Curious about the differences between newer and older models...the older one does not seem to have a mid boost/cut knob, am I right? Has anyone played both models, and what's your opinions as to build, feel, flexibility and tone?
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Newer VS Older Ibanez SR506
- Thread starter BeowulfKingsley
- Start date
How old/new are we talking? I have a 2008 SR506 and I love it. Flawless. Just between what I did and didn't want during the minor changes they've been making the last decade or so to the line. In other words, it has a flip-open battery box and no mid switch. I do wish it had the flip open truss rod cover, but that's not a big deal and not something to adjust often. But that's it. Tone and playability are top-notch, and weight is amazing.
I just realize that today http://www.talkbass.com/threads/wont-be-buying-ibanez-again.1092421/#post-16194517
Bridges are easily switched out most of the time. I'm wondering more about the electronics and woodworking, and the general feel of the older and newer models.
The mid '90's SR506 ('96 on) does have stacked mid freq/ and boost/cut control. I think the '95 had a 2-band eq.
Also, a few of the SR506's from that time (not most) had the ball anchor end of the bridge lift a little, but they were not top-loading, so the ball end was always secure.
I replaced mine with individual string bridges, works great.
BTW: some people change bridges, pickups, eq's, etc faster that their underwear, so...
Also, a few of the SR506's from that time (not most) had the ball anchor end of the bridge lift a little, but they were not top-loading, so the ball end was always secure.
I replaced mine with individual string bridges, works great.
BTW: some people change bridges, pickups, eq's, etc faster that their underwear, so...
THe '90's SR506's were maple/maple/rosewood, not mahogany like the newer ones, and many are in great cond electrically and finish-wise.
They are also a bit heavier than the newer ones, around 10#- 10.5#, but the quality was very good then.
They are also a bit heavier than the newer ones, around 10#- 10.5#, but the quality was very good then.
I had one of the later ones, but not the latest -- no maple in the bass, but the pre was a simple three-band, if I recall correctly (no mid sweep). You can see (and hear) it in my old sale thread. Overall impression of the bass was pretty good -- decent balance, punchy, fairly even, articulate. Electronics were okay, but I would have upgraded the pickups (Bart Mk I) if I'd kept the bass. Maybe the pre, too. I played four or five 506s before picking mine and there were noticeable differences in balance (on a strap) and evenness of tone among them. Mine was used and dirty and in need of a setup, but it was the most promising in those areas. Weighed a little under 9 pounds. I had that and a neck-through Prestige 1006 EFM (mostly maple), which was a lot more refined in tone and playability (not that the 506 was bad) but less punchy/slap friendly. My six-string experience was fairly short-lived. Don't have a sixer now, but I haven't ruled it out forever!
Thanks MarkA and JustForSport! That's the kind of feedback I was hoping for. I'm leaning toward one of the more recent ones, if only for the weight. Right now I'm playing a few 6s from the Rondo catalog...the SX and the Douglas. Both are actually pretty playable instruments, but I'm trying to look towards affordable upgrades in the future, and many folks have spoken well of the Ibanez.
I've got an old one. It's just plain old black paint and no mid control. Workmanship is just fine. I've had no bridge problems. And I don't like the brown finish on the new ones. On mine the weak spot is the electronics. I don't like the older pickups and electronics as well as the new. Mine isn't bad, mind you, but I do find the tone of my GSR206 just a tiny tad nicer than SR506 although the 206 pickups do not evenly cover the strings while the SR506 is totally even in output string to string. The best feature of my SR506 was I picked it up used for just a tad over $200! I love that it has 24 frets. It is a VERY nice bass.
But if I could have some wishes granted, I'd want my SR506 with the late model pickups and electronics.
If all you want is a killer modern active 6 I'd say look at the ESP LTD B206SM. Heavy (12 lbs) but looks like a million, plays like a dream, and brand new costs just a bit over $400. (Yeah own one of those too! GAS got the best of me!) But if you are looking for the special fat Ibby SR "bring down the house" tone and the thin fast Ibby neck, then I'd say either old or new SR506 are the ones!
