I'm looking for a new sound to add to my collection. I've decided on the Ibanez SRH500. However, I can't decide on the fretted or fretless. The two in the Ibanez demo video with Benjamin Shepherd sound completely different. The fretted has a nice upright-ish sound to it. The fretless sounds thinner, but has that unmistakable "mwah", but almost too much for me. I wonder how much of difference can be attributed to different techniques being used? For those that have tried both, is there a huge difference in the sound? I play mainly jazz (big band and combos) and blues so I really want a good "thumpy" and "woody" sound.
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He plays fretless a lot harder. Sounds almost like two different guys. That's a nice video BTW. I'd like to give one a shot.
take both.... 
I'm actually in the same shoes... GASsing for those fretted and fretless SR Aerium (although I'm interested in 5 string versions: SRH505 and SRH505F) and couldn't decide which one if I were to get one, based on watching the same video.
Fortunate (or unfortunate) for me that both aren't available (yet) in my country (despite they are being manufactured here in Indonesia)...
But if they do available, my judgement might be more on the fretted one since I have the SR Portamento for my fretless need.
I'm actually in the same shoes... GASsing for those fretted and fretless SR Aerium (although I'm interested in 5 string versions: SRH505 and SRH505F) and couldn't decide which one if I were to get one, based on watching the same video.
Fortunate (or unfortunate) for me that both aren't available (yet) in my country (despite they are being manufactured here in Indonesia)...
But if they do available, my judgement might be more on the fretted one since I have the SR Portamento for my fretless need.
I have the fretless. Pretty good string bass sound with the stock flats, playing near the neck. That little extension on the top of the fretboard is a good place to anchor your thumb and pluck for this. Note that Shepherd plays on the neck with the fretted model. If you play hard and near the bridge like Shepherd on the fretless, it sounds more like a traditional fretless bass (although not as aggressive as the hard-epoxy Jazz sound). I still can't get as aggressive a sound as he does on this demo, so I suspect he's using different strings (I can't see enough detail in the video to determine whether those are the blue-sleeved D'Addario flats it comes with). Or maybe he's just a magician. This bass gives you that versatility. The panga panga fretboard is close enough to rosewood that I don't miss my old Yamaha anymore.
Side note: The complete lack of an external pickup was initially a problem for me when I wanted to get the conventional fretless sound and had no place to anchor my thumb. But Ibanez thought of this, and put a comfy contour there for me to rest my forearm. Bonus, I've now learned how to play with no anchor!
Side note: The complete lack of an external pickup was initially a problem for me when I wanted to get the conventional fretless sound and had no place to anchor my thumb. But Ibanez thought of this, and put a comfy contour there for me to rest my forearm. Bonus, I've now learned how to play with no anchor!
They appear to be the stock DA strings. But, you are right about the difference in his technique and how it affects the tone. That is what is throwing me off a bit from the fretless. I wish he would have played both the same way as sort of an A/B review. My guess is that he probably has the tone dialed up and is maybe using some different effects. That, and he is really playing aggressively in the fretless. I typically play near the neck anyways, but I just don't want to get a bass that isn't going to give me the sound I want. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to track down a fretless version of this bass in my area, only a fretted 5'er (not in to 5'ers). I really liked the sound of it, and would like to get a fretless, but only if it can get that same thumpy, woody, and upright-ish sound I liked from the fretted.
I've got an SRH500F coming. Really wanted fretless for the material I'll use this bass on, despite Ibanez's fugly fretless 500 finish. (With apologies to anyone who might be smitten with the flat brown burst.) Normally, I'd just show up with any good sounding banger that feels right, but this is for an event band, and aesthetics matter. Hoping the kinda ugly 500F passes the BL's muster.
If not, has anyone tried swapping necks between a four string SRH500F and a SRH500 DEF? Is it as simple as swapping necks b/w four-bolt Fenders?
If not, has anyone tried swapping necks between a four string SRH500F and a SRH500 DEF? Is it as simple as swapping necks b/w four-bolt Fenders?
