Ibanez SR basses

[tempo]

Yes, the string spacing is the 16.5mm standard. I realised how dirty it was after posting, so it's now been cleaned with a new set of strings!😀

Edited April 15 by tempo

[80Hz]

15 hours ago, crazycloud said:

It also could simply be a combination of the above and marketing to make them a little distinctive from the million other P and J shaped PUs out there.

 

 

I'm sure you're close on having a large stock of rod magnets versus different sizes of bar magnets. Wilde is a small operation and still very competitive on price.

[80Hz]

12 hours ago, crazycloud said:

it almost looks like maple

 

I believe it's a "gravure" maple top, i.e. printed to look like maple! I still think it's pretty...

[Paulhauser]

I don't think this was covered here, but according to Ibanez
"2025 brings with it the long-awaited revamp of the SR prestige line. With nine new models in total, there’s an ideal instrument for every bassist out there seeking the comfort, tone, and playability of a Japanese-made SR."

More infor on the Ibby site

 

Quite fancy this SR3506 from the new model lineup...

[Woodinblack]

that looks nice!

[Paulhauser]

1 hour ago, Woodinblack said:

that looks nice!

Have a thing for piano black finishes lately.
The Nordstrand in my other Prestige MS5 sounds really great and the preamp is useful, too.
This new SR line has an upgraded preamp with the hexa mid system for what it worth. 

There is a 5506, pretty much the same specs with different woods and finish.
One thing I'm noticing tha the bodies are wider than they used to be  and i'm not liking it. 

 

[crazycloud]

13 hours ago, Paulhauser said:

I don't think this was covered here, but according to Ibanez
"2025 brings with it the long-awaited revamp of the SR prestige line. With nine new models in total, there’s an ideal instrument for every bassist out there seeking the comfort, tone, and playability of a Japanese-made SR."

More infor on the Ibby site

 

Quite fancy this SR3506 from the new model lineup...

Sweet looking bass, but my wallet whimpered at the pre-order price here.

[Woodinblack]

1 hour ago, crazycloud said:

Sweet looking bass, but my wallet whimpered at the pre-order price here.

 

you know how it is with ibanez, wait to get one second hand and it will be less than half the price

[crazycloud]

18 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

 

you know how it is with ibanez, wait to get one second hand and it will be less than half the price

Trouble is, they bring few in and the people who tend to buy them aren't flippers, so the second hand market is sparse to say the least. I have searches for many of these sort of models, eg GVB36, BTB1826 (prefer early ones) on the major sites and check general searches in case one finds it's way into a store I'm not familiar with, but nada.

[Woodinblack]

7 hours ago, crazycloud said:

Trouble is, they bring few in and the people who tend to buy them aren't flippers, so the second hand market is sparse to say the least. I have searches for many of these sort of models, eg GVB36, BTB1826 (prefer early ones) on the major sites and check general searches in case one finds it's way into a store I'm not familiar with, but nada.

 

Some of the models were very limited edition, especially the GVB36, I only ever saw two and I bought one. I did spend quite a while trying to get the original SR5. My SR1605 - the original one, had a very short run probably because it is too light, and now there is another 1605 which is different (which makes model numbering odd). But some models, such as the prestiges aren't so hard to find, so I guess eventually they will be around for a while

[SumOne]

I got an SR305E in part exchange to have as a relatively light/small/cheap backup. Gotta say though, after doing a thorough setup (which it really needed) there now isn't much difference between this and basses I've owned worth £1k extra.

 

 

 

16.5mm spacing is a bit tight for me, can live with it though. The only thing I'm really not a fan of is no passive mode, feels risky potentially doing a gig and finding out half way through that the battery has died. 

Edited Saturday at 15:08 by SumOne

[Al Krow]

2 hours ago, SumOne said:

I got an SR305E in part exchange to have as a relatively light/small/cheap backup. Gotta say though, after doing a thorough setup (which it really needed) there now isn't much difference between this and basses I've owned worth £1k extra.

 

 

 

16.5mm spacing is a bit tight for me, can live with it though. The only thing I'm really not a fan of is no passive mode, feels risky potentially doing a gig and finding out half way through that the battery has died. 

 

Nice!

 

The SR Premium range have an active / passive switch, but will set you back a fair bit more...as would my Spector EuroLX which doesn't have an active passive switch, but does have a very accessible battery socket to compensate (which I think all the Ibby ranges will also have). Guess just need to add "check battery" to the pre gig routine!

Edited Saturday at 17:53 by Al Krow

[crazycloud]

6 hours ago, SumOne said:

feels risky potentially doing a gig and finding out half way through that the battery has died. 

I have yet to have a battery die mid gig since I got my first active bass in 84.

 

6 hours ago, SumOne said:

Gotta say though, after doing a thorough setup (which it really needed) there now isn't much difference between this and basses I've owned worth £1k extra.

Agreed as I love my 375 and have trouble trying to justify what a 2605 would cost, even though it it very purdy. The 375 will likely het a set of EMG E4Ws when available, just because. 

 

The 375 was $829 new 2ya, also very purdy in a subtle way, and the best I can find the 2605 for is $2850. The EMGs will be circa $450. My 655 used was not much more than the EMGs will cost with a HSC due to a stupid error in the listing that meant it didn't get any interest. Japanese Ibanezes are superb, but not for the price tags, so I'm not seeing a valid 'upgrade' path.