Ibanez Soundgear? Looking at more "first bass guitars"

[dystrust]

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?

Quirky is a good way to put it. At least the Epis are 34" scale unlike the original Gibson SG basses which probably helps a bit with the muddy neck humbucker. Unfortunately they also tend to be rather neck-heavy as a result.

 

[FuseG4]

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

apparently they do also make an EB-0 with a short scale and just a neck bucker. Cool-looking but definitely not for my first bass.

 

[jon the art guy]

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

Yeeeeeeaaaaa quirky. I'll admit I have a little buyers remorse and should have just gone with a p/j bass. I love the styling, hate the lack of support (the gigantic sidewinder pickup is swappable with dimarzio and some crazy boutique companies)...qc is bad. I havent had the bridge pull off of mine but I feel like its a matter of time. Funny enough I have a Korean model which may be worse than the later chinese ones.
If you want a bass to make bass noises and arent particularly worried about looks, an Ibanez sr400+ is the Acura of basses as it's refined quality, if not a touch soulless. You can get Bartolinis stock on some of them too.
Now an Epiphone EB3 has soul...like that hobo who plays a mean slide guitar for change and then spend the money on fortified wine and $1 bjs.

 

[FuseG4]

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

A Squier PJ bass is near the top of my list at the moment.

Some people say they don't like Jazz basses for rock or heavier sounds in general, but would a series/parallel switch help? Would that be pretty versatile?

 

[Funkfingers]

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

Jazz Bass? Heavy rock? John Paul Jones!

 

[Funkfingers]

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

My other standard recommendation is the long-discontinued Yamaha Attitude Plus. Buy pre-owned (obviously). Upgrade with Gotoh 201B bridge and an active P pickup and a compact 2-band EQ. A bass for life.


(This photo is an Internet grab. My Att+s have chrome bridges and SD active pickups.)

 

[blueman335]

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

Jazz Bass? Heavy rock? John Paul Jones!

And a whole bunch of other rock players.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

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

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.

:lmao:

I've played a fair number of basses in and around the target price range. I usually like the Fender, Squier, and LTD offerings pretty well. (Though I will say that my Squier P-Bass V had four-string pickups underneath the black plastic J-bass style covers.)

And the Japanese Kramer Focus bass I used to have was built like a tank.

 

[dystrust]

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

Yeeeeeeaaaaa quirky. I'll admit I have a little buyers remorse and should have just gone with a p/j bass. I love the styling, hate the lack of support (the gigantic sidewinder pickup is swappable with dimarzio and some crazy boutique companies)...qc is bad. I havent had the bridge pull off of mine but I feel like its a matter of time. Funny enough I have a Korean model which may be worse than the later chinese ones.
If you want a bass to make bass noises and arent particularly worried about looks, an Ibanez sr400+ is the Acura of basses as it's refined quality, if not a touch soulless. You can get Bartolinis stock on some of them too.
Now an Epiphone EB3 has soul...like that hobo who plays a mean slide guitar for change and then spend the money on fortified wine and $1 bjs.

longcat's first bass is an earlier Ibanez SR400 with P/J pickups. Luckily for us the previous owner installed a set of EMGs, so all it needed was swapping the horrible OEM tuners for a set of Gotoh GB7s. We're planning on further modding it with an EMG BT preamp and possibly a brass nut, but it would be perfectly usable without them. Overall it's a great bass that we'll have around $300-350 in after all of the mods.

 

[FuseG4]

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

longcat's first bass is an earlier Ibanez SR400 with P/J pickups. Luckily for us the previous owner installed a set of EMGs, so all it needed was swapping the horrible OEM tuners for a set of Gotoh GB7s. We're planning on further modding it with an EMG BT preamp and possibly a brass nut, but it would be perfectly usable without them. Overall it's a great bass that we'll have around $300-350 in after all of the mods.

That is a smexy color

 

[Funkfingers]

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

We're planning on further modding it with an EMG BT preamp and possibly a brass nut

I suggest the stacked knobs version of the SD Blackouts For Bass 2-band EQ and a TUSQ replacement nut rather than brass.

 

[jon the art guy]

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

I have a Series 10 "professional" that looks almost exactly like that SR, only with a 4th knob. I should go get that bass and put it back together the right way...

 

[FuseG4]

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

Thanks you guys for all the responses, by the way. This is all very helpful stuff.

There are several used MIM standard J or P basses for $300 to $350 on GC... Is this the way to go? In the end I really like the fender looks and designs and based on video demos I like the sound too.
Do the MIM standard basses have crappy ceramic pickups as on MIM standard Strats and Teles? Or are they decent pickups?

 

[Funkfingers]

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

Stock MIM pickups are crud AND often both of the same length. This makes choosing replacements a pain. EMG offers equal length active bridge and neck position J pickups. Any other brand, you'll have to order two neck position pickups and hope to get the output levels in balance.

 

[FuseG4]

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

after some research it seems Fender are saying around 2001 they transitioned to making them the correct sizes, with the real neck and bridge dimensions. So I guess I should look at recent ones only...?

 

[Funkfingers]

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

Affirmative.

Alternatively, begin by deciding what sound and playing feel you require. Then, try to find the instrument that fits the bill.

Speaking only for myself, I would take a Squier VM bass over a Fender MIM every time. They are giggable straight out of the box. They don't have anything to apologise for. They are a doddle to upgrade.

If you are not overly fussed about pickguards and control plates, there is a Squier Deluxe Active Jazz Bass model that could keep you happy for decades. (I have often recorded with a bone stock Squier VM fretless Jazz Bass.)

Only today, I have been modifying an Ibanez SRX500. Stock pickups and wiring harness out. EMG Balance pot and SD Blackouts EQ in. Shadow 25k kill switch volume pot awaited in the mail. I am still undecided about EMG 35 versus Blackouts pickups. The EMG-35J is my favourite for the bridge position. Might obtain a second one for the neck position.

 

[FuseG4]

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

Squier VM over MIM? OK, MIM is OUT then! Quite helpful man, thank you!

The next step is to go to GC and just get a P and J bass in my hands and feel the necks and just hear the basic tone of the pickups.
Sometime in september or october y'all should probably expect a Squier Bass of some sort in a NBD thread authored by me!

The Ibanez, ESP, and Yamaha stuff all looks great but after looking at tons of video clips and thinking about what motivates me as far as looks, it's probably a Squier for my first bass.

 

[jon the art guy]

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

DEFINITELY try it before you buy it, man. I was dead-set on a Thunderbird Pro bass when I walked into GC and ended up not liking it as much as the EB3. Same with the Tele bass with the dual humbuckers on it; I think it's a Mike Dirnt sig? Anyway, it felt ungainly as all get out. Definitely try everything you're thinking of and some you aren't.

 

[FuseG4]

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

Yeah I gotta take a trip to the GC, closer to when I get the $$$ saved up.

 

[ehdwuld]

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

I have a SR500
with the Bartolini pickups and preamp
I picked up a GSR200 and an SR250 at GC last year
tryed both for a about a month

found the neck on the GSR just didnt feel finished next to the SR
swapped the both back in for the mahogony body and better pickups of the the 500

now I am super bummed at the prices on GC used for these

most go for $300 or less

finish is thin wears thru quickly

I now have a SR570 with a painted neck that I use as a beater
the neck, for me, is super comfortable

not heavy at all