Having owned a 506 with the MK 1 Bart pups and a Prestige with USA Barts, I can say there's no contest between the pups. The US Barts were warmer, deeper, and more detailed low-to-high. I paid about $450 for my 506, used, at GC and sold it here (with new strings and a new case, sigh) for $365, shipped. For the difference in price between your older 506 and a used, newer one, you could score a set of pups (don't have to be Barts) that would be a step or two up from the MK 1s. Not saying they're bad, just that you can do better! No opinion on the preamp.
A local shop has a few ESP basses (including their Rocco Prestia model, which is a little over a grand and plays great). Never liked them when I was younger, but I think they're stepping up their game.
The older SR506 has active 'split P inside' pickups and any EMG 40 series will fit right in. Preamp upgrade if desired is a matter of choice.
The ADX6 pickups sound great with an Aguilar OBP-3 or EMG BQS.
The ADX6 pickups sound great with an Aguilar OBP-3 or EMG BQS.
I have both sr-506BM 2000 and sr506BM 2012, and there is difference in these too. Here are the differences I found. The bridges are supposedly fixed after 1999, i cant confirm but i feel like I read that.
The neck pocket is different and the screws are in different locations, more offset.
The bridge is "set in" on the newer ones (routed 1/4") and surface mount on the old ones
There is a larger kerf on the neck of the older ones
The fretboard is slightly thicker on the older ones
The battery holder has screws on the old one, pops out on new.
Different preamp?, the new one has a kick ass mid switch sounds sorta like MM basses
The newer ones use Bartolini MK-5, the Older ones use MK-6 (I actually spoke with Chris at Bartolini and he said they merged them, so the 5 string and 6 string use the same pickups now, I don't know when that happened or if they were always the same but labeled differently, they were always both 4.25" so i'm guessing always the same. Bartolini does design them, they don't just slap the name on an existing pickup, I had a bad one and got the whole rundown. Also Lakland Bart MK1-5 pickups are ACTIVE. so .... Wierd.
The width of the strips that make up the neck are different (maybe doesn't have to do with years, I just noticed it)
The body is carved differently, drastically.
Thats about all I can see.
The older one sounds better head to head, fuller more bartolini like, UNTIL you flip the mid switch, then the new ones sound WAY better. I don't know why.
I love these basses, I have an sr 500bm(or whatever the 4 is), sr506bm x2, and the body from an sr505bm. the neck is perfect, EXCEPT I have to adjust it every few days (that could just be my experience, and I set mine to .30 instead of .60 which is what the factory says, I like a super low action, flat fret board with little or no curve. constant adjustments may have loosened or lubricated my truss rods. anyone know if there is a chemical or glue i can put on to act like a nylon nut?
The neck pocket is different and the screws are in different locations, more offset.
The bridge is "set in" on the newer ones (routed 1/4") and surface mount on the old ones
There is a larger kerf on the neck of the older ones
The fretboard is slightly thicker on the older ones
The battery holder has screws on the old one, pops out on new.
Different preamp?, the new one has a kick ass mid switch sounds sorta like MM basses
The newer ones use Bartolini MK-5, the Older ones use MK-6 (I actually spoke with Chris at Bartolini and he said they merged them, so the 5 string and 6 string use the same pickups now, I don't know when that happened or if they were always the same but labeled differently, they were always both 4.25" so i'm guessing always the same. Bartolini does design them, they don't just slap the name on an existing pickup, I had a bad one and got the whole rundown. Also Lakland Bart MK1-5 pickups are ACTIVE. so .... Wierd.
The width of the strips that make up the neck are different (maybe doesn't have to do with years, I just noticed it)
The body is carved differently, drastically.
Thats about all I can see.
The older one sounds better head to head, fuller more bartolini like, UNTIL you flip the mid switch, then the new ones sound WAY better. I don't know why.
I love these basses, I have an sr 500bm(or whatever the 4 is), sr506bm x2, and the body from an sr505bm. the neck is perfect, EXCEPT I have to adjust it every few days (that could just be my experience, and I set mine to .30 instead of .60 which is what the factory says, I like a super low action, flat fret board with little or no curve. constant adjustments may have loosened or lubricated my truss rods. anyone know if there is a chemical or glue i can put on to act like a nylon nut?
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My newer SR506 has Bartolini MK1 pups and, I'm assuming, a corresponding Bart-ish preamp. I haven't opened it up yet to make sure. Natural mahogany body, 3-band eq with a mid selector switch (250 and 800hz, I believe).
