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The Soundgear Club

First off, I would like to join the Soundgear Club. Here is my story and what I think of my SR 1350 BDUF.

I've been playing guitar for almost 60 Years and started playing bass 6 months ago. My first bass was a Squire short scale PJ bass which was a great starter bass. The PJ's gave me good range of sound and the bass was really comfortable. I was trolling the websites looking for something to take it up a level.

I visited a Guitar Center in NY to see what all the basses I saw on line felt like and played like. I tried the different Fender basses, a Music Man Stingray, and a bunch of others off the rack. I tried a SR with Bartolini pups and it was really nice. I wanted a higher grade pickup. And then I saw the SR 1350B and it was love at first sight. The bass is absolutely gorgeous. The different color woods, African Mahogany, Benga Benga, and there are 2 purple strips of wood in the neck that show up on the back, OMG. Then I played it. I never played a bass with active electronics. I could toggle from passive to active. In active mode, there are 3 equalizer knobs and a toggle switch with 3 positions for different midrange response. I could switch pick ups with a knob that allows me to go from one to the other and blend them together on a continuum. The range of sounds from soft and bass to higher and twangy was amazing. The active mode has a lot of punch. It has superlative Nordstrand Big Single pickups that were on another level. I could not have asked for more.

The aesthetics are so pleasing. The layers of wood are beautiful. Their shape is smooth to the touch. The neck is really smooth and fast. The abalone inlays are magnificent. I would be proud to play this anywhere. It takes your breath away.

It was $1,400 US dollars. I was looking to spend around a grand, but this bass offered so much more than basses for much more money, that it was actually a bargain. Beauty, quality, playability, and range. What an instrument. I can't see ever wanting another bass. What can compare to it?

I bought it. It comes with a gig bag and a tool. I picked up a Taylor black and brown leather strap that looks great with it. I look at it on my stand and I just have to pick it up and play it. I play in a band and it sounds great and looks great. I am obsessed with it.
IMG_2733.JPG
 
First off, I would like to join the Soundgear Club. Here is my story and what I think of my SR 1350 BDUF.

I've been playing guitar for almost 60 Years and started playing bass 6 months ago. My first bass was a Squire short scale PJ bass which was a great starter bass. The PJ's gave me good range of sound and the bass was really comfortable. I was trolling the websites looking for something to take it up a level.

I visited a Guitar Center in NY to see what all the basses I saw on line felt like and played like. I tried the different Fender basses, a Music Man Stingray, and a bunch of others off the rack. I tried a SR with Bartolini pups and it was really nice. I wanted a higher grade pickup. And then I saw the SR 1350B and it was love at first sight. The bass is absolutely gorgeous. The different color woods, African Mahogany, Benga Benga, and there are 2 purple strips of wood in the neck that show up on the back, OMG. Then I played it. I never played a bass with active electronics. I could toggle from passive to active. In active mode, there are 3 equalizer knobs and a toggle switch with 3 positions for different midrange response. I could switch pick ups with a knob that allows me to go from one to the other and blend them together on a continuum. The range of sounds from soft and bass to higher and twangy was amazing. The active mode has a lot of punch. It has superlative Nordstrand Big Single pickups that were on another level. I could not have asked for more.

The aesthetics are so pleasing. The layers of wood are beautiful. Their shape is smooth to the touch. The neck is really smooth and fast. The abalone inlays are magnificent. I would be proud to play this anywhere. It takes your breath away.

It was $1,400 US dollars. I was looking to spend around a grand, but this bass offered so much more than basses for much more money, that it was actually a bargain. Beauty, quality, playability, and range. What an instrument. I can't see ever wanting another bass. What can compare to it?

I bought it. It comes with a gig bag and a tool. I picked up a Taylor black and brown leather strap that looks great with it. I look at it on my stand and I just have to pick it up and play it. I play in a band and it sounds great and looks great. I am obsessed with it. View attachment 5235066

Hello SilboBaggins,

Congratulations for this beautiful SR and for your decision to play bass… You won' t regret it.

By the way - I would like to become a member of the SR - Club, too ( I posted my bass last thursday, # 9470)
 
Received my first SR and first 5 string today! Pearl White SR305E.

Only played a few minutes after unpacking. Hearing a little distortion with the volume all the way up when I dial up the EQ and dig in. Low battery maybe? Or do you pretty much need to run these at non-max volume?

Need to make sure I'm not overdriving my compressor maybe. I don't have a ton of experience with active basses. (Kinda wish this bass had a passive mode...)

Looking forward to figuring out this extra string!
 
Received my first SR and first 5 string today! Pearl White SR305E.

Only played a few minutes after unpacking. Hearing a little distortion with the volume all the way up when I dial up the EQ and dig in. Low battery maybe? Or do you pretty much need to run these at non-max volume?

Need to make sure I'm not overdriving my compressor maybe. I don't have a ton of experience with active basses. (Kinda wish this bass had a passive mode...)

