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Ibanez SR500/505 for a beginner?

Grayum

Grayum

Guest
Mar 28, 2017
20
6
Toronto, Canada
#1
I was in my local guitar shop the other days looking at basses trying to get a feel of what was available. I came across a SR500 series guitar, which is active and really really light! From YouTube videos I was looking st a T-Bird but having one in my hands it's weight was just to much for me to see playing (standing) for extended lengths of time.

I like the active EQ tone adjustment while I was plucking away, wondering if there is a reason why I shouldn't consider this as a starter/first Bass?

Suggested Amp to pair it with for personal practise (requires a headphone bypass unless I can plug directly into the active guitar - I forgot to ask).

Thanks
 
#2
Sr500 seems to be a pretty common choice for a beginners bass. I almost got one myself but I got a really good deal on a Yamaha from my friend's shop. For a practice amp you could go with a rumble 40, I have one and it's plenty loud for practicing in a house or apartment and it has the headphone out you want. Might look if you could find one used to save a bit of money.
 
#3
Grayum said:
I was in my local guitar shop the other days looking at basses trying to get a feel of what was available. I came across a SR500 series guitar, which is active and really really light! From YouTube videos I was looking st a T-Bird but having one in my hands it's weight was just to much for me to see playing (standing) for extended lengths of time.

I like the active EQ tone adjustment while I was plucking away, wondering if there is a reason why I shouldn't consider this as a starter/first Bass?

Suggested Amp to pair it with for personal practise (requires a headphone bypass unless I can plug directly into the active guitar - I forgot to ask).

Thanks
Click to expand...

The SR500 series gets a lot of love around here. I had a 4-string almost 10 years ago and it was very light and comfortable to play. I'd say go for it if you found it comfortable. It wouldn't hurt to check out whatever else is in your price range that you can get your hands on.
 
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#5
Try a SR300E or SR400EQM & you'll probably never look at that SR500 again.
You can tell the E models, because they have exposed pole pieces:

SR400EQM_DEB_1P_01_CU_Body_Top.jpg
 
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#7
Klaxxi said:
Do the dual coils in these sound better than the Barts? Or is it something else?
Click to expand...
Barts on SR500/505 are (reverse P) split coils, whereas on the SR300E are not just dual coils (so they sound thicker), but also has coil tap options to get 2 additional tonal variations.

on the SR500/505, the stock MK1 pickups would have to be replace with USA Bart MK4/MK5 to get the options of coil tap for more tonal variations.
 
#8
Aidil said:
Barts on SR500/505 are (reverse P) split coils, whereas on the SR300E are not just dual coils (so they sound thicker), but also has coil tap options to get 2 additional tonal variations.

on the SR500/505, the stock MK1 pickups would have to be replace with USA Bart MK4/MK5 to get the options of coil tap for more tonal variations.
Click to expand...
And the Bart MK1, while fine p’ups, are licensed products — they are not made by Bartolini and do not sound like U.S.A. Barts.
 
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#9
Klaxxi said:
Do the dual coils in these sound better than the Barts? Or is it something else?
Click to expand...

Here's what Ibanez has to say about their Power Span pickups:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

"the exposed pole pieces of the PowerSpan Dual Coil pickups produce a stronger signal, and increase the response of the higher frequencies without sacrificing low end. The result is a tone rich in harmonic detail and dynamic expression."

I can vouch for that, because to my ears they have a wider timbre than those Barts in the SR500 models.
 
#10
Herrick said:
The SR500 series gets a lot of love around here. I had a 4-string almost 10 years ago and it was very light and comfortable to play. I'd say go for it if you found it comfortable. It wouldn't hurt to check out whatever else is in your price range that you can get your hands on.
Click to expand...

I had a chance to demo a few P and J bases but this was one of two Ibanze, and was the lighter one with Active electronics (passive pickups and active EQ pre-amp) the store had. I really liked that I could mod the sound quite a bit and that is was so light & thin in weight/size compared to everything else they had.

I was playing through a $1000 bass amp in the store set the same for all basses. My budget right now on the bass amp & guitar case is $200 on top of the guitar cost. For practise I don't see needing a better amp and I think I should learn to play before investing money in an larger amp as by then I should have a better idea of what I want.

