W1_Pro Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 Hello folks, I've noticed a few SBR 60's and 80's up for sale- I wondered wht the difference was between them and the SB basses. Can anyone enlighten me? Many thanks Stuart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassatnight Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 As an owner of several SB's in the past all I can say is that the SB series is of a higher quality particularly the 1000 series which is a very good instrument and I will always have one in my collection I just think the SBr's are a newer series with perhaps better quality electronics but poorer finishes.[quote name='W1_Pro' post='696165' date='Dec 30 2009, 10:49 AM']Hello folks, I've noticed a few SBR 60's and 80's up for sale- I wondered wht the difference was between them and the SB basses. Can anyone enlighten me? Many thanks Stuart[/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W1_Pro Posted December 30, 2009 Author Share Posted December 30, 2009 [quote name='bassatnight' post='696170' date='Dec 30 2009, 10:55 AM']As an owner of several SB's in the past all I can say is that the SB series is of a higher quality particularly the 1000 series which is a very good instrument and I will always have one in my collection I just think the SBr's are a newer series with perhaps better quality electronics but poorer finishes.[/quote] Thanks Bassatnight, I have an SB also- a 700 fretless bought new in errr...1984 I'm sorry to say...first decent Bass I ever owned- so were the SB-R's a later series then? Sort of late eighties ish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodaxe Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 (edited) [quote name='W1_Pro' post='696246' date='Dec 30 2009, 12:21 PM']Thanks Bassatnight, I have an SB also- a 700 fretless bought new in errr...1984 I'm sorry to say...first decent Bass I ever owned- so were the SB-R's a later series then? Sort of late eighties ish?[/quote] Greetings, The main difference is in the neck profile - the SBs have a very nearly parallel string spacing between nut & bridge, whereas the SBRs have a noticeable taper (not as much as a Fender, but quite noticeable) The easy way to spot the difference is that the SBRs have a rather fetching elliptical "eye" position inlay, whereas the SBs have plain dots. I'm not aware of any differences in construction & finish - they're all quarter-sawn maple/walnut laminated necks & ash bodies covered in nigh-on indestructible 2-pack Poly. The story I've heard is that the SBRs were devised as a "hybrid" (somewhere around 1984?) based on the assumption that Western hands are bigger than Asian ones. Personally I prefer the original SB profile - definite "try before you buy" as it's a bit of a jolt. Pics of the 700 if you would sir! They're quite scarce. Pete. Edited December 30, 2009 by Bloodaxe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W1_Pro Posted December 31, 2009 Author Share Posted December 31, 2009 [quote name='Bloodaxe' post='696455' date='Dec 30 2009, 04:41 PM']Greetings, The main difference is in the neck profile - the SBs have a very nearly parallel string spacing between nut & bridge, whereas the SBRs have a noticeable taper (not as much as a Fender, but quite noticeable) The easy way to spot the difference is that the SBRs have a rather fetching elliptical "eye" position inlay, whereas the SBs have plain dots. I'm not aware of any differences in construction & finish - they're all quarter-sawn maple/walnut laminated necks & ash bodies covered in nigh-on indestructible 2-pack Poly. The story I've heard is that the SBRs were devised as a "hybrid" (somewhere around 1984?) based on the assumption that Western hands are bigger than Asian ones. Personally I prefer the original SB profile - definite "try before you buy" as it's a bit of a jolt. Pics of the 700 if you would sir! They're quite scarce. Pete.[/quote] Thanks for this Pete, I shall bear this in mind, I'm looking for a fretted SB to go with the fretless, so I'll see if I can find and SBR to have a go on before I commit folding to the project. I'm away for a couple of weeks, but I'll post some pics of the SB when I return. It's a lovely bass, but I've always felt that the pickup is/was a bit lacking. Stuart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodaxe Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 [quote name='W1_Pro' post='697438' date='Dec 31 2009, 06:35 PM']Thanks for this Pete, I shall bear this in mind, I'm looking for a fretted SB to go with the fretless, so I'll see if I can find and SBR to have a go on before I commit folding to the project. I'm away for a couple of weeks, but I'll post some pics of the SB when I return. It's a lovely bass, but I've always felt that the pickup is/was a bit lacking. Stuart[/quote] Keep your eyes peeled for an SB-900. Passive twin 4-wire humbuckers that'll 'ave yer trousers off. Actives? We don' need no steeenkeeeeng actives! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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