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The 5 Best Ibanez basses Ever Made?
- Thread starter ZenG
- Start date
For me the Musicians, Roadsters and Studios were far ahead in terms of quality, versitality and sound in the eighties. This hasn’t changed, still top of the line. Nobody mentions the Studio. Next to the Musicians one of the best basses ever. I had a BTB, but it never became my favourite.
I’ve owned roughly 18-20 of the Premium and Prestige series basses. Here is the best I’ve owned.
1. SR5005 Prestige Wenge Beast
2. SR3005 Prestige Mahogany Beast
3. BTB1605 Premium (Upgraded Nordstrand DC and Aggie Preamp
4. SR1805 Premium
5. SR4505 Prestige all Ash (Rare)
1. SR5005 Prestige Wenge Beast
2. SR3005 Prestige Mahogany Beast
3. BTB1605 Premium (Upgraded Nordstrand DC and Aggie Preamp
4. SR1805 Premium
5. SR4505 Prestige all Ash (Rare)
i wish i played enough of them to be able to make a comprehensive and well informed assessment. there are so many. broad generalisations that i believe to be true though, are that the ones made in japan from the 70s up to the early 90s are among the best. the craftsmanship, attention to detail and design are excellent.
from the mid 90s forward things started getting an assembly line feel and overall attention to detail and character began to diminish. while still very good, those models don’t have the same feel of the era before. think of a 90s soundgear versus an 80s musician or roadstar for example.
my first bass is a 1993 ibanez made in japan. that year is when production of all models except the highest started moving from japan to korea. for the longest time i wanted an sr800 but now that i’ve expanded into learning about and playing musicians and roadstars i can see they are a superior instrument to the many very good 90s soundgears i’ve played. my $200 1983 rb820 and $140 1987 sr1000 are among the best basses i own.
from the mid 90s forward things started getting an assembly line feel and overall attention to detail and character began to diminish. while still very good, those models don’t have the same feel of the era before. think of a 90s soundgear versus an 80s musician or roadstar for example.
my first bass is a 1993 ibanez made in japan. that year is when production of all models except the highest started moving from japan to korea. for the longest time i wanted an sr800 but now that i’ve expanded into learning about and playing musicians and roadstars i can see they are a superior instrument to the many very good 90s soundgears i’ve played. my $200 1983 rb820 and $140 1987 sr1000 are among the best basses i own.
My choice for one of them might be a bit controversial seeing it is one of their cheap budget ones, but I am strongly biased having one as my main, and it does seem to be quite popular having it's very own official club here and all...
I am of course talking about the Ibanez GSRM20 and GSRM20B 4 string, just 28,6" scale, Mikro Bass.
Here's the most recent picture of mine :
The SR300EB from their Sound Gear series isn't too bad a bass either, with those magnificent powerspan pickups.
I am of course talking about the Ibanez GSRM20 and GSRM20B 4 string, just 28,6" scale, Mikro Bass.
Here's the most recent picture of mine :
The SR300EB from their Sound Gear series isn't too bad a bass either, with those magnificent powerspan pickups.
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1.The ATK are a brilliant interpretation of the Stingray that did not simply copy it.
2. The BTB are a great series because offer boutique features in production basses.
3. The Nordstrand loaded Soundgear basses.
4. Gary Willis Signature fretless basses.
5. The current EHB series of headless basses are excellent with or without fanned frets.
2. The BTB are a great series because offer boutique features in production basses.
3. The Nordstrand loaded Soundgear basses.
4. Gary Willis Signature fretless basses.
5. The current EHB series of headless basses are excellent with or without fanned frets.
I liked the DW3. Still have one. Ibanez did a nice job matching their own preamp to the EMG pickups. I held out for one with the bubinga fretboard instead of rosewood because...bubinga.
Another cool Ibanez, the RD900FM. Hog body w/thick flamed maple top, Basslines pickups, Hipshot tuners, Ibazez a/p preamp. When I had one, I also had a Skyline 4402 Deluxe at the same time w/figured maple top (thin veneer) and the factory-optional Basslines pickups and Bart preamp. The RD was a better built bass overall. Guess which bass won the Pepsi tone challenge? It wasn't the Lakie. The Ibanez had all the tone that the 4402 had, but with a extra dollop of clarity that the Lakie just couldn't muster up. Yet another example of Ibanez doing a great job matching their own preamp to aftermarket pickups IMO. Sorta wish I still had the Ibanez. They're kinda sleepers that don't cost a lot when they pop up, which isn't very often. (not my pic)
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I've owned quite a few Ibanez basses back in the '80s and '90s and still have some very fond memories of them.
