NBD: Ibanez Lefty SR100 P-style bass

[alaskaleftybass]

I'd been looking for the Ibanez SR100 lefty, a passive P-bass a la Ibanez. I've wanted a P-style bass for a while since I already have the SR400 and SR500 active basses.

I bought it from eBay and it arrived in poor condition, needing a lot of work. I stuck it in my spare room with the other basses and put it out of my mind. One night, while watching a movie with wife, I took the bass completely apart and scrubbed it from top to bottom. I added a strap lock on the bottom, two volume controls, and oiled the neck. When I reassembled it, I put on a set of Hartke roundwound strings. Man the bass sounded sweet! Nice and thumpy like a P bass should sound. The notes were big, fat, and round like a vintage P bass.

The neck is 41mm which is 3mm wider than the usual "fast and narrow" Ibanez necks. For some reason, the wider neck feels really good, and surprisingly easy to play. I think because of the wider neck, I have that deeper tone. While comfortable, the neck feels substantial.

If you like Ibanez, and have been looking for a single pickup passive, I highly recommend one of these guys. The bass feels really good in my hands, it has a nice round tone, and it's well made. You can get these for a song on eBay, they come up now and then. But if you want one get it soon because they've been out of production for at least 10 years. Highly recommended!

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I'm still happy with my cheap bass!

 

[spatchthepunk]

Us lefties have so few basses available,it seems there are two choices lower end and custom.I like hanging on the lower end side and have found some real jewels,i'm glad you found one.I have a mikro for chair practice and it is really nice for the money.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Us lefties have so few basses available,it seems there are two choices lower end and custom.I like hanging on the lower end side and have found some real jewels,i'm glad you found one.I have a mikro for chair practice and it is really nice for the money.

Thanks @spatchthepunk ! I just sold a Mikro to a kid for lessons and am missing it! I'm going to order a replacement soon. I've noticed that Adirondack Guitars online and Rondo Music has some good lefties. Adirondack has more higher end and mid tier models under $1,000.

Ever noticed you can get any Ibanez lefty model as long as it's black? Just like the Ford Model T!

But seriously, for a very cheap bass this one really is a hidden gem. I wish lefties would look at one and try one. I practiced last night for quite a while and got my small Ampeg BA08v2 combo sounding pretty vintage bit fat P-bass SVT/810! I keep saying it, but the best way I can describe it-- big fat round notes that ring for a long time. A real joy to play!

 

[spatchthepunk]

Thanks @spatchthepunk ! I just sold a Mikro to a kid for lessons and am missing it! I'm going to order a replacement soon. I've noticed that Adirondack Guitars online and Rondo Music has some good lefties. Adirondack has more higher end and mid tier models under $1,000.

Ever noticed you can get any Ibanez lefty model as long as it's black? Just like the Ford Model T!

But seriously, for a very cheap bass this one really is a hidden gem. I wish lefties would look at one and try one. I practiced last night for quite a while and got my small Ampeg BA08v2 combo sounding pretty vintage bit fat P-bass SVT/810! I keep saying it, but the best way I can describe it-- big fat round notes that ring for a long time. A real joy to play!

Luckily I like blackI did buy a new fender american standard precision last year because I wanted a new american made bass before i croak, but when you see a lefty for sale it's like adopting a shelter pet you want to bring them all home with you.I have a new MM sub ray4 coming tomorrow,i'm a sucker for black with maple necks.

 

[Basshappi]

Congrats!
I have an old plywood Ibanez with a Pbass pup and a fantastic maple neck. I forget what model it is off the top of my head but it gets a great "punk P-bass" sound when played pick style.
I like the high end Ibanez basses but there are very few models available left handed and those that are usually only offered in Black or a dark brown wood finish. Not my cuppa.

 

[spatchthepunk]

I could have been a Hondo endorsing artist in the 80's, I had 3 at one time ,i still have 2 of them and I look for the third everyday on CL.I promised my wife I would stop at 10 so if I don't find my bass maybe an Ibanez will fill the spot.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I could have been a Hondo endorsing artist in the 80's, I had 3 at one time ,i still have 2 of them and I look for the third everyday on CL.I promised my wife I would stop at 10 so if I don't find my bass maybe an Ibanez will fill the spot.

I know a lot of players made fun of the Hondo's back then but I read a while back they actually had some pretty good models at a decent price.....? Any pics?

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Speaking of cheap basses, I found one for sale, but the owner doesn't know what model or year. Does anyone have an idea what model/year this is? It appears to be an older P/J style. If it has a wide neck I'm grabbin' it!

