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The Soundgear Club

#8,321
Wait - so am I to understand that fret size is the size of the metal fret itself? All these years, I had assumed that it was akin to scale, that a "larger fret" would be slightly wider, and be more difficult to play with my small hands. Now, of course, it makes sense that having different fret sizes on the same scale basses would be impossible if that were the case, but I guess I never thought it through before. Dang - learn something new every day!
 
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#8,322
kleinenenten said:
Wait - so am I to understand that fret size is the size of the metal fret itself? All these years, I had assumed that it was akin to scale, that a "larger fret" would be slightly wider, and be more difficult to play with my small hands. Now, of course, it makes sense that having different fret sizes on the same scale basses would be impossible if that were the case, but I guess I never thought it through before. Dang - learn something new every day!
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upload_2021-12-26_20-46-21.png

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#8,323
Dincrest said:
I'm definitely a Soundgear guy for life now, but I got to thinking...why do I prefer Soundgears over comparable basses from the likes of ESP/LTD, Jackson, or Schecter?
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I smell analysis paralysis. Stop it and play what you like. I've come to discover the SR (I have 5) and my BTB Volo are may faves apart from my XL2 in the 200 or so basses I've owned. You won't get any crap here for liking them best. They are fine instruments.
 
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#8,324
It took me a while to get there. For years I bought into that "I-been-hadz" mentality or that hipster mentality of wanting something different/unique and not a ubiquitous Soundgear like everyone else was playing... but finally ignoring the noise is what allowed me to realize that I do like Soundgears best. And I have played and/or owned several basses from the competition.

In fact, my pseudo #1 is an LTD and my fretting hand can totally tell the difference between its XJ frets and my Soundgear's medium frets... and it likes the SR's medium frets better.

The Prestige SR4600 is a GASer for me. Orange is my favorite color: SR4600 | SR | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars
 
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#8,325
Dincrest said:
It took me a while to get there. For years I bought into that "I-been-hadz" mentality or that hipster mentality of wanting something different/unique and not a ubiquitous Soundgear like everyone else was playing... but finally ignoring the noise is what allowed me to realize that I do like Soundgears best. And I have played and/or owned several basses from the competition.

In fact, my pseudo #1 is an LTD and my fretting hand can totally tell the difference between its XJ frets and my Soundgear's medium frets... and it likes the SR's medium frets better.

The Prestige SR4600 is a GASer for me. Orange is my favorite color: SR4600 | SR | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars
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I always wrote off SR basses as I never liked the 4 string necks. But once I started playing 5s I feel in love with them. They are the most ergonomic 5 string for my body that I have found.

In regards to the SR 4600- I played the SR4605 in orange and compared it to the SR5005. Both had new sets of the same strings on them. I was surprised that they sounded significantly different to my ear. The 5005 had more booty. Just a fuller sound overall. Plus the orange color in person was very neon. I wasn't a fan.

The 4605 still sounded good though. And it was much lighter. But I went with the 5005, which I am very happy with a year later.

My personal experience only
 
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#8,329
PrimitiveMan said:
I always wrote off SR basses as I never liked the 4 string necks. But once I started playing 5s I feel in love with them. They are the most ergonomic 5 string for my body that I have found.

In regards to the SR 4600- I played the SR4605 in orange and compared it to the SR5005. Both had new sets of the same strings on them. I was surprised that they sounded significantly different to my ear. The 5005 had more booty. Just a fuller sound overall. Plus the orange color in person was very neon. I wasn't a fan.

The 4605 still sounded good though. And it was much lighter. But I went with the 5005, which I am very happy with a year later.

My personal experience only
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For me it is the other way around. I don't like their 5 strings, but love their 4 strings (tiny finger/hand gang unite).
Yeah there is a big difference from different models, mainly due to the wood.
 
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#8,330
I like to play with my fingers fairly curved and am able to do so better with the slender Soundgear 4-string neck. Plus, for occasional octave grabs, forays into chording, and being able to reach both the money notes and "shred" notes easily... ain't nothing better than the neck on my Soundgear 4.
 
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#8,332
PXL_20211231_151721290.jpg Sorry to butt in on the fret talk, but I thought I'd tell someone that I've finally discovered Ibanez SR basses and most likely won't be slinging a heavyweight Fender over my old arthritic shoulder anymore. I can't believe I never gave these a chance considering my first new electric was a 1980 Artist that served me well for over 30 years. I picked up a 2007 Korean made SR500 online that looks like it was never used. Fantastic instrument! I also picked up an SR300 as a backup although I don't play out, just jam with other retirees. Attached pic. Funny I see Soundgear by Ibanez on the headstock, like they were trying to emulate Squier by Fender or SBMM. Didn't catch on apparently. Anyway that's the story.
 
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#8,334
Bob T said:
View attachment 4523265 Sorry to butt in on the fret talk, but I thought I'd tell someone that I've finally discovered Ibanez SR basses and most likely won't be slinging a heavyweight Fender over my old arthritic shoulder anymore. I can't believe I never gave these a chance considering my first new electric was a 1980 Artist that served me well for over 30 years. I picked up a 2007 Korean made SR500 online that looks like it was never used. Fantastic instrument! I also picked up an SR300 as a backup although I don't play out, just jam with other retirees. Attached pic. Funny I see Soundgear by Ibanez on the headstock, like they were trying to emulate Squier by Fender or SBMM. Didn't catch on apparently. Anyway that's the story.
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The soundgear headstock logo has been basically unchanged since 1987 except they took out the 1000 on the SR1000 first year headstock logo
upload_2021-12-31_11-5-15.png


Were those first squier by fenders were made in japan around the same time? Maybe there's a common thread there.
 
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#8,337
Bob T said:
I thought I'd tell someone that I've finally discovered Ibanez SR basses and most likely won't be slinging a heavyweight Fender over my old arthritic shoulder anymore.
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Because you're an old fart* and obviously a little slow, we'll forgive you for taking this long to come on over. Happy Soundgear-ing. If you think about crossing back over, speak up and an intervention can be organised.

* Takes one to know one.

PS: cool dog in your avatar.
 
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#8,339
cb56 said:
I'm seeing the letter X alot in those new models. Does that represent wider strong spacing,?
I sure hope they don't dump the 16.5 mm spacing a that lot of us love
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Ibanez has recently been using "W" immediately after the numerals to denote wider string spacing. They also post the string spacing of each bass on its page, so you can check the spacing of any model. All the 5-strings SRs I looked at were spaced at 16.5 mm.
 

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