90% of practise will be via headphones.

Killed_by_Death said:
Try a SR300E or SR400EQM & you'll probably never look at that SR500 again.
You can tell the E models, because they have exposed pole pieces:

SR400EQM_DEB_1P_01_CU_Body_Top.jpg
Click to expand...

I'll check them out if I find one in a larger city store next week. Is there a stand out reason beside the exposed poles? I ask as I assumed 500>400>300 series but please correct me if I'm wrong(Remember beginner with a couple hours of YouTube research).
 
#11
Let's just put it this way, I've picked up plenty of Ibanez basses with Barts in them & always put them back quickly, because I don't like how they sound, even in their mid-level BTB series.
Those Power Span pickups just spoke to me, and loud. I felt like I was playing my old Rickenbacker again.

Read what Ibanez has to say about them in post #9.
 
#13
Grayum said:
I had a chance to demo a few P and J bases but this was one of two Ibanze, and was the lighter one with Active electronics (passive pickups and active EQ pre-amp) the store had. I really liked that I could mod the sound quite a bit and that is was so light & thin in weight/size compared to everything else they had.

I was playing through a $1000 bass amp in the store set the same for all basses. My budget right now on the bass amp & guitar case is $200 on top of the guitar cost. For practise I don't see needing a better amp and I think I should learn to play before investing money in an larger amp as by then I should have a better idea of what I want.

90% of practise will be via headphones.



I'll check them out if I find one in a larger city store next week. Is there a stand out reason beside the exposed poles? I ask as I assumed 500>400>300 series but please correct me if I'm wrong(Remember beginner with a couple hours of YouTube research).
Click to expand...
If you check them out and decide you like it there's one on the classifieds of this site for a very reasonable price For Sale - Ibanez SR400 Quilted Maple
 
#16
When it comes to the sound, that can always be changed by new strings, pickups, pre-amp, effect pedals, different amp, etc. You cannot change a way a bass feels in the hands as easily.

Ibanez makes very narrow and thin necks compared to Fender /Squier. Gibson / Epiphone makes their necks different than both companies.

Now you will get used to how much the bass weighs. Wider and/or neoprene helps with that.

My suggestion is to go back to the store and try every single bass regardless of name on the headstock, sound and price until you find something that is perfect for you. If it costs more than you are willing to spend, then find out what the specs are (nut width, string spacing, neck thickness, etc.) and find something that has the same specs in your price range.
 
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#17
Sure, why not?
FWIW, I'm very happy with the SR300 I bought a few months back - the tone controls give you a lot of variation.

If you can, though, test-drive it through the amp you'll be playing it through, as the interaction between them isn't always predictable. In my case, it works nicely with a TC electronics BG250/208 (250 watts, 2x 8" speakers). Headphone out, great sound, and the small cones mean it's nice and quiet in an apartment, but you can also unplug the built-in speaker and connect it to a cab for more volume on a stage. Good tone controls, too.

I got a good deal on the pair because the bass was the pre-E model, and the dealer wanted to free up the floor-space for new stock.

But don't worry, somebody else will come along in a few minutes and tell you what garbage they are :)
 
#18
Welcome to TalkBass @Grayum !!!!!

I must have sold a hundred of those when I worked in MI retail. They are a lot of bass for the money. As noted earlier they can dent and chip quite easily but are well built otherwise.

Poke around in our classified section as well. TB members are super easy to deal with in my experience. If a TB member has good feedback you are usually good to go. We tend to police ourselves around here. Virtually all of my gear comes from other members here. You can even search for other Canayjunz if it makes the transactions easier.

Best of luck with your hunt and feel free to fire away with questions.
 
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#20
If this is your first bass I'd actually suggest going with a passive bass if possible. Ie. One of the Yamaha BB series that has the PJ setup or even a Squier VM series.

I started on passive and it would have been much more useful to learn the tone shaping effects of hand placement, different types of plucking/picking style without being preoccupied with the onboard eq. It's a limitation that you can transfer over to active basses.

That being said, if the SR500 is the one for you, get it, and learn all about the blend knob and the above techniques before maxing out the bass eq knob. Unless you're in a dub band.
 

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