which is better?ibanez

On my personal tastes, ive played a SR505 and i have a BTB406qm, i love my BTB406, i hated the sound of the SR505, i dont know what the 556 is like tho

The BTB just had more umph to it, and yeah, the mid shift is cool

 

I've loved Ibanez for years. Can't go wrong there in my books

 

i hate ibanez basses, but the btb 6 string aint half bad!!

 

I've Played Ibanez' 4 yrs-since the Silver Series came out in late '70's. Always been very good to me. I have -I think- a SDGR 5 str. & it's been great, No probs,reliable,tuff & has nearly always been the only bass with me @ the gig!

 

The SR-506 comes with the Bartolini MK-1 pick-ups as standard equipment. I own a BTB405 myself which I had modded with a set of Barts and an Aguillar OBP-3 pre-amp and it really made a huge difference in the sound of the bass; with the stock pups it sounded muddy and it lacked high end definition. I am familiar with the MK-1 Barts from my Skyline 55-01 and they are very nice; clean, crisp and well defined. Other than that, those basses are totally different animals. The BTBs have a more traditional feel and the Soundgears are very slinky; mainly a matter of taste.

 

Obviously there are more electronics options with the BTB series. The string spacing is also wider with the BTB, so you might want to consider that.

 

People that say they hate something and then don't say why, are complete tools.

 

I have a SR505 w/Mahogany body, wenge fb, laminated wenge/bubinga neck, and MK-1s. Very lighweight, close string spacing, dialable tone (crisp, but w/good lows), and 34" scale. Have to be precise when slapping cause of the spacing, but I dig it for the versatility and weight. Looks nice too. Haven't played the BTB.

 

I always preferred the BTB to the Soundgears.SR's necks are too skinny to my liking. I like the way they sound, but the thin necks and super narrow string spacing cramps my hand up. BTB's are fatter sounding with chunkier necks. Their 5 and 6 string necks are very wide, the 4 stringers are great. They feel like a T-Bird neck.

 

I owned numerous Ibanez basses in my career. They are a safe bet for dialing in a sound that you need and they are very affordable. I am not too into how they are starting to try and become a custom bass manufacturer by making all those 1000 series versions of their basses though. I am sure they play great but I always liked them for having a ton of mid ranged basses... It seems like my favorite models got the boot. anyways, just my opinion.

I played SR series basses and BTBs and I currently own a SRX-505... look into the BTB and SRX-505's (the btb had a TIGHT B string! and the individual bridges for each string is cool)

My recomendations...

 

I think it was good of them to make the higher end basses, because from what i gather they are really good!

I know what you mean tho, they seem to have discontinued most of my fave models aswell (look at my sig + i always wanted the EDC with dual buckers)

 

The only Ibanez basses I've liked are the older ones like the Roadsters and the Musicians.

 

Honestly, I'd take the SR506 over a BTB 406 anyday. I'm not a fan of the BTB bodies, (uncomfortable) but mainly because I had a harder time dialing in a tone I liked on the BTB than the SR.

If only Ibanez could put a BTB neck on an SR for me... Heaven in wood form .

-ryan-

 

I had a 506 and loved it. I would still have it today if it hadn't been stolen. I'm not sure I would get one again if I saw one in the store as I'm not too into the whole 6 string thing anymore. But I really liked it at the time.

 

I have played an Ibanez Soundgear 5 and thought that it played very well, nice action.

A friend of mine in the band Agony Hill (www.agonyhill.com) plays a Soundgear 6 and swears by it.

Personally, I don't think that I could play anything that wide.

 

I was really the complete oposite, i think the SRs arent very comfortable, but the BTB just sits right, and the tones i got i liked em all, yet didnt like the SR sound, or the neck, or the way the body sat

Just goes to show the guy who started the thread that opinions are opinions and he needs to get his on !

 

I recently bought the AGB140 Artcore and LOVE it! It is a little uncomfortable on the strap because it is neck heavy but im getting used to it. I put some Labella Tapewounds on it and she sounds great.