Ibanez stigma... is it just me?

[wraub]

I had a Musician, as well as an Ibanez Ric copy.
Currently have 2 Roadstar II 5 strings.

Not at least checking out some quality Ibanez product is doing yourself an injustice.

wraub

 

[Snakeman1066]

I really really like the ATK's

aside from the ATK however no matter how comfortable i have found various Ibanez basses over the years...IMHO thay have always had one drawback....To Me the all feel cold and sterile...much like a stainless steel table...well built, attractive..easy to clean...but cold and sterile...

hence the reason this one never sees the light of day most of the time

My Kid on his TR-50

 

[Rockin Mike]

Stigma is one of those things that doesn't exist until we say it exists.
A good bass is a good bass.

 

[Batmensch]

I don't know where this so-called Ibanez "stigma" came from. At least, if I were to go by all I've read here on TB, (and one or two other sites) the exact opposite would seem true, that almost everyone who has played or owns one, has nothing but good things to say about them.

 

[1958Bassman]

Before I go into this, I just want to say: This is an observation of my own self and not a call for hatred. Please read on before reacting...


For whatever reason, I can't even bring myself to try out, let alone buy an Ibanez bass. And for the life of me, I don't know why.

It may have started for me as a GC employee many years ago. Ibanez was frequently referred to as "I-Been-Had" and we as employees would mock them behind their backs. Maybe it was our hatred of the dreaded onslaught of GSR200's every holiday weekend "Super massive sellathon anniversary sale of the week" and having to set 45 of them up in the middle of the sales floor...

Or the Ergodyne that smelled like chemical residue and always had electronics problems that made me dislike them...

Maybe it was later in my years seeing every nu-metal, flavor of the weak band with its bass player flaunting some sort of Tribal-Painted SR-Something or other...

Fieldy...?


Somewhere, I was jaded about Ibanez and to this day, I still won't even give them the time of day. And personally, I find that sad! They are a huge name in the industry and you don't pump out that many units without doing something right.

And as I look back at their offerings, I am reminded that there's a lot of good that they brought to the world of Bass;

The Musician is a bass that I've never had the pleasure of trying, but looks to be exactly what I like in basses: Classy, well made, active EQ long before it was standard.

The ATK is one that I have actually purchased for a friend. It's a koa topped, MM style bass for no money and it looks hot.

The TR series of the mid 90s, if I recall correctly, was like a J Bass on whey protein. There was a top-end version that was played by the guy from Pennywise (one of the best punk rock bass players I've ever heard!) that was 3-band EQ and fat singles.


So for no apparent reason, I just felt like I'd never own one. There were some SERIOUSLY hot basses that they made (Prestige, from Japan, specifically) that just made me want them, but when it all came down to it, I'd just say to myself:

"Well, if I'm gonna spend THAT kind of money, I might as well get a ____________."

I look at the specs and see that most of the stuff they made in their mid-upper level products had fantastic components, features that met or exceeded other makers' offerings at the same price, and weren't terrible looking.

So someone... sell me on actually making an attempt with an Ibanez. Guide me to the ones that will change my mind...
Or agree with me and admit that you have the same stigma and let's explore the WHY of it all.

You don't have to own one, or even try one but isn't this a bit like the pot calling the kettle 'black'? No offense to you, but GC isn't exactly known as the high end of music stores. They have the most, but not the best. They made a whole lot of money, but not by being completely above-board with their dealings and practices.

I worked at a music store in the early '70s and we carried Ibanez- probably one of the first in Wisconsin. While not all of their guitars have been great, they offer a lot for the money. My first was a copy of a Gibson Dove and it was a nice guitar. Brighter than I really liked, but it played well and was made very well. I traded that and $80 for an Ibanez AW-60 in about 1980 and I still have it. I have never had a bit of trouble with it, other than the bridge saddle breaking and that was my fault (I wanted lower action and the bottom wasn't completely straight, so it broke in the middle). I glued it and flattened the bottom, then made a replacement from Ebony, later replaced with a Tusq. The second was a Les Paul copy (one of the real copies) and I had that until '97. Nothing wrong with that one, either. Top was formed plywood, but it played very well. I now have an SD 400FL fretless and I like that one, too. I had a real Les Paul and I have a Strat Plus & Baja Tele, so it's not a matter of being an Ibanez suckup.

Give it a shot- the worst that can happen is that you won't like it and it will make you want to take a shower, you'll end up with low self-esteem and maybe a drinking problem. The best- you'll find something you really like and hadn't been able to find elsewhere.

Look at the list of people who play Ibanez instruments. If they were so bad, anyone with a little integrity won't play something they don't like, even if it was free or discounted. Percy Jones used to play Wal and he's playing Ibanez. Mike Rutherford has played Ibanez for a long time and, while he may not be the most admired bass player, try playing his lines before dumping on him. Obviously, he could buy anything but on the last Genesis tour, he played an Ibanez for a lot of the songs.

"What's the matter, Beave, chicken?" (You may remember this from Second City TV)

 

[gary ashall]

over my 26 years of playing i have owned...a 1980 ibanez musician, seven 1980 something ibanez roadsters,countless sr basses in four five and six string, one btb six string,two ergodynes (i still own the ergodyne eda 905) . none of them have ever let me down whith sound, reliability etc. im not out to promote ibanez as ive also owned warwicks,fenders ,rickys,musicman,aria pro,westone..the list goes on but some of my favourite basses to date have been ibanez