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The Soundgear Club

#3,701
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Absolutely LOVE my 1205, completely changed my view on Ibanez basses - heavier than my others, but the sweet sweet tone makes up for that!
 
#3,702
I tend to gravitate towards duller finishes and stains, but I like that shiny one. :) Me want!

I will admit that probably the biggest reason I gravitated towards the SR's is that I like the aesthetics and the shape. Though I have limited personal bass experience I have found the ones I own to have great playability and a good sound, even though they are on the lower end of the SR range.

My SR305 is going on CL this weekend. The SR300M is a keeper. It plays and sounds very nice. I am going to put some new strings on it this weekend and play hard.
 
#3,703
Evil Undead said:
I wanted to ask you guys something - mainly for people who play SR300, SR500 and SR600 (and the 5 string versions of course).

I mostly play sitting down these days - not in a band at the moment so just play at home.

I find that resting my arm on the body of my SR600 gets uncomfortable due to the way the body comes to a kind of point around the edges (what I mean is, it's much thinner around the edges than where the pickups are etc). If I rest my arm there, my fingers go numb, I assume due to squashing a nerve.

Only other way to play it sitting is to lift my elbow so that my wrist is straight and my arm doesn't rest on the bass, but that makes my upper arm and shoulder ache like mad.

I sit with the bass on my right knee (I'm right handed) - have tried the classical guitar position, but can't reach the first frets properly that way.

I find the contoured body of a P or J much more comfortable. But, my SR600 just sounds like nothing else!

Does anyone else find this? If so, how did you get around it, besides just standing up to play? I don't want to do that, not comfortable for me.

Thanks
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Wear a strap when you play sitting down..it's much more comfortable.
 
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#3,708
On another note, I've really been GASing for this SR700...solely because it's blue. Guess I'm superficial...;)

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However, I just purchased a Gretsch (left in my avatar picture), and even if I sold my SR600 it'd be hard to justify purchasing something that is essentially the same bass I already own...albeit with a fancier finish...

...it sure is fun to look at though. :greedy: :wideyed:
 
#3,711
I know I can look online, but can anyone, in their own words, tell me what the major differences are between the SR1200 to the SR1800 and the models in between, and give me some opinions on them please?

Also, if you were in the $1500 budget ranges, would you buy an SR1800, or an MM Stingray? It's all comfortably in my budget, so just vetting out my options. I am leaning towards the SR's because they seem to be more versatile to me. Health permitting, I want to be able a large variety of styles.

Also, thanks for all the help from the SR club. Grace and mojo to you.
 
#3,712
SR1200 and up in the Premium series is all about wood choice. As a result there will be some variation in tone between the models while still retaining that awesome sound they share from the Nordstrand pickups. To me, these models are very much worth it from a sound and ergonomics point of view. Not that the Stingray is not worth it, the SR's are more what I want in a 5-string. Good luck with your search.
 
#3,713
Pachap said:
I know I can look online, but can anyone, in their own words, tell me what the major differences are between the SR1200 to the SR1800 and the models in between, and give me some opinions on them please?

Also, if you were in the $1500 budget ranges, would you buy an SR1800, or an MM Stingray? It's all comfortably in my budget, so just vetting out my options. I am leaning towards the SR's because they seem to be more versatile to me. Health permitting, I want to be able a large variety of styles.

Also, thanks for all the help from the SR club. Grace and mojo to you.
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I can give good insight to this. As a Music Man Stingray man for years I loved them and they was my main gigging and recording bass. However since I've bought a BTB 1405 and a SR 1805 I had several sound guys and recording engineers tell me that the stingray ain't even close to the quality of sound I now have. I wouldn't take a stingray for either of my Ibanez bass. Best basses for the money hands down.
 
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#3,714
Thanks for the replies guys. I am still mulling it over. I am glad I have a supportive wife. Just need to figure out how to pay it back to her if I pick something up. If I do pull the trigger I think may go full bore and get the SR1800. I am intrigued by the wenge and bubinga neck. I have a pretty bad case of fibromyalgia that prevents me from playing guitar, among other things. It is much more comfortable for me to play bass, so while I can still play, I am jumping right in with both feet.
 
