Ibanez SRA550 / SRA555

[GreatKingRatNZ]

GreatKingRatNZ--please refresh my memory--isn't the "A" in SRA for an Arched back side of the bass? Comfortable fit to the body?
I seem to remember that for SRT series the "T" was for Through-neck, too.
I guess the by this reasoning the SRX series was so named for being eXtremely loud?

The SRA555 is a beautiful instrument. I missed out on trying them as I was just getting back into playing bass when Ibanez was shedding all the other SR variations. Only seen a single used one in a pawn shop, and it was beat to death.

As for the bad bridge, I recall Ibanez being good about sending out replacements if you go through a licensed dealer. On the other hand, there are probably suitable replacements on ebay from time to time. The recessed mount isn't a big deal--Ibanez mills their arched front SR basses flat for the bridge, although not quite as deep as the SRA. It's all about hole spacing and footprint.

I don't know about it being an Arched Back. It seems flat to me. I believe it's an SR series with more meat on the neck, IE fatter neck than an SR.

(The SRA is the big brother of the Ibanez SR series “ classic SR design but with a few extra pounds of muscle. The Ibanez SRA555 5-String Electric Bass is built for players who gravitate to the SR but prefer a little more meat on the neck. EMG 35HZ pickups, with their smooth attack and flatter high-end, deliver a rich response that works great for anything from classic rock to heavy metal. The SRA550 features a Mahogany body with gorgeous Quilted Maple top, 5pc Maple/Rosewood neck, and Accu-cast B300 bridge ,which gives you easier string installation and height adjustment than any traditionally designed bridge.)

 

[KeithAlanK]

Thanks for the correction. I should have looked up the old catalogs and set myself straight. But no...drink a beer, type nonsense, etc.

 

[brmusician]

I have this bass and it suffers from an issue which makes the neck pickup noisy and low output. Removing the battery and reconnnecting it solves the issue. I went to the store and the other unit presented the same issue.

 

[GreatKingRatNZ]

GreatKingRatNZ--please refresh my memory--isn't the "A" in SRA for an Arched back side of the bass? Comfortable fit to the body?
I seem to remember that for SRT series the "T" was for Through-neck, too.
I guess the by this reasoning the SRX series was so named for being eXtremely loud?

The SRA555 is a beautiful instrument. I missed out on trying them as I was just getting back into playing bass when Ibanez was shedding all the other SR variations. Only seen a single used one in a pawn shop, and it was beat to death.

As for the bad bridge, I recall Ibanez being good about sending out replacements if you go through a licensed dealer. On the other hand, there are probably suitable replacements on ebay from time to time. The recessed mount isn't a big deal--Ibanez mills their arched front SR basses flat for the bridge, although not quite as deep as the SRA. It's all about hole spacing and footprint.

Hi Keith,

Long time between replies but here goes. The A, according to SRA series is for "affordable".

You're right on the bridge issue. I can't remember how, whether I bought one or if I got one of replacement but I ended up getting sent two, and with the first one in, it hasn't failed since.

My opinion has softened somewhat, also. While I still say the original active circuitry and the EMG 40HZ are awful, I am absolutely in love with the Barts I put in, so now this is my favourite sounding bass (I have a Schector Diamond Stiletto Deluxe 4 string from 2006 and an 2021 Ibanez SR2605 with factory Nordstrand Big Singles).

Posting in case anyone is still reading.

 

[KeithAlanK]

I find the "Affordable" meaning of the A to be funny yet suspect. Big corporations wouldn't do that, would they?

Have come across many people online who dislike the EMG35HZ, and I don't wonder why. Passive pickups aren't exactly their specialty.
They seem to me to have been a low cost thing they could get stuck into lots of basses to get their name around while also lending the manufacturers some "prestige" on the spec list.

On the other hand, my only experience with them is my ESP/LTD Viper 256, made in Indonesia back when that was a thing.
Mahogany body, glued 5-piece maple/walnut neck with rosewood board, Grover tuners. (Big Zippo brand lighters logo on mine, so $90 at a pawn shop for my best value for dollar win). All the details are solid on this one.
But it also has an actual EMG preamp with 3-band EQ that's always within a few dbs of flat, and it gets tons of compliments from my bassy friends for being fat and growly and lusted after.

Maybe not a bad pickup, just poorly implemented most of the time?
Your Bartolinis could just be a much better match for the stock preamp.
Glad you enjoy the bass so much now. I love Ibanez--warts and all--and have since the late 1970s.

(Also posted in case anyone is still reading).

 

[GreatKingRatNZ]

I find the "Affordable" meaning of the A to be funny yet suspect. Big corporations wouldn't do that, would they?

Have come across many people online who dislike the EMG35HZ, and I don't wonder why. Passive pickups aren't exactly their specialty.
They seem to me to have been a low cost thing they could get stuck into lots of basses to get their name around while also lending the manufacturers some "prestige" on the spec list.

On the other hand, my only experience with them is my ESP/LTD Viper 256, made in Indonesia back when that was a thing.
Mahogany body, glued 5-piece maple/walnut neck with rosewood board, Grover tuners. (Big Zippo brand lighters logo on mine, so $90 at a pawn shop for my best value for dollar win). All the details are solid on this one.
But it also has an actual EMG preamp with 3-band EQ that's always within a few dbs of flat, and it gets tons of compliments from my bassy friends for being fat and growly and lusted after.

Maybe not a bad pickup, just poorly implemented most of the time?
Your Bartolinis could just be a much better match for the stock preamp.
Glad you enjoy the bass so much now. I love Ibanez--warts and all--and have since the late 1970s.

(Also posted in case anyone is still reading).

Ah…I have the HR5.3AP wiring harness and preamp from Bart too. The pickups are M45CBC (B&T pair) if anyone cares. And I think you’re right, the Ibanez had an Ibanez preamp rather than a real EMG…that’s probably the difference and why I didn’t like it. My old EMGs were the 40hz, don’t know if there’s much of a difference between those and the 35hz.

 

[KeithAlanK]

My old EMGs were the 40hz, don’t know if there’s much of a difference between those and the 35h.

I'm sure they tried to voice them as close as possible.

Speaking of using the same brand pf pickup and preamp like your Bartolinis: My Korean Ibanez Iceman 200 came with guitar pickups (Gibson Firebird copies) and unplugged it was already extremely twangy. I finally routed it out to fit a Duncan SSB Phase I passive humbucker to the neck position (EMG35 size, blade poles).
While that helped make it sound more like a bass should, I still needed more low end to balance out all the mids and highs this beast puts out on it's own. Put in a Duncan STC-2S-BO active bass and treble preamp (my other 5 basses were active so it was logical on every level) and the Iceman jumped to the #1 Bass spot where it has stayed.
It wasn't just being able to add the needed low end. They just work together perfectly and the results are outstanding on this bass.

When my friends mention doing pickup or preamp swaps on their basses, I now recommend doing both using the same brand. If the added cost is a problem I tell them to only replace the pickup they use the most.
I only use the neck pickups on my basses, and lower the bridge pickups all the way to reduce magnetic drag on the strings. On the Iceman and LTD Viper, the bridge pickup is also disconnected.