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The Soundgear Club
- Thread starter THE DANiMAL
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I got to stay off of this thread today so I can actually play my SR as opposed to looking at other people's SRs.
Who owns a new Premium and do you like it? I am thinking about picking up a new 1805 and I am curious what you think about them..
I have just purchased a new Sr 1805 after having the BTB 1405 and another SR 1605. This is one of the prettiest and best sounding basses I've ever had the pleasure of owning and playing. It is worth every penny and the slim neck is very fast.
I have the SR1205e and it is one of the best basses I have owned and I have owned some great basses. Excellent playability and the Nordstrand pickups really make those basses.
I think that's what really sets these basses apart aside from the playability and the fast smooth neck is the. Nordstrand Big Singles. The punch and the clarity is a rare combination.
I've had my SR1200E for like a week and a half and I really enjoy it. However, as I have stated many times, I am a total bass noob despite having played guitar for like 17 or 18 years now.
Basically I just remembered messing with an SR model a few years back. I got to where I wanted to try bass and found a deal on an SR300M about a month back, so I jumped on it. The neck fit my hand just as good as I remembered it. I am committed to bass and have started off my guitar gear, primarily because of physical reasons that prevent me from playing guitar like I want to. I decided to go full-bore bass, looked around a lot, considered a lot of models, did all my due diligence, and kept coming back to the SR series because of how smooth the neck feels to me.
I decided on an SR Premium because it fit the budget and I liked the options. For most of the current new models, if not all, they are the same except the top wood. I found a deal on Sweetwater for a demo SR1200, headstock in my avatar, and the rest is history. FWIW, with the 36 months no interest that they offered during the weekend of July 4th, it seemed a no-brainer to me.
I decided ten years ago to try bass, as it was a teenage dream soon replaced by guitar, somehow sold me as being more practical by my parents. First Washburn B4 (not sure, neck through), soon replaced by a Cort artisan A4, quite nice that one. Then, one day I found a sh sr1305, badly defretted. I had it fixed with maple veneer, but it was still fret less. I loved that one, but the Cort had more mileage for she was fretted. Then gas kicked in, then babies, then life and time and a divorce and two years later, here I am still regretting that Ibanez. Hence the sr1805! Best of all I touched, and beautiful. Don't hesitate, go five strings. My current gas is still to find a vet good sh sr1305, and also a brand new sr5005. Try to have them in hand first and buy the instrument you saw and played, to avoid qa problem, or go for sweet water kind of wysiwyg service to be sure.
My particular experience with my SR1805 should not be taken as exemplar to what one has to expect from Ibanez, as a lot of people report no problem at all, even when blind-buying online. The SR1805 I have now is perfect, Nordstrand are amazing, as are neck, finish, wood choices and finish.
If you got the cash, go for the top Prestige SR5005. Is not specially thrilled by the wedge, SR4005 is cheaper for the best quality. Both have custom US Bartolinis. If out of budget, then Premiums are for you, SR1805, then 1205 or 1605, don't remember which one is the cheapest of the three. Below that, the standards are good alternative to still benefit of the amazing Ibanez neck, without the quality finish of the Premiums and Prestige.
Go and check the offers here too. I think a guy was selling a very tempting SR5005; sadly, I'm on the wrong side of the Atlantic for that one, but go and check her!
My particular experience with my SR1805 should not be taken as exemplar to what one has to expect from Ibanez, as a lot of people report no problem at all, even when blind-buying online. The SR1805 I have now is perfect, Nordstrand are amazing, as are neck, finish, wood choices and finish.
If you got the cash, go for the top Prestige SR5005. Is not specially thrilled by the wedge, SR4005 is cheaper for the best quality. Both have custom US Bartolinis. If out of budget, then Premiums are for you, SR1805, then 1205 or 1605, don't remember which one is the cheapest of the three. Below that, the standards are good alternative to still benefit of the amazing Ibanez neck, without the quality finish of the Premiums and Prestige.
Go and check the offers here too. I think a guy was selling a very tempting SR5005; sadly, I'm on the wrong side of the Atlantic for that one, but go and check her!
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Chech the string spacing on the Nordi p'ups. I believe the pole pieces are set for 19mm on all except the Fat Singles made for Ibanez.
I reckon they let you order special string spacing pickups, from 16 to 19mm.
My 1015 is the same as a 4005 w/out the electronics. That will soon change as I am adding Bartolini preamps/pickups. I will more than likely go for either a 4000 or 1800. Not sure yet..I would be too scared to gig a 5005. ha.
Thanks! When I get around to it I'll order direct so I get what I need. I know they have done this for other Ibby owners. Should be straight forward.
Yes - your problem was an anomaly. I've rarely heard of bad QC with Ibanez - even with the lower series like the SR300. I've personally never had any issue with them, and I've played a lot of them through my 30 years of playing.
I've never got to try out a Premium though, and really wish I could hear some sound samples done with a pick & round wound strings (hint).
I've looked at the Prestige line, and just aren't that impressed for the $2,300 price tag (SR5005) or the SR4005 for $1,900 which just has a mahogany body like the SR505. I like the SR1805 much better, but am waiting to see if maybe they come out with a spalted top Premium sometime soon.
For now - I'm very happy with my new SR705. It's beautiful, and sounds so nice.
I think I might just have GAS.
I must say I'm intrigued by the SR4005 as well. I wonder what justify its price. Is it just the fujigen factory origin? Is this so much better than the Indonesian factory, or Chinese ones for the standard? Or is it simply the Japanese salaries and costs that are reflecting in the price? Any experience anyone on prestige vs premium?
Hey Solarmist, it isn't quite spalted, but either the SR1400 or SR1600 has a nice burled top. Maybe that could be the one for you...
^ I said - I wish they'd come out with a spalted version ... ESP LTD did in their B series, and they look fantastic, but I can't stand the thick D styled necks ..... nothing like the SR5 necks. I still have a huge crush on the SR1800/1805 - they are sooooo pretty!
Here's a spalty neck-through Prestige:
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/2006-ibanez-prestige-sr1000esm.1063771/
I think that's from when the Prestige were made in Korea.
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/2006-ibanez-prestige-sr1000esm.1063771/
I think that's from when the Prestige were made in Korea.