#3,715
verycoolname said:
On another note, I've really been GASing for this SR700...solely because it's blue. Guess I'm superficial...;)

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

However, I just purchased a Gretsch (left in my avatar picture), and even if I sold my SR600 it'd be hard to justify purchasing something that is essentially the same bass I already own...albeit with a fancier finish...

...it sure is fun to look at though. :greedy: :wideyed:
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Man I wish that had a maple FB!!!!!!
 
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#3,716
I think all the SR1200, 1400, 1600 and 1800 share the same wedge/bubinga five pieces neck and Nordstrand Big Singles, and electronics. They differ only on the top wood and laminations. I prefer the 1800 for the laminations are less visible from the front, and I prefer rosewood over the other tops, but each one his/her own taste.

Don't forget the Prestige ones, SR4000 and SR5000. The SR4000 is rather simple mahogany body, while the 5000 is a very very nice wenge/mahogany/wenge lamination. I'm gassing on that last one, in 5 strings. I hope they will upgrade it soon with Nordstrand pickups.
 
#3,717
Pachap said:
ALL OF THEM! I am still thinking about it. At least an SR600 model, maybe higher.
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I have an SR600 and it's fantastic...sure it'd be even better with the Nords that come on the higher end models. ;)

Pachap said:
I know I can look online, but can anyone, in their own words, tell me what the major differences are between the SR1200 to the SR1800 and the models in between, and give me some opinions on them please?

Also, if you were in the $1500 budget ranges, would you buy an SR1800, or an MM Stingray? It's all comfortably in my budget, so just vetting out my options. I am leaning towards the SR's because they seem to be more versatile to me. Health permitting, I want to be able a large variety of styles.

Also, thanks for all the help from the SR club. Grace and mojo to you.
Click to expand...

Using Sweetwater's "compare" tool I've gathered this...

  • All have Mahogany bodies, but the SR1800 has a Walnut center, and the 1400 and 1200 have caps (maple and ovangkol respectively)
  • Finish differences
  • All have medium frets, but the SR1800 has a "premium fret edge treatment."
  • The SR1800 seems to have a fancier sounding neck construction (Atlas 4 neck...TITANIUM RODS...)
  • All seem to have similar controls (3 band EQ with bypass and mid frequency switch). They also all have the same pickups (Nordstrand Big Singles)
Of course, seeing as I've never played any of those basses, it's a rather subjective comparison.

As for a MM versus a SR, it depends (as always) on what sound you prefer. And (to the best of my knowledge) the Stingray necks are thicker than SRs, so play both (if you can) and see what's more comfortable.
 
#3,718
gregvds said:
I think all the SR1200, 1400, 1600 and 1800 share the same wedge/bubinga five pieces neck and Nordstrand Big Singles, and electronics. They differ only on the top wood and laminations. I prefer the 1800 for the laminations are less visible from the front, and I prefer rosewood over the other tops, but each one his/her own taste.

Don't forget the Prestige ones, SR4000 and SR5000. The SR4000 is rather simple mahogany body, while the 5000 is a very very nice wenge/mahogany/wenge lamination. I'm gassing on that last one, in 5 strings. I hope they will upgrade it soon with Nordstrand pickups.
Click to expand...

I have looked at the 4000 and 5000 and they are a on the high end of what I would like to spend. I am leaning toward the 1800 but still need to think this over a bit before I pull the trigger.

Thanks for all the replies. It's been helpful.
 
#3,720
Sweetwater has a smoking good deal on a demo SR1200. I can't see paying the cash for an SR700 that looks so sweet when I can get the SR1200 with the mono-bridge system for not much more. I guess that gold hardware is going to have to grow on me. I am still mulling it around. I played a AmStd J bass yesterday that was really nice, but I cannot see spending $1350 for a brand new one when I can get an SR1800, which I believe is a better intrument, for less. I started out looking for a Premium Series Ibanez, checked did my due diligence in checking out all my options, and came right back to a Premium Series Ibanez. Now I just have to figure out which one...
 

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