Ibanez SR 5 String

[Scales]

Hi

I've been looking at getting a 5 string, does anyone own, have views or experience of either an Ibanez SR305eb or SR405eqm 5 String? Would also consider a similar spec 5 string if anyone has a recommendation.

[BassBus]

Ibanez basses are well regarded. The only problem I have with them is the necks are very slim, front to back. You'll get a good bass though. Alternatives are Corts or ESP LTD. More than likely all made in the same factory. The Corts have very nice necks, a bit deeper than the Ibanez necks.. LTDs have quite slim necks as well. 

Edited December 23, 2018 by BassBus

[Al Krow]

If you can stretch to the SR Premium range (you can often find a really good deal second hand) I'd very much recommend you doing that. The big single Nord pups in the Premium range transform a good (Ibby Standard) bass into an outstanding one.

My Ibby 5er was a very close runner up "best purchase in 2018" (thread in general discussion) and I described it as having: "very well balanced (and not too heavy) body, playable neck, 3 band EQ (with variable mids) and last but definitely not least "to-die-for" Nordstrand big single pups with their trademark growl"

The slim necks are a big plus for me rather than a minus, particularly when combined with the slightly wider neck of a 5er - but will obviously depend on what you prefer on that score.

Not sure where you're based, but if you get a chance to pop into Wunjos in London they have a good selection of Ibbys in store and are generally a great bunch of people to deal with.

Here's my Ibby herd (two 5ers and a 6):

Edited December 23, 2018 by Al Krow

[ezbass]

3 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

If you can stretch to the SR Premium range (you can often find a really good deal second hand) I'd very much recommend you doing that. The big single Nord pups in the Premium range transform a good (Ibby Standard) bass into an outstanding one.

Beat me to it, my thoughts exactly. The 2nd hand value of Ibbys is ridiculously low, so an absolute bargain can be had.

[Scales]

Thanks for the input, I prefer a slim neck so that's a plus for me, a second hand premium SR seems to be the way forward for me.

[FDC484950]

I might be in the market for a premium 5 to complement my excellent SR3006e (which imho has a much better preamp than the 5006, having had one previously). However there appears to be an SR1305, SR1825, SR2605 and some limited edition models like the SR1705. Is there any material difference are are they just cosmetic changes as they all seem to have a mahogany body, wedge-type laminated neck, Nordstrand pickups and 3v circuit?

[Al Krow]

8 minutes ago, FDC484950 said:

I might be in the market for a premium 5 to complement my excellent SR3006e (which imho has a much better preamp than the 5006, having had one previously). However there appears to be an SR1305, SR1825, SR2605 and some limited edition models like the SR1705. Is there any material difference are are they just cosmetic changes as they all seem to have a mahogany body, wedge-type laminated neck, Nordstrand pickups and 3v circuit?

Difference to woods / finish. Otherwise the same, brilliant, bass!

[ForestPoetry]

On 23/12/2018 at 09:28, Scales said:

Hi

I've been looking at getting a 5 string, does anyone own, have views or experience of either an Ibanez SR305eb or SR405eqm 5 String? Would also consider a similar spec 5 string if anyone has a recommendation.

The 300 to 6/7/800 (whatever it is these days) are all basically the same bass. Just the woods and electronics get a bit better the further you go up the price scale. They're all very good and although my Soundgear obsessed days are far gone, I still wouldn't hesitate with a lot of them. Thanks to the brilliant ergonomics I know that's one bass I can blind buy every time and it'll work for me. 

Saying that I think they're oversaturating these days with all the minor variations in body finishes and so on. The 655 in "ice black" or whatever, for example. Just another SR w/ Bartolinis that sounds good, but not great. If you can find one of the 6xx series ones in the brown stain finish with the Norstrand CND P/J pickups and active/passive switch, that's well worth the £6-700 price tag. Or just get the 300E for probably the best sub-£500 five string on the market. 

I'd also recommend looking at the TRBX from Yamaha which was very clearly their idea of an SR competitor when it dropped. Many good reviews on the TRBX305. 

[Woodinblack]

On 23/12/2018 at 12:44, FDC484950 said:

I might be in the market for a premium 5 to complement my excellent SR3006e (which imho has a much better preamp than the 5006, having had one previously). However there appears to be an SR1305, SR1825, SR2605 and some limited edition models like the SR1705. Is there any material difference are are they just cosmetic changes as they all seem to have a mahogany body, wedge-type laminated neck, Nordstrand pickups and 3v circuit?