I have the SRH500F and it's really not as ugly as it looks in photos, it's actually quite lovely in real life, has that kind of 'acoustic guitar' look. It's my first fretless, I absolutely adore playing it and it's gone down very well with other band members and audiences alike. Ibanez added some great design elements with the offset dots on the neck and the forearm cutaway. Between that and the fact it's so damn light being semi-hollow, I find it incredibly comfortable to play. As a newbie to fretless, I also found the black fret lines useful. They're invisible from a distance but proved to be helpful to me while getting to grips with fretless intonation.
If I could change one thing it'd be nice to have the option of a magnetic pickup as well, but you can get markedly different tones out of it just by switching playing position from bridge to neck. If you get your plucking fingers right up literally on the neck you can get it to do a pretty good upright impression. Since getting mine last summer it's become my main gigging bass. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Do you guys miss like a belly contour? Only thing that I'm afraid of with this bass are the sharp edges.
I have a SRH500 fretless and it's quite comfortable to play, I don't notice the edges at all. While there is no belly contour, the edges aren't sharp, they're rounded off.
It plays and sounds great, I'm very happy with mine.
Thanks! Getting real close to buying one and installing a P pickup...
Which bass with belly contour were you referring to?
I have 4 other SR basses (and 2 BTBs) beside the SR Aerium, non of them have belly contour.
Oh, I meant just in general. I for example like my Strat more than my Tele, because it feels like I'm being stabbed in the gut when I'm sitting down playing my Tele.
But rounded edges would counter that, I suppose.
I have both versions. I've got the SRH500F and the SRH505. On both basses I thought the flats sounded harsh and swapped out for tapewounds, which I've found has made both basses sing. I definitely prefer the finish on SRH505 and think the colour on the fretless a little cheap, or fake? That said, the wood on these seems seriously soft and I've found them really prone to picking up dings at the slightest little brush with anything.
Both of them are lovely to play however. I also like the lightness factor.
Both of them are lovely to play however. I also like the lightness factor.
No don't miss it at all. As the_sauce says, the edges are rounded and with the forearm cutaway I find it a very comfortable instrument to play for long periods. 10 times more comfortable than say my SubRay5 which does have a belly cut but weighs a ton! I really can't emphasise enough how light the SRH500F is, it makes all the difference.
I've ordered a SRH505F as well.
I've tried to find a single video where it sounded bad and I'm still looking for it. Guess it made my life easier.
I need a 5 string fretless to project that has been cooking for a while but seems to be ready to take off.
I really liked how acoustic this one sounds and it will fit really well with the rest of the band, since it's mainly based around electro-acoustic instruments.
Now it's a matter of waiting...
I've tried to find a single video where it sounded bad and I'm still looking for it. Guess it made my life easier.
I need a 5 string fretless to project that has been cooking for a while but seems to be ready to take off.
I really liked how acoustic this one sounds and it will fit really well with the rest of the band, since it's mainly based around electro-acoustic instruments.
Now it's a matter of waiting...
Reviving this thread. I am interested in the SRH505F 5-String Fretless version.
I am curious how this bass sounds acoustically. I will plug into an amp on occasion but it would be great if I could play this bass when I'm sitting on the couch watching TV. I do this with my electric basses but I can't hear it very well. Does this have some volume unplugged since it's a hollow body?
I am curious how this bass sounds acoustically. I will plug into an amp on occasion but it would be great if I could play this bass when I'm sitting on the couch watching TV. I do this with my electric basses but I can't hear it very well. Does this have some volume unplugged since it's a hollow body?
It's actually a chambered body, not a fully hollow body. It's more acoustic than a solid body, but doesn't have the volume of a hollow body. That said, I practice on mine unamplified. Just keep the TV turned down a little.
It's marginally louder than playing a solid body bass acoustically, certainly noticeably so but nowhere near the volume of a proper acoustic. Bear in mind the body is only about 5.5cm deep. The hollow sections of the body are more for contributing to the airy, woody tone it produces in conjunction with the piezo when amplified.
Thank you for the feedback. I think an acoustic bass is better for my needs. These Ibanez basses look awesome though.
