Need a new bass (Ibanez?)

[W_R]

If you come across a used MiM Fender Zone, check it out.

 

[braud357]

I have owned the Ibanez SR300, SR300E, SR400E, SR500E, and currently own a SR600E in Blueburst. It has the Nordstrand pickups and is a great bass - easy to play and it sounds amazing. If I had to choose among the rest I would choose the SR300E over the SR400 & SR500 series - it simply sounded better. The SR500E had Bartolini pickups and was very dark sounding.

 

[Dincrest]

In terms of Soundgear clones, I would check out a Jackson Spectra bass. I think the compound radius on those necks is super comfy.

 

[Pep]

I’m a fan of older Ibanez basses. I have 2 Roadstar RB850s and love them. I could never “bond” with the newer ones.
If you’re wanting something newer I would suggest looking at an MTD, perhaps a Saratoga. It’s a great soundung bass with fantastic ergonomics. The necks are extremely comfy in my smaller hands and have an asymmetrical profile (MTD exclusive feature) and it’s the best feeling neck I’ve ever played. Nothing bulky at all, just smooth, slim and fast. You won’t find a more comfortable neck.
There is one available on Reverb from Pro Audio Star (open box) for $579.49 in Cherry Burst.

 

[cxc]

I have an early 90s MIJ SR800 and a newer (2020) SR300. Both stock. SR300 is very solid and I would keep it over the SR800 if I had to choose one. Took some fiddling and some string experimentation to find a feel and tone that worked for me with the SR300. Currently running with XL ProSteels.

 

[BassicJazzy]

I have an early 90s MIJ SR800 and a newer (2020) SR300. Both stock. SR300 is very solid and I would keep it over the SR800 if I had to choose one. Took some fiddling and some string experimentation to find a feel and tone that worked for me with the SR300. Currently running with XL ProSteels.

I have Chromes on my SR370EF and it is a faster player than my SR1350B which has black tapes. You can get a very low action on the 300 series, and with the super thin neck (1300 is thicker) you have a very fast bass.

Some people find the neck on the 300 series too thin. I do not have a problem with it. People with large hands might find their fingers crowded on that board.

 

[Bass3Ment]

In terms of Soundgear clones, I would check out a Jackson Spectra bass. I think the compound radius on those necks is super comfy.

had one briefly and the neck was kinda sqareish and a bit on the thick side. this one was the cheapest one

 

[Bass3Ment]

I have owned the Ibanez SR300, SR300E, SR400E, SR500E, and currently own a SR600E in Blueburst. It has the Nordstrand pickups and is a great bass - easy to play and it sounds amazing. If I had to choose among the rest I would choose the SR300E over the SR400 & SR500 series - it simply sounded better. The SR500E had Bartolini pickups and was very dark sounding.

this one caught my eye. 777eur on thomann

SR500N | SR | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

SR500N at Ibanez. Ibanez offers electric guitars, bass guitars, acoustic guitars, effect and pedals, amps, plus guitar accessories like tuners, straps and picks.

www.ibanez.com

 

[Bass3Ment]

I have an early 90s MIJ SR800 and a newer (2020) SR300. Both stock. SR300 is very solid and I would keep it over the SR800 if I had to choose one. Took some fiddling and some string experimentation to find a feel and tone that worked for me with the SR300. Currently running with XL ProSteels.

interesting. would you say the 300 has a thicker neck profile? tnx

 

[BarfanyShart]

The EHBs with the Nordstrand pickups kick butt. Get one of those.

 

[BassicJazzy]

interesting. would you say the 300 has a thicker neck profile? tnx

With possible exception of the Mikro, no SR has a thinner neck profile than the SR300. I'm playing mine today. If it was any thinner, it would be a pencil.

Also, the p'ups and preamp don't sound bad. You should really try one with your rig before you decide to replace them.

More pics?

 

[cxc]

interesting. would you say the 300 has a thicker neck profile? tnx

Honestly, both profiles feel about the same to me. My SR800 has a painted neck and the 300 is unfinished so 300 feels a bit smoother when sliding down the neck.

 

[NitroBobby]

I am also a fan of the Ibanez neck and overall feel. However, I prefer the BTB series. I didn’t care for the preamp, so I swapped that out for a pre-wired Bartolini unit that added an active/passive push-pull volume knob. I also recently swapped the pickups for Nordstrand Big Splits. I love the sound coming out of it now. It wasn’t bad before but it seemed like it was missing something. No longer have that issue. Interestingly, the Barts that came out of it went into a Chinese made Peavey Grind BXP (also installed a new pre-wired solderless passive harness). I cleaned that guy up a bit, shielded and grounded the thing and it sounds amazing. Neck through, string through & passive, a great back up.

