the Ibanez SR305E personally, and I play an Ibanez as my primary bass at the moment so I am not a hater by any means. Really though, you could just go with the one you thought looked cooler and you'd be good to go.

 

i like the ibanez, but honestly both are good basses, so i don't think you can go wrong with either.

 

I've owned a TRBX304, TRBX305 on the Yamaha side, and I've owned quite a few Ibanez SR300s but not the newer versions with the Powertap pickups although I have tried a few of these at the store.

They're both solid basses - both my TRBX304 and 305 had more lows but the sound itself is a little on the muddy side even with fiddling with the tone switch and EQ - there seems to be less variance in the tones. The Ibanez SR300 basses I've owned had more definition, more mid heavy, a little more tonal variety with the EQ compared to the Yamaha.
Yamaha is on the heavier side in weight, pretty solidly built, you can probably whack a tank with it, good build quality. Ibanez is of good quality and solid build but maybe because of it's lighter weight, thinner neck one gets the perception that it feels a little more delicate or maybe a finesse kind of bass. I've never whacked a tank with it, so maybe that's all it is, perception.

Easier for a newer bass player? Depends on your hands, if you like a narrower neck, go with the Ibanez.
Can't really go wrong with either choice really.

 

I’ve owned both. Quite similar basses with very slim necks.
I preferred the Ibanez tone, sounded a little brighter and clearer.