The Ibanez Club (Part 3)

[KingRazor]

This is a newer K5:

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IMO it's nowhere near as great as the original. Nothing has changed except for no more padauk top (all mahogany now) and one piece maple 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 already rolled off on the highs resulting in a darker yet still crisp clear tone.

Pretty nice bass. I can't stand gold hardware though. I've never really wound up using controls like vari-mids. I wind up finding the sound I like best and leaving it. I don't use different sounds for different songs, I find what I think sounds best and use it for everything.

I wouldn't tell anyone else to do that, but that's just how I do things. That's what I love about passive controls.

 

[VinKreepo]

Pretty nice bass. I can't stand gold hardware though. I've never really wound up using controls like vari-mids. I wind up finding the sound I like best and leaving it. I don't use different sounds for different songs, I find what I think sounds best and use it for everything.

I wouldn't tell anyone else to do that, but that's just how I do things. That's what I love about passive controls.

I was the same way, but it's nice because I can go from dark and punchy for metal and rock to snappy and twangy for funk and punk. If I liked just one sound, I'd be ok with just active pickups (for clarity), but I want so many different sounds just based on whatever my mood is and so having a vari-mid control is like having multiple basses in one

 

[Richard G]

l love my SR800 I recently bought another one same color and set up for half the price and in better condition just as a back up when i first bought mine i paid close to 500.00 used the power behind it and it lets me play effortlessly...i do enjoy my u.s.a. Fender,sting Fender,my squier frankensteins,and my Gibson les paul bass, but something about my ibanez kicks ass!

 

[KingRazor]

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?

You know the SR4000 and 5000s cost between $1500 and $2000 USD right?

I've never seen one in a store so I haven't played one. Honestly, I'd recommend an SR400 or 500. Less than $600 and they practically play themselves.

 

[VinKreepo]

You know the SR4000 and 5000s cost between $1500 and $2000 USD right?

I've never seen one in a store so I haven't played one. Honestly, I'd recommend an SR400 or 500. Less than $600 and they practically play themselves.

+1... if you don't know about the Prestige series, you don't need to be spending that kind of money on it.

That's like saying, "Is a Lambo a nice car? Is there a difference between a Lambo with Pirelli tires and one with BF Goodrich tires? Have and of you driven a Lambo with Pirelli or BF Goodrich tires?"

If you can't test drive and feel comfortable buying, then don't buy. Find something YOU KNOW you like. Asking us if a multiple thousand dollar bass is good for you is just like asking us if one of those Lambo's is for you without driving it... go find a Vette or Mustang and take em for a test drive... get the idea?

 

[Imyrhuckleberry]

My sr1300pm is the only bass I need. There's a reason my fender jazz backup is in the background in picture #2: the fender is something I pick up when I want to recharge my enthusiasm for the sr1300.

I really want a sr5000 and have been saving up to put in the order. I'm most interested in the monorail bridge, or bridges, on the sr5000.

 

[KingRazor]

My sr1300pm is the only bass I need. There's a reason my fender jazz backup is in the background in picture #2: the fender is something I pick up when I want to recharge my enthusiasm for the sr1300.

I really want a sr5000 and have been saving up to put in the order. I'm most interested in the monorail bridge, or bridges, on the sr5000.

You could just order the monorail bridge separate if you wanted to.

 

[Amitbr1]

+1... if you don't know about the Prestige series, you don't need to be spending that kind of money on it.

That's like saying, "Is a Lambo a nice car? Is there a difference between a Lambo with Pirelli tires and one with BF Goodrich tires? Have and of you driven a Lambo with Pirelli or BF Goodrich tires?"

If you can't test drive and feel comfortable buying, then don't buy. Find something YOU KNOW you like. Asking us if a multiple thousand dollar bass is good for you is just like asking us if one of those Lambo's is for you without driving it... go find a Vette or Mustang and take em for a test drive... get the idea?

Ofcourse im going to test it before I buy.
I was asking if you guys think it justifies its price. there arent many people that own them i guess, because I couldnt find any reviews...
Is the SR500 really not so diffrent than the 4000/5000?
Is there any other basses you can recommend in this price range?

 

[AmazingAmpharos]

Proud owner of 3EX1, 300, 305, 400, and US (Prestige) ATK's, 89 Musician, GWB1, GWB100, and I also just splurged on the BTB1205. My first bass ever was an EX series and I'll be with Ibanez until I die.

I have a Kubicki and a Warwick but they see little action compared to the Ibbie gang.

 

[AmazingAmpharos]

Also, is it strange that as such a die hard Ibanez fan, I detest all sound gears?

 

[THand]

haha, no.

ATK's are the anti-soundgear...on purpose.
Something for everyone!

 

[bass.monger]

ooh, i might need a number here... ill put up pics of my Ibanez later...

 

[tooloudalex]

I too need a number I love my white ibanez the red doesn't get much love, she's actually for sale for that reason!

Edit: :/ the picture didnt upload from the app, ill upload them when i get home today!

 

[JSmith]

Ofcourse im going to test it before I buy.
I was asking if you guys think it justifies its price. there arent many people that own them i guess, because I couldnt find any reviews...
Is the SR500 really not so diffrent than the 4000/5000?
Is there any other basses you can recommend in this price range?

