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The Ibanez Club (Part 3)

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#905
I'm going to start off by saying for the longest time i hated ibanez basses for the longest time. I just always thought the sounded lame and looked cheap. But once i got into playing on a bass with 5+ stings on it, i quickly realized active electronics have really made a big difference and i was at a gig where i borrowed a ibanez 305 i think it was, and i was hooked.
ive now acquired that bass as well as a 406 six string which is now my main bass.
 
#907
I own the SR500 without the Mid Switch, and I played one with the Mid Switch.

No real difference I believe, but then again I don't use the MIDs much at all anyway. I am positive that I am not missing anything to not have that switch.

OTOH - my Deluxe Fender Jazz has a MID POT that acts that way, only not a click ON/OFF.

I can use a little of it - but again, I keep the MIDs to a minimum.
 
#908
SurferJoe46 said:
I own the SR500 without the Mid Switch, and I played one with the Mid Switch.

No real difference I believe, but then again I don't use the MIDs much at all anyway. I am positive that I am not missing anything to not have that switch.

OTOH - my Deluxe Fender Jazz has a MID POT that acts that way, only not a click ON/OFF.

I can use a little of it - but again, I keep the MIDs to a minimum.
Click to expand...
Supposedly, the new model came out when they started having their basses made in Indonesia instead of Korea. Some people claim that they're inferior.

IMO, the new ones play just as well if not better. Although, the tone isn't anything spectacular I don't think.
 
#909
I'm joining the Ibanez Club also.

I've played nothing but Yamahas for my entire quarter-century-plus of bass tenure... owned 5: 2 BB300s, a BX-1 headless, an RBX170 and a BBG4S.

One day a guy handed me an SR400QM- gaudy as hell with that yellow sunburst and quilted maple top, but man... weighed half as much, played twice as good and sounded fantastic.

I bought a Gio GSR200 for some quick weight relief, and it's great. Got a little fret buzz on #1, but otherwise it's cool.... like playing air bass, and gigs don't hurt any more! Hoping to order an Iron Pewter SR300 soon.... should have just waited and ordered one of those instead, but I'm a merch-in-hand kind of guy...
 
#910
avvie said:
I'm joining the Ibanez Club also.

I've played nothing but Yamahas for my entire quarter-century-plus of bass tenure... owned 5: 2 BB300s, a BX-1 headless, an RBX170 and a BBG4S.

One day a guy handed me an SR400QM- gaudy as hell with that yellow sunburst and quilted maple top, but man... weighed half as much, played twice as good and sounded fantastic.

I bought a Gio GSR200 for some quick weight relief, and it's great. Got a little fret buzz on #1, but otherwise it's cool.... like playing air bass, and gigs don't hurt any more! Hoping to order an Iron Pewter SR300 soon.... should have just waited and ordered one of those instead, but I'm a merch-in-hand kind of guy...
Click to expand...
The new SR400QMs have a lavender finish that looks beautiful. I currently have the 5-string version with sort of a brick red finish.

I'm glad you like the GSR. Personally, I find the real Soundgears to be more comfortable and better sounding. But there's something about the simplicity of the GSR that I find appealing. Plus, they're practically weight-less, which seems good for you.

Welcome to the club! Danomite will get you a number soon enough.
 
#911
KingRazor said:
Supposedly, the new model came out when they started having their basses made in Indonesia instead of Korea. Some people claim that they're inferior.

IMO, the new ones play just as well if not better. Although, the tone isn't anything spectacular I don't think.
Click to expand...

I have never seen a bad Ibanez - not so that it showed. There may have been inferior materials, and that I am also not sure - but as far as I can tell, every Ibby is a good instrument and they are tight, tough and predictable.

Mine is like a Stradivarius violin to me as it's my full-on reference bass that keeps me sharp on my other gear. Kinda like a touchstone, if you will.

I know the primary emphasis on the SRs is for shredder and metal, but I find it so much more applicable to the smooth jazz and venues where a two tone plastic coated Fender that looks like a Corvette won't fit.

