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Mid-priced 5-string duel

goran

goran

Dec 17, 2002
761
668
Croatia
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: Bartolini
#1
I'm selling my Fender Jazz USA Standard equipped with active EMG's on my local market and I got a lot of offers. Two most appealing to me are:
1) Yamaha BB2005 + cash
2) Ibanez SR505 + more cash (twice than what I would get for Yamaha).

Let's put cash aside and talk about differences between both basses. Which one is better, generally speaking - B string, fret work, balance between strings, electronics (noise) etc..

Thank you!
 
#2
I don't know much about the Yamaha, but I'm the owner of two Ibanez SR basses, one of which is the 505. The most striking things about it are the weight (very light) and the neck (narrow and thin). The passive Bartolini pickups are good, so is the active EQ. It all sounds very hi-fi, modern and "piano" when I string it with D'Addario Pro Steels. Even the B. My goal when I bought it was to get a lightweight, easy to play 5-stringer, worthy of gigging/recording--without breaking the bank. I couldn't be happier with the 505 on those qualities. Bonus: I'm a fan of the mahogany/rosewood looks.

Let me know if you'd like to hear some of the recording I've been doing with it.
 
#3
scottfeldstein said:
I don't know much about the Yamaha, but I'm the owner of two Ibanez SR basses, one of which is the 505. The most striking things about it are the weight (very light) and the neck (narrow and thin). The passive Bartolini pickups are good, so is the active EQ. It all sounds very hi-fi, modern and "piano" when I string it with D'Addario Pro Steels. Even the B. My goal when I bought it was to get a lightweight, easy to play 5-stringer, worthy of gigging/recording--without breaking the bank. I couldn't be happier with the 505 on those qualities. Bonus: I'm a fan of the mahogany/rosewood looks.

Let me know if you'd like to hear some of the recording I've been doing with it.
Click to expand...

Hey Scott, thank you for your reply! Yes, the clips would be great!!
 
#9
goran said:
I'm selling my Fender Jazz USA Standard equipped with active EMG's on my local market and I got a lot of offers. Two most appealing to me are:
1) Yamaha BB2005 + cash
2) Ibanez SR505 + more cash (twice than what I would get for Yamaha).

Let's put cash aside and talk about differences between both basses. Which one is better, generally speaking - B string, fret work, balance between strings, electronics (noise) etc..

Thank you!
Click to expand...

Unless bass guitars are just very difficult in general to source in Croatia, I would suggest you take some time to determine all the qualities you seek in a new instrument, research all available makes & models to find the best choices at the best prices, then make a buying decision based on the results of that preparatory work - rather than semi-arbitrarily choosing from amongst the instruments that happen to have been offered to you in a trade. :hmm:

More time, more effort certainly. But likely much greater, longer-lasting satisfaction with your ultimate choice as well. Therefore less future flipping.

Just a thought... :hmm:

MM
 
#10
KingRazor said:
Love the SR505. Best bass within it's price range as far as I'm concerned. Also, check out Guitar Center's used site, they almost always have a few SR505s sitting around for less than $500.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, we don't have a Guitar Center in Croatia. :(

Kwesi said:
Tonally, what do you want?
Click to expand...
I have a passive Fender Precision USA and Aria Pro II Jazz bass clone equipped with active EMG JV's so I pretty much covered my needs in 4 strings. Precision sounds as passive P's do and Aria is actually more on the vintage side of the sound, regardless of the active EMG's.

What I'm looking for is something different than those two. So modern, active sounding bass would fill the missing spot.

MysticMichael said:
Unless bass guitars are just very difficult in general to source in Croatia, I would suggest you take some time to determine all the qualities you seek in a new instrument, research all available makes & models to find the best choices at the best prices, then make a buying decision based on the results of that preparatory work - rather than semi-arbitrarily choosing from amongst the instruments that happen to have been offered to you in a trade. :hmm:

More time, more effort certainly. But likely much greater, longer-lasting satisfaction with your ultimate choice as well. Therefore less future flipping.

Just a thought... :hmm:

MM
Click to expand...
Thank you for your observation. There is a relatively big market of bass equipment in my country considering the population of Croatia, although we don't have that much fancy stuff. As far as the mid-priced instruments go, Fenders and Musicmans tend to hold their value very well. The rest - not so much. The reason I opened this thread is that these two instruments were offered to me as a partial trade for my Fender Jazz. I'm not buying them - believe me, with the cash in my pocket, I would be much more picky. :)

I have bought/sold over 15 instruments in the last few years. Some were keepers that I foolishly sold, some were not that special, but I've had only one 5 string.
 
#11
Of the two, from personal experience, I think I'd be erring towards the Ibanez - but, as others have noted, it's best to try and play some examples and make your own judgement. You'll know better than me what sound you're wanting, and whether - once it's in your hands - the bass is delivering or not.
 
#13
The guy with the Ibanez SR505 backed out, so I went and traded the Jazz for the Yamaha BB2005. My only complaint is the weight - it's well over 11lbs, but other than that, I love it. Broad range of sounds, very resonant, very comfortable neck (feels natural in my hands).. I love it!
 
#16
KingRazor said:
Love the SR505. Best bass within it's price range as far as I'm concerned. Also, check out Guitar Center's used site, they almost always have a few SR505s sitting around for less than $500.
Click to expand...


Agreed with all of the above, with the qualification that IMO, it's the best 5er in it's price range, especially on the used market... I've seen nice sr505s go for as little as $300-$400 on GC's used gear page - I'd sell your bass outright, then buy that way... IME, the 505s are pretty consistant, and I prefer their necks over the Yammies...


- georgestrings
 

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