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Ibanez SR500

CR3AMnCR1MS0N

CR3AMnCR1MS0N

Guest
Apr 24, 2013
73
2
#1
I am looking at (just looking for now, that could change soon) buying a used Ibanez SR500 for around $260. The only thing wrong with it is a small spot of paint loss underneath the neck pickup.

The thing I'm worried about though is that this is a slightly older model, one of the ones before they added a "slap switch" to the SR500. It still has the Bartolini Pickups and 3-band EQ.

Does not having the "slap switch" make a huge difference or is this still a good deal?
 
#2
CR3AMnCR1MS0N said:
I am looking at (just looking for now, that could change soon) buying a used Ibanez SR500 for around $260. The only thing wrong with it is a small spot of paint loss underneath the neck pickup.

The thing I'm worried about though is that this is a slightly older model, one of the ones before they added a "slap switch" to the SR500. It still has the Bartolini Pickups and 3-band EQ.

Does not having the "slap switch" make a huge difference or is this still a good deal?
Click to expand...

The "slap switch" really just changes which mid frequency the Mid EQ knob is going to affect (Low mid or High mid). The newer versions still have Bartolini MK-1 pick ups and preamp. Basically the only difference between the new and old versions is the slap switch.
 
#4
I recorded and gigged a lot over the last few years with a Korean SR500--no mid switch but all the other current specs.
It's a great bass, and while an added tonal option is always a nice thing it isn't a deal-breaker in any way.

That price is insane, and I would buy that bass right now if I could.
Seriously--it took Ibanez many years to even offer this feature and most of us got along just fine without it.
Did I mention that any SR500 is a Great bass?
 
#7
macrocheesium said:
Go for it. That's a great price for a great instrument, and it still has good tonal options! You can always use your amp's mid EQ if needed.
Click to expand...

+1

$260 really is a great price for the SR500. I recently spent many hours messing with SR505s among others in the SR series (ended up getting an SR1205); I didn't notice the switch you referred to on the 505, but it didn't matter as the EQ and pickup blend gave plenty of tonal variety.
 
#8
The newer models sound brighter. That can be good or bad, depending on what type of tone you're after.

The older ones have a beefier and tone. If it's a MIK SR and older than 07, it's a score, because those have wenge/bubinga necks (the current models have jatoba/bubinga).
 
#10
IngerAlb said:
The newer models sound brighter. That can be good or bad, depending on what type of tone you're after.

The older ones have a beefier and tone. If it's a MIK SR and older than 07, it's a score, because those have wenge/bubinga necks (the current models have jatoba/bubinga).
Click to expand...

Never heard an older model, but my SR605 does sound bright. I guess very high mid-y. However that was nothing that a set of GHS PressureWounds couldn't fix! Awesome tone now!
 
#11
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#15
macrocheesium said:
Looks legit to me. Personally I wouldn't buy a bass with a blemish like that, but if you can live with it that's a good price for an SR500.
Click to expand...

Looks like mine. Only mine is a SR506, doesn't have an ouchie on the front, is even older with black paint and 2 band Eq. But I paid a similar used price and can say I really doubt that at the price you won't be happy with what you get. I would have preferred a three band preamp, but I didn't want to fork the extra cash. Wonderful bass.
 
#17
CR3AMnCR1MS0N said:
I definitely think I can deal with it. I can't spend a whole lot so a deal like this appeals a lot to me. It definitely looks better (and the one I played sounds better) than the Ibanez TR50 I have right now.
Click to expand...

Looks good to me. Minimal difference to the new models. That ouchie in the front would probably be enough to keep me from buying it. HOWEVER it's in the exact place I place my right hand, so I'm sure I could cover it up while playing.
 
#19
i have an sr500 and a 505 with the switch and i generaly leave the eq flat so the switch would not be missed for me.
the finish damage is what hapens to most oil finish bases if you play with fingers and ancor your thumb on the pickups but if it's the same stain/oil finish as mine then it can be fixt with some stain and a rag, it wouldn't be hard for a good finish guy to match it perfectly.
i'd go for it and then if you still feel like you want the switch later you can get an agulair preamp w/ a push/pull pot for the mid switch for $150 at GC and install it later
personaly my mod choice for this bass would be an eq bypass switch like the higher price sr's have so i could run it flat for rock/metal finger style and switch on the eq to cut mids and boost bass slightly for slaping the bass has plenty of bright highs without eq just by having the bridge pickup on realy i do most of my tone adjustment just by mixing the 2 pickups
 
#20
PULL the trigger!!!

That's the best price for that model I've ever seen.
If you don't buy it, please send me the info so that
I can. It's a great bass at a great price.

If you snooze, you're gonna miss the opportunity.

Best of luck to you and your new bass (unless I get there first!)

:ninja::hyper::bassist::D
 

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