Which one do you think would be better since they are very near the same price. Do you think the fanned fret thing is a gimmick? Thanks
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Ibanez SRFF805 or Ibanez SR Premium 1405E 5 string
- Thread starter LeMonsieurr
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Good luck selling the fanned fret if you ever need to. Very limited market. Not to mention I think Ibanez put those crappy MK1 pickups in it. The 1405E has the Nordy's big single coils. HUGE difference. I have the 1406e with them and the thing sounds great. Those MK1s aren't even manufactured by Bartolini.
Dude what's your problem? You're crapping all over this new model and you haven't played one. If you don't like fanned frets, fine (that's your problem) and if you don't like Bartolini MK1 p/u's fine too. But don't come here and condemn this bass before it's even his the stores because of you personal dislikes. If you don't have something to say in a positive manner, then keep it to yourself (and I'm being very polite in saying that, if you get my drift).
TD
You could of course turn this around and say that he's expressing his opinion (free speech and all that) and that if you don't like his opinion you could always just ignore it (don't confront what you can't change).
im with tercesyrev on this one, no way any kind of multiscale fanned fret setup is going to make those crappy mk-1 pickups sound anywear near as good as the big singles in the sr1400.
this is coming from someone who owns a sr500 with the crappy mk-1s and a sr1800 and yes this is my personal opinion if you don't think its a positive one you are as free to ignore it as I am to express it
this is coming from someone who owns a sr500 with the crappy mk-1s and a sr1800 and yes this is my personal opinion if you don't think its a positive one you are as free to ignore it as I am to express it
Dude ... What I stated was the resale of the FF model would be limited and that it has crappy pick ups. If I was in the market for a new bass I would definitely consider that type of information in my purchase decision. I never said anything about not liking fanned frets. In fact when I first saw that bass I wanted to order one. But I personally tend to lean towards instruments that can be resold relatively easy, have good resale value and oh yeah ... sound good. But to each his own. You asked for opinions and observations of the two instruments. If you don't want to hear the bad with the good then perhaps just ask for positive comments only.
As far as the MK-1s vs Nordy Big Singles ... well that's more fact than opinion. I had those in my SR506 and they sucked compared to the Nordy's. I could be wrong but I don't think you'll find overwhelming support favoring MK-1s over the Nordy Big Singles in Talk Bass.
By the way, wasn't I very positive about the SR1405? Sounds like your decision is already made.
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It is, I have one on order. The resale possibilities of this (fanned fret) bass aren't important to me because I'm planning on keeping it for quite sometime. If I'm not happy with the MK1 p/u's I'll swap them out with something else. That's just my opinion.
TD
Hope you have great luck with your new bass. I'm anxious to learn what you think. No doubt it will be well built.
Yes, would love to hear more about the ibby fanned fret. It would have been cool though to see them put the nordstrands in that model as they have with several other basses at that price point in their line.
The premium series sounds killer
The premium series sounds killer
You might want to play it before you assume the electronics are crappy. I was very impressed with one I played yesterday, and I loved the modern, mid heavy, and slightly dark tone. Big singles will sound nothing like the Bart's I played. The eq and the passive option, including a tone control in passive mode, is nice too.
like I said in my post I do own an sr500 with the same mk-1 pickups and yes I think they suck and I have replaced them for a big improvement, I formed this opinion after putting up with them for almost a year in real playing situations not just an hour or two at guitar center. and they are not real bartolini pickups, they are made by Ibanez who pays for a license to put the bartolini name on them. what are you basing your comment on what the big singles sound like, have you played them outside a music store? you are right about one thing, they don't sound like ibys fake barts, the big singles are not mushy or week sounding at all.
I was just taking another look at the 805 and noticed another reason to go with the premium...the atlas neck.
the 805 has the same jitoba/bubinga neck as the other standards.
the 1400 has the atlas wenge/bubinga neck with titanium reinforcement, this is a big upgrade in reliability and tone
the 805 has the same jitoba/bubinga neck as the other standards.
the 1400 has the atlas wenge/bubinga neck with titanium reinforcement, this is a big upgrade in reliability and tone
I have played Big Single equipped basses numerous times over the last three years, and I like them, but I really liked the sound I got when I played the SRFF805. The SRFF805 has a different preamp than an SR500, I think. I thought it had a nice sound, you may dislike it. All I can say is that I really enjoyed playing the bass the other day, and I am leaning towards buying one.
I haven't played the SRFF but chose the Premium for the pickups only. They fit perfectly with SR basses, the sound is massive and well defined, exactly what the bass calls for.
It's not like normal SR's have great resale value. I'd be surprised if the FF's do worse than the typical 40-60% for used Ibby's. Case in point: Ibanez SR1200E - Vintage Natural Flat, Left-handed | Sweetwater.com
But my buddy did just get this SOLD - SMOKIN DEAL - Nordstrand Equiped Ibanez SR1400e VNF Premium (flamed maple w Nordstrand Big Singles) | TalkBass.com and the nordy's do sound nice. I think they have more character than the mk1's in the 5 and 600 I had. But the mk1's were still fine. Only problem is the bass is all backwards.
It makes sense now, I had been thinking of getting the fanned frets one, had money available for the purchase. When the bass got in store they gave me a call. I played it unplugged for about 10 minutes and was loving it! Until I plugged it in. It just didn't speak to me. It felt... Weak? Maybe it was the pick ups.
I thought the SRFF805 came with Bartolini BH1 PUPs and not the MK1's (which I really, REALLY don't like).
You are right. They are BH1 pickups. As I said when I first posted, the electronics, pickups and preamp, are not what you would find on a SR500 or 505.
Basehead,
You're right the pickups are listed as Bartolini BH1. I haven't been able to find anything definitive about what that means, but there is speculation they are just 6-string length MK1 pickups.
This would make sense based on the size of the pickups.
Bob
You're right the pickups are listed as Bartolini BH1. I haven't been able to find anything definitive about what that means, but there is speculation they are just 6-string length MK1 pickups.
This would make sense based on the size of the pickups.
Bob
