Pass the Pepto...

[zenabi]

The plan was to get one bass. But the one that I had pretty much decided on is not available for maybe 2 months. So I've been looking, reading, thinking.

I know Ibanez mostly gets a bad rap, but I was going to buy an Ibanez SR300EDX. However, I did wonder if the SR600E would be worth the extra money, but I don't believe that will get me any closer to the sound that I think I might crave.

Originally, I guess I was trying to convince myself that it has enough scope for various tones that it would be the only bass I would want or need. Now, I am thinking that although an Ibanez might give something resembling a Jazz bass sound, it obviously won't get anywhere near a Precision.

I really like the look of the Squier 40th Anniversary Jazz Bass in Ruby Red Metallic. I quite like the 40th Anniversary Precision in Black, although not quite as much as the Jazz.

So, rather than make a mistake, I though I would create this thread to possibly work out if I should just go with the Ibanez, or if I might be better off starting with either a Precision or a Jazz and plan to get one of each of those instead.

 

[Snert]

I know Ibanez mostly gets a bad rap

From whom?

I've owned a couple of hundred instruments of all eras, price ranges and origins and many brands, and my Ibby SRs and BTB are my go to basses of choice (well, and my XL2) even though I could afford an expensive boutique or FCS etc and have owned several of those, or played them. Not sure what more you expect or want from an instrument that they provide at a decent price point. Tone is personal but build quality and fit and finish from my MII basses are really good (7 on hand right now).

I was going to buy an Ibanez SR300EDX. However, I did wonder if the SR600E would be worth the extra money,

I have 2 300 series basses and they are great. The 600 gets you Nord designed PUs as the main upgrade. Have you listened to YT reviews to see if you like the tone?

but I don't believe that will get me any closer to the sound that I think I might crave.

Only you can answer that.

So I've been looking, reading, thinking.

Go play as many basses as you can of all types including both Ibanezes you mention and see what you think. Then, you'll know. Reading tells you nothing much really. I'm an SR fan, and don't like FSOs, but it seems like you're coming from a traditionalist POV and might be concerned what others think. That's my reading and I might be wrong, but my response has always been go have carnal relations with yourself, if I like this, I'll play best on it and that's what the band should care about. Unless it's a very specific tribute group where you need a defined look.

 

[Slater]

I was expecting pics of a pink bass.

 

[5StringBlues]

'Pon de left hand side.

 

[CallMeAl]

So, welcome to Talkbass!

Where are you in your journey? First bass? Have you owned/tried any basses? What are your favorite genres, who are your favorite players?

From your post, it sounds like you kinda want a P and/or a J, but are hoping the Ibanez would cover more ground? Ibanez makes great basses, but an active HH bass won’t really replace/simulate a P or J.

If you’re new to this game, the short answer is you really gotta go out and try basses. Get the one that feels best, sounds pretty good, and you’ll wanna play every day!

And you could end up with only one. (If I had to pick one, it’d be my P.) But the hard truth is you can’t really pick right out of the gate. You have to own them for a while (like months, even a year or more) and really get to know them before you can decide, before you can know what fits you.

TL;DR get a P bass.

good luck!

 

[jd56hawk]

Ibanez doesn’t get a bad rap around here...quite the opposite.
Other than that, after a few early complaints about the Squier 40th Anniversary Jazz bass, I've been seeing nothing but praise from buyers, nearly every day.
I already have a Crafted In China Classic Vibe and a Contemporary Active Jazz, or I'd be buying one.

 

[Ghastly]

Ibanez doesn’t get a bad rap around here...quite the opposite.
Other than that, after a few early complaints about the Squier 40th Anniversary Jazz bass, I've been seeing nothing but praise from buyers, nearly every day.
I already have a Crafted In China Classic Vibe and a Contemporary Active Jazz, or I'd be buying one.

Yea, I agree about Ibanez. Good instruments and lots of people like them here.

 

[Unmost]

However, I did wonder if the SR600E would be worth the extra money, but I don't believe that will get me any closer to the sound that I think I might crave.

Originally, I guess I was trying to convince myself that it has enough scope for various tones that it would be the only bass I would want or need. Now, I am thinking that although an Ibanez might give something resembling a Jazz bass sound, it obviously won't get anywhere near a Precision.

The Nordstrand Big Breaks that equip the SR600E are some of the most awesome passive pickups out there. The neck pickup is located in the exact P "sweet spot". After getting my SR605E, I sold my Fenders because the Ibanez is a much better Precision than all the Precisions I've had. And it's capable of much more than that.

I sold everything else and sent back every instrument I tried since its purchase.

 

[zenabi]

From whom?

I've owned a couple of hundred instruments of all eras, price ranges and origins and many brands, and my Ibby SRs and BTB are my go to basses of choice (well, and my XL2) even though I could afford an expensive boutique or FCS etc and have owned several of those, or played them. Not sure what more you expect or want from an instrument that they provide at a decent price point. Tone is personal but build quality and fit and finish from my MII basses are really good (7 on hand right now).

