The Soundgear Club

[Killed_by_Death]

The pickups in there are passive, so if you have all the EQ knobs at noon, it should respond just like an all-passive instrument. (also, there is a passive/active switch)
My advice is to try one of the Premiums with the Nordstrand pickups, before making up your mind which one to buy.

 

[hotbass57]

1995 SR 1200. I picked it up for $400. Did a little tlc and put cobalt flats on it. Plays like butter, my first neck thru. sorry for sideways pic. May I join your club?

 

[Maxdusty]

My most recent basses, an Ibanez SR500 (old version without switch) and a newer SR300E. As expected, the SR500 has the better neck and has that overall better quality feel about it, the SR300E isn't quite as built with the same quality but has the better sound due to the Powerspan pickups and electronics. A little suspect of the neck and the ability to keep straight in temperature changes as I've already had to tweak the truss rod a bit also had issues with two earlier SR300 basses I've owned (these were three piece necks though) I guess I'll find out. Wish they had a better selection of finishes on the SR300E, they seem to have some unusual color schemes these days. Of course better options higher up the food chain so to speak, but wanted economical but decent versions of Ibanez basses for now.

 

[IgorRomanovsky]

I wonder if they improved the finish on the standard brown SR500E. It was notoriously fragile on the SR500.

Did you get answer to your question? I almost bought SR500E and now found this info about fragile finish. It would be a problem for my OCD.

Does Ibanez improved the finish? If i buy it in SBD "Surreal Black Dual Fade" color, would the finish be less fragile/flanky?

 

[Killed_by_Death]

All the natural & semi-natural finishes can be worn through, it's just a thin coat of polyurethane.
Play it with pride & don't concern yourself with the finish coming off, or just buy a pre-owned one that has already suffered.

My SR1800E has a worn-off spot where my palm touches, doesn't bother me.
I'm actually happy about it, shows I've played it!

 

[Maxdusty]

All the natural & semi-natural finishes can be worn through, it's just a thin coat of polyurethane.
Play it with pride & don't concern yourself with the finish coming off, or just buy a pre-owned one that has already suffered.

My SR1800E has a worn-off spot where my palm touches, doesn't bother me.
I'm actually happy about it, shows I've played it!

I have an older SR500...definitely played as every metal part on it was corroded and needed cleaning. What's odd is that the wood finish on it was in great condition, so I don't know if they made the finish stronger at some point but as you can see from pic above, even though there are some scratches, I don't see any that actually go through the finish. Not that I really care all that much, I agree it's meant to be played, why buy it if you're going to be worried with the finish flaking off...best to go up the Ibanez chain for one with a more durable finish like the older SR700s.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

or better yet, a SRX700 (SR eXtreme), like Carol Kaye's:

 

[Maxdusty]

Did you get answer to your question? I almost bought SR500E and now found this info about fragile finish. It would be a problem for my OCD.

Does Ibanez improved the finish? If i buy it in SBD "Surreal Black Dual Fade" color, would the finish be less fragile/flanky?

I believe it might be a little stronger. I've seen a few of the other SR500 finishes like the SR500PB and every used one I've seen hasn't had the finish wear away like those with the mahogany finish. I would have rather gotten one of the PBs but got a great deal on this mahogany one, also if it gets damaged, it wouldn't really bother me all too much. The powerspan pickups on the SR500e though are quite an improvement over the Bartolini MK1s.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

SR500E has Bartolinis:

SR500E | SR | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

• neck pickup
• Bartolini® BH2 neck pickup (Passive)

• bridge pickup
• Bartolini® BH2 bridge pickup (Passive)

 

[PawleeP]

Has anyone tried the SR300 with CAP EFX Pups with passive Electronics?
( Orange Bass) p

 

[Maxdusty]

SR500E has Bartolinis:

SR500E | SR | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

• neck pickup
• Bartolini® BH2 neck pickup (Passive)

• bridge pickup
• Bartolini® BH2 bridge pickup (Passive)

oops..my bad. You're right of course.
I'm confusing it with the SR300E, for some reason I thought models with the E designation at the end would have the powerspan pickups.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

They have added a passive/active switch on the SR500E.

 

[kleinenenten]

Dang. I hate being financially responsible! Had a good deal on an SRX505 but told myself I should wait until payday since I don't NEED it. It was there yesterday, but today, now that I have the money... gone! Ah well, I'll keep my eyes open. Hopefully, I can find a white one, as that was the only thing I wasn't totally sold on before.

 

[Maxdusty]

Dang. I hate being financially responsible! Had a good deal on an SRX505 but told myself I should wait until payday since I don't NEED it. It was there yesterday, but today, now that I have the money... gone! Ah well, I'll keep my eyes open. Hopefully, I can find a white one, as that was the only thing I wasn't totally sold on before.

There was a beautiful SRX690DX thru-neck in my neck of the woods a few days ago that disappeared even before I had a chance to message the seller. Darn.

 

[IgorRomanovsky]

Did you get answer to your question? I almost bought SR500E and now found this info about fragile finish. It would be a problem for my OCD.

Does Ibanez improved the finish? If i buy it in SBD "Surreal Black Dual Fade" color, would the finish be less fragile/flanky?

Besides the guys who do not care about finish of their working instruments, this is really important to me. Is there any other opinions in this thread about finish quality of SR500E, BM (brown mahogany) vs SBD?

There is no used SR500E in my location, and i need this specific model, because i need the passive switch. It is the last day for me to order a new one, and i will pay a high price for it, because of delivery costs and import taxes. If the finish chips just from resting finger, that would not be normal for me, it would be a disaster.

 

[neptoon]

Has anyone tried the SR300 with CAP EFX Pups with passive Electronics?
(View attachment 3721510 Orange Bass) p

I would like to check one of those out if for no other reason than the radiused pickups

 

[timplog]

wondering if any of y'all have info on the 1P-01 number found under the SR1900 model# ...?

and ask a further indulgence of opinions on gold (original) or black hardware for this thing. ?
same bass different lighting.

thanks!

 

[Aidil]

wondering if any of y'all have info on the 1P-01 number found under the SR1900 model# ...?

View attachment 3722436

Some sort of batch production numbering. According to Hoshino Gakki website, 1P-01 for the SR1900 means they were built in between 2015/11~2016/11.

Later they produced 1P-02 for SR1900, which run from 2017/03 until 2017/10.

and ask a further indulgence of opinions on gold (original) or black hardware for this thing. ?
same bass different lighting.

View attachment 3722446

thanks!

I vote for the golden one. Cosmo Black would be okay with those natural wooden finish. Not black.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

The 1P-01 will indicate which build when you're looking it up on Ibanez's parts database:

Ibanez parts catalog

However, for some reason 1P-02 is the only SR1900 I see available:

>>SR1900 1P-02<<

 

[Aidil]

However, for some reason 1P-02 is the only SR1900 I see available:

>>SR1900 1P-02<<

SR1900 1P-01:
Ibanez parts catalog