The Soundgear Club

[hypercarrots]

Well......



It's done......



Not entirely sure, yet, how I feel about the new knobs. Was trying to keep in the same kind of vibe as the originals - which I would have re-used, but I knew they wouldn't fit the EMG pots - except in chrome, to maybe sorta match the pickups....
I do plan to switch the remaining hardware to chrome, at some point.

View attachment 4685151

View attachment 4685153

View attachment 4685154








.....as for the sound?



Yes. Exactly what I was looking for

Everything I loved about how it sounded before, turned up to 10.
Maybe 10.5.
And that's leaving the bass & treble flat - boosted gets that extra .5, for the 11

I think it's the first time ever, on any bass, that I've not felt a need to turn the bass control up at least a little.

It also boosted overall output - it will now need the pad/low gain/active input on my amps (as an active bass really should).
Before, I used the standard input, and it was still quieter than even my passive basses.


And, the third thing I was looking to change (the others being keep the tone/increase output and have better more reliable wiring) was the noise. The factory pickups and/or electronics were quite noisy, especially with *any* boost on the treble.
Now, its dead silent, except with vol, bass, & treble all at max, I can hear just a bit of hiss.



So, overall, totally loving the EMG upgrade so far - jury's still out on the knobs, though.

If you want chrome knobs, these schallers might match your pickup covers better

Gotoh chrome knobs, or anything that look like these dome top knurled would look stock on your era ibanez

 

[KaraQ]

If you want chrome knobs, these schallers might match your pickup covers better

Gotoh chrome knobs, or anything that look like these dome top knurled would look stock on your era ibanez

That second one is the style I have on my other SR and my 5-string Thunderbird. I may end up going with that on this bass as well - but I'll give these a bit of time, see how I feel about them.

I like the red tops, I think what's a bit off for me is the diameter....they just seem a bit big for this bass, I think.

 

[hypercarrots]

That second one is the style I have on my other SR and my 5-string Thunderbird. I may end up going with that on this bass as well - but I'll give these a bit of time, see how I feel about them.

I like the red tops, I think what's a bit off for me is the diameter....they just seem a bit big for this bass, I think.

the red tops remind me of the jewel lights on amps

 

[Outbush]

@21DaHoagie12 is correct. It's the 30th anniversary, sr30th4pe. Best GC find I've ever had.

If I were are richer man I would have

That second one is the style I have on my other SR and my 5-string Thunderbird. I may end up going with that on this bass as well - but I'll give these a bit of time, see how I feel about them.

I like the red tops, I think what's a bit off for me is the diameter....they just seem a bit big for this bass, I think.

I like them; I think it looks really cool.

 

[KaraQ]

post pics if you can..if they fit ok then I'll go down the same road for my 885

Just be aware, you can't order this set from the website, since both pickups are the 4-string LJ size.
I just sent them an email, asking if they could do a custom set, they said no problem

......
Now, its dead silent, except with vol, bass, & treble all at max, I can hear just a bit of hiss.

.......

An update on this - that was through my Peavey Max 250's "passive" input (which I had used for a more accurate before/after comparison). When I plugged into my Ampeg PF-350, with the pad button pressed in, absolutely no noise at all

 

[Bassgeer]

Hey folks, not exactly an SR, but I have an SRA 505 posted for sale in the classifieds if anyone is interested, hope it's ok to post this here!

 

[hypercarrots]

Hey folks, not exactly an SR, but I have an SRA 505 posted for sale in the classifieds if anyone is interested, hope it's ok to post this here!

SRA is an SR

 

[jemerpi]

I don't think I have gotten a number yet :-(

Anyway, I liked my SR505 so much I upgraded to an SR506E. What a wonderful and versatile bass to play! In that spirit, DR Pure Blues will be going on it soon.

 

[KaraQ]

Well.......



......looks like I got a package in today



Inside of said package, was a case:

.....and within the case

Was billed as a '97, but it's clearly an older one, like my '89. From what I could find on the s/n, it should be an '88 (s/n decal has year code for '87, but the number itself is high enough it should be an '88, they supposedly just kept using the same stickers....if the Internet is correct ).
Earliest I've found the SR885LE listed in an Ibanez catalog is 1989, though....





Seems to have DR Legend flats?, which should be an interesting contrast to the DR DDTs on the black one

An interesting thing that came with it:

Black (BK) & Sunset Red (SR), the only two colors listed for these in the '89 & '90 catalogs:

Can't hardly wait to get this thing plugged in & get some play time in

 

[PrimitiveMan]

Well.......



......looks like I got a package in today



Inside of said package, was a case:

View attachment 4713678



.....and within the case

View attachment 4713679


Was billed as a '97, but it's clearly an older one, like my '89. From what I could find on the s/n, it should be an '88 (s/n decal has year code for '87, but the number itself is high enough it should be an '88, they supposedly just kept using the same stickers....if the Internet is correct ).
Earliest I've found the SR885LE listed in an Ibanez catalog is 1989, though....





Seems to have DR Legend flats?, which should be an interesting contrast to the DR DDTs on the black one

View attachment 4713682



An interesting thing that came with it:

View attachment 4713680

View attachment 4713681




Black (BK) & Sunset Red (SR), the only two colors listed for these in the '89 & '90 catalogs:

View attachment 4713683






Can't hardly wait to get this thing plugged in & get some play time in

Wow! That's pristine

 

[Bassalien70]

Well.......



