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Which Ibby? (First 5-string bass)

R

ReeV0

Apr 5, 2013
732
273
#1
Hi all,

I've decided to buy my first 5-string bass, as I am getting tired of having to drop my tuning to drop-D, drop-C etc. Figured just get a 5-string and be done with it!

I currently have an Ibanez SR500 and ATK810, both of which I love. I now have the option of purchasing an SR505e or an SR1205. There's a $250 price difference between them (used).

Can anyone weigh in on whether the Nordy pickups in the SR1205 would be worth the $250 upgrade? Besides that, and the titanium-reinforced neck, I can't see too many other differences compared to the SR505e. Really not a fan of the gold hardware, but that's just superficial :D

Thanks :bassist:
 
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#2
The 1205 is Japanese made with a mahagony body and (I believe) better preamp.
I personally would prefer the Nordstrand pickups over the cheap Bartonlinis.

The things I could complain about Indonesian Ibanez basses was the slightly muffled sound of the Bartolini branded pickups, their harsh preamp, and the quality of the woods used. My BTB686sc had the softest maple I've ever encountered in a bass. It was still strong enough to keep the neck straight and hold the string tension and all, but it dented super easily.

All in all, I'd take the $250 upgrade to get a Japanese model with the better pickups.
 
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#3
el murdoque said:
The 1205 is Japanese made with a mahagony body and (I believe) better preamp.
I personally would prefer the Nordstrand pickups over the cheap Bartonlinis.

The things I could complain about Indonesian Ibanez basses was the slightly muffled sound of the Bartolini branded pickups, their harsh preamp, and the quality of the woods used. My BTB686sc had the softest maple I've ever encountered in a bass. It was still strong enough to keep the neck straight and hold the string tension and all, but it dented super easily.

All in all, I'd take the $250 upgrade to get a Japanese model with the better pickups.
Click to expand...
Cheers for the reply. This particular model is 2015 from Indonesia
 
#4
I think one of the standard 505 series would be fine for a first foray into 5 strings. It's light, plays great, and is usually pretty inexpensive on the used market.

I'd love to get a mid-priced Ibby 5er that had better wood and pups but what is up with all the color burst finishes? Hoping this phase fades out and they go back to some more traditional finishes on those $1200-$1800 instruments.
 
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#5
Either would be fine. Whether it's worth the upcharge for the 1205 for the tonal difference is up to you. Physically they will feel the same in neck and body shape, so if you like one you'll like the other.
 
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#7
ReeV0 said:
Hi all,

I've decided to buy my first 5-string bass, as I am getting tired of having to drop my tuning to drop-D, drop-C etc. Figured just get a 5-string and be done with it!

I currently have an Ibanez SR500 and ATK810, both of which I love. I now have the option of purchasing an SR505e or an SR1205. There's a $250 price difference between them (used).

Can anyone weigh in on whether the Nordy pickups in the SR1205 would be worth the $250 upgrade? Besides that, and the titanium-reinforced neck, I can't see too many other differences compared to the SR505e. Really not a fan of the gold hardware, but that's just superficial :D

Thanks :bassist:
Click to expand...
The brown finish on the 505E wears off after a few years. Nordstrands are brighter than the Bartolinis on 505E. Watch this
 
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#10
ReeV0 said:
Hi all,

I've decided to buy my first 5-string bass, as I am getting tired of having to drop my tuning to drop-D, drop-C etc. Figured just get a 5-string and be done with it!

I currently have an Ibanez SR500 and ATK810, both of which I love. I now have the option of purchasing an SR505e or an SR1205. There's a $250 price difference between them (used).

Can anyone weigh in on whether the Nordy pickups in the SR1205 would be worth the $250 upgrade? Besides that, and the titanium-reinforced neck, I can't see too many other differences compared to the SR505e. Really not a fan of the gold hardware, but that's just superficial :D

Thanks :bassist:
Click to expand...

I'm extremely happy with my SR1105 with the Nordstrand Big Singles pickups. I'm sure the 505e is a great bass too, but I would go for the 1205 personally. If you like your ATK810, the ATK805 is awesome too. I have one as well, but in the end I think I slightly prefer the SR for the lower weight, Nordstrands, and active/passive function.
 
