I'm looking at the Ibanez SRX355 for my first 5er.
Does anyone have any good, bad or ugly comments on the SRX line?
Thanx
Does anyone have any good, bad or ugly comments on the SRX line?
Thanx
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Ibanez SRX
- Thread starter keeperthumpin
- Start date
I found the pickups to be really hot and they sounded a little muddy for my taste.... It played really well but just not the sound I was going for....
There's an SRX club: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=618094/
...and I'm a member, with my recently-acquired SRX725, a model that sadly was just discontinued. Electronics-wise, it has fairly hot alnico pickups, whose vintage, Stingray-ish growl I really like (note that the SRX 720 and 725 are the only one to have PFR-AL pickups -- other models like the 355 have ceramic magnets, which are bound to sound different) and a 2-band EQ that does its job (bridge pickup + slight treble boost = yummy!), although I'm planning to replace it at some point. As all 2-band EQs, it feels restrictive -- I need to be able to boost the heck out of my low-mids
. It evidently has a less versatile sound than the SR.
Ergonomics-wise, the neck is great (again, the 720 and 725 are neck-thru, others are bolt-on). It's thickedrthan the standard SR neck, with wider string spacing (18mm at the bridge VS 16.5) but still very comfortable. I sort of feel that the low B is tighter than on my SR, but I could be mistaken. Either way, it's a joy to play and the inlays on my 725 are *gorgeous*.
The body, however, is very slab-ish compared to my smooth and curvy SR -- the only contoured part is the back. It's heavy, too, but on the bright side it doesn't have that slight little bit of neck dive my SR has.
All in all, a great bass. It'll make a fine secondary weapon once my SR is repaired, and in the meantime I'm greatly enjoying it as my primary.
Can't comment on the lower-end ones, though, especially with the different electronics.
...and I'm a member, with my recently-acquired SRX725, a model that sadly was just discontinued. Electronics-wise, it has fairly hot alnico pickups, whose vintage, Stingray-ish growl I really like (note that the SRX 720 and 725 are the only one to have PFR-AL pickups -- other models like the 355 have ceramic magnets, which are bound to sound different) and a 2-band EQ that does its job (bridge pickup + slight treble boost = yummy!), although I'm planning to replace it at some point. As all 2-band EQs, it feels restrictive -- I need to be able to boost the heck out of my low-mids
. It evidently has a less versatile sound than the SR.Ergonomics-wise, the neck is great (again, the 720 and 725 are neck-thru, others are bolt-on). It's thickedrthan the standard SR neck, with wider string spacing (18mm at the bridge VS 16.5) but still very comfortable. I sort of feel that the low B is tighter than on my SR, but I could be mistaken. Either way, it's a joy to play and the inlays on my 725 are *gorgeous*.
The body, however, is very slab-ish compared to my smooth and curvy SR -- the only contoured part is the back. It's heavy, too, but on the bright side it doesn't have that slight little bit of neck dive my SR has.
All in all, a great bass. It'll make a fine secondary weapon once my SR is repaired, and in the meantime I'm greatly enjoying it as my primary.
Can't comment on the lower-end ones, though, especially with the different electronics.
IMO the SRX basses sound muddy and unrefined - the far better option would be a SR bass of equal value
I have a SRX 590 and I've tried the SRX 355.
I can't reccomend you that five string, as the B string sound muddy and not defined at all. If you want a five string I would much rather go for a SR. I have a SR705, and for the price it kicks ass.
My SRX have the same pickups as the 355 and as a four string it's awesome. It's hot and cool sounding, but IMHO it doesn't sound like a Stingray at all. I should know, I have one of both.
I have to say though, I'm considering building my own preamp for my SRX to get a mid control. That's the only thing I really miss with mine.
But the SRX series are good basses IMHO, but the cheaper ones should be bought as four stringers.
Have you considered the ATK 305?