None of the 1xxx or 2xxx have 3v circuitry, that was only used on the 5000-5006. The premiums all currently have 9v preamp, bass / mid / treble and a 2 or 3 band mid frequency switch. The 3v was on the 5000/4/5 which had bass/mid/mid freq/treble, but I have replaced the preamp with a glockenclang as treble didn't work (as it often didn't). Its a good upgrade. The premiums are basically the all same, mahogany bodies with a cap of something else, which makes the model, mostly all available in 4/5/6 string.

I would love a 2605 but it doesn't really give me much over the 1605 (or 5005), and I wouldn't get rid of that and I am trying to cut down!

[hypercarrots]

I think the 3v system (power curve III 3 band) eq was on the 09-14 SR4000E, 11-12 SR4500E and the 09-14 SR5000E as well as their 5 and 6 string counterparts. Also the limited edition SR5JCT. They are recognizable by the 2 rubber knobs, 4 plastic knobs and only one switch. In 2015, the eq was replaced by the ibanez custom 3 band eq which has 5 plastic knobs (2 large, 3 small) and two switches and a 9v battery box on the back.

 

Power curve III - you can see the 2 AA battery box  

 

 

Edited December 30, 2018 by hypercarrots

[Al Krow]

On 25/12/2018 at 18:17, Woodinblack said:

None of the 1xxx or 2xxx have 3v circuitry, that was only used on the 5000-5006. The premiums all currently have 9v preamp, bass / mid / treble and a 2 or 3 band mid frequency switch. The 3v was on the 5000/4/5 which had bass/mid/mid freq/treble, but I have replaced the preamp with a glockenclang as treble didn't work (as it often didn't). Its a good upgrade. The premiums are basically the all same, mahogany bodies with a cap of something else, which makes the model, mostly all available in 4/5/6 string.

I would love a 2605 but it doesn't really give me much over the 1605 (or 5005), and I wouldn't get rid of that and I am trying to cut down!

It seems to me that the WHOLE Ibby SR range (from Standard to Prestige) is currently being fitted with the latest 3 band EQ / 3 freq selector mid switch plus active / passive switch?

The key differences are then to the pups and wood finishes? 

[hypercarrots]

Yes to sharing the same eq but the neck woods and construction, bridges and pickups vary. 

Standard SR don’t have the eq bypass switch. 

Premium and prestige SR have truss rod access at the heel. 

SR500x, SR260x, SR182x, SR170x have KTS titanium rods. SR140x, SR130x and the standards don’t  

SR2600 has luminlay side markers. Not sure if the other premiums do too. 

Edited December 30, 2018 by hypercarrots

[GisserD]

i used to have an Ibby SR505 5 stringer but found the string spacing a bit too tight for me. 14mm if i recall... I notice however that the newer premium range seems to have a different bridge setup. What are the string spacings at the bridge and are they adjustable?

[Woodinblack]

A large part of it is fitted with that. It makes sense, I never really saw a preamp as a big sales difference, it costs a couple of quid at most to make one for a manufacturer.

[Woodinblack]

2 minutes ago, GisserD said:

i used to have an Ibby SR505 5 stringer but found the string spacing a bit too tight for me. 14mm if i recall... I notice however that the newer premium range seems to have a different bridge setup. What are the string spacings at the bridge and are they adjustable?

its 16.5mm - they all are. and not adjustable outwards.

The only one with 14mm is the GVB36

[GisserD]

10 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

its 16.5mm - they all are. and not adjustable outwards.

The only one with 14mm is the GVB36

just doing a bot of research myself and this caught my eye....

https://www.dawsons.co.uk/ibanez-2018-sr2605-premium-electric-bass-guitar-cerulean-blue-burst?gclid=CjwKCAiA9qHhBRB2EiwA7poaeKI0FK4O3hGUU9viLxiYY_DCY0ZVHG3pxHtnXhan5LP3s2XAZgMqcBoC-SEQAvD_BwE

says 19mm? 

if that's correct, id be seriously tempted!

[hypercarrots]

 

28 minutes ago, GisserD said:

i used to have an Ibby SR505 5 stringer but found the string spacing a bit too tight for me. 14mm if i recall... I notice however that the newer premium range seems to have a different bridge setup. What are the string spacings at the bridge and are they adjustable?

