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NBD: Ibanez SR Mezzo 32" scale - review

#81
bushy said:
So a step up from the ibanez mikro then?
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Nope. Stepping up from the Mikro 28.6" scale, Ibanez has Short 30"~30.3" Scale basses. Then the Medium 32"~33" Scale (SR Mezzo and BTB Volo). And then the regular Long 34"~ Scale.

bushy said:
Didn't realize this was full scale (34") and 9 pounds! What's the lightest weight bass guitar could weigh?
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Since the Mezzo is 32", it's not considered full scale. It falls into the Medium Scale category.
 
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#86
I recently sold my Ibanez Mezzo. I loved the fact that it was medium-scale and very light, but I did not especially care for the narrow feeling of the neck toward the nut and the electronics did not sound fabulous to me. It's a very good instrument (I'm sure the new owner will enjoy it) but it was my fourth bass and I feel like I am happier (and my life simpler) with just three.
 
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#87
Is the mezzo one of the few medium scales available commercially (not custom)? Not sure any other big names has one other than Hagstrom? Although I think Hagstrom is really a short scale at 30".

Djadja said:
My Bee is well under 7 pounds and the Mezzo I bought from Sweetwater is 6 pounds 13 ounces.

9 pounds is on the light side for a 6 string... and lighter even than some Fender style 4 strings, but it is more than I want to deal with.
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#88
bushy said:
Is the mezzo one of the few medium scales available commercially (not custom)? Not sure any other big names has one other than Hagstrom?
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Check the Medium Scale Bass Club here on TB and also this Master Medium Scale Bass List, but off the top of my head I believe Serek makes some 32"-scale basses and so do Birdsong and Landing. Those are all boutique luthiers, though. Squier was supposed going to release a Jarman 32" Precision-esque bass but I never saw one.

Personally, if I decided to get a medium-scale bass today I would build a Warmoth. Good value and super-fun as a project; the only problem is resale value and the fact that if you do decide to re-sell, you will probably have to wait a while to find a buyer.
 
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#89
bushy said:
Is the mezzo one of the few medium scales available commercially (not custom)? Not sure any other big names has one other than Hagstrom? Although I think Hagstrom is really a short scale at 30".
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yes, the mezzo is 32 inch scale.
mine arrived yesterday. I've gotten to spend a little time with it today and first impression is really good. I'll write an nbd post in a couple of days. I plan to use it with the church band on Sunday so I'll have a sense of how it works in a mix.
 
#93
BulbousMoses said:
Good to know. I'd be putting flats on it anyway. I'd have to go for the orange...my favorite color.
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The preamp is only 2 band, but it is effective. Cut a touch of the treble maybe boost the bass a touch and it fattens up nicely. If you want a mid scoop, just raise both bass and treble. Drop bass and treble if you want to push the mids a bit.

The P pup sounds like a P to me. The J is a bit generic, is lower in volume than the P, and is a single coil so it hums a bit. I may swap it out for a hotter split coil... or maybe not. We’ll see. So far I’m very pleased with the bass.

I just put up an NBD thread. NBD: Ibanez Mezzo
 
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#94
I've found the Spector gig bag to be a good fit for my smaller-bodied medium scale bass. Unlike in many Fender-sized cases, the body doesn't move around, and the bag isn't too long for a 2x2 headstock. Nice quality, too.
Here's a pic from Sweetwater:
unnamed.jpg
 
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#96
fermata said:
I've found the Spector gig bag to be a good fit for my smaller-bodied medium scale bass. Unlike in many Fender-sized cases, the body doesn't move around, and the bag isn't too long for a 2x2 headstock. Nice quality, too.
Here's a pic from Sweetwater:
View attachment 3459620
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That is closer than most... the Mezzo is 43.5 inches long and most bass bags are 48-49.
 
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#97
Had a HUGE issue with mine yesterday in church... we have a t coil in the building that sends a signal from the board to some recent hearing aids. it is really helpful for some folk.
the J pickup acted as an antenna for that signal. It caused feedback for the vocal mics and everything that went out via that signal - basically everything -came through my amp. so, I couldn't use the J pup at all. I'm trying to figure out what might split coil J pops fit in the rout or if I have to enlarge the cavity...

if anyone has swapped out that pickup, let me know.
 
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