Frustrations of the dreaded GAS! Argggh!

[Balcro]

The angst goes on and the shortlist stands at 2. Squire CV60 Jazz & an Ibanez 360 (2010 model).

I've been researching for The One. I must have played 15 different basses so far. Fender Jazzes various; Squire Jazzes Fretted & unfretted VMJ, CV's; Epiphone G3 and Thunderbird + Thunderbird Pro; Ibanez SR, SRX(old), BTB(2 yrs old); a Schecter and a Dean. Mostly new, but some are obviously 2- 3 years old and have since been substantially modified. Well at least I can find these in the shops and audition them, but if they're off the popular list then there's little chance of finding them in-store. "No Sir, we don't keep them in stock."

I 've recently taken a fancy to the Ibanez EDB 550. They look Jazz-like, but I've never heard one and no one appears to keep them in stock - they're in the warehouse. Can anyone tell me what the newer one's are like and do you have any recordings / sound clips? I'm looking for the fundamental tone of the bass, so finger style only and no slappin'. Please help.

Balcro.

PS I've already ploughed through every bass video on Youtube or at least it feels like it. Also Thomann and that other place.

Edited March 26, 2010 by Balcro

[metalmickey]

RE: EDB - No sound clips, but I DO have one, sexy-as-fook bubinga neck, alder with matt black finish. Stock Duncan design pups sound surprisingly good, usual jazz bark to them. Butter to play, quite light. Overall a nice bass. Strat style jack takes a bit of getting used to, but otherwise gorgeous fit and finish. I must reiterate the neck on these bad boys is awesome, even the fiver felt like buttaaaaah. Mine (EDB 550) is the one you described I think. Hope that helps, even without vids/clips!

EDIT: scratch that, the body is ASH, not ALDER. D'oh. Also, EDB is discontinued! COULD be convinced to part with mine for the right offer (I mainly play shorties now) ;-)

Edited March 26, 2010 by metalmickey

[Grand Wazoo]

here's a video clip of it, some kid on youtube with one of them

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xICAFJgpMiA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xICAFJgpMiA[/url]

[Delberthot]

Have you tried a Precision?

[OutToPlayJazz]

Here you go - The sales page for the EDB on Thomann has sound samples. While you're there, have a listen to the SR500. It's stonking!

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/ibanez_edb555wnf.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/ibanez_edb555wnf.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/ibanez_sr500bm.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/ibanez_sr500bm.htm[/url]

Edited March 27, 2010 by OutToPlayJazz

[ThomBassmonkey]

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='787674' date='Mar 27 2010, 09:47 AM']Here you go - The sales page for the EDB on Thomann has sound samples. While you're there, have a listen to the SR500. It's stonking!

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/ibanez_edb555wnf.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/ibanez_edb555wnf.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/ibanez_sr500bm.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/ibanez_sr500bm.htm[/url][/quote]

Is it just me that finds the sound samples on Thomann fairly useless? Maybe it says somewhere on the site and I've just missed it, but with no idea of what amp it's running though, I don't feel confident listening to the sound for anything more than a rough idea. It's the same with the amps, without knowing what bass is being played, it's hard to judge the sound of the actual amp.

[OutToPlayJazz]

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='787685' date='Mar 27 2010, 10:08 AM']Is it just me that finds the sound samples on Thomann fairly useless? Maybe it says somewhere on the site and I've just missed it, but with no idea of what amp it's running though, I don't feel confident listening to the sound for anything more than a rough idea. It's the same with the amps, without knowing what bass is being played, it's hard to judge the sound of the actual amp.[/quote]

Maybe they're recorded direct with no amplifier. If you listen to those two I've put up, they sound very clean and direct. At any rate, it gives you an idea of the bass' sound. Better than nothing

[Balcro]

Good evening people. Thank you for taking the trouble to reply. I would have replied earlier, but we've had some guys in doing the kitchen.

Well, it looks like a case of Basschat strikes again. When I checked the Ibanez forum last night, I'd had 69 visits to my post and no replies.

Thanks for the opinion Metalmickey.

Thanks for the link "GrandWazoo".

Hi Delberthot. Yes, I have. I've been playing my ancient Encore for nearly 2 years now and I need something different. A little less weight (down from 11lbs) and a thinner neck. I have old small hands and they need all they help they can get, including glucosamine.

Hi OTPJ. I did search, honest, I did. Just checked from your link and only the 555 has the sound clip. When I tried the left-side panel search on Thomann, I was only looking for a 4 string. So I selected the 550, but it doesn't have a sound clip. Thanks.
Oh no, perhaps I want an SR500. This quest for "the one" is getting more interesting.

Supplementary. In the both the youtube video and the Thomann clip, I can hear a slight "tizz" to the sound. There is some finger noise on the Thomann clip as well. Is that "tizz" characteristic of Ibanezes and would it be reduced with flatwounds?

Thanks again,
Balcro.

[ThomBassmonkey]

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='787688' date='Mar 27 2010, 10:10 AM']Maybe they're recorded direct with no amplifier. If you listen to those two I've put up, they sound very clean and direct. At any rate, it gives you an idea of the bass' sound. Better than nothing [/quote]

Don't get me wrong, it's definitely better than nothing! Thomann are the only company (I know of anyway) that puts up samples on their website. It can help as a comparison between two basses to get an idea of the difference in sound. It would be useful if they said what was used to record it though as even if it's just straight into the computer, what preamp and digital converter etc was used can make a difference.