• 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.

Is this bass worth buying?

C

Crunchey

Nov 20, 2011
5
0
#1
I've been having a look at the bass; Ibanez SR1205.

I'm fairly new to playing bass (I've played on and off for 3 years - not much, then I started being taught bass this semester), and I'm looking for a nice bass. Even though I'd like it to be the best, I'm aware that my kind of noobish abilities puts a constraint on what I'm going to be able to exploit of this bass. Is the bass worth buying, even though I'm not THAT good, but would like to get much better? Or would I simply not be able to use it properly, so that what I've payed for really isn't hearable? :confused:

EDIT: Also, is the extra string worth the extra payment? Is it nice to have, because it looks pretty damn useful and cool, IMO.
 
#3
Yes the ibby is worth the money. There is no "best", just the best for your tastes. The bass your looking at is a pro level instrument. I would say get it. Your starting with a pro level bass and if you decide bass is not for you you can get a good amount of your money back. You also help bump up your learning curve by not having entry level instrument issues. Learn to take care of your bass and you'll never need an upgrade.
 
#4
That model of Ibanez looks fantastic for the money. I have been interested in one myself. I wouldn't hesitate. Ibanez IME has really good attention to detail, and generally are very good sounding, good playing instruments. And, go for the 5. The Low B is very useful not only for the low notes, but also for playing in one position longer as you move up the neck.
 
#6
ejaggers said:
Worth it, to me is directly related to price. I guess what your really asking is, "Is it a good bass".
Click to expand...

No, rather if it would be a waste for me to buy such a high-end bass - I am after all not that good.

I think I'll buy it, hearing what you guys think of it. Is there any good and reliant bass-maintenance guide out there? Do you know?
 
#7
Crunchey said:
No, rather if it would be a waste for me to buy such a high-end bass - I am after all not that good.

I think I'll buy it, hearing what you guys think of it. Is there any good and reliant bass-maintenance guide out there? Do you know?
Click to expand...

Not sure. Lots of good info on here though. Good case, wipe it down after playing , keep a pack or 3 of silica gel in the case, keep it clean, treat the fret board with conditioner every other string change and be nice to it. Should last forever.
 
#8
Think of it as an investment as well. All basses depreciate over time. Better to spend $1000 and get back $750-$850 if you sell it, than to buy a $200 bass add $300+ in upgrades and only be able to get back maybe 200$ if your lucky ( all the wile wishing you had the more expensive one to begin with ) . Your spending it the right way upfront. Its an amazing bass that will serve you well in all situations. A good purchase you won't regret.
 
#10
Getting a high-quality instrument is never bad, it might even give you more motivation to practice often.

However, being a relatively new player, you might not yet know exactly what kind of bass you prefer in regards to feel, ergonomics, sound, etc. Considering this, should you end up discovering that you're just not an SR/Ibanez kinda guy, you will lose a lot more money on the Ibby than you would on say a high-end Fender.

However, if you've played some SRs and found you just love the feel and the sound, you can't get that same experience from a Fender, so in that case resale value matters little.
 
#11
Crunchey said:
I've been having a look at the bass; Ibanez SR1205.

I'm fairly new to playing bass (I've played on and off for 3 years - not much, then I started being taught bass this semester), and I'm looking for a nice bass. Even though I'd like it to be the best, I'm aware that my kind of noobish abilities puts a constraint on what I'm going to be able to exploit of this bass. Is the bass worth buying, even though I'm not THAT good, but would like to get much better? Or would I simply not be able to use it properly, so that what I've payed for really isn't hearable? :confused:

EDIT: Also, is the extra string worth the extra payment? Is it nice to have, because it looks pretty damn useful and cool, IMO.
Click to expand...

If that's a lot of money to you, and you are asking questions like "is the extra string worth the extra payment?", don't get it.

Spend some time with second hand basses until you know what you like...

