Is it worth getting a 2011 SR5005 in 2025

[BeyondAntares]

I've been a guitar player for about 30 years and only dabbled with bass in the past 10 years. My first bass had been a 2012 SR5005 that I absolutely loved, more so for the look and feel, despite how heavy it was. I didn't know much about bass back then but I always felt it looked elegant. As work took over my life, sadly I had to sell that bass in 2014. Now many moons have passed and I play a Dingwall and Strandberg bass and I find myself missing the SR5005.

Based on this thread, I have two options regarding the difference between the 2009-2014 SR5005 and the post-2015 SR5005.

• The pre 2014 SR5005 comes with the Power Curve III 3-Band preamp
• The post-2015 model comes with an Ibanez Custom preamp and 3 way mid-frequency switch

Now, I found a good deal on facebook marketplace for a 2011 SR5005. Would it be worth getting the 2011 bass for the Power Curve II band preamp? Or best I save up for whatever I'm interested next?

 

[Geri O]

Sure it is!

That’s a great bass! I had one for a while.

I’d prefer it to have the original electronics, but I believe either way, it’s still a good bass to have.

 

[ceetee]

If it's a really good deal and you have a decent used market in yr neck of the woods, buy it, try it and swap it if you don't like it. You will lose next to nothing.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

If you dig the original electronics, that would be the answer I'd sit with. However, one of the reasons I love Ibanez basses is they make an EXCELLENT modding platform. Audere, Bartolini, EMG...never thrown one of those in an Ibanez bass and regretted it

 

[21DaHoagie12]

I have an SR1006 from 2005 that had the powercurve III preamp and I found it robbed the bass of tone in the same way the notorious bart mk1 preamp robbed so many mid level Ibanez basses of tone. It was sterile and lacked low end in my opinion. I removed the powercurve preamp and installed an Aguilar OBP-2 preamp and I think it sounds absolutely phenomenal now. I’m proud of every bass I own and think they all sound great, but honestly the SR1006 with US barts and the Aguilar sounds better than 90% of my arsenal. IMO the newer Ibanez custom preamp is better than the powercurve, but still not as good as a high end preamp which will make any bass with US made bartolini’s sound amazing. I’d recommend snag one from whichever era and upgrade the preamp and then live in blissful tonal heaven.

 

[BeyondAntares]

I have an SR1006 from 2005 that had the powercurve III preamp and I found it robbed the bass of tone in the same way the notorious bart mk1 preamp robbed so many mid level Ibanez basses of tone. It was sterile and lacked low end in my opinion. I removed the powercurve preamp and installed an Aguilar OBP-2 preamp and I think it sounds absolutely phenomenal now. I’m proud of every bass I own and think they all sound great, but honestly the SR1006 with US barts and the Aguilar sounds better than 90% of my arsenal. IMO the newer Ibanez custom preamp is better than the powercurve, but still not as good as a high end preamp which will make any bass with US made bartolini’s sound amazing. I’d recommend snag one from whichever era and upgrade the preamp and then live in blissful tonal heaven.

Thanks this is great advice. How did you know the Aguilar was the right preamp for you? How does it compare to say darkglass or Norstrand?

 

[21DaHoagie12]

Thanks this is great advice. How did you know the Aguilar was the right preamp for you? How does it compare to say darkglass or Norstrand?

Well to be honest it was a friend of mine who is a Spector enthusiast and he recently acquired one with a EMGs and the Aguilar Preamp but he wanted a classic Spector sound so he had a custom HAZlab clone preamp made and offered me the OBP-2 preamp for half the price of a new preamp. Having already had success swapping an OBP-3 into my old SR900 and being very impressed with the tone I wasn’t to hesitant to slap the new OBP2 into the SR1006 and as before I was very satisfied. I personally do not have experience with nordstrand preamps but I personally prefer the Aguilar to the darkglass preamps I’ve tried in various spectors. I guess I’ve just found the EQ points of the OBP preamps to be very usable for me and the tone is rich but clear and organic (doesn’t “alter” the pickup tone just enhances it). Plus there are many boutique and high end basses that use the Aggie preamps so if it’s good enough for a $5000+ bass I think it’s good enough for me If I had a second choice from my experience it would be the Bartolini NTMB preamps, but I’ve heard many good things about the Audere preamps as well as Klaus Knoll preamps.

Plus there’s a video or two on YouTube comparing an sr506 with the mk1 pre and then the obp3 and it’s just worlds apart how much better the bass sounds with an upgraded preamp.

Here’s one vid, and while the playing isn’t the best (not to sound like a judgemental prick) you can really hear on the low notes how much more juice and clarity there is.