NBD - Ibanez SRF705

[tauzero]

Having read many very positive reviews of the SRF705, and having heard a Youtube demo or two showing its tonal abilities, I've been keeping a lookout for one. One turned up collection only in That London on FB marketplace, and as it was such a good price, it was worth the petrol and £15 ULEZ charge to go and get it.

 

First impressions were a high action, rather quiet piezo pickup, and duff elderly strings.  On getting it home, it got destrung and degunked (it wasn't bad), then the fingerboard got lemon oiled (helps the tonewoods) and a set of Elites fitted. The relief was rather more than I like - I go for a nearly flat fingerboard on a fretless. So off with the truss rod cover, to discover that it's a clever design with a swivelling plate allowing easy access to the truss rod without removing the cover (I suspected there was something of the sort but couldn't work out how to use it). Truss rod adjusted, action lowered too, and then adjusted the trim pots on the piezo bridge to increase the volume to match the magnetic pickups. Still to do - fit Schaller straplocks. Do I use the chrome ones I've got here or get some ruthenium ones? Decisions, decisions.

 

Now it plays very nicely and sounds good. What more could I want?

 

 

 

[visog]

3 hours ago, tauzero said:

 

 

Now it plays very nicely and sounds good. What more could I want?

 

3 hours ago, tauzero said:

Frets?

 

 

 

 

[lownote]

Very beautiful bass.  Just... right somehow.  I had one, sold it.  Too much info from all the stub markers + the main side spots aren't on the notes.

[Random Guitarist]

Oooh that's nice, that exact model has been one of my bucket list basses for a while, The GAS is back !!!

[tauzero]

8 hours ago, lownote said:

Very beautiful bass.  Just... right somehow.  I had one, sold it.  Too much info from all the stub markers + the main side spots aren't on the notes.

 

I would have preferred properly unlined but I can cope (although a source of mild confusion is the fact I had the dot markers on my lined fretless Sei moved to be on the lines rather than between them).

[zitherman]

I had the 4 string version for a few years.i liked the almost invisible fro m the front postion markers.wide variety of tone also.only thing for me was a slight sticky feeling to the neck.only sold itwhen my jazz gig came to an end

[Sambrook]

I have one as my permanent fretless. An awesome instrument that makes any string sound good. However, I would say that LaBella white nylons are by far the best suited strings for that bass. They have plenty of roundwound style growl and bite, and also work wonderfully well with the piezo...