I suppose I said Ibanez gets a bad rap, as the majority seem to favour Fender and the Squier range. I've seen threads where someone will ask about an Ibanez and most of the posts that follow are about Squier or Fender.

I'm definitely not questioning the build quality of an SR300E or the CV/40th range. I know I'll be happy with the quality and feel of either. I suppose I'm questioning my choice of what bass (or basses) to get, based on what I think I might want from the sound.

Actually, if things go well, at some point I'll probably have a Precision, a Jazz and an Ibanez, at least!

I have 2 300 series basses and they are great. The 600 gets you Nord designed PUs as the main upgrade. Have you listened to YT reviews to see if you like the tone?

Only you can answer that.

I have been on YT and both sound great, but neither of them get close to offering both the Precision and Jazz sound, from one bass. Not that I should be expecting a single bass to do so, but I was, before realising that is just isn't possible.

Go play as many basses as you can of all types including both Ibanezes you mention and see what you think. Then, you'll know. Reading tells you nothing much really. I'm an SR fan, and don't like FSOs, but it seems like you're coming from a traditionalist POV and might be concerned what others think. That's my reading and I might be wrong, but my response has always been go have carnal relations with yourself, if I like this, I'll play best on it and that's what the band should care about. Unless it's a very specific tribute group where you need a defined look.

It's a little frustrating that "go out and play" is a common response to people asking about their first bass. I'd love to go out out and play as many basses as I can before deciding, but I can't play yet. This will be the bass that I will learn on.

I'm not concerned what others think about what bass (or basses) that I will own. This is purely about the sound of the basses. It's more of a dilemma about if the sound really matters at this stage.

 

[zenabi]

So, welcome to Talkbass!

Where are you in your journey? First bass? Have you owned/tried any basses? What are your favorite genres, who are your favorite players?

From your post, it sounds like you kinda want a P and/or a J, but are hoping the Ibanez would cover more ground? Ibanez makes great basses, but an active HH bass won’t really replace/simulate a P or J.

If you’re new to this game, the short answer is you really gotta go out and try basses. Get the one that feels best, sounds pretty good, and you’ll wanna play every day!

And you could end up with only one. (If I had to pick one, it’d be my P.) But the hard truth is you can’t really pick right out of the gate. You have to own them for a while (like months, even a year or more) and really get to know them before you can decide, before you can know what fits you.

TL;DR get a P bass.

good luck!

After a failed start many years ago and somewhat of a misfire around a year or so ago, I have no worthwhile experience of playing a bass, so practically at the beginning of my journey.

When I think about bass lines I would like to learn, they are from a complete mix of genres, so it's not easy to narrow it down that way. But it's not like I'm going to jump in with the more complex bass lines, so I guess the majority of what I'll be learning to play will probably have been recorded with a Precision.

I have handled a number of Ibanez SR basses from the SR300 up to the SR1820. I have handled a 60's and a 70's Squier CV, also an Affinity PJ. Admittedly, I preferred the Ibanez basses but I know I'd be happy with the feel of any of them.

Again, it's the dilemma of buying one and then maybe not being happy with how it sounds. As I didn't hear any of the above basses through an amp/cab set up.

Maybe I'm just overthinking and shouldn't be concerned at this point, so early on.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

If you've decided on a bass and it's going to be available in two months, wait two months and get it. A few of the basses I've been looking at have a two year wait list.

 

[ardgedee]

Maybe I'm just overthinking and shouldn't be concerned at this point, so early on.

Any bass will sound more like both a P and a J than having no bass at all.

Don't worry about it now. Get anything that's comfortable and learn to play it. Get an amp (or headphone setup) to play it through. We like saying "Tone is in the fingers" a lot here, and there are ways in which that's not really true, but it's more true than you're able to realize right now because you aren't playing anything yet.

If, ultimately, it doesn't sound like the sound you have in your head, you can trade it in for something that does. But if you wait and wait and wait until you find The One, that will be a long time wasted that you could have spent learning.

 

[redzebra6]

'Pon de left hand side.

Just to let you know, this comment will not go unappreciated. I don't log into here as much as I used to, but this did it for me!

 

[zenabi]

Ibanez doesn’t get a bad rap around here...quite the opposite.
Other than that, after a few early complaints about the Squier 40th Anniversary Jazz bass, I've been seeing nothing but praise from buyers, nearly every day.
I already have a Crafted In China Classic Vibe and a Contemporary Active Jazz, or I'd be buying one.

Yes, I used the wrong term. There just seems to be more support for Fender/Squier than anything else on here.

I know I've missed out on some bargain Squier basses built in China. I did find one new VM, but in the wrong finish (for me) and the price hiked up! So any Squier I get will be from Indonesia.

