NBD: 1991 Ibanez SR886

[Standalone]

I was on the fence about this bass for a long time — I think I first saw it listed three months ago. I did some homework and one review I read on TB panned the pickups. But after finding this video, I decided I disagreed with those posts.

The woman I picked it up from had a matching black 886 with a Les Claypool “Bass Sucks” autograph, which was cool and worth the extra dollars but so went with the less expensive offering.

This bass is more comfortable than my Tune, which was just too much of a monster for me, no matter how amazing it sounded. This feels much more comfortable. I’m looking forward to a new set of strings and doing a little setup tweaking.

 

[two fingers]

Those MIJ Ibanez basses from from that era are REALLY nice instruments. I had an aqua blue 4 banger that was fantastic.

 

[bordinco90]

Congrats on your new bass. It looks really nice.

 

[Standalone]

Those MIJ Ibanez basses from from that era are REALLY nice instruments. I had an aqua blue 4 banger that was fantastic.

 

[Standalone]

Clearly stoked

 

[eastcoasteddie]

A friend of mine had the SR1500PD. That was a sweet bass...

 

[LowEndLobster]

Congrats! That's a sick looking six stringer! A fujigen gem (I think they built it)

 

[Standalone]

View attachment 3788138

A friend of mine had the SR1500PD. That was a sweet bass...

I have that SR885 in black. I think I like these pickups in the 886 better.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I am a sucker for the look of those skinny soap bar pickups. I was not familiar with them on Ibanezes. I remember them on Yamaha and Heartfield basses.

 

[tindrum]

Those MIJ Ibanez basses from from that era are REALLY nice instruments. I had an aqua blue 4 banger that was fantastic.

Oh yeah they are! I remember about 20 years ago I went to someone's house to demo one that listed for sale in a local trading post. It was neck thru with an amazing flame top, ebony board (fretless). Man it flat out sang. Just incredible! After playing it I said "I'll take it". She then got real weird and refused to sell it to me (!!) I pleaded with her to no avail. Just strange. Hopefully my awesome playing made her decide to keep it as it sounded so good. At least that's what I tell myself LOL.

 

[dalkowski]

View attachment 3788083

Far right is one of my all-time fave headstock designs. Nice flock!

 

[Standalone]

Far right is one of my all-time fave headstock designs. Nice flock!

my #1

 

[garp]

Congratulations! Them 886s aren't easy to find these days, and yours is in pretty good shape given the vintage. A very nice addition to your Ibanez stable. Rock The Elm City with that puppy...but only when it is safe again to do so, of course.

 

[Standalone]

I am a sucker for the look of those skinny soap bar pickups. I was not familiar with them on Ibanezes. I remember them on Yamaha and Heartfield basses.

I like them too. Kind of a classic “modern” look.

I am intending on using this hiatus and quarantine to finally work up a decent thumb pop technique And these pickups definitely create a lot of space for me to try different techniques and see where my hands work well with popping the D, G, *and C*

There is a white Heartfield on Reverb that I covet. I like to play white Basses on stage but it was $1k... This was the local inexpensive alternative.

I’ve been researching the pickups. The 1991 catalog posted here lists them as Lo-J6 but the 1992 catalog is different. My 885 has the AFR and they’re ok but I feel like these are better. I have to A/B them once I throw some fresh strings on this baby.
Here is a review that seems to indicate that the 1991 Lo-6 pickups are EMG’s sirius1o1's review - Ibanez SR886

This bass has a very nice straight ahead two band active jazz tone. I am liking it a lot, even with these old strings. Prev. owner seems to have the neck pickup lowered a bit.

 

[Fender_Bender]

I can’t imagine there were a lot of production six string basses floating around in 1991, so it might actually be kinda rare.

 

[dalkowski]

my #1
View attachment 3788273

That's not Toad's Place, is it?

 

[Standalone]

That's not Toad's Place, is it?

Yes, opening for Max Creek

 

[dalkowski]

Yes, opening for Max Creek

Max Creek will never die. I remember them from ads on WPLR in the 70s when I was in jr. high school. I understand their blood is being tested as a c'virus vaccine.

 

[Standalone]

I can’t imagine there were a lot of production six string basses floating around in 1991, so it might actually be kinda rare.

She had two of them! The other had the Les Claypool autograph lol. She and her husband brought out both for me to check out. I didn’t pick up and try out the Claypool one. I should have!

 

[Standalone]

Max Creek will never die. I remember them from ads on WPLR in the 70s when I was in jr. high school. I understand their blood is being tested as a c'virus vaccine.

Ha! Veterans for sure. Our guitar player gigs around with Mark Mercier — and Scott Murawski has offered to produce our next album. We’re kind of in the Max Creek orbit. There’s a great New England jam band scene. I can’t wait for things to clear out.