I can't reccomend you that five string, as the B string sound muddy and not defined at all. If you want a five string I would much rather go for a SR. I have a SR705, and for the price it kicks ass.
My SRX have the same pickups as the 355 and as a four string it's awesome. It's hot and cool sounding, but IMHO it doesn't sound like a Stingray at all. I should know, I have one of both.
I have to say though, I'm considering building my own preamp for my SRX to get a mid control. That's the only thing I really miss with mine.
But the SRX series are good basses IMHO, but the cheaper ones should be bought as four stringers.
Have you considered the ATK 305?
The SRX line is a great line IMO. Ive had one for years and I don't think I could ever part with it. would I recomend one yes.That being said there not for everybody. They are a little hot and can sound muddy. So if you can play before you buy I recomened it.
BUT with the proper eq-ing and set up these things can do just about any thing you could ask of it. mine has great balance and the neck is a dream. I can get can some great tones out of it. It hardly goes out of tune and intonation is always great. Also even with the 2 band eq there still quite versatile.
Even the lower end ones are of good quality. IMO. The used market is great on these, you can usually pick up a good one for a resonable price.
Good Luck!!!!!
BUT with the proper eq-ing and set up these things can do just about any thing you could ask of it. mine has great balance and the neck is a dream. I can get can some great tones out of it. It hardly goes out of tune and intonation is always great. Also even with the 2 band eq there still quite versatile.
Even the lower end ones are of good quality. IMO. The used market is great on these, you can usually pick up a good one for a resonable price.
Good Luck!!!!!
I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Ibanez(my 1986 RB850 is KILLER!!!). I've owned a few SR's over the years, and always liked the playability, and they have good tone. The SRX's are sexy, well made axes, but I always felt the tone was, for lack of a better word, lacking. Your best bet is to try a few out. They may just be what you're looking for.
I had a SRX705 (neck through 5, korea), that was a nice bass, I miss that one. I had too many basses and got in a 'selling mood' to help finance some remodeling. I kept the BTB675, - the SRX705 was every bit as nice. I've had a bunch of good basses, that SRX705 is a great value.
RBs are generally very-very nice, but you hardly ever seen Roadstar 5 strings (I have an '83 RB924).
I'm always raving about SR885s as well, those are a great bass, never mind that they're $300ish used.
RBs are generally very-very nice, but you hardly ever seen Roadstar 5 strings (I have an '83 RB924).
I'm always raving about SR885s as well, those are a great bass, never mind that they're $300ish used.
Muddy is not how I would ever describe my SRX505. I have to assume that the "Muddy" comment is coming from someone who is diming the bass control. The preamp overboosts bass and treble in my opinion and I don't like to go much about the midpoint detents on either. Set flat, the bass has a nice Stingray quality to it, defenatly much different than it's SR cousin.
The one I had, no matter how I set the EQ, it just sounded muddy, there was no definition or clarity IMO.... to each his own, tone is all personal preference anyways.... like I said it played great and I wanted to keep it but I own several other basses that had the tone i was going for and so I sent the SRX back....
The preamp/eq is the one thing I'd change on mine if I were to going to change anything. The boost is so extreme, it's hard to adjust on the fly w/o going overboard. I typically have better luck leaving it flat and adjust at the amp.
I said that the B string sound muddy and undefined on the SRX355, the rest of the strings sound good. I have the EQ set on flat, so is isn't dimed.
I've had several basses with good B strings: Yamaha TRB1006, Ibanez SR705 and even an old Vester 5 string, and that was a CHEAP bass. And I think that the SRX355 has a bad B string.
But the other strings are good sounding, as I said, my SRX 590 have the same pickups and bolt on neck and i love the sound I get from it.
But that you get a Musicman Stingray quality/sound out of it is not my opinion. I don't think they sound similar at all.
Again, I suppose it's because the 355 is a low-end model, with different pickups and a bolt-on neck. My (neck-through) 725 has a great B string -- it's as good as, perhaps even a little better than my SR4005.