As far as necks go, I think you have similar tastes as I do. So, Ibanez SR or BTB would be great, I also have a Schecter stiletto custom 4 that has a fantastic neck. The peavey has a nice neck and the LTDs I’ve had also sport a nice thin profile neck.

If you really like the Ibanez, go with the advice here and get one with the active/passive option and Nordstrand pups. I have found this setup to be excellent. Or, if you have the ability, grab a used one and swap out the guts. I find that I really enjoy working on and modifying instruments. I was an Electronics Technician in the Navy though, so my background lends itself to this type of work.

Good luck in your search.

kgb

 

[crazycloud]

What is the verdict on those SR 300 humbuckers? tnx

I have a recent 370 and 375 and I like them. The blue 375 is an all around lovely bass.
FWIW, I currently own 8 SRs, a BTB, an EHB and have another SR-ish model on order. Plus I've owned a whole lot more over the years, MIJ, MIK, MII and MIC.
The PUs in the modern 3 and 4 series are BC and P2 sized and EMG make a really sweet sounding PU that fits in. One of my basses is getting an E5W set (not the 375). Check the reviews online.

The only thing is that the color is kinda bland. I dunno why Ibanez does this. At least they can get away with crazy finishes.

It's cheap. I have 3 with this finish and I'm not fond of it, but I've had worse.

What would you say is the main difference between the nordstrands and the bartolinis?

Between the Nords and the import Barts, go with the Nords. There are a few comparison vids on YT. The store Fat Bass Tone uses a 305 as the basis for many of it's tone tests which make it easier to compare.

Currently running with XL ProSteels.

I like these as well.

this one caught my eye. 777eur on thomann

SR500N | SR | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

SR500N at Ibanez. Ibanez offers electric guitars, bass guitars, acoustic guitars, effect and pedals, amps, plus guitar accessories like tuners, straps and picks.

www.ibanez.com

Better finish and the Nords - this would be what I'd suggest if you can swing the budget. In terms of good, useful sounding production basses, you'll be hard pressed to get much better than these until you hit the Ibanez Premium lines and they're better, but not massively so. After that, the sky is your limit for boutiques, and I've been down that road many times, and now play my Ibbys and Corts almost exclusively.

Also look at the Cort A and B series. These are great; I have 2 A series but prefer the Ibbys as their necks are narrower in the 5s and 6s, but are very similar feeling in the 4s. I'm not much of a neck profile snob though and can make do with a lot, but prefer the SRs and BTBs as I'm mainly a 6 player.

 

[BassicJazzy]

OP, I think everyone above has given you solid advice. I agree with pretty much everything already said. I would add that the BTB neck through bodies are a little more squarish and the basses are a little heavier than the SRs, but they are really solid players. Many of them are also 35" scale, instead of the 34" SRs (except the Mikro which is short scale). I agree with all the comments about the p'up choices and what seems to work best.

You do not have to spend a lot of money to get a great playing bass with a SR, or a BTB. QC is very good on these basses. The only issues I have ever heard of are with the five string versions with mono rail bridges. With some of those, you need to be careful that the B string can be intoned properly, sometimes the bridge isn't attached low enough on the body. Other than that, haven't heard of any issues.

 

[michael_t]

this one caught my eye. 777eur on thomann

SR500N | SR | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

SR500N at Ibanez. Ibanez offers electric guitars, bass guitars, acoustic guitars, effect and pedals, amps, plus guitar accessories like tuners, straps and picks.

www.ibanez.com

I've owned the SR505N for the last couple months and am very happy with it so far. The Nordstrand "Big Break" pickups sound great and it only weighs 7.2 lbs.! Highly recommended!

Here's the thread that caught my attention...

Thread 'NBD - Ibanez SR500N'

Mar 1, 2026

For the past 30+ years I have been a Fender bass player but wanted something different and heard great things about the Ibanez SR basses. When I tried this one out at Alto Music in Middletown NY, I was blown away by the feel and sounds from this bass. I’m gonna try it out with the band this afternoon (classic rock, early punk, some 80’s and a bit of country). Let’s see how she does!

Only got it last night but I am really enjoying this bass.

The color is Midnight Arctic Ocean. My photo does it no justice.

• Deep Note
• ibanez sr 500 nbd
• Replies: 42
• Forum: Basses [BG]

• 
• 

 

[Dincrest]

had one briefly and the neck was kinda sqareish and a bit on the thick side. this one was the cheapest one

Gotcha.

Yeah, that "squarish" back-of-the-neck and profile that's slightly girthier than a prototypical Soundgear neck is what my hands like. I once had a Prestige Soundgear 4 that was easily one of the best basses I've ever owned... but that neck was too pencil-thin for my liking.