From a player's standpoint, I still believe that the original MC924 is their finest moment.
With that being said, I wouldn't mind getting my old 2615B back. I know I would appreciate in a lot more now than I did 30+ years ago.
From a player's standpoint, I still believe that the original MC924 is their finest moment.
With that being said, I wouldn't mind getting my old 2615B back. I know I would appreciate in a lot more now than I did 30+ years ago.
Every Ibanez I ever played was outstanding. The BTB 1805 is a work of art. I sold it cause I am just not a 5 string player. I bought and returned and sr5000. Again a beautiful bass and superb quality but the neck is just to small for me.
I still have my tmb30 and for 179 dollar bass it’s about the beat value out of anything I own.
Ibanez just makes great instruments.
I still have my tmb30 and for 179 dollar bass it’s about the beat value out of anything I own.
Ibanez just makes great instruments.
My favorites are:
1. ATK's
2. RKB 900
3. SR 3005e
4. SRX 500 / 505
5. Roadstar ii RB924
The way it works for me and Ibanez is like this: If I really like something, they discontinue it. There is nothing in the current line up that interests me.
1. ATK's
2. RKB 900
3. SR 3005e
4. SRX 500 / 505
5. Roadstar ii RB924
The way it works for me and Ibanez is like this: If I really like something, they discontinue it. There is nothing in the current line up that interests me.
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I've owned a heap of Ibbys,
The Musician series is second to none, I've owned an 81 824 and two 82 924s.
I loved the 824 but didn't have the gear to open up the tone and ended up selling it (duuumb), at the same time I had my first 924 and it sounded very dull even with the preamp, which was confusing, so I never got on with it.
Long time after selling them both, I scored another 82 924 for about a quarter of normal street price cos the guy was clueless. Turns out it sounds amazing, punches so damn hard.
I had an 84 Destroyer DT670, which I never sold that one.
Recently got an 84 RB850 (With Bartolini 3band) in fine condition and it's just an absolute player, such a clear, satisfying tone and built like a tank.
I'd be happy with more vintage basses.
The Musician series is second to none, I've owned an 81 824 and two 82 924s.
I loved the 824 but didn't have the gear to open up the tone and ended up selling it (duuumb), at the same time I had my first 924 and it sounded very dull even with the preamp, which was confusing, so I never got on with it.
Long time after selling them both, I scored another 82 924 for about a quarter of normal street price cos the guy was clueless. Turns out it sounds amazing, punches so damn hard.
I had an 84 Destroyer DT670, which I never sold that one.
Recently got an 84 RB850 (With Bartolini 3band) in fine condition and it's just an absolute player, such a clear, satisfying tone and built like a tank.
I'd be happy with more vintage basses.
I've owned several Ibanez basses over the years. The 2 best I've owned were an 80's Musician and a 5 string ATK305.
I don't know about the best individual basses, but my favorite Ibanez basses are...
1) Soundgear series (especially those discontinued neck-through ones with the contoured bodies)
2) SRX series (a discontinued series Ibanez needs to bring back)
3) Affirma/ Ergodyne A
4) BTB series (Ibanez needs to bring back 4-string BTBs)
5) American Master Basses (ESP brought back a US made line. I'd like to see Ibanez resurrect a US-made line too)
Honorable mention: My first bass was an Ibanez EXB404 and I liked it quite a bit.
1) Soundgear series (especially those discontinued neck-through ones with the contoured bodies)
2) SRX series (a discontinued series Ibanez needs to bring back)
3) Affirma/ Ergodyne A
4) BTB series (Ibanez needs to bring back 4-string BTBs)
5) American Master Basses (ESP brought back a US made line. I'd like to see Ibanez resurrect a US-made line too)
Honorable mention: My first bass was an Ibanez EXB404 and I liked it quite a bit.
Holy cats! I forgot about the RD-series basses! After they were discontinued, I think Traben made something similar, albeit with a beefier bridge (that company's main schtick) and 2-MM pickups with a 5-way switch.
As much as I like the sleek Soundgear basses, I miss something as big-&-bold as the RD and ATK basses in Ibanez' lineup.
