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New Ibanez Mode series
- Thread starter Naviiin
- Start date
I've owned the SR500, SR500BM, and SR500e. SR250, SR300, and two different SR300e basses. This is just noting the soapbar models I've owned (I have 5 other Ibanez basses, different pickup configs...CT5, SRA300, SRX3EX, and two P/J SR basses). I'm not trying to brag here, just driving home the point that I love Ibanez basses and have owned many of them, including the SR300e basses.
A pickup change may have gotten me closer, but they weren't close enough to a Jazz bass to make me drop mine (and we're talking a J-bass with Artecs in it). Position is pretty key to the sound, and I think the SR300e simply has them in a different spot than the Jazz, even in single coil mode. Perhaps with some more tweaking and patience I could have gotten it closer (sounds like you have more than me), but an afternoon of tweaking didn't get close enough to a basic Jazz bass sound for me.
They are excellent basses in their own right, very comfortable and they do sound great. It's just a different sound than a basic Jazz bass IME. YMMV
Absolutely agree. The p'ups are right down by the bridge, both of them. Totally different than how Fender lays them out on the J or the single p'up on the P. I think that arrangement and the thin neck has a lot to do with why the Ibby lacks the depth of tone that the passive Fenders deliver.I've owned the SR500, SR500BM, and SR500e. SR250, SR300, and two different SR300e basses. This is just noting the soapbar models I've owned (I have 5 other Ibanez basses, different pickup configs...CT5, SRA300, SRX3EX, and two P/J SR basses). I'm not trying to brag here, just driving home the point that I love Ibanez basses and have owned many of them, including the SR300e basses.
A pickup change may have gotten me closer, but they weren't close enough to a Jazz bass to make me drop mine (and we're talking a J-bass with Artecs in it). Position is pretty key to the sound, and I think the SR300e simply has them in a different spot than the Jazz, even in single coil mode. Perhaps with some more tweaking and patience I could have gotten it closer (sounds like you have more than me), but an afternoon of tweaking didn't get close enough to a basic Jazz bass sound for me.
They are excellent basses in their own right, very comfortable and they do sound great. It's just a different sound than a basic Jazz bass IME. YMMV
Anyone know how these pickups are designed? What is the coil configuration?
I don't understand "single coil hum-cancelling".
This is the name of the pickup on the Sweetwater site:
Ibanez Dela S4J Single-coil
But elsewhere they are described as hum-cancelling, so that a solo pickup will not hum.
I don't understand "single coil hum-cancelling".
This is the name of the pickup on the Sweetwater site:
Ibanez Dela S4J Single-coil
But elsewhere they are described as hum-cancelling, so that a solo pickup will not hum.
I can't tell you specifically about these p'ups, but hum-cancelling single coils have been around for a long time. There are different approaches. For example, the lace sensors on my '90 Jazz Plus use the design developed for the single coils of the Strat guitar. There is a secondary mesh above the coils that acts to cancel the hum. With the powerspan p'ups on my SR370EF the two pole single p'ups are cross wired to hum bucker mode if you choose that option, which cancels the hum.
Attachments
"Single coil humbuckers" aren't "single coil" though. They are humbuckers in a single-coil pickup package. Yes there are various methods of canceling the hum with physical arrangement of the windings (stacked, split-coil, etc.). And when you use those they are no longer single coil pickups.
I think this is misleading marketing. They jump back and forth between single-coil and humbucker in the description and specs.
Yeah, some truth in that. I think the lace sensor p'ups still sound like single coil, more then the hum bucking singles do. I think it's a matter of how much you mess with the magnetic field in the p'up. You aren't combining two equal poles, you are only adding a dampening field. No doubt losing something in the process, some of the single coil brightness?
Personally, I'll trade a little brightness for reduced hum.
The BTB and the EHB basses and RG7421 guitar made Me an Ibanez man.
Don't need a FSO from them.
Don't need a FSO from them.
The shape isn't bad....matching color would simply look better.
Despite having no reason to, I'm gonna throw my hat in the ring.
