NeilMorrell

"Fancy T on the Headstock" - you are sure it's not a Tobias? Lol

I understood that each batch were being set up in Cumbria before being sent to the shops. Is that not still the case? In this fascinating video, Chris is seen setting a couple (An Artist and a Deluxe 5) up before dispatch - at Tanglewood in Wetherby. He also confirms a few questions too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFPlwg1MGF0 I think that my J5 was one of the Second Batch (Purchased early Aug) to enter the UK - has a Round String Tree rather that a flat bar. The setup is great, but there is a little string rattle - that seems to go away once plugged in.

Old post I know but the actives in the CT V (four stringer is passive) are notoriously ropey. The pickups are connected on by a horrible pin connector of the type that would normally be used for a ribbon connector - think it has 7 or 8 pins, but only 4 are used - could it be that someone has reconnected one end to the wrong pin? I stuck an Overwater 2 Band (£80 direct from Overwater at the time) in and it sounds great, Pups are apparently EMG Select (although mine aren't labelled as such). I put a few pics up of the mod somewhere else at the time and had a few people com back asking me questions about the original board.

Some engineers - both live and studio - seem terrified of Bass. Usually, they pretend it's not there at all, or and just leave it so far down in the mix it can cause no harm. Makes my P*ss fizz it does! Might as well not bother turning up.

They have, in the past. As I mentioned previously, I have a 1994 SR400FL. This has an Plain Board with side dots and dates from around 1994. Then, just a few years ago, an almost identical bass appeared as the SR300DXF - it had the same J/P configuration as mine (Ibanex DXP and DXJ Pickups - rather than the modern soapbars) but as far as I know was only available in Candy Apple Red. This had a board that looked like it had been impregnated with something (Phenol?) and was lined. I think they were using up old stock. Here's one still for sale [url="http://fuzzguitars.co.uk/shop/guitars/bass-guitars/ibanez/ibanez-sr300dxf.html"]http://fuzzguitars.c...z-sr300dxf.html[/url] There is a 300F now that seems to be more in keeping with the modern range [url="http://www.ibanez.com/BassGuitars/model-SR300F"]http://www.ibanez.co...rs/model-SR300F[/url] but it doesn't appear available in the UK. There are even some 5 Strings allegedly, but never seen one. Here's mine!

A few seem of you seem to like Black Nylons. I've got Fender Taperwound on my SR400FL Fretless Black Nylon, Black Silks, Black bass with Black Hardware. Looks great with the PVC Gimp Mask. Looks aside, they sound pretty good too.

I've got an original SR05 from 1987 (the "Minty Green" one). Love it dearly but the pickups have recently gone horribly microphonic. The original Pups have a Battery Wire coming out of them and are labelled "Regulated LoZ", so wouldn't be compatible with modern retrofit preamps. To do what I'd like to do (put some Barts in with a decent Pre Amp) would set me back around £300. As I've just got an Overwater Contemporary J5 (Tanglewood) then it's gone on the back burner (Or rather, in the loft, especially as I have other projects to finish first). Although the Soundgear range has gone through a lot of different styles and fashions over the years, the modern ones appear to have gone back to the beginning for inspiration. Imagine though the Body of a SR300 say, with the Neck of a SR500 (with the Scallop) but with a fairly hefty bridge. As AndroWal says above, the Construction is superb. Extremely solid, beautifully scuptured - and the electronics, even in a cheap one, can be easily replaced with better if you don't like them! I've also got an Ibanez CT V string (that has sensible (EMG Select) pickups and Overwater 2 Band EQ) and a SR400FL (Fretless 4 String - Passive J/P) which is lovely. The neck on the CT is wider and flatter, but the body on the SR400FL and the CT are almost identical - both date from around 1994. The SR400FL on the whole is very different to the SR05.

Nothing particularly exciting, but a Black Ibanez SR400FL Fretless, with Black Hardware and Black Strings (Fender Taperwounds - for that slinky feel but with a real snap to them). Goes fantastic with the PVC Gimp Mask as well.

Well, I was going to hang out for an Elite 5, but then slowly fell in love with the Contemporary J5 so had to have one (at least in the meantime). And after 6 weeks of playing it, how pleased am I! I really do like the colour - although I do jokingly refer to it as "Elsan Blue Sunburst". Under the light though, it looks really good. The build quality is brilliant (couple of tiny cosmetic blemishes but you wouldn't spot them - I would have to point them out to you) and it sounds fantastic. I have an Ibanez CT V that I put Overwater 2-Band Actives in about 5 years ago. However - this sounds so much richer - right down to the bottom B. I normally play with the EQ flat, but at a gig a couple of weeks ago, decided just to nudge a little bit of Bass into the mix, and what a sweet spot I found! One other thing I noticed about the bridge at the weekend. The String Anchor Holes go right through to the finish, which leads me to think it was designed with a mind to thru-body stringing as an option. As everyone else has concurred - these Basses are incredible value for money. I would recommend them to anyone - from beginners who want a GOOD first Bass, right through to seasoned pros. They blow the Fender MIM's right out of the water Now Chris, I know that the wishlist is growing, but as some fretless models, and an Elite 5 are in the pipeline, is there a chance of an Elite 5 Fretless? If there is I'd love one (and would even consider selling my Soundgears to fund it!).

Better Pic as promised! It's a SWR Workingmans 10 with Workingmans 1x10T - About 11 years old. In this configuration, it's about 120w. Quite fancy an OTB though - would go nice with my '73 Orange 4x12