 

[zenabi]

Any bass will sound more like both a P and a J than having no bass at all.

Don't worry about it now. Get anything that's comfortable and learn to play it. Get an amp (or headphone setup) to play it through. We like saying "Tone is in the fingers" a lot here, and there are ways in which that's not really true, but it's more true than you're able to realize right now because you aren't playing anything yet.

If, ultimately, it doesn't sound like the sound you have in your head, you can trade it in for something that does. But if you wait and wait and wait until you find The One, that will be a long time wasted that you could have spent learning.

Very true. I only started questioning things because the bass I wanted to get is not available yet.

 

[Killing Floor]

You don’t have to get a P or J if you prefer something else. Once you leave TB you’ll never meet another person who knows or cares what a P bass is.
Ibbys have great necks and versatile tones. Get what you want. Most importantly get what fits your hand.

Best answer is get something to play today and still get what you want later because that’s 2 which is better than 1.

 

[CallMeAl]

After a failed start many years ago and somewhat of a misfire around a year or so ago, I have no worthwhile experience of playing a bass, so practically at the beginning of my journey.

When I think about bass lines I would like to learn, they are from a complete mix of genres, so it's not easy to narrow it down that way. But it's not like I'm going to jump in with the more complex bass lines, so I guess the majority of what I'll be learning to play will probably have been recorded with a Precision.

I have handled a number of Ibanez SR basses from the SR300 up to the SR1820. I have handled a 60's and a 70's Squier CV, also an Affinity PJ. Admittedly, I preferred the Ibanez basses but I know I'd be happy with the feel of any of them.

Again, it's the dilemma of buying one and then maybe not being happy with how it sounds. As I didn't hear any of the above basses through an amp/cab set up.

Maybe I'm just overthinking and shouldn't be concerned at this point, so early on.

I’m of the mind that you should pick a bass on feel, cause the tone can be tweaked many ways. But you should go back and plug the basses you are interested in, into an amp. Even playing open strings, you’ll get an idea about their tones (and if you like that or not.) go nuts with the knobs and see the range you can get out.

Sr basses are great, my first was an SR. Super comfortable, they really prioritize ergonomics. My previous point was there really is no wrong first bass; spec difference is irreverent because you have no frame of reference. So buy the SR (or whatever you choose) and focus on playing bass. Then go back to the store in a year and play the P bass (or whatever you didn’t choose) and only then can you decide what specs, neck, pickups are truly “you.”

wish you the best!

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

The plan was to get one bass. But the one that I had pretty much decided on is not available for maybe 2 months. So I've been looking, reading, thinking.

I know Ibanez mostly gets a bad rap, but I was going to buy an Ibanez SR300EDX. However, I did wonder if the SR600E would be worth the extra money, but I don't believe that will get me any closer to the sound that I think I might crave.

Originally, I guess I was trying to convince myself that it has enough scope for various tones that it would be the only bass I would want or need. Now, I am thinking that although an Ibanez might give something resembling a Jazz bass sound, it obviously won't get anywhere near a Precision.

I really like the look of the Squier 40th Anniversary Jazz Bass in Ruby Red Metallic. I quite like the 40th Anniversary Precision in Black, although not quite as much as the Jazz.

So, rather than make a mistake, I though I would create this thread to possibly work out if I should just go with the Ibanez, or if I might be better off starting with either a Precision or a Jazz and plan to get one of each of those instead.

No bad rap on Ibanez from this guy! Every Ibanez bass I've ever played was a great instrument, whether it cost $2,000 or $200.

 

[Durham52]

OK so you can't play yet, but it's still worthwhile advice to go try some basses. See how they feel to hold, how their weight and shape feel to you, how the neck feels in your hand, does one instrument feel more comfortable than another? Most Fender, Squier, Ibanez and quite a few other brands have a range of styles that are pretty ergonomic and will be comfortable for most people and construction materials won't vary greatly.

Maybe don't get anything to "out there", in design and shape to start with, trying to learn an instrument while also dealing with something with terrible ballance, that feels like it's trying to get away from you all the time, just makes starting out that much harder. You can always express yourself with something more radical later.

Good luck, I hope you find a bass to get you started.

 

[zenabi]

You don’t have to get a P or J if you prefer something else. Once you leave TB you’ll never meet another person who knows or cares what a P bass is.
Ibbys have great necks and versatile tones. Get what you want. Most importantly get what fits your hand.

Best answer is get something to play today and still get what you want later because that’s 2 which is better than 1.

This is definitely not about what others think in that respect. Knowing that I would be happy with the feel of any of them, it's more about the sound from these basses. I don't expect one to be better than the other, just different.

Many recommend to learn favourite songs as part of the learning curve. I guess I'm thinking that, as a beginner, I'll be learning more "basic" bass lines, most of which were probably originally recorded from a Precision bass.

So I just wondered if I should start with a Precision.

Not sure if I am explaining myself so well.