Why are you so dead set on ibanez? If it HAS to be Ibanez, I'd say go with a BTB or an EDA (if you can stand the way they look). I've heard really good stuff about the ATKs, if you can find one of those, too. They don't sell them in America anymore.
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Which Ibanez to choose?
- Thread starter fozzy
- Start date
Yes, I find that SRX's are better than the SR's, mainly because of the humbucklers.
BTB and SRX are the way to go.
BTB and SRX are the way to go.
I used to play SR400's back in '94 and '95 in a band on a regualr basis. I really liked them. Nice neck and the pickups (active) sounded great with my rig. I then started to want a bass with more body and jumped way up in the price range to EB MM Stingrays and never went back...but a few years ago I picked up an '83 Roadstar and I really love it. It has a larger body and really great sounding passive pickups, great bridge, great tuners. I can't say enough good things about this bass. Problem is, mine is an RB924CS and they are VERY rare. I'm trying to get my hands on a late 70's Roadster right now. Those are very nice.
Many of the vintage Ibanez basses are really great instruments. I've heard a ton of good things about the Musicians but have not played one personally. I'm sure Ibanez is still making good Soundgears and so forth also though.
I have a 1983 Roadstar also that I'm going to sell only b/c the body is a little too small for me. It has Precision style pickups in it (all stock) that sound great. It's a medium scale bass (32") and has a 1 piece maple neck w/ maple fretboard. I have the OHSC too. Lemme know if you want more info on it.
Many of the vintage Ibanez basses are really great instruments. I've heard a ton of good things about the Musicians but have not played one personally. I'm sure Ibanez is still making good Soundgears and so forth also though.
I have a 1983 Roadstar also that I'm going to sell only b/c the body is a little too small for me. It has Precision style pickups in it (all stock) that sound great. It's a medium scale bass (32") and has a 1 piece maple neck w/ maple fretboard. I have the OHSC too. Lemme know if you want more info on it.
I have an EDA905F (fretless) and love it. It does have a strange EQ, but if you really experiment with it, you can get some very nice, useable sounds out of it, and I dare to say you can even get warm tones from it. For playing comfort I think it is next to impossible to beat. My fretless has an ebonol fingerboard, while the fretted version has rosewood. The fretted version sounded even warmer than my fretless. I almost bought the fretted version a couple of weeks ago, but I want to wait a little longer before I buy a fretted five.
I highly recommend the EDA905. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Most people I think would prefer a BTB, as it is much more of a conventional type bass than the EDA series.
The BTB405QM is one of the best values out there for a bass in the $600 - $700 range, IMHO. The BTB1005 is nothing short of a top-notch instrument.
Don't judge by the name on the headstock, judge by the sound coming from your amp.
I also have a 1979 Ibanez Musician which I bought brand new. After 23 years this bass still performs as though it were new.
I don't want to jump the gun, but I think my next bass will be a Bongo 5 string.
If you want a recommendation, I'd say get a BTB. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I am not a die hard Ibanez lover, I simply give them credit where credit is due.
Mike
I highly recommend the EDA905. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Most people I think would prefer a BTB, as it is much more of a conventional type bass than the EDA series.
The BTB405QM is one of the best values out there for a bass in the $600 - $700 range, IMHO. The BTB1005 is nothing short of a top-notch instrument.
Don't judge by the name on the headstock, judge by the sound coming from your amp.
I also have a 1979 Ibanez Musician which I bought brand new. After 23 years this bass still performs as though it were new.
I don't want to jump the gun, but I think my next bass will be a Bongo 5 string.
If you want a recommendation, I'd say get a BTB. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I am not a die hard Ibanez lover, I simply give them credit where credit is due.
Mike
Another vote for the BTB- get the 1000 series, not the 400 series though. The 1000's cost 2-3 times as much, but are quite nice. The 400's are still good for the price however. BTB is by far Ibanez's best bass IMO.
Has anyone tried the RD500. They are they new RoadGear basses and look impressive. I really like the look of the body and pickups but I'm not much of a fan of the headstock shape.
Anyone have any experience with these?
Anyone have any experience with these?
I was a big Ibanez fan. One of the best playing bass I have is a 76 Ibanez Jazz (block inlays and neck binding too 
).
This is the only one I've kept. I sold all the rest.
My previous Ibanez:
Early 70's P-bass
80's RB650 Roadstar II
RB800
SR400
SR800
SR1000
SR3005
RD707
Roadster (not sure what type it was)
80's Musician
SR800 fretless
).This is the only one I've kept. I sold all the rest.
