• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

New or old Ibanez?

F

findtheonlyway

May 19, 2011
13
0
#1
I've been looking around at various Ibanez SR basses and it seems to me Ibanez has changed quite a few aspects of the soundgear series throughout the years (pickups, body woods, eq, etc.). For example, SR800 from the 90's vs. the SR500 of today.

So, my question to everyone here: which Ibanez SR era takes the cake?
 
#3
Nowadays can be easily considered better than before, for there's no progress at all if same progress is not for each and everyone of us...

Ibanez is rightfully considered excellent value for bucks manufacturer, and that's because nowadays many upgrades are for nearly everyone to afford, while before if an Ibanez wasn't from, say, FujiGen factory, chances were it could possibly be just "average" nothing more than that

I owned many many Ibanez in my amateur bass player life, and to me overall quality is improving

Cheers,
Wallace
 
#6
I have an old SR500 and a new SR600. The new one is by far and away better quality and higher spec across the board, every component - electronics tuner, wood, bridge

New all the way.

One thing the old ones have going for them is cheapness on the used market
 
#9
I'd love a Cimar or lawsuit Ibanez 3TS late '70s Jazz bass... like a cross between Jaco Pastorius and Geddy Lee models.

But I thought we were talking about the evolution of present Ibanez range of products.

I thought about this one to be somewhat of XXV anniversary SR tech moment.

Feel sorry if I was all wrong

Cheers,
Wallace
 
#10
Wallace320 said:
I'd love a Cimar or lawsuit Ibanez 3TS late '70s Jazz bass... like a cross between Jaco Pastorius and Geddy Lee models.

But I thought we were talking about the evolution of present Ibanez range of products.

I thought about this one to be somewhat of XXV anniversary SR tech moment.

Feel sorry if I was all wrong

Cheers,
Wallace
Click to expand...

Missed the "just SR" part of the op, oops. In that case, I still like the older pj SR's better than the newer ones, but I'm a big fan of pj's and don't play any current soundgears outside of my srx500(only reason I still have it is because it was my first bass).....so take my opinion with a grain of salt.
 
#11
I don't see a difference in quality myself, but since their models change year to year (woods, features, pickups, colors, etc.) I'd shop for the exact model YOU want by looking through old online archived catalogues and stuff. I have an '83 Roadstar II like dude above and I love it, I have an SR400 from early 2000's thats surprisingly good for a <$300 instrument, an SR506 from 2007 that is top notch build quality... used to have an ATK 705 as well that was the most beautiful / well built bass I've ever owned (someone gave me an offer I couldnt refuse on it!)

If I was in your shoes, I'd be looking for a mid-90's SR that was made in Japan rather than Indonesia or Korea, but theres really not even any reason to make that distinction. The ATK was Korean made (was a Koa topped special model) and the build quality on it couldn't be beat, and my other SRs are Indonesian. The '83 is Japanese and feels like it will never die.
 
#12
I love P/J's
My favorite presently owned Ibanez Soundgear is the Doug Wimbish #1 I recently bought, and it sports factory AFR (reverse) P/J active preamp... ok: being a maple neckthru body, it's very close to a Spector (sorry Grendle - TB fella), yet I really get what you're after.

Cheers,
Wallace
 
#14
Toastfuzz said:
If I was in your shoes, I'd be looking for a mid-90's SR that was made in Japan rather than Indonesia or Korea, but theres really not even any reason to make that distinction. The ATK was Korean made (was a Koa topped special model) and the build quality on it couldn't be beat, and my other SRs are Indonesian. The '83 is Japanese and feels like it will never die.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I found a MIJ '96 SR800 that's been sitting in a hard case ever since the seller purchased it. Seems like a solid purchase! The emerald green is killer too.
 
#16
Wallace320 said:
I'd love a Cimar or lawsuit Ibanez 3TS late '70s Jazz bass... like a cross between Jaco Pastorius and Geddy Lee models.

But I thought we were talking about the evolution of present Ibanez range of products.

I thought about this one to be somewhat of XXV anniversary SR tech moment.

Feel sorry if I was all wrong

Cheers,
Wallace
Click to expand...

I've had both, I'm happy to say!

The Cimar is pretty low budget, but still very good. i could feel a difference in the quality of the tuners especially.

My 70s lawsuit Jazz was only o,k. The body wood was a sandwich of ash - something else - ash veneers. I dont like laminated woods for bodies, but it felt a little agricultural, shall we say
 
#17
I'm so glad one of the only smart things I did in life lol was not to sell my Ibanez Roadstar, 1980. It's kind of a Ric copy of sorts, tigerstripe cherry sunburst, passive, with a big ole fat neck on it that stays in tune always.

I bought an SR500 a couple years ago, and I love it for what it does, and recently, on a whim I bought an Ibanez SR100EX black. It's about the cheapest they make and yet it still has that distinct Ibby sound to it. Love it. I can bump it around and not worry about it.

I agree with other comments, Ibanez has evolved, and even though they have various plants building around the world, they still have an excellent vision and their products have evolved. I will never part with my Roadstar, but I now rely heavily on my SR500 and SR100EX....

Short answer? Buy a new Ibanez under warranty! They're excellent!
 
#18
Ok: touche'

Guys: you're too good for me

@alaskaleftybass
A bassplayer friend of mine is in his turn son of another bassplayer, proud owner of a gorgeous, and perfectly servicing '78 (I think) Musician... A blast of an (active) instrument, and something wonderfully apt for funk and relentlessly slap.

@number11
I happened to get incredibly near to buy 3TS ('76) Cimar Jazz. It's absolutely, ridiculously, cheap, but so wore and bruised like I think I've never ever seen before (other than "roadworn" fake wear n'tear treatments). I stumbled and didn't come to any particular conclusion. It ended up being sold in less than couple of days.

All of that sums up my only experiences with "avant-Soundgear" Ibanez.

Cheers,
Wallace
 
#19
I have a 94' and a 95 SR 500 as well as a 201 SR 500. I also had a 2007 20th Anniversary, a 95' SR 800 and a 93' SR 400. The 2010 and newer Soundgears are great but I hate the turd brown color that they have stained them since the early 2,000's. Mine is a Guitar Center exclusive limited edition so it is much different than most. I really like the mid 90's SR 500's but the newer ones and older ones both have there own pros and cons about them. I think the mid 90's one were made much better but the technology on the newer ones has also come a long way. The Barolini pickups that were in the SR 500 and above models was crap until 2010. Horrible hum issues but the newer ones from 2010 when the mid switch was added seemed to have taken care of the issue. I know with my 2 SR 500's from 94' and 95', I bought both of them new and they have withstood the test of time. Never a single issue with either one. With them, I have toured, done studio work, taken them all over the place and they have never failed me. The 20th Anniversary that I had, had horrible hum issues so I traded it in on a Music Man Stingray almost straight across at Guitar Center. It was a new Stingray too so I got one heck of a deal. Probably my best deal ever to date. With the 2010, I like the tones I get out of it and how it looks and feels but I rarely use it now because I now play Music Man almost exclusively now. It is a great bass though. I really don't have any complaints about it.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back