Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

Re: Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

Both immediately playable instruments. No points for guessing that the one with the translucent finish and higher model number is made from better wood.

I currently have an old-ish SRX-500. I find that the electronics are functional rather than mind-blowing. Check the pickup cover dimensions to establish what replacements would retrofit. Chances are, you will be looking at EMG-40 or -45 'buckers, SD/Basslines Phase series or Bartolini.
 
Re: Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

Well, the translucent one can be worse wood-wise if they go Fender MIM and laminate ugly wood with some pretty and hide the sides under the black of the sunburst. Hard to know. With a satin neck finish the rosewood board is probably better in person.

Generally, for new, cheap, double-humbucker basses I liked the ESP LTDs a bit better but I spent more time with them than the base Ibanez.
 
Re: Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

I have a 5-string one that my current bass player uses. Sounds great from where I stand! :)
 
Re: Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

interesting, and I'll check out some LTD stuff too!
 
Re: Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

Er, Ibanez SR and SRX - often made in Indonesia. LTD - made in Indonesia. Schecter - made in Indonesia.

They are almost all Cort basses underneath.
 
Re: Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

SR / SRX? Absolutely recommended man. If you need a reliable, problem-free bass it's for you.

Our bassist's stock SDGR 305 beater has been parking here for a while. It's from the Cort factory in Korea and it was manufactured in January 1991. My friend bought it around 1996-97 or so. All I can say, it stays in tune better than anything I've met so far. You put on the new strings, tune in and stretch then just forget about it. If it's 6 months, it's 6 months. It's unreal. The intonation is super precise, too. It was on the road for years, it was thrown around and got many battle scars but it did not lose any bit of its dignity. It's built like a tank. The only component that died was the pot holding nut. Actually, all four of them. They just fell apart a couple of months ago when I tried to fix a loose pot. As I removed all the metal pot caps to see what's going on all the nuts became dust, just like that.

I did not like the tone in the first few years as I prefer character bass sounds and it sounded quite general but during the years it somehow worn in and these days it's a much better sounding instrument than it used to be. It did not grow in me as I have a number of raw DI tracks recorded from the mid-90s through over-a-decade until now and there is a noticable difference. Now it has deeper bottom and smoother treble, it fills its spectrum better and sounds more consistent through all the fretboard. Back in time it had a couple of dead spots. We preferred the tone pot fully opened up during the whole time and new set of strings was installed for recording so no it's neither a control function revelation nor "wow dude these new strings have more treble!!!" phenomenon. Fresh batteries.

Er... Whatever.
 
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Re: Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

Why not a Fender MIM or Squire VM Jazz bass? They're in the same price range. You can get a Fender FST Std Jazz for $425 ($499 less 15%).
 
Re: Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

I replied earlier on the assumption that the OP was already familiar with Squier VM instruments and was considering the 'nez basses as an alternative to the traditional designs.
 
Re: Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

yeah I am on the fence about whether or not to stick to a fender style bass.
I am leaning towards Fender-ish for my first bass but I wanna make sure there weren't some really cool and different things to consider.
Also looking at the low-end Music Man stuff, the SUB line or whatever?
 
Re: Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

The current Sterling by MM SUB line is made by Cort, in the same factory that produces the Squier Vintage Modified series. The constructional quality on both brands is good. The hardware and electronics on both brands are serviceable but leave scope for improvement.

One word of caution. I see from the published specs that the nut width on the Sterling SUB Ray4 is a puny 38mm. i.e. Jazz Bass proportions. IMO, a proper Stingray nut should be as wide as a Fender P.

http://www.sterlingbymusicman.com/sub-basses-international

If they ever brought out a HS Ray4, that would probably do exactly what you require.
 
Re: Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

FuseG4 said:
yeah I am on the fence about whether or not to stick to a fender style bass.
I am leaning towards Fender-ish for my first bass but I wanna make sure there weren't some really cool and different things to consider.
Also looking at the low-end Music Man stuff, the SUB line or whatever?
Click to expand...

Vanilla US Stingrays can be had quite cheap. I would never consider any MM stuff that wasn't proper.

A slightly upstyle and very cheap Fenderish "brand" is the old Kramer Focus basses (and guitars). Made in Japan by ESP. Proper finish on the neck. Kind of heavy hardware (Schaller). Very cheap, $250 or so.
 
Re: Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

that must have been the series I had a long time ago, it was around $350-400. man was it nice, in both feel and sound. wish I still had it. I prefer 4 strings and I've got a 5 now (hamer). the fifth string just sort of sits there most of the time.
 
Re: Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

Are you dead set on buying new? I picked up a neck through Peavey 5 String for $200 recently that went for $700+ new when it came out.

Looks like this one:

PeaveyCirrusBXP.jpg
PeaveyCirrusBXP1.jpg
 
Re: Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

Look at used basses, and shoot for neck through and active pickups.
 
Re: Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

How big a person are you?
If you are smaller in stature, i have another suggestion: Epiphone Toby. It's designed by Tobias or something...it's a swank looking modern bass with a pretty nice sound and its both very light and practically only as big as a baritone electric guitar.
 
Re: Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

i'm 5'10" and 185 lbs so i'm near average size i guess? i don't have huge hands, which has me interested in the jazz bass. i guess i'm going to have to make a GC trip to investigate the differences.
And i uh... refuse to buy a bass called Toby. It sounds like what you'd name a small dog. if any of you are named toby, my condolences. :D
 
Re: Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

lol yea, I get it. It's a Tobias bass design, only patronizingly short due to it being a low-end Epiphone. You're not any sort of tiny guy so no biggie, but my friend who's 5'8" and under 120 has a hard time in dealing with my Epiphone EB3. This bass is probably half the weight and significantly shorter.
 
Re: Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

I've also looked at the EB3, I think they look way cool but they seem a little quirky, and maybe not the best choice for versatility?
 
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