#11
ReeV0 said:
Hi all,

I've decided to buy my first 5-string bass, as I am getting tired of having to drop my tuning to drop-D, drop-C etc. Figured just get a 5-string and be done with it!

I currently have an Ibanez SR500 and ATK810, both of which I love. I now have the option of purchasing an SR505e or an SR1205. There's a $250 price difference between them (used).

Can anyone weigh in on whether the Nordy pickups in the SR1205 would be worth the $250 upgrade? Besides that, and the titanium-reinforced neck, I can't see too many other differences compared to the SR505e. Really not a fan of the gold hardware, but that's just superficial :D

Thanks :bassist:
Click to expand...
If the 1205 is not thrashed and everything is straight on there it's almost a no brainer. The 505 is nice and honestly I'm litterally shopping them right now but here's the part that sucks about them. It's the body finish. It looks cool new but they really suck. I've never seen a used one without the finish all jacked up. Plus you'll probably prefer the 1205 preamp and you should be getting a bass that is as legit as it gets. No messing with refins and the bones should be solid as a rock. If you got gotoh tuners they rock and are better than many others in the same category. Not that the cheap Ibanez tuners are crap but I see them getting replaced a lot more frequently. So with those aspects in mind good luck. I hope to see pics of both basses.
 
#13
Agreed on the 1205 being the better option, but only if you've had the chance to play an Ibanez 5-string. Other people will have their experiences, but I haven't played a 5-string Ibanez that had a decent b-string. I was using flats so the tension should have been good enough. Again, other's will have their experiences with them.

The SR505 has the "Bartolini" MK1 pickups and preamp but the 1205 has much better electronics. The finish on the SR505 is notoriously easy to damage and has a tendency to flake off.
 
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#15
ReeV0 said:
Hi all,

I've decided to buy my first 5-string bass, as I am getting tired of having to drop my tuning to drop-D, drop-C etc. Figured just get a 5-string and be done with it!

I currently have an Ibanez SR500 and ATK810, both of which I love. I now have the option of purchasing an SR505e or an SR1205. There's a $250 price difference between them (used).

Can anyone weigh in on whether the Nordy pickups in the SR1205 would be worth the $250 upgrade? Besides that, and the titanium-reinforced neck, I can't see too many other differences compared to the SR505e. Really not a fan of the gold hardware, but that's just superficial :D

Thanks :bassist:
Click to expand...
1205. Hands down

The 5 is a standard, or "budget" series.

The 12 is a premium series. Better neck, fret work has been done in factory, better hardware, better pickups, usually has name brand preamp matching the pickups (not always, but usually), and better finish.

12, hands down.
 
Last edited:
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#16
Somewhat ignore my post above. I didn't realize that the SR505E had BH2 pickups and an upgraded preamp (from the MK1).

Here's what the SR505E's finish will eventually look like:

2022-11-28 19_19_08-ibanez sr505 finish - Google Search.jpg
 
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#17
The nordstrand pickups are really good! I've owned both a 5 string SR prestige with Barts and premium with nordstrands before, and personally prefer the sound of the big singles that were on the premium.

Big singles are very expressive pickups that respond very well to the intensity of your playing. At the same time, they are not thin sounding like regular single coils, so you get enough low end coming from it imo. Barts in general sound a little compressed to me, but some people are looking for that tone so it's really up to preference.

Also, I loved the wenge/bubinga neck on the premium, the SRs that I've tried with that neck generally have nice complex mid tones.
 
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#18
I have an SR 875BRG, 2018 model with the BH2 pickups. It seems that aside from the body wood and the fretboard, and the active/passive switch, the specs are the same as the 505E. Not being a tone geek, I like the sounds I get just fine--quite a variety. It is my first and only 5 string, so I don't have a lot to compare it with. I also have an SR 750NTF with Nordstrand PJ style pickups. If I had to only have one bass, I could easily live with that one.

Sorry, upon re-reading this it doesn't seem like much help. It will sound like a bass! That's the most important thing.
 

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