I have never played a Ibanez but I think I would like to try one out.
Which ones are the most desirable and why?
I have the tendency to like thin necks.
Will some of you guys help me out here? They make so many models.
I know someone is going to ask a lot of questions; 4 or 5 string or/and NTB and so on. But what I'm looking for here is what makes them desirable? (Attributes)
Thanks...
Gabe--remember that there are lots of older Ibanez gems floating around out there. The basses Ibanez makes today are very different from the ones they made 25 years ago. Now, for example, they use mostly Bartolini soapbar humbuckers and electronics with loads of Bartolini tone-shaping technology on board, but if you look at an old Roadstar or Musician, you'll find a bass with DiMarzio-type single coils or Ibanez's wacky (and very cool--nothing like it before or since) take on humbuckers and a sometimes simple set of electronics. A lot of old Ibanezes have survived very well and can be found for really cheap. So if you like something in between Fender chunkiness and the modern Ibanez speediness, mid 80s Ibanez basses might be something you'd dig.
There's nothing nowadays to compare the ecstasy of a glossy Roadstar fourstring neck, or the loving caress of a Destroyer's warm rosewood fingerboard or the open roar of an angry Musician or Studio.
Might not find something right under your nose, but with a little sleuthing on eBay, you can find some very cool stuff.
Another thing--old Ibaenzes have AWESOME tuners. The "Smooth Tuner B II"s on the Roadstars are, in my eyes the sexiest tuners ever to have existed.
On their new basses, I love the necks shape on every four string I've played and the SR 5 struck me as phenomenal as well. The SR 6 takes a little getting used to, but I'm no 6 string aficionado, either, so I wouldn't want to put you off. But the pickups on the modern models pick up the higher register notes really well--awesome, warm, and a little glassy, a lot like Yamaha soapbars. I was disappointed by the latest BTB 4 string neck through. The high gloss finish on the neck felt like it slowed me down (whereas on my Roadstars, it adds to them--I guess I'm just used to the bolt-on+satin neck on my first bass, though).
My only real beef with the new basses is that I like precision and jazz pickups (DiMarzio in particular) and Ibanez doesn't offer too many models with P+Js. But if you like darker pickups and an onboard preamp, I'd recommend trying an Ibby out!
Again...sorry about my foamy-mouthed rant...I love these things!!!
I think they're sexellent basses.
