New Ibanez SR5500 Prestige with Nordstrands?

[Edward Bassman]

Hi everyone, I have a dillema about buying a new Ibanez SR5500 Prestige with Nordstrands or the older SR5000 with Bartolini's.
The new Ibanez SR5500 Prestige bass has Nordstrand pick-ups, I think the sound will be less Ibanez authentic and more like all the"Fender-like' sounding basses now.
Or am I wrong and is it an improvement and does de sound still groove like with Bartoloni's?
What do you think?
"Old" SR5000 Prestige:

 

[onda'bass]

It still sounds like an Ibanez just brighter and cleaner. I had a 505 with the original MK and actual Bartolini cbc pickups and it really did not change much it terms of tone and essentially sounded the same.

 

[Edward Bassman]

It still sounds like an Ibanez just brighter and cleaner. I had a 505 with the original MK and actual Bartolini cbc pickups and it really did not change much it terms of tone and essentially sounded the same.

Thanks, that's good news!

 

[DWBass]

Personally, I would prefer the Nordies. I owned a mid 90's SR505 and that bass was as dark sounding as one could be. I'd def appreciate the more pronounced high end of the Nordies. Try them both out though. If the pickups are Classic Barts, there will be some high end. And it depends on what preamp it's paired with. So yeah, try them both out if you can.

 

[Edward Bassman]

Personally, I would prefer the Nordies. I owned a mid 90's SR505 and that bass was as dark sounding as one could be. I'd def appreciate the more pronounced high end of the Nordies. Try them both out though. If the pickups are Classic Barts, there will be some high end. And it depends on what preamp it's paired with. So yeah, try them both out if you can.

Thanks, I own a 20th Anniversary Prestige now and it sounds very good, so the best thing to do is try them both as you're saying.

 

[retslock]

Hi everyone, I have a dillema about buying a new Ibanez SR5500 Prestige with Nordstrands or the older SR5000 with Bartolini's.
The new Ibanez SR5500 Prestige bass has Nordstrand pick-ups, I think the sound will be less Ibanez authentic and more like all the"Fender-like' sounding basses now.
Or am I wrong and is it an improvement and does de sound still groove like with Bartoloni's?
What do you think?
"Old" SR5000 Prestige:

Pickups don't groove. Players do - or they don't. Personally I prefer Nordstrands.

 

[Snert]

Pickups don't groove. Players do - or they don't.

This.

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

What barts sound like that?!

 

[PrimitiveMan]

Well the new prestige sound like the premium line that have had the Nordstrand for a long time. The fit and finish will just be better in the bass with the prestige.

The old prestige with the Bartolini are amazing and I preferred them. They are US barts so can't compare them to the import barts in cheaper Ibanez.

Both sound great though

 

[Appogee]

It really depends on the style of music you're playing.

I prefer the Barts because the darker and warmer sound better suits the songs I'm playing.

But if I was (or even could!) play grooves like those in the video you linked, I'd definitely want the brighter Nords.

 

[Stranger Danger]

What is Ibanez authentic? Tons of manufacturers and builders use Barts and Nordstrand pickups

I’ve never thought of Ibanez having an identifiable tone like a Stingray, RIC, P or J.

 

[Edward Bassman]

It still sounds like an Ibanez just brighter and cleaner. I had a 505 with the original MK and actual Bartolini cbc pickups and it really did not change much it terms of tone and essentially sounded the same.

Pickups don't groove. Players do - or they don't. Personally I prefer Nordstrands.

True, what I really mean is the funky, bit nasal tone as in Dua Lipa - "Don't Start Now" or CHIC - "I'll Be There" or Parcels - "Tieduprightnow"

 

[Edward Bassman]

What barts sound like that?!

The Barts on the SR Prestige do.

 

[Edward Bassman]

Well the new prestige sound like the premium line that have had the Nordstrand for a long time. The fit and finish will just be better in the bass with the prestige.

The old prestige with the Bartolini are amazing and I preferred them. They are US barts so can't compare them to the import barts in cheaper Ibanez.

Both sound great though

 

[Edward Bassman]

That's is, I have the old prestige Barts and they do sound amazing. Don't wanna loose that.

 

[Edward Bassman]

Pickups don't groove. Players do - or they don't. Personally I prefer Nordstrands.

True, what I really mean is the funky, bit nasal tone as in Dua Lipa - "Don't Start Now" or CHIC - "I'll Be There" or Kali Uchis - "After the Storm"

 

[Edward Bassman]

What is Ibanez authentic? Tons of manufacturers and builders use Barts and Nordstrand pickups

I’ve never thought of Ibanez having an identifiable tone like a Stingray, RIC, P or J.

They do, I mean the second sound example of the video I linked.

 

[Stranger Danger]

They do, I mean the second sound example of the video I linked.

The rule is that it’s always easier to take away brightness than add it.

 

[Snert]

what I really mean is the funky, bit nasal tone as in Dua Lipa

How do you actually know which bass was recorded, how it was recorded, what processing and FX were used to get any particular tone on the final track? I've had people state that they can emphatically tell what sort of bass I used on songs I was the one playing on and they've gotten it so wrong it's hilarious.

 

[Stranger Danger]

True, what I really mean is the funky, bit nasal tone as in Dua Lipa - "Don't Start Now" or CHIC - "I'll Be There" or Parcels - "Tieduprightnow"

None of those are Ibanez basses though