My previous Ibanez:
Early 70's P-bass
80's RB650 Roadstar II
RB800
SR400
SR800
SR1000
SR3005
RD707
Roadster (not sure what type it was)
80's Musician
SR800 fretless
Thanks for your opinions .... I have ordered BTB .. because here is only few awailable ... ESP's, Washburn's, Ibanez's .. and i think that Ibanez is better choice of these ..
Peace
Peace
Well looks like I'm to late but I have a BTB 510...earlier model without the Barts...however...I havn't heard the one with Barts so I have no way to compare...but mine sounds great...rich warm tone...mahogony body. Neck feel is nice and slippery that's how I like it anyway. Plenty of tone control with active EQ. I absolutely love the looks of it also...not sure why so many people bash the looks of it...it just seemssomewhat devilishly eveil earthy looking to me...a real piece of wood. Anyways...which one did you order???
For me its an SRX, a week ago i played the new SR 500 with the MK1 barts, that too sounded sweet
groovyriffage said:
Ditto!
You can't go wrong with the BTB405QM, and I really dig my new SR500 too!
Best-sounding Ibanez I've ever met was a (I think) mid-80's Roadstar II. I can't stand most of their stuff. ATK's seem fine, but I've never really heard one.
Does anyone have pictures of a Roadstar or a Musician? I recently played an Ibanez at a store that I didn't recognize at all, but it was easily one of the best instruments I've ever played.
I'm currently using a really old (8 yrs) Ibanez SR - it's been discontinued and the closest model I can find to it now is the SR3000 (except that it's got AFR p/j pickups, and it doesn't have the d-tuner).
IMHO, it's a great bass. The last time I brought it into a shop to try out some amps, the salesguy was all over it - he falls into the "i'll-never-buy-an-ibanez" camp, but for some strange reason he thought differently of mine
last thing he told me before I pried it off his hands was never to sell it 
Anyways, it's got a really slim neck for one - some guys think it's wussy, but I think it's really comfortable It's a cinch to run on this baby.
Tonewise it's warm and smooth. The bottoms are thick with a bit of growl, and the upper registers sing sweetly. A little twist on the eq and you've got a decent slap bass, though I think it's more suited to fingerstyle playing.
Be fair to yourself and go and try one out - you're the best judge for yourself
IMHO, it's a great bass. The last time I brought it into a shop to try out some amps, the salesguy was all over it - he falls into the "i'll-never-buy-an-ibanez" camp, but for some strange reason he thought differently of mine
last thing he told me before I pried it off his hands was never to sell it Anyways, it's got a really slim neck for one - some guys think it's wussy, but I think it's really comfortable
It's a cinch to run on this baby. Tonewise it's warm and smooth. The bottoms are thick with a bit of growl, and the upper registers sing sweetly. A little twist on the eq and you've got a decent slap bass, though I think it's more suited to fingerstyle playing.
Be fair to yourself and go and try one out - you're the best judge for yourself
I liked the BTB 405 and for the price it was the perfect fit for me, which is why it resides in my room now. Soundgear models seemed too small (need big, man-sized, heavy bass-uggh!) but seriously just like the sound of the BTB. IMO as always. Hope you enjoy your new BTB as much as I have enjoyed learning to play mine.
Chaputa said:
+1.........that's my favorite Ibanez bass of all time.They make fretted versions too.........at least I think they still do.
I have an EDA, four string version. I got this as it was my favorite bass i played at the time (i was a young impressionable 17 yr old). I do like the bass, though my taste has changed somewhat, with my new bass now being a natural wood finish stingray...read into that what you will.
but the EDA is a nice bass. I like it, i've been able to get some good, if not perfect, sound from it. stingray is vastly superior, but thats to be expected.
i'm with what micheal jewels said, credit where credit is due. not amazing basses, but good enough for the money in my opinion.
ps, now i come to think of it, when i first got the ibanez, i was in a hard rock/screamo kind of band. and the EDA was awesome in this setting. very average for my new pop needs though
but the EDA is a nice bass. I like it, i've been able to get some good, if not perfect, sound from it. stingray is vastly superior, but thats to be expected.
i'm with what micheal jewels said, credit where credit is due. not amazing basses, but good enough for the money in my opinion.
ps, now i come to think of it, when i first got the ibanez, i was in a hard rock/screamo kind of band. and the EDA was awesome in this setting. very average for my new pop needs though
