NBD - Ibanez SR2605 Premium 5-string

[Sixgunn]

I confess. I'm a boutique, coffee table bass or high end bass guy, or whatever people like to call it and I have a few (Mayones, Warrior, Modulus, CB, Warwick, etc.) That's what I like and I'm also an active 5 string guy. Don't hate me.

However, I just got an Ibanez!! Side note, I got it from awesome TB'er @MaccaMan1964

A few years back I got an Ibanez SR506 because I thought I'd like 6 string but I didn't so I sold it but I always thought it was a great playing and sounding bass but 6 string necks are just not comfortable for me. I saw this SR2605 in the classifieds here and it really got my attention so I read some reviews and I decided to pull the trigger. I'm quite glad I did. It is fantastic. It plays like a dream and sounds even better! The neck is thin like I like and the width is super comfortable. It actually feels smaller than it is. So much so that I had to look it up again and verify that it is indeed a 34 scale, lol. It's also only about 8.5lbs which makes it my lightest bass other than my '65 Precision.

I saw that it came with Nordstrand Big Singles and I have Big Blades (also single coil) on my Warrior so I was excited about that as I prefer single coils and Nordstrands are excellent. It sounds better than I was expecting. Growly, clear and full. A little Rickenbacker-ish but maybe a bit less angry, lol. More earthy maybe? The pre-amp is nice and responsive. It has an active/passive switch and the mids have a three position frequency selector but honestly, I usually leave the mids flat but time will tell.

Over all, it's a fantastic instrument that I will be using regularly. It definitely holds it's own with my others and I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

 

[Angry Mob With Pitchfork]

Congrats and enjoy in good health!

 

[68Tele-Bass]

That looks great!!
Glad it feels and sounds good too!!

 

[CatchaCuda]

Beautiful. I even like the gold hardware on it, that's rare for me!

 

[JRA]

beautiful! glad it plays so well for you, OP. congratulations on your new instrument!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Looks like a great bass. I hope it sounds as good as it looks!

 

[bassquick]

Just got one of those.
Those pickups really pack a punch. And I put gold strings on to make it sound even "richer". Lol.

 

[Basehead]

I was enjoying my SR2605 earlier - fast neck, able to get ridiculous action, and those Big Singles bring the tonez....

 

[Foxprowl]

I upgraded from my SR905 to the 2605 last year for gigging and love it! (still have a thing for my 905 though, I broke it in for 14 years!)

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Was thinking of picking one of these up. I’m in the market for a 5 string and my local GC had a used SR505. Nice bass, but it was beat up pretty badly. I used one of these back in high school jazz band and quickly fell in love with the feel. Looking at the specs, it seems like the 505 and 2605 have the same dimensions across the board - the 2605 is just a more premium model with different electronics and woods. So long as it feels similar, I think this would be an excellent option. I just hope the tone of the bass is good.

 

[Amigo_SPb]

Hello!
I have a question to this bass owners. I bought used 2605 some days ago. I cant find information about type of cover on th back of the neck. I thought that it covered by thin satin lacquer. Luthier told me that it looks like unlacquered and advice to oil it by something like Dunlop 65 and wax after it, like Musicman Basses neck back. What is your opinion about it?

 

[stevecaronna]

I have a question about this bass, I ordered one new, they were backordered and it finally came in Jan 15th and I got it a few days later. I did love the way it felt and sounded but after playing it for a few days I found it had some dead frets in the 6 and 8 position mostly on the D string and also dead harmonics on the 7th fret on the E and B strings. The neck also felt like it had an issue like a vibration inside so I sent it back. I really wanted to love it and am thinking that maybe that one bass somehow was not up to standard but I really don't know. I checked around my local music stores but none had this bass in stock. I have an Ibanez SR655 and love the way it feels and plays and the neck on the 2605 is shaped the same so I was really excited to get it in. I just want to see if anyone else has any issues with theirs. I may see if I can get a local store to order me one that way I won't have to go through shipping it back in the even it feels the same.

 

[Amigo_SPb]

I have a question about this bass, I ordered one new, they were backordered and it finally came in Jan 15th and I got it a few days later. I did love the way it felt and sounded but after playing it for a few days I found it had some dead frets in the 6 and 8 position mostly on the D string and also dead harmonics on the 7th fret on the E and B strings. The neck also felt like it had an issue like a vibration inside so I sent it back. I really wanted to love it and am thinking that maybe that one bass somehow was not up to standard but I really don't know. I checked around my local music stores but none had this bass in stock. I have an Ibanez SR655 and love the way it feels and plays and the neck on the 2605 is shaped the same so I was really excited to get it in. I just want to see if anyone else has any issues with theirs. I may see if I can get a local store to order me one that way I won't have to go through shipping it back in the even it feels the same.

I didn't find any noticeable dead notes on my instrument. If you ordered a new instrument, then perhaps the problem is with the strings. Ibanez supplies stock Daddario sets, I've recently encountered low-quality strings that are dead right out of the box. (I order them from EU online store) Have you tried a different set of strings (Other brand?)? I can say nothing about vibration inside the neck. My bass doesn't have it.

 

[stevecaronna]

I didn't find any noticeable dead notes on my instrument. If you ordered a new instrument, then perhaps the problem is with the strings. Ibanez supplies stock Daddario sets, I've recently encountered low-quality strings that are dead right out of the box. (I order them from EU online store) Have you tried a different set of strings (Other brand?)? I can say nothing about vibration inside the neck. My bass doesn't have it.

Thanks for your response. The strings were nice and bright, pretty sure it is the neck. Not sure if I am going to go for another one or just sit back until I find something else that I like.

 

[bassquick]

Hello!
I have a question to this bass owners. I bought used 2605 some days ago. I cant find information about type of cover on th back of the neck. I thought that it covered by thin satin lacquer. Luthier told me that it looks like unlacquered and advice to oil it by something like Dunlop 65 and wax after it, like Musicman Basses neck back. What is your opinion about it?

I just left mine as is, the neck is very smooth already and I like that you can still feel the wood grain a little bit.

 

[english4bw]

I got this SR2605 about one year ago now and I love everything about it except for the luminescent side dots they put on these basses. Sounds like a good idea, but they don't really work, especially under low light conditions where it isn't completely dark. Turns out you can't even see what fret you're on when the light is low but not low enough, which is almost everywhere I play this thing. Getting the side dots replaced with standard white dots soon. Other than that issue, it's one of the best basses I've ever owned sound and playability wise. I tend to play it more than my Sadowsky RV5 these days. Which says a lot. The SR just has a much more playable neck profile when you've got arthritic hands like me.