I've had the SR4000 for almost a year now, and I'd say it's definitely worth the $1500 price tag.

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?

It's a good bass, but it's a different beast than the Fender Jazz. The SR4000 is a bit more aggressive and lacks the low end of the Fender.

 

[elroyjetsn]

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.

A friend of mine owns a studio and I've been playing some bass in his band. He just bought a Squire Jazz for the studio and He LOVES my Ibby even though it's only a 205. He loves the punchiness and tone and insists that I play the Ibby and not the new Squire that he says is lifeless by comparison.

Ibanez may make student priced instruments, but nothing I've seen is "student" grade about them. A joy to play in every way!

 

[Amitbr1]

I've had the SR4000 for almost a year now, and I'd say it's definitely worth the $1500 price tag.



It's a good bass, but it's a different beast than the Fender Jazz. The SR4000 is a bit more aggressive and lacks the low end of the Fender.

Have you ever owned a SR500 ? Do you know how the two compare?

Also, is it possible to check if the bass was made in korea or indonesia? which one is considered better?

 

[VinKreepo]

Ofcourse im going to test it before I buy.
I was asking if you guys think it justifies its price. there arent many people that own them i guess, because I couldnt find any reviews...
Is the SR500 really not so diffrent than the 4000/5000?
Is there any other basses you can recommend in this price range?

OH! Gotcha, sorry. Ummm an 2010 SR500 series and 2010 SR4000 series have almost the exact same wood compositions... the difference is in the hardware/electronics and supposed build quality. You would have to decide if a vari-mid preamp, better pickups, lighter hardware, a mono rail bridge, and being built in Japan by Ibby's top luthiers is justifies the price difference.

To me it does without even have played it because I have a varimid on another bass (Ibanez K5) and it's freakin amazing plus the monorail bridge is a definite plus.

 

[Amitbr1]

OH! Gotcha, sorry. Ummm an 2010 SR500 series and 2010 SR4000 series have almost the exact same wood compositions... the difference is in the hardware/electronics and supposed build quality. You would have to decide if a vari-mid preamp, better pickups, lighter hardware, a mono rail bridge, and being built in Japan by Ibby's top luthiers is justifies the price difference.

To me it does without even have played it because I have a varimid on another bass (Ibanez K5) and it's freakin amazing plus the monorail bridge is a definite plus.

What does the varimid preamp do? is it the "MID Q"? the SR500 has a "mid frequency switch", that supposed to be the same thing?
I saw that the SR4000 has a EQ on off switch and the SR500 doesn't, does that mean that the SR4000 can also work passive and the SR500 always needs a battery?

and also the monorail bridge, what is it good for? what's the diffrence between that and a normal bridge?

Thank you for your comment

 

[VinKreepo]

What does the varimid preamp do? is it the "MID Q"? the SR500 has a "mid frequency switch", that supposed to be the same thing?
I saw that the SR4000 has a EQ on off switch and the SR500 doesn't, does that mean that the SR4000 can also work passive and the SR500 always needs a battery?

and also the monorail bridge, what is it good for? what's the diffrence between that and a normal bridge?

Thank you for your comment

Look on the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. Notice the 2 graphs? The top one is the graph showing you how much the bass and treble controls can be boosted or cut. The second one shows you how much the mids can be boosted or cut. The reason there are two curves is because they show the boost/cut levels for the minimum and maximum frequencies that the Mid Q (same thing as the varimid on old Ibanez basses) allows you to to select from. You can select any frequency between those two curves and boost or cut that specific frequency.

The switch allows you to turn on and off the EQ so you can be in either active or passive mode. But the battery may be required still, not sure. Depends on the preamp design inside.

On the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] you'll notice the same scenario; HOWEVER, the switch is only somewhat like the Mid Q in that you can choose different frequencies to boost or cut, but you are limited to only 2 (400Hz and 800Hz) instead of being able to select from a wide range of frequencies with the Mid Q. This seems like a serious drawback, but some players like being able to switch their tone on the fly at the flick of a switch rather than having to turn a knob precisely to one spot to get a desired tone.

The SR 505 doesn't have that on/off switch and so it's always active.

Could you modify the wiring in each bass? Sure. you could replace the entire electronics or depending on the design of the preamps, you might be able to put a switch in the SR4005E or a Mid Q in the SR 505.

Btw, Style Sweeper is not a Mid Q. This is a feature on lower lever SR basses that EQ's every frequency at once for slap or fingerstyle. It's kinda like when a car stereo has preset EQ's for Funk, Rock, Country, etc

A monorail bridge is different because each string basically has its own bridge piece. They are NOT connected at all and so the idea is there are less sympathetic vibrations thus providing a clearer sound. I've never had a bass with them so I can't tell you, but the people on youtube who have Monorails on their bass say they can definitely tell a difference

EDIT: Hey man, check this thread out http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=717521 the OP asked the same question almost haha

 

[frogpond1]

SR300 (for sale)
...and now my 2008 SR505...love this bass! I think GC had it priced wrong because it was a steal at 250 and in near perfect condition with a hard case. I'll have to post pics.