The accu-cast B505 on the SR875 has adjustable string spacing 

 

 

13 minutes ago, GisserD said:

just doing a bot of research myself and this caught my eye....

https://www.dawsons.co.uk/ibanez-2018-sr2605-premium-electric-bass-guitar-cerulean-blue-burst?gclid=CjwKCAiA9qHhBRB2EiwA7poaeKI0FK4O3hGUU9viLxiYY_DCY0ZVHG3pxHtnXhan5LP3s2XAZgMqcBoC-SEQAvD_BwE

says 19mm? 

if that's correct, id be seriously tempted!

 

SR2605 is 16.5mm

https://www.ibanez.com/usa/products/detail/sr2605_01.html

 

Need wider spacing? Look at ATK (18mm on 5 strings) or BTB (19mm)

Edited December 30, 2018 by hypercarrots

[GisserD]

11 minutes ago, hypercarrots said:

 

Need wider spacing? Look at ATK (18mm on 5 strings) or BTB (19mm)

Don't NEED anything. Just gassing

those SRs are so pretty I just couldn't consider an ATK or BTB, it would be like settling for the one of the ugly sisters!

 

[FDC484950]

2 hours ago, hypercarrots said:

I think the 3v system (power curve III 3 band) eq was on the 09-14 SR4000E, 11-12 SR4500E and the 09-14 SR5000E as well as their 5 and 6 string counterparts. Also the limited edition SR5JCT. They are recognizable by the 2 rubber knobs, 4 plastic knobs and only one switch. In 2015, the eq was replaced by the ibanez custom 3 band eq which has 5 plastic knobs (2 large, 3 small) and two switches and a 9v battery box on the back.

 

Power curve III - you can see the 2 AA battery box  

 

 

 

Ah, that makes sense. I had one of the first SR5006 models with the 3v preamp and assumed they still used it. IMHO it was pretty useless, the eq did next to nothing and the tone from the pickups wasn’t very inspiring. The acrylic finish didn’t feel very nice under the hands and the bass was heavy and very neck-heavy. Quite a surprise as the SR3006 has a much more usable Vari-Mid EQ, but ironically it doesn’t need much EQ as the basic sound is so rich and fat. I’m currently leaning toward the SR1705, probably solely due to the look and combination of woods. The S2605 has stainless steel frets but the neck has something like 15 laminations and the top is a bit over the top for me!

[Woodinblack]

1 hour ago, GisserD said:

just doing a bot of research myself and this caught my eye....

https://www.dawsons.co.uk/ibanez-2018-sr2605-premium-electric-bass-guitar-cerulean-blue-burst?gclid=CjwKCAiA9qHhBRB2EiwA7poaeKI0FK4O3hGUU9viLxiYY_DCY0ZVHG3pxHtnXhan5LP3s2XAZgMqcBoC-SEQAvD_BwE

says 19mm? 

if that's correct, id be seriously tempted!

Nope, its wrong, its 16.5mm. I read that and was seriously gutted as that is probably my favourite finish, although I have now talked myself out of it. But that is a misprint (there is a thread about that here). It is 16.5mm as god intended.

[GisserD]

just to answer the original question however....

Cort bass guitars are IMHO outstanding value for money, especially when buying 2nd hand.

Best 5er i ever had under 1K was a Cort A5 custom SP, and i believe they are made in the same factory as Ibanez.

this one actually...http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Cort_A5_Custom_SP_SH.htm

*that's the exact bass! i checked the serial number! not that i needed to, as that top is very unique! the person i sold it too must have traded it in.

[Woodinblack]

They are good value, but they certainly look pretty chunky compared to the ibanez.

[GisserD]

Oh yes the SR range has a tiny body!

Not much comes in smaller than that except maybe the Cort Curbow springs to mind?

The A5 is not a chunk tho, it has very ergonomic profile.

[clivem]

3 hours ago, hypercarrots said:

Premium and prestige SR have truss rod access at the heel.

I'm pretty sure that a couple of the latest gen, non-Premium, but higher-end standard series, like the SR670/5 and SR870/5 also have truss rod adjust at the heel.

[clivem]

1 hour ago, Woodinblack said:

Nope, its wrong, its 16.5mm. I read that and was seriously gutted as that is probably my favourite finish, although I have now talked myself out of it. But that is a misprint (there is a thread about that here). It is 16.5mm as god intended.

IIRC, the only SR 5er that has wider spacing, if you're trying to avoid the tight 16.5mm, is the single-cut SRSC805 with 18mm spacing.