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Should I Get the Ibanez?
- Thread starter hybridmoments21
- Start date
The BTBs are awesome. As are the ATK basses. I've personally never been a big fan of the SR series tho.
Ibanez makes good quality basses, but the the idea that your alternative to a Rick is an Ibanez is a little strange to me. Ricks are passive basses and not high tech sounding. Most upperend Ibanez basses are active with two or three band eq.s. If you really like the Ibanez basses you have tried out then by all means get one. But if you are looking for a Rick alternative I can't imagine that selection being the way to go.
Why not look for a Ric alternative like bassmanrocke says above? Like say a cheaper knock off (dont tell John Hall I said that!) or a Peavey T-40?
For me, this question sort of reads like, "What's the best brand of sneakers for me?" Okay... What kind of feet do you have? See what I mean? In the same way, you need to "try some basses on" and stop worrying about the builder so that you can find a good fit for you.
You've got a nice chunk of change to spend on a new axe and I think you'd be smart to try out just about everything you can get your hands on. Ibanez has some rather nice instruments - I just got rid of a Korean Doug Wimbish 4-string a year or two ago, but only because I absolutely had to get a Jazz that I'd found. If you don't limit yourself to one brand, you may stumble upon a real sleeper that seems like it was made for you.
You've got a nice chunk of change to spend on a new axe and I think you'd be smart to try out just about everything you can get your hands on. Ibanez has some rather nice instruments - I just got rid of a Korean Doug Wimbish 4-string a year or two ago, but only because I absolutely had to get a Jazz that I'd found. If you don't limit yourself to one brand, you may stumble upon a real sleeper that seems like it was made for you.
in my opinion ibanez does do a high quality build.. but as someone else said they sound sterile (to my ears of course)
but like is said in every "what bass should i buy" thread.. try as many as you can find and buy the one you like best..
and if u had ur heart set on a ric keep saving..
but like is said in every "what bass should i buy" thread.. try as many as you can find and buy the one you like best..
and if u had ur heart set on a ric keep saving..
Love my BTB 5 but you should try out a few more basses before you narrow your choices down to one bass from left field and one bass from right. All I'm trying to say is that the Ibanez and Ric have about as much in common as Yankee and Red Sox fans. (throwing up my hands to block flying baseballs) Gimme a break. It's SPRING!
My first really nice bass was an Ibanez SoundGear. I bought it back in 1999. It was a 4 string neck-through body. It had a five piece neck and active electronics with the vari-mid controls. It was a good bass for about two years. After that the neck warped and I had to send it off for repairs. The company that handled the repairs was Hoshino USA. Their customer service was horrible. I had many conversations with them about when I would get my bass back. They had to remove the frets and put the neck in a press to staighten it out again. When I finally got the bass back the refrett job was horrible and the neck still wasn't straight. I sold that bass as fast as I could. I took a tremendous hit on resale value.
I say buy anything but Ibanez.
"Disclaimer": This is just my personal experience and I know it probably doesn't reflect all Ibanez instruments.
I say buy anything but Ibanez.
"Disclaimer": This is just my personal experience and I know it probably doesn't reflect all Ibanez instruments.
Yes Buy an Ibanez , either BTB , SR , or SRX , you'll come in way under that price and get crazy bang for the buck , awesome tone and playibilty .and great reliabilty never had a problem with either of mine !
I have had both BTB and SR series.
buy the Ibanez man
I have had both BTB and SR series.
buy the Ibanez man
Have you played a Ric? My daughter desperately wanted one, loved the sound, saved her money for months to buy one.
When she actually played one in the store, she was crestfallen - the neck was totally wrong for her hands, and she was very uncomfortable plucking it (something about the BA pickup getting in her way). Bottom line, she couldn't justify buying it after she'd actually held it.
It's very important that you feel comfortable with the instrument, or you won't feel like playing it. Good luck, however you choose!
I guess I shouldn't have shown those Ibanezes I posted, as that might seem I am shoving them down your throat, and now I look back on it, I kinda did.
I guess the other bass you can try is a used G&L USA model. I'm saving up for one right now, and from what I have heard, they are great basses.
If you want a Rickenbacker, save up for it.
I guess the other bass you can try is a used G&L USA model. I'm saving up for one right now, and from what I have heard, they are great basses.
If you want a Rickenbacker, save up for it.
Yeah, Ibanez don't cut it in the resale department. If you get one dirt cheap, great, but everyday retail? Forget it. I got an ATK700 and an ATK 750 a few weeks ago at blowout, but honestly I'm not that impressed. Just more contract Cor-Tek stuff, zero mojo.
I vote for sticking it out and finding a long deal on a used Rickenbacker, which is a real bass in the marketplace and has about fifteen times the pro cachet of any Ibanez, ever.
Get a long deal on the used Rickenbacker used and you will not lose money on it.
I would definitely play the ric first. I looked into them about 12 years ago and the suggestion of a friend. His whole deal was they had to be great because that's what Cliff Burton played. After trying several out I had an even better appreciation of Burton's skill. What I found was a very clumsy instrument that was not easy for me to play. I have medium to small hands with thick fingers and the whole thing just felt wrong to me.
I am not saying go ibanez either, but as others suggested, I would play every bass I could get my hands on in the 500-1000 range and buy what suits you best.
Quick Edit:
Just wanted to clarify I am not suggesting ric's are crap, they are nice instruments. It is the distinctive way they play makes them not for everyone.
I am not saying go ibanez either, but as others suggested, I would play every bass I could get my hands on in the 500-1000 range and buy what suits you best.
Quick Edit:
Just wanted to clarify I am not suggesting ric's are crap, they are nice instruments. It is the distinctive way they play makes them not for everyone.
That's certainly true, but I was assuming the OP already had a fair idea what he was getting into. Most Rickenbacker necks are a bit much for me, in my experience...but that has no effect on their market or commonly perceived mojo relative to Ibanez.
seriously would you let your Mom or your Dad pick out the clothes you wear or the car you drive?
the best advice anyone on this board can give you is simply to go play as many basses as you can get your hands on and buy the one that honestly speaks to you.....when you have it strapped on and you pluck a string you will know !
one man's trash is another man's treasure...
I kept seeing Trabens on line and thought the huge Tribal bridge was a bit cheesy, but my wife pointed one out in a store recently so i took it off the wall and played it
wow then i plugged it in... double 
and i knew i had to buy it.....i have since played several others in stores and they just are not the same...so as the saying goes you have to play them before you buy....
If Ibanez is doing it for you buy one
What do your bass heroes play? try that as a starting point
Rics can be had for around a thousand....i bought a 4003 recently for much less.....granted the electronics need some work......but for about $125.000 it will be good as new...
good luck and keep us informed as to what you get....