I love my Fenders and Squiers, but my Ibby keeps me humble with it's power, tone and playability and subdued charm that doesn't jar the eyes and sensibilities of some of the places I play.

I don't have to work so hard at playing it and I can just get lost in the music and feel the next note before it arrives.

The Fenders come out when I play all else though.
 
#912
SurferJoe46 said:
I have never seen a bad Ibanez - not so that it showed. There may have been inferior materials, and that I am also not sure - but as far as I can tell, every Ibby is a good instrument and they are tight, tough and predictable.

Mine is like a Stradivarius violin to me as it's my full-on reference bass that keeps me sharp on my other gear. Kinda like a touchstone, if you will.

I know the primary emphasis on the SRs is for shredder and metal, but I find it so much more applicable to the smooth jazz and venues where a two tone plastic coated Fender that looks like a Corvette won't fit.

I love my Fenders and Squiers, but my Ibby keeps me humble with it's power, tone and playability and subdued charm that doesn't jar the eyes and sensibilities of some of the places I play.

I don't have to work so hard at playing it and I can just get lost in the music and feel the next note before it arrives.

The Fenders come out when I play all else though.
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Sadly, I have played a bad Ibanez. The worst Ibanez I've ever played is the SR700. That's right, the new yellow one. I have never played one that felt or sounded good. It might be the setup, but how can they ALL be bad?

Also, GSRs feel cheap to me. They sound decent, and I like the simplicity of the controls, and often the finishes, but I can't get over how they feel.

But I love the SR400s and 500s. The 300s are pretty darn good too. The SRX and SRA play great and sound great also, although they lack the super comfortable contours of the SR.
 
#913
Hey Guys, Im really interested in the Prestige SR4000E, Has anyone played/own one?
Do you think its a good bass? Can you recommend it? how does it compare to the new 2010 Fender american deluxe jazz bass??

and also, is it true that the SR4000E and the SR5000E are the same, sound-wise, besides the SR5000E looks better?
 
#915
KingRazor said:
Sadly, I have played a bad Ibanez. The worst Ibanez I've ever played is the SR700. That's right, the new yellow one. I have never played one that felt or sounded good. It might be the setup, but how can they ALL be bad?

Also, GSRs feel cheap to me. They sound decent, and I like the simplicity of the controls, and often the finishes, but I can't get over how they feel.

But I love the SR400s and 500s. The 300s are pretty darn good too. The SRX and SRA play great and sound great also, although they lack the super comfortable contours of the SR.
Click to expand...

And this is why I have a K5... the feel of an SR885 or Prestige (you pick) and the tone of a baby born from an SRX and a BTB
 
#916
KingRazor said:
S GSRs feel cheap to me. They sound decent, and I like the simplicity of the controls, and often the finishes, but I can't get over how they feel.
Click to expand...

It was a GSR200 at my local GC that got me back into Soundgears. I had an '89 SR800LE back in the '90's, but sold it to finance a G&L L-2000. The GSR200 really sounded good, and played well. I played it every time I visited the GC, but I couldn't bring myself to pay the $259 for it. Instead I opted to search ebay for a used 800, which I found, and for less money, too.
 
#920
This is a older K5:

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It's basically the same thing as an old padauk top SR 1305 (except for some cosmetic/headstock differences and rolled of highs on the preamp which I explain below)... like this:

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This is a newer K5:

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IMO it's not much different than the original. Nothing has changed except for no more padauk top (all mahogany now) and 5 piece maple/bubinga neck (instead of 5 piece jatoba/bubinga).

Yes, I know it's a sig bass and all. But I got it in a straight trade for a BTB 305 and... THIS bass has the EXACT tone I've always wanted. It plays like a dream and with the vari-mid, I can get whatever tone I want from the bass. The difference between this vari-mid and the one on the SR Prestige basses is the K5's preamp is already rolled off on the highs resulting in a darker yet still crisp clear tone.

EDIT: I have the OLDER one btw
 
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