NEW TOY!

[jeff_bass28]

Picked this up over the weekend... Ibanez SR655 5-string.
Burled poplar over mahogany body
5-piece wenge/bubinga neck
Rosewood fingerboard
Bartolini mk-1 pickups & 3-band preamp.

Not a bad bass! I haven't owned an Ibanez since the mid-90's, so I was pleasantly surprised at the changes in styling. The body is thinner and more contoured all around, esp in the upper horn area; and the neck is quite hefty for a Soundgear. The string spacing is still very narrow, but the pencil-thin, skinny-like-an-emo-kid, necks grew a bit fatter. I like it!

I'm sorry for the so-so picture; I snapped a few quick shots with the cam phone just to get something up here. I'll get more just as soon as I can quit playing it...

Taken fresh from the shop; in the trunk of my car in the parking lot! (hey, I said they were done quick! )

 

[nrssab]

That looks HOT!

 

[jeff_bass28]

I haven't really had a whole lot of time to really sit down with it yet, but...initial impressions?

Not too crazy about the blue finish. It looks good, but it obscures the burl of the top a bit too much, imho.

Sounds like an Ibanez! A very "modern" hi-fi sound. I've never used the mk-1 series Bartolini's before, and I'm wondering if they're really the best choice here. Seems like I can hear more from the bass acoustically then what I'm getting when plugged in. The plugged & unplugged voices don't really seem to match up; and the tone with the eq flat is a bit thin.

That being said...Christ can this thing get punchy! Even a moderate bass boost at the preamp blows the passive input of my amp. I've never HAD to use the active input with a bass before.
Blend slightly favoring the bridge pickup, treble flat, mids boosted about 2/3, bass boosted just slightly... mmm mmm good!

 

[pedroims]

congratulations , enjoy her, that blues looks jst great

 

[tombowlus]

That thing looks great, Jeff! Post more pics when you can.

 

[Chrysalis]

Beautiful blue and burling!