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Ibanez SR500/505 for a beginner?

#21
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
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Nice basses. As for amps, you can go with any typical $100 practice amp, no sense splitting hairs over those. I dont play through those little junky boxes any more, if I want completely silent and portable I use my old Korg Pandora px5d. For audible practice, I want it to at least sound like a bass. if I wouldn't gig or record with the sound I'm producing, it's really not that much fun to me. That knocks most typical "practice amps" out of the running for me. Ampeg and GK make my favorite current inexpensive combos. I'd go with something like an Ampeg BA 112, which is powerful enough for small gigs. The GK MB112 is lighter, quite a bit more powerful, costs more But is still inexpensive for a small gig worthy amp. They both make very good 10" combos too, plus GK has powered speakers you can add to make the little combo gig worthy.
 
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#22
Killed_by_Death said:
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.
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Yep, interesting..... I've read you saying similar things a couple of times now and I agree, the new PowerSpan pickups with the exposed pole pieces are a big upgrade on the old model without the exposed pole pieces. I actually think they better the licensed Barts on the 500 series, which is why I have a 370E rather than a 500. (The body finish, ie. clear poly, rather than the "natural" finish on the 500 also has something to do with my preference for the cheaper model.) I think the 400EQM's that you also seem to like are the sweet spot now, with the newer PowerSpan pickups, slightly better bridge, and outstanding finish. The 650 series with the P/J CND pickups is where'd I'd go, if I wanted something higher than the 500 series, without spending the sort of money that would get me into the Premium range. Yes, the low-end PowerSpan with the exposed pole pieces and the models with either the CND's or the Nordstrands are the best sounding models...... Well, maybe until you get to the real high-end with the genuine USA barts (Prestige?????) rather than the licensed MK1's.
 
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#23
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...
Any bass is "good for a beginner".

The SR500 is a good bass, especially for the $$. Ibanez makes great basses.
If you like the sound and it is comfortable for you, that's all that matters.
 
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#28
If the SR500 is comfortable for you to play, it could easily be your forever bass. It's a nice versatile bass.

One of the more comfortable bass guitars I've ever played was a Schecter Raiden Special 5. Pretty versatile, decently made, and by no means a bank-breaker.

Point is, whatever works for you is what works for you.
 
#29
The SR500 is not a "beginner" bass. Let's get rid of that erroneous TB-inspired "bro" assumption.

It is a bass. And is as good or better than many in it's price range.

The person (in a band) who bought mine had every intent of gigging it. I also received compliments on it from my pro gigging teacher who thought it was very good (and he was a P-bass disciple).

The finish is a little soft , yes. But I never had any problems. ( Gee..I wonder if that 's because I took care of mine.)

Mine was said to be Mahogany. But the wood inside is a light color which doesn't resemble the finish.

If you can't get a good tone out of an SR500, you might as well quit playing bass.

Right now where I live an SR500 is getting close to $1000 dollars Cdn.

If you like chunky necks then the SR500 is not for you. It has a thinnish fast neck (1.5 inch nut width).

I found it to be VERY playable and smooth.

Mine was quite light in weight, which I loved.

I hate boat anchor basses, no matter who made them or how people rave about them.
 
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#30
ZenG said:
The SR500 is not a "beginner" bass. Let's get rid of that erroneous TB-inspired "bro" assumption.

It is a bass. And is as good or better than many in it's price range.

The person (in a band) who bought mine had every intent of gigging it. I also received compliments on it from my pro gigging teacher who thought it was very good (and he was a P-bass disciple).

The finish is a little soft , yes. But I never had any problems. ( Gee..I wonder if that 's because I took care of mine.)

Mine was said to be Mahogany. But the wood inside is a light color which doesn't resemble the finish.

If you can't get a good tone out of an SR500, you might as well quit playing bass.

Right now where I live an SR500 is getting close to $1000 dollars Cdn.

If you like chunky necks then the SR500 is not for you. It has a thinnish fast neck (1.5 inch nut width).

I found it to be VERY playable and smooth.

Mine was quite light in weight, which I loved.

I hate boat anchor basses, no matter who made them or how people rave about them.
Click to expand...


If you like the feel of the SR500, can afford it, then buy it and play it. They work well for many people. Many people have had much less of a bass for their first bass.
 
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#32
I own a so-called "beginner" bass. A Squier Bronco (modded).

Any song I can play on that, I can walk into the bass shop and pick up ANY bass in the store and play the exact same song the same way. Whether or not I like the particular bass I just took down off the wall and am playing is another story.

I don't think there's any such thing as a "beginner" bass. Other than from a budgetary point-of-view.

Was a Volkswagen a "beginner" car ? Do you work your way up to a mid-size sedan?
 
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#33
ZenG said:
I own a so-called "beginner" bass. A Squier Bronco (modded).

Any song I can play on that, I can walk into the bass shop and pick up ANY bass in the store and play the exact same song the same way. Whether or not I like the particular bass I just took down off the wall and am playing is another story.

I don't think there's any such thing as a "beginner" bass. Other than from a budgetary point-of-view.

Was a Volkswagen a "beginner" car ? Do you work your way up to a mid-size sedan?
Click to expand...

Of course, you are correct. Owning pro basses has certainly not turned me into a professional level player. The basses just sound and feel good to me.
 
#34
I love my 505. I bought it to acclimate to a 5 string bass and well, just because it was cool looking. (That counts!!). The weight, the thin body, fast neck, etc are all comfortable for me whether sitting or standing.

The active preamp can yield almost any tone you want. In fact, I learned to make small adjustments because the gamut is so wide.

I'm not crazy about how the B string sounds. I don't know if it par for the course for all 5 strings, but this one seems to be muddy and not articulate enough. I'm pretty new with bass, so I'm guessing the only duties for the low B string are pedal notes. It does that well.

Hope that helps.
 
#36
TexasHeat said:
I love my 505. I bought it to acclimate to a 5 string bass and well, just because it was cool looking. (That counts!!). The weight, the thin body, fast neck, etc are all comfortable for me whether sitting or standing.

The active preamp can yield almost any tone you want. In fact, I learned to make small adjustments because the gamut is so wide.

I'm not crazy about how the B string sounds. I don't know if it par for the course for all 5 strings, but this one seems to be muddy and not articulate enough. I'm pretty new with bass, so I'm guessing the only duties for the low B string are pedal notes. It does that well.

Hope that helps.
Click to expand...

The setup of your bass, your pickups/electronics, and the actual set of strings makes a huge difference in how the B sounds.

In many cases, a simple setup can have your B-string singing like a fat canary.
 
#38
Ibanez SR basses >= 3xx, 4xx, 5xx, etc. are the MacBook Airs of basses: usually above average quality in every aspect that matters: sound, electronics, playability, staying in tune, weight, dead quiet (no static or hiss from the pickups) . . .

In short, everything that you don't want to worry about as the beginner. You can spend your time learning to play music instead of trying to get your sh*tty bass working.

Like the MacBook Air, it may spoil you, and you'll find it hard to go to the competition.
 
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