I think these look like great instruments for the price. They're Indonesian manufactured (I.E. at the Cortec factory,) so I doubt there'll be any QC issues. I know an objective assessment can't be made from the videos that are currently available, but going on what's out there, they definitely sound pretty good. Not mind-blowing, but absolutely worth the price. Yes, the pups aren't actual J pups, but I don't want actual J pups that will buzz every time I adjust the balance. The 34" inch scale is perfectly adequate. Sadowsky and Ken Smith five and sixes are all 34". The amount of knobs isn't excessive. It's a comprehensive and logical control setup. Honestly, one of the features I like the most? The Hipshot Ultralite-style open gear tuners. I've really come to prefer that style of tuner over closed back. In short, these seem like very versatile and well made basses for a price that's not excessive. I won't be buying one but if I was in the market for a bass like this, I'd definitely be considering it.
I think these look like great instruments for the price. They're Indonesian manufactured (I.E. at the Cortec factory,) so I doubt there'll be any QC issues. I know an objective assessment can't be made from the videos that are currently available, but going on what's out there, they definitely sound pretty good. Not mind-blowing, but absolutely worth the price. Yes, the pups aren't actual J pups, but I don't want actual J pups that will buzz every time I adjust the balance. The 34" inch scale is perfectly adequate. Sadowsky and Ken Smith five and sixes are all 34". The amount of knobs isn't excessive. It's a comprehensive and logical control setup. Honestly, one of the features I like the most? The Hipshot Ultralite-style open gear tuners. I've really come to prefer that style of tuner over closed back. In short, these seem like very versatile and well made basses for a price that's not excessive. I won't be buying one but if I was in the market for a bass like this, I'd definitely be considering it.
The more i hear it the more i love the slap and bridge finger tone a lot. I also like the tighter spacing and light weight. I just strung my main 5er E-C and i really want to have a low b option as well. So i can see myself going for one of the alder models. Guessing we should be able to play them in a month or so.
A local store just posted one on reverb and I went to check it out.
https://reverb.com/item/94251408-2026-ibanez-mode-mdm1300-natural-stained-amber-burst this is the exact one I played. I like the grain a lot.
I liked it. The action and relief were not to my preference at all (I like almost dead flat with action around 1.5mm on all strings), but I really liked the tone and neck profile. It was reminiscent of the 4 strting talmans, which I'm a big fan of. No sharp ends on the frets. It didnt feel exceptionally heavy.
The cutaway is nice and comfy and I didnt feel restricted trying to get to the upper frets.
I shot a quick sloppy demo. Playing random things that popped into my head. Starts out passive on the neck pickup, then both, then active, then back to neck in passive, bridge, back to both. The high action was a bit of a struggle, but there was a lot of room to come down at the saddles.
I think it sounds like a J. Pickups are in the right spots. I like the pre (though I didnt mess with it too much).
They also had a burl top model. I didnt play it, but i kinda hate the look in person. Theres texture to the finish. Little dips all around the burl (most noticable by the controls in the photo). I have another burl top Ibanez bass and it isnt like this. I tried to get my camera to pick it up, but it was much more noticeable in person.
https://reverb.com/item/94251408-2026-ibanez-mode-mdm1300-natural-stained-amber-burst this is the exact one I played. I like the grain a lot.
I liked it. The action and relief were not to my preference at all (I like almost dead flat with action around 1.5mm on all strings), but I really liked the tone and neck profile. It was reminiscent of the 4 strting talmans, which I'm a big fan of. No sharp ends on the frets. It didnt feel exceptionally heavy.
The cutaway is nice and comfy and I didnt feel restricted trying to get to the upper frets.
I shot a quick sloppy demo. Playing random things that popped into my head. Starts out passive on the neck pickup, then both, then active, then back to neck in passive, bridge, back to both. The high action was a bit of a struggle, but there was a lot of room to come down at the saddles.
I think it sounds like a J. Pickups are in the right spots. I like the pre (though I didnt mess with it too much).
They also had a burl top model. I didnt play it, but i kinda hate the look in person. Theres texture to the finish. Little dips all around the burl (most noticable by the controls in the photo). I have another burl top Ibanez bass and it isnt like this. I tried to get my camera to pick it up, but it was much more noticeable in person.
Thanks for sharing, I was wondering if anybody had played one yet. I usually like the Ibanez blue burst finishes, but I have to agree on this one.
Even with just the camera audio, sounds great. I think Ibanez has got a winner with this series.
Maybe something like " Fender Noiseless N4 " which has stacked design. Just like described , noise less , not fully hum cancelling like Split coil.
No worry, at least look much better than Sire Moose headstock .....