Looking forward to figuring out this extra string!

Could be the battery getting low on voltage, but I'm leaning more towards it being just an active bass in general with a hot output.

I'm sure a little tweaking with the input/gain stage of your effects will get it sorted out.

If your amp has an active/passive pad switch, that can also help tame down a high output active bass. :thumbsup:
 
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Could be the battery getting low on voltage, but I'm leaning more towards it being just an active bass in general with a hot output.

I'm sure a little tweaking with the input/gain stage of your effects will get it sorted out.

If your amp has an active/passive pad switch, that can also help tame down a high output active bass. :thumbsup:

Thanks. I worked with it a little more last night. I'm leaning toward it being the pre-amp being over driven. The distortion is gone at lower volume settings on the bass. I did put in a new battery too.

The bass feels great and the ~8lb weight is perfect. I noticed the bridge pickup is a little tilted (toward the bridge) and has absolutely no play. I didn't try loosening the screws to make sure it can move up. The other PU has some space to be lowered though it is already lower than the bridge one. I'll take a closer look when I change strings.

I'm not a huge fan of rounds in general and these seem a little imbalanced tone-wise. My favorite flats are Fenders and EB Cobalts. Maybe I'll give the Cobalt flats a try.
 
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Here ya go, I'll do what I can to update this daily, shouldn't be a problem at all.

Please give me a number, I want to join the club. I have a 2023 SR 1350D as you can see by my icon.

1 - THE DANiMAL
2 - Down_Low
3 - jk47
4 - Georgestrings
5 - peterchui
6 - PaulNYC
7 - Relayer71
8 - Darknes40
9 - Old Joe
10 - CLPalacio
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13 - nickrs540
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15 - Staccato
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25 - Solarmist
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27 - 68camaro
28 - Rich L
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30 - Thrill-House
31 - cassanova
32 - Gubna
33 - SR505bassman
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39 - mustbampeg
40 - Gonz
41 - lesliegl
42 - bertjefred
43 - christle
44 - 3k Mylz
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46 - MrDominoe
47 - Jinro
48 - fburke
49 - jthurston
50 - ifender
51 - devilman666
52 - ccouch7
53 - Moofknock
54 - porkdog324
55 - LowDownBassist
56 - Solboy
57 - Turkey357
58 - Ibanezalltheway
59 - heironymous
60 - dsuich
61 - Swin
62 - Beekman
63 - DaM13N
64 - David Vector
65 - superquick
66 - The513Sojourner
67 - cyprus
68 - novenpeter
69 - deste
70 - dllcalli
71 - tanktones
72 - Hedgehog_SBM
73 - BuckyBass1982
74 - Morkolo
75 - johnek
76 - SirDarius
77 - TolerancEJ
78 - sideshowant
79 - Kylie
80 - mitchjonbass
81 - Hankey
82 - Joel951
83 - hermanmunster
84 - [BassiLow]
85 - octaedro7
86 - harmonrn
87 - richardzbaraski
 
Here's my new SR375ef! I received it last weekend, and just finished getting it setup the way I like it.
I applied two light coats of Dunlop Lemon Oil to the fingerboard, and strung it with DR Black Beautys 45-135, then did a full setup.
It looks, feels, and sounds as if it ought to be a lot more expensive than it was! Having a blast with it!
May I join the club?
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My TRBX305E is headed back to Sweetwater. My project that needed a five string fell through and I didn't connect with the bass enough to keep it. I really couldn't find "my tone" with the humbuckers. This was my 4th or 5th attempt to make an active bass with humbuckers work. I just can't figure them out. If I need another 5 down the road I'll look for a PJ or Jazz bass. Sire, BB or Squier maybe.
 
My TRBX305E is headed back to Sweetwater. My project that needed a five string fell through and I didn't connect with the bass enough to keep it. I really couldn't find "my tone" with the humbuckers. This was my 4th or 5th attempt to make an active bass with humbuckers work. I just can't figure them out. If I need another 5 down the road I'll look for a PJ or Jazz bass. Sire, BB or Squier maybe.
Whatever spins your props, go with it.
 
Best 5 string multiscale deal on the planet, IMHO. Nice grab! I have similar gray 6er, since its the most I wanted to pay for a bass I can hardly play--I'm still struggling with it and running back to my 5s--but wow, great tone, great action.

I used to play 6 string basses years ago, but ultimately returned to 5'vers, they just worked out better for me in the long run. But yes - I've owned plenty of premium Ibanez models and they've all been excellent, with excellent tone, but something about the Bartolini BH2's combined with the clarity of the multi-scales really resonates with me. I feel the SRMS model is the best feeling/sounding ones I've owned to date - at least for my preferences. I've owned the Deep Twilight for about a year now, and grabbing the Brown Topaz model for a steal has made me a very happy camper! :bassist:

Ibanez-SRMS805-Brown-Topaz-Burst-11.jpg