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I looked at other pics and it's an Ibanez GIO GSR200. I believe active electronics, 41mm neck. I like the neck size but want one more passive. Also like the deep red..

 

[spatchthepunk]

Not sure but I love the color.The red one I bought new in 85,the double cut sunburst I bought used for $75 in 82 and had my luthier switch it to a lefty,the Gibson is my first bass,the black squier I bought in 2000 and is my fav to play,oddly enough the harmony hollow body is worth decent money,I bought that at a garage sale for five bucks.The squier Jazz VM I bought a This winter for a hundred bucks.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Not sure but I love the color.The red one I bought new in 85,the double cut sunburst I bought used for $75 in 82 and had my luthier switch it to a lefty,the Gibson is my first bass,the black squier I bought in 2000 and is my fav to play,oddly enough the harmony hollow body is worth decent money,I bought that at a garage sale for five bucks.The squier Jazz VM I bought a This winter for a hundred bucks.View attachment 3011855View attachment 3011856 View attachment 3011857View attachment 3011858

I'm jealous of your basses, amps AND your playroom!

 

[spatchthepunk]

I'm jealous of your basses, amps AND your playroom!

My garage is nicer than my house I sold most of my equipment and quit the band when the kids were born in 90 .They are both out of college and both married off a couple years ago.I'm doing some reunion shows now and it's dads turn for fun

 

[alaskaleftybass]

You deserve it. And by the looks of things looks like you're ready to enjoy it! Congrats and play the heck out of those gems!

 

[cronker]

Ibanez have always been kind to us lefties. My first real lefty was a nice Ibanez, and I loved it, although it really only did rock tones.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Ibanez have always been kind to us lefties. My first real lefty was a nice Ibanez, and I loved it, although it really only did rock tones.

@cronker in the late 70's unless you paid mucho denero to Fender you couldn't get a lefty Ibanez. But in 1983 I made the jump to Ibanez from a Fender P and a J bass to a Roadstar cherry sunburst. It was righty, but I play my basses strung right handed. I know in the mid 80's they started offering lefty's. I was a lot younger then and it didn't matter to me that my bass was backwards, but after the 2000's I guess as I got older I got tired of neck dive. That's when I discovered that all along Ibanez HAD been good to lefty's. Nowadays I browse eBay and Guitar Center Used online for older lefty Ibanez basses. There's a bunch of them out there, and I'm kind of on a "passive bass" kick right now.

 

[spatchthepunk]

@cronker in the late 70's unless you paid mucho denero to Fender you couldn't get a lefty Ibanez. But in 1983 I made the jump to Ibanez from a Fender P and a J bass to a Roadstar cherry sunburst. It was righty, but I play my basses strung right handed. I know in the mid 80's they started offering lefty's. I was a lot younger then and it didn't matter to me that my bass was backwards, but after the 2000's I guess as I got older I got tired of neck dive. That's when I discovered that all along Ibanez HAD been good to lefty's. Nowadays I browse eBay and Guitar Center Used online for older lefty Ibanez basses. There's a bunch of them out there, and I'm kind of on a "passive bass" kick right now.

Geez I didn't notice your bass was strung righty,i'm trying to wrap my head around how I would play that,I can barely play the regular way

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Geez I didn't notice your bass was strung righty,i'm trying to wrap my head around how I would play that,I can barely play the regular way

Just the way we learn, bro! Back in the early 60's when I was crazy about the Beatles I bought a cheap guitar from Aldens Catalog. No one in our town of 2,000 people told me I was playing upside down and backwards! ha ha. When I was a touring professional, it made it easy on Jam Nights to let other drunks play my bass ( I had a beater for those nights) but as I got older, once I started going lefty strung righty the jammers quit asking to borrow my bass. Although it was for all practical purposes a right handed bass, they couldn't get past how it looked on them, even though I added a second strap lock button on the other horn!

 

[spatchthepunk]

Us lefties are pretty adaptable,i'm sure I could have played right handed but better I never did,I would have 20 basses by now

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Us lefties are pretty adaptable,i'm sure I could have played right handed but better I never did,I would have 20 basses by now

You're right @spatchthepunk . Having to swap out the nut, carve it down to the right depth and curve, bridge height and intonation, then truss rod adjustments make it more difficult to grab a bass in the local store and just run with it! I like your attitude-- kind of a built in limiter to make me think twice before buying another one!