......looks like I got a package in today



Inside of said package, was a case:

View attachment 4713678



.....and within the case

View attachment 4713679


Was billed as a '97, but it's clearly an older one, like my '89. From what I could find on the s/n, it should be an '88 (s/n decal has year code for '87, but the number itself is high enough it should be an '88, they supposedly just kept using the same stickers....if the Internet is correct ).
Earliest I've found the SR885LE listed in an Ibanez catalog is 1989, though....





Seems to have DR Legend flats?, which should be an interesting contrast to the DR DDTs on the black one

View attachment 4713682



An interesting thing that came with it:

View attachment 4713680

View attachment 4713681




Black (BK) & Sunset Red (SR), the only two colors listed for these in the '89 & '90 catalogs:

View attachment 4713683






Can't hardly wait to get this thing plugged in & get some play time in

Looks identical to the one that was on reverb, great bass. I recently got same bass but with the vari mid eq. It's a 93. It sat in a guitar case in a guitar shop unsold and unused until the shop closed and it was discoverec. It's absolutely brand new regarding condition....enjoy your new bass

 

[KaraQ]

Wow! That's pristine

Very close!

So far, I've only found one real cosmetic flaw, mentioned by the seller:

Other than that, it looks like it was barely used in the last 34 years

Looks identical to the one that was on reverb, great bass. I recently got same bass but with the vari mid eq. It's a 93. It sat in a guitar case in a guitar shop unsold and unused until the shop closed and it was discoverec. It's absolutely brand new regarding condition....enjoy your new bass

It is the one that was on Reverb

I'd been looking for a red one for a while, they seem pretty uncommon.


With this one, the "Regulated Lo-Z" pickups, the lack of the Vari-Mid like yours has, and the color (Sunset Red (SR) was dropped for '91 & later; instead Ruby Red (RR) was available) were the things that made it stand out as not a '97 as listed.
Plus, by '97, the double J pickups had been replaced by soapbars......

 

[jemerpi]

Well.......



......looks like I got a package in today



Inside of said package, was a case:

View attachment 4713678



.....and within the case

View attachment 4713679


Was billed as a '97, but it's clearly an older one, like my '89. From what I could find on the s/n, it should be an '88 (s/n decal has year code for '87, but the number itself is high enough it should be an '88, they supposedly just kept using the same stickers....if the Internet is correct ).
Earliest I've found the SR885LE listed in an Ibanez catalog is 1989, though....





Seems to have DR Legend flats?, which should be an interesting contrast to the DR DDTs on the black one

View attachment 4713682



An interesting thing that came with it:

View attachment 4713680

View attachment 4713681




Black (BK) & Sunset Red (SR), the only two colors listed for these in the '89 & '90 catalogs:

View attachment 4713683






Can't hardly wait to get this thing plugged in & get some play time in

It would be cool to play one of those. How's it going?

 

[KaraQ]

It would be cool to play one of those. How's it going?

Didn't get a chance to get the red one plugged in last night, I'll get I done tonight after work

 

[lesliegl]

''it should be an '88 (s/n decal has year code for '87, but the number itself is high enough it should be an '88, they supposedly just kept using the same stickers....if the Internet is correct ).''..That's interesting..my SR 800 LE LR..Lipstick Red..has a F7 number on it..i bought here in Oz new in August '88..does that mean it may be a '88 instead of a '87???

Leslie

 

[KaraQ]

That's interesting..my SR 800 LE LR..Lipstick Red..has a F7 number on it..i bought here in Oz new in August '88..does that mean it may be a '88 instead of a '87???

Leslie

Where I found that bit of info was:

Ibanez Guitars Serial Number Decoder - GuitarInsite

The relevant quote:

"There is some confusion about FujiGen serial numbers from 1987.
Models produced up to and including 1988 have serial numbers starting with "F7", which normally have to indicate production in 1987. It seems that FujiGen or Ibanez had a surplus of these "F7" number stickers, but they just continued to use it until 1988.
You might make a reasonable estimate of whether a model with an F7 serial number was actually produced in 1987 or 1988 based on the production sequence (the last five digits of the serial number).
For each production series above 45000 it can be assumed that they are models from 1988.
Few serial numbers beginning with F8 have been observed."​

How true that is, I've no way to really verify.....but another Ibanez-centric website (Ibanez serial numbers ) has very similar info:

"Confusion around 1987 FujiGen serial numbers

Models produced through 1988 (and perhaps into 1989) have serial numbers starting with "F7" which would normally indicate production in 1987. It seems that FujiGen or Ibanez produced an overstock of these "F7" serial number stickers and so just continued to use them through 1988.

One can perhaps make a reasonable guess as to whether a model with an F7 serial number was actually produced in 1987 or 1988 based on the production sequence (the last five digits of the serial number). Any production sequences above 43,200 may be assumed to be 1988 models, although this rule of thumb doesn't appear to always hold true"​

So.....plausibly true?
(My made-in-1989 sr885le has F9 to start the s/n, and its printed into the headstock, instead of a sticker)



So, to answer your question.... I guess if the last 5 of your s/n is more than at least 43,200, then it might be an '88?

 

[hypercarrots]

i have an ibanez for every year from 1983 - 1992 except for 1988. and my F87 is too low of a number to be a 1988.

 

[KaraQ]

i have an ibanez for every year from 1983 - 1992 except for 1988. and my F87 is too low of a number to be a 1988.

My F87 is 64xxx, so by the information on those websites, definitely an '88; but, the for-sale ad claimed it was a '97, I assume because of a mis-interpretation of the s/n

 

[lesliegl]

Thanks for that info..i will look up its number and see what comes up

 

[lesliegl]

My SR800LE LR serial number is F743868..so it's a '88 bought in Sydney Australia in August '88