And I hear you on how neck profiles seem to change. I used to have a 2005(?) LTD (by ESP) F-205 and I loved it's "thin U" profile neck. It had a little girth to it but wasn't a baseball bat. Then I briefly had an LTD D-5 (from the 2010s) that also had a "thin U" neck profile... but this one had a noticeably thinner profile, Still a good neck, but my hands preferred the "old" thin-U neck. I no longer have that D-5, but I donated it to the high school I work at, and a freshman girl is kicking some serious tail playing that thing.

When it comes to thin necks, Soundgear is still the gold standard. Though I wonder... I've heard it said that the higher level ones have thinner necks than the cheaper ones. I wonder if that's because the higher-end ones select better quality woods for the neck and the lower-end ones need to make the lower-grade wood necks thicker for stability? I could be completely wrong.

 

[Yahboy]

Hi I am new here

I recently sold my MIJ Ibanez SR800. I had that bass for almost 20 years and always wanted to try something different.
I am an instrument teacher. Primarily a guitarist but i do play other stringed instruments.
I teach both guitar and bass.
So I mostly use the bass for recording and teaching.
What I liked about the old SR was the neck and the 3,3kg weight.
What I did not really like was the electronics and the fact I had to have
the bridge re-glued back onto the body because it just just fell apart.
The wood on that bass is super soft.

Tonally, that bass was kinda weak. Muddy. There weren't a lot of natural mids due to construction(?) I guess.

When I sold my old SR800 I thought finding a new bass would be easy but boy was I wrong. Turns out my small hands do not like big necks.
I had bought a JB style (MOOER copy) bass and that neck was way too thick. Just a pain to play.

I foolishly thought that any neck would do but now I am looking for a narrow nut thin neck bass.
My attention again turned back to Ibanez basses.

My problem is there aren't any available for me to try before buying.
There is an SR300 in a local music store but my thinking is: if i am getting a bass it should be better than the one I have owned.
Plus, I have never played a bass with humbuckers. Always preferred the Fenderish hollow tone kinda sound.

I also see that, in the higher price range, Ibanez no longer offer an SR bass tih a PJ pup combo.
Why Ibanez??
I also noticed that the neck on that SR300 is thicker than on my MIJ800.

What recently caught my attention is the SR500 and SR600 series.
Of course the premium and the prestige line are attractive but I feel it's kinda crazy for me to spend
all that money on a bass I have never had the chance to play and also I mainly teach and record so it seems like overkill.

Those of you who prefer thin neck and narrow nuts, what would you recommend?
What would be a step above the SR800 when it comes to a new(er) Ibanez bass?
Are there any alternatives out there? Yamaha? Schecter?

To sum it up, I would like to spend up to 800eur and get a lighter weight bass with a thin neck and noiseless electronics.

Thank you.

How about the latest SR500N

or something different ...

 

[Bass3Ment]

what is the difference between the Atlas and the sr neck profile? Thanks

 

[ardgedee]

I've heard it said that the higher level ones have thinner necks than the cheaper ones. I wonder if that's because the higher-end ones select better quality woods for the neck and the lower-end ones need to make the lower-grade wood necks thicker for stability? I could be completely wrong.

Given a single variety of wood, multi-laminate necks can be more reliably straight and stiff than single-piece necks. The higher-end modern Soundgears have reinforcement rods. Fancy woods might have something to do with it too but plain ol' maple has a pretty good balance of stiffness and density, and a zillion laminates are not necessarily structurally better than the three-piece necks that Ibanez used in their older Soundgears (current Standard-line Soundgears have 5-piece maple-walnut necks).

Since Ibanez posts detailed neck dimensions, we can compare numbers directly. Here are a few single-scale 4-string SRs, from bottom-of-the-line GSR to the top Prestige model. Excluding the Workshop models since those are intended to be more experimental or special-purpose.

As you'll see below, excepting the Gio, ALL THE NECK DIMENSIONS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME from their $400 models to their $3000 models. Any variations you experience in the current models are due to manufacturing tolerances. Since Ibanez has been making Soundgears for almost 40 years in many different factories there are bound to be some changes in the specs although in my experience even the necks on 30-year-old models feel pretty similar.

GSR100EX (Gio series has a 22-fret neck, unlike the 24-fret necks on all Standard, Premium and Prestige Soundgears.)

SR300EB (bottom of Standard line) and SR600E (top of Standard line)

SR1350B (bottom of Premium line) and SR2600 (top of Premium line)

SR3500 (bottom of Prestige line) and SR5500 (top of Prestige line)