Active/Passive?
Pickup configuration?
4/5/6/7/8/9 string?
Fretted / Fretless?
30" / 34" / 35" ?
String spacing?
Body shape?


You can find out the answers to these questions for free by sensibly trading S/H basses for a while. Once you know what you like, that's the time to splash out the cash.

You might even find that two cheaper basses are better than one posh one.

I have three basses - the one I play most, I got for about $45. The other two are each about $6-700 new.
 
#13
Yeah, all Ibanez's have been steadily increasing in quality since the 90s. The nicer 1000+ models are all really really good basses, don't let the MII (Made in Indonesia) sticker scare you, I don't think it's the same factory as the less reputable imports from there.

You've been playing 3 years and are now taking lessons, so you are serious about it. I think that bass would be a great investment for you at this point, it's going to make playing much more enjoyable. I don't think it's beyond your skill level either.
 
#14
topo morto said:
If that's a lot of money to you, and you are asking questions like "is the extra string worth the extra payment?", don't get it.

Spend some time with second hand basses until you know what you like...

Active/Passive?
Pickup configuration?
4/5/6/7/8/9 string?
Fretted / Fretless?
30" / 34" / 35" ?
String spacing?
Body shape?


You can find out the answers to these questions for free by sensibly trading S/H basses for a while. Once you know what you like, that's the time to splash out the cash.

You might even find that two cheaper basses are better than one posh one.

I have three basses - the one I play most, I got for about $45. The other two are each about $6-700 new.
Click to expand...

The money isn't a problem. What I was asking of you guys was if the fifth string is just a 'cool to have' or if it is a 'nice to have' I won't waste money on something that serves no purpose whatsoever, even though I have the money to spare.

I have another question for you guys though - a lot of you have told me that I should go for it, that it would be a worthwhile investment in the long run. That made me wonder how much money is actually required to keep a bass maintained. How much does strings, bass-health-care products and the likes run up in - and where is the line between 'just taking care about it' and making it last forever, like you guys said?

EDIT: Also, where can I find somewhere that explains all these things about a bass? The hardware part, that is. I've tried searching on my beloved Google, but I can't find anything that looks partly sensible to me.
 
#15
Crunchey said:
The money isn't a problem. What I was asking of you guys was if the fifth string is just a 'cool to have' or if it is a 'nice to have' I won't waste money on something that serves no purpose whatsoever, even though I have the money to spare.
Click to expand...

For me, a B string is absolutely essential - if it hasn't got a B, it doesn't adequately cover the bass range, IMO. Consult any of the various 'should I get a 5' / '5 vs 4' threads! On my 4 string I get the B by tuning BEAD...

What if you decide to get into slap, for example? SR1205 has pretty narrow (16.5mm) spacing. For slap it's probably a worse bass than my $45 P copy... or not. What spacing do you prefer for slap?

What I'm saying is there's really no such thing as a 'nice bass'. There's such thing as a suitable bass for certain techniques.
 
#17
topo morto said:
For me, a B string is absolutely essential - if it hasn't got a B, it doesn't adequately cover the bass range, IMO. Consult any of the various 'should I get a 5' / '5 vs 4' threads! On my 4 string I get the B by tuning BEAD...

What if you decide to get into slap, for example? SR1205 has pretty narrow (16.5mm) spacing. For slap it's probably a worse bass than my $45 P copy... or not. What spacing do you prefer for slap?

What I'm saying is there's really no such thing as a 'nice bass'. There's such thing as a suitable bass for certain techniques.
Click to expand...

From what I've heard, it's common to have multiple basses, and I'm suspecting that I'll find a used one somewhere if I decide to start on a thing like slap.
 
#19
I bought it and it I love the look and the tone ...oh the tone is amazing. And it is a dream to play. However the single coils buzz a lot. I tried all my patch cords and bought a new one but to no avail. So sadly instead of spending money to change the pickups and why should I on a $1000 bass I decided to take it back. Really I didn't want to but the buzz really bugged me.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back