Modding Ibanez SR basses

[Baron Samedi]

Hi guys!

Long time reader, first time poster here. I have a question about modding Ibanez SR basses:

I already have an SR 300, but am looking into buying an SR 500 or 600, for the purpose of upgrading (pickups, bridge, putting in those EVO hypoallergenic frets due to allergies,...). So it comes down to this: is there enough of a difference in quality of the neck and body to justify shelving out 500 to 600 euro for a new SR or am I better of upgrading the 300 I have?

 

[Wallace320]

First of all, welcome you newposter

A Soundgear 300 "needs" to be upgraded, because it has an average electronic (CAP soapbars are not bad at all) but it has to sound thru an agathis body, which can be really poor

A Soundgear 500/600 (mahogany/ash) sounds way better (try it even unplugged and you'll get me...) electronic stay so and so, while Bartolini mk1 are good passive soapbars, but can be retrofitted fine (with Nordstrand for example)

So the point goes:
SR300 should receive some after market attention, SR500/600 are good enough (serious here) as they come out of the box.

Cheers,
Wallace

PS: are you into King Diamond?

 

[Yahboy]

SR300 to SR500 or SR600 I dint call it "Upgrade";
SR Premium or Prestige ~~~ that i call "True Upgrade".

 

[Baron Samedi]

Thanks for the welcome, Wallace!

And thanks for the advice. Whole reason I fell in love with SRs was because I played a friends SR500 back in the day. Budget was really tight when I bought a new bass so went for a 300. Some hardware replacing is a must though, considering my aforementioned allergies.

And nope, hardly know any of King Diamond's stuff...I assume it's because of my user name? I'm just kinda into supernatural folklore is all

And Yahboy, yeah I've drooled over the Prestige SRs many times, but since I have to take care of some things on other music gear related fronts, it's quite an investment.