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Next Step up after Ibanez SR305?

I'm not the OP, but IME, playing in Eb or D is often easier if the bass is down-tuned, since it provides easy access to the root note, rather than playing on a 5-string tuned conventionally. When the bass is tuned that way, there's often no need to us the lowest string of a 5. I have a 4 string with thick strings on it that I use strictly for D standard and D drop C tuning.
 
How does being below the low-E on a regular basis mean no use for the B string? I mean you gunna do what you gunna do, but I'm confused.

We're starting off with only covers right now and slowly moving into originals, but for our current setlist and songs we switch in and out , the open e string is the lowest note played. The band doesn't like going super heavy either, so I don't see the B string getting much use with the group

Some songs we play also riff off of the open E string, so trying to downtune by shifting it to the B string's 1-4 frets would make it much more awkward to play

EDIT: typos
 
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Technically, the next step up is the SR405:

SR405EQM_DEB_1P_01.png


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I'm in love with my SR300, so I don't think about replacing it. I might get a snazzier SR at some point, but I don't think it would be a replacement.

OP, what are the Pros and Cons of your SR305 (for you)?
 
I'm in love with my SR300, so I don't think about replacing it. I might get a snazzier SR at some point, but I don't think it would be a replacement.

OP, what are the Pros and Cons of your SR305 (for you)?

Thin neck, super lightweight body, narrow string spacing. I really like the curvature on the underside of the neck.
These are nice, but way different from Soundgears.

Get a higher end Soundgear, keep the 300, and sell the others.

I'm not sure I want to sell my other basses, they still sound good, I just don't think they're right for my current band. Budget isn't a major concern for me, it's not that I would need to sell them to get a new one
 
Thin neck, super lightweight body, narrow string spacing. I really like the curvature on the underside of the neck.

If you weren't looking for a 4-string, then I'd go with lz's suggestion, and just change the electronics/pickups.

However, since you want a 4-string, then I suggest a used SR800.

Ibanez SR700 AM SR Series 4-String Bass 2012 Amber

Any particular finishes that you do or do not want?

Also, I recommend you ask the Ibanez club thread what they would suggest.

The Ibanez Club (Part 6)

In the meantime, in looking into the different used Ibanez, I now have GAS for an SR700. THANKS!
 
Feedback from my guitar center visit:

First bass I tried as an ibanez TMB500 or 600 or something like that. Had the Nordy CND's. Pickups sounded good, but I wasn't a fan of the neck shape.

Next bass I tried was an ibanez sr1300. Gorgeous bass, extremely light and a fantastic neck. The big singles sounded great. My only concern was that while it sounded miles better than my SR305, it still had the same somewhat scooped EQ curve on it that the 305 has. If I decide to go with this, I might buy one used from guitar center since they have a 30 day return policy for used gear and see how it sits in the mix.

Just for kicks, I than tried out a variety of Mexican and American P and Jazz basses. Jazz basses were a bit heavier than the sr1300, but still a very good play. The traditional J pickups sounded different than the big singles, but it still had that somewhat scooped sound. P basses had the thicker necks, but it wasn't as bad as I imagined it would be, given all the rhetoric surrounding jazz vs precision necks. Depending on how much my drum kit/other music gear sells for, I'm considering grabbing a squier VM jazz and squier VM precision to try out at rehershal, to see which fits in the mix better. This actually might be a more sensible step than getting the sr1300 first, since the Jazz and SR1300 were pretty close eq shape wise, thought I definitely preferred the big singles over regular J pickups.

Last bass I played was an ibanez sr655 with the nordy CND's. My first comment is that this may have been the most poorly set up bass I have ever seen. The strings were probably a 1/3rd of an inch above the fret board. I could almost slide my entire pinky under the B string with out the string bending or moving. I'm glad I know what a properly set up ibanez plays like, because otherwise I wouldn't have given the bass a second thought. P pick up solo'd sounded pretty damn good. P + J and J solo'd sounded ok, but seeing as it was a split + single, there was a noticible hum in the last two positions. If I end up getting an SR650, I might have to do something about that hum. Not sure what exactly yet though.

As an aside, what is the overall difference between something like the sr650 and sr1300 besides preamp/pickups? Is fancy top woods the only difference? Or is there some substantial quality differences between the mid and high range ibanez's? At the store, I was struggling to find a difference besides the electronics and fancy top wood covers.
 
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I play em both, the 35" will make you work for it till you're used to it. Once ya get used to it your fine. I am getting kinda more attached to the BTB's as I progress though.
The Paolo gregoletto signature I have is a 35". It's definitely a work out on those first 4 frets, especially on something like master of puppets. If they still made 4 string BTB's, I'd be all over that
 
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As an aside, what is the overall difference between something like the sr650 and sr1300 besides preamp/pickups? Is fancy top woods the only difference? Or is there some substantial quality differences between the mid and high range ibanez's? At the store, I was struggling to find a difference besides the electronics and fancy top wood covers.

The quality difference may be negligible depending on the individual bass and one's attention to detail but the sr1300 has the Atlas-4 5pc Wenge/Bubinga neck w/KTS™ TITANIUM rods and premium fret edge treatment. It comes with a gig bag too. The bridges are different as well.

SR1300 specs
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SR650 specs
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