WHUFC BASS Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Bit of a dilema here... I'm trying to decide which to buy - a Traban Chaos Core 5 or Ibanez SR505. I've tried the SR505, very nice, light quite comfortable. Not tried the Traban though. Price is very similar, but not sure which is better. Musical style would be heavy rock, metal, punk etc. using both pick and fingerstyle. Can't find a dealer in the UK that carries the Traban to try out unfortunately. Anyone got any recommendations? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 PMT in Southend had a good selection of Trabens when last I visited them. Methinks that the Traben is better suited to your musical direction, and could give a good array of useful sounds in the genres you specified. The SR500/505/506 are very good all-rounders, though. You may find it comes down to weight and neck profile in the end, in which case, the Ibanez will take some beating (assuming that you like slender/fast necks!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1964 Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 [quote name='Lfalex v1.1' post='371404' date='Jan 5 2009, 09:11 PM']PMT in Southend had a good selection of Trabens when last I visited them. Methinks that the Traben is better suited to your musical direction, and could give a good array of useful sounds in the genres you specified. The SR500/505/506 are very good all-rounders, though. You may find it comes down to weight and neck profile in the end, in which case, the Ibanez will take some beating (assuming that you like slender/fast necks!)[/quote] +1. The SR500 series is amazing value for money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 (edited) ive raved about how brilliant the ibanez is too many times before to bore everyone else with it again. but its bloody brilliant! like Lfalex v1.1 said, theyre very good (a bit of an understatement, but ill let him off) all rounders. i play punk & a bit of heavy rock, and the ibanez holds up fine. tbh, feel is as important (or maybe even more so) than sound, so i'd play em both. through similar amps to your own. Edited January 6, 2009 by LWTAIT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brave Sir Robin Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 (edited) I wouldn\'t rule out the Traben, I\'d love to try one too. This is the Traben dealer list from the official UK distributor, contact them to see where you can find one to test drive. [url="http://\"http://www.rosetti.co.uk/dealers.html\""]http://www.rosetti.co.uk/dealers.html[/url] and a topic on talkbass [url="http://\"http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=444744&highlight=traben\""]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.p...ighlight=traben[/url] Oh yeah, remember the Traben is 35\'\', not sure about the string spacing. If the SR505 is anything like my K5 (which it should be), the string spacing is tight (16.5 mm?). Another contender as well, [url="http://www.musik-schmidt.de/products/gb/Basses/5-Strings/Ibanez-BTB-675-NTF-Natural-Flat.html"]http://www.musik-schmidt.de/products/gb/Ba...tural-Flat.html[/url] Edited January 6, 2009 by Brave Sir Robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 The Ibanez is very nice, with a narrow neck and string spacing to match. Traben looks nicer but I haven't played one. Be different and go for the Traben! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjb Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 (edited) I'd pick the Ibby SR505 (a great bass) or BTB675 over the Traben. Edited January 6, 2009 by rjb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geilerbass Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 I'm not familiar with Traben, but if you like the look of it, try and get to test one out. But I still recommend the Ibanez - the SR500 series are great instruments for the money, with a versatile range of sounds and amazing playability. I use Ibanez(s) in both my metal bands, so can vouch for their abilities in the heavier genres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fraktal Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 I love my Ibanez SR505. Its the second most comfortable bass I have tried (the first being a headless bass), light weight, ergonomic, thin neck, tight string spacing, it is very versatile sound-wise: Those Bartolini pickups and preamp will allow you to dig in whetever tone you want. I always say playability goes first, tone is secondary, scr*w the aesthetics! But with this bass, playability is superb, tone is first class, and aesthetics are really nice: Pretty woods and slim design. When I started playing bass many years ago, the basses with comparable specs to the SR505 (5 strings, Bartolinis, 5 piece neck, exotic woods) back in those days were so expensive there was no chance I could ever afford one. These are happy days for bassists, its amazing how cheap it is to acquire a truly professional bass now. O tempora, o mores! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHUFC BASS Posted January 7, 2009 Author Share Posted January 7, 2009 Thanks for the advice chaps. I'm going to try out a Traben tomorrow. I'll let you know my findings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eight Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Hi mate, Did you get the chance to try the Traben? What did you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHUFC BASS Posted June 2, 2009 Author Share Posted June 2, 2009 Sorry, haven't updated this thread in ages. I tried out a Traben Chaos and found it quite nice indeed. It was selling for £189.00 but it had Traben stock pickups and pre-amp, not the Rockfield pups which I'm told are better. I did buy an Ibanez K5 instead of the SR505 and the sound is reminiscent of my old Gibson Thunderbird (must be the mahogany body). Nice bass, not tried it live or at rehearsal yet but it feels nice to play. Not as nice as my Rockbass Corvetter though, which has the best neck I have ever played on any 5-String. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kongo Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 [quote name='WHUFC BASS' post='370532' date='Jan 5 2009, 01:15 AM']Bit of a dilema here... I'm trying to decide which to buy - a Traban Chaos Core 5 or Ibanez SR505. I've tried the SR505, very nice, light quite comfortable. Not tried the Traban though. Price is very similar, but not sure which is better. Musical style would be heavy rock, metal, punk etc. using both pick and fingerstyle. Can't find a dealer in the UK that carries the Traban to try out unfortunately. Anyone got any recommendations?[/quote] Traben basses are hard to find in this country. I got one but it took AGES! Almost no one online has one. Anyways, the Chaos Core will give you the sound you want, exposed pole humbuckers always give that Low-mid punchy sound so with 2 you'll geta clear, crisp but punchy sound...could not be considered nasal at all! It would shake the earth (amp / cab allowing) but still retail bell like clarity. Built quality will not match the Ibanez though...BE CAREFUL! The fretwork on some Traben are DIRE! Sharp edges and some don't even span across the board! Neck is thin like Ibanez but rounder like Fender, the board also has a rounder radius to it, less than Fender but more than Ibanez. The Ibanez...I can highly recommend these obviously, I'm a fan of Ibanez. Might not instantly get you the tone you desire though (but you didn't specify, only genres) but is very versatile. Neck is better and build quality 9/10 times faultless, right down the things they COULD hide like the neck pocket...even that is finished to a hight standard! Neck is thin and almost flat, fingerboard is also almost flat. Overall...tone wise the Traben would be best but try before you buy and don't be afraid to be picky! Overall quality, uses and value...the Ibanez is best. Playability? That's down to personal pref so I'll let you try that. They are both VERY easy to play. Hope this helped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.