DBENNVAhotmail.com Posted February 2, 2001 Share Posted February 2, 2001 Peeps, What are your opinions on the Ibanez/Soundgear Bass guitars. Good/Bad? If good which model fits your tastes, & why. Quantum! C/O DBENNVA@hotmail.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 3, 2001 Share Posted February 3, 2001 I have a SR 500 that I bought used a couple of years ago for about $300. I think it kind of sucks actually. The neck is not too good, and the active electronics don't have a real "solid" tone IMO. For what I payed, I can't complain, but I don't regard it too highly. -----------------------IBANEZ-------------------------- ---------------- http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/eek.gif I-BEEN-HAD http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/eek.gif ------------------ ------------------------- http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif --------------------------- This message has been edited by Khan Noonian Singh on 02-02-2001 at 05:22 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g. Posted February 3, 2001 Share Posted February 3, 2001 I have a 506 six-string i got off of eBay for a backup bass. Great stable neck; you could probably string it with high-tension guy-wires. I'm all right with the rosewood though I like ebony better. Good balance, good preamp with movable mids. Good pickups, although I spent lots of time setting it up (pickup height, bridge and truss rod) to wring the best out of them: the guy who sold it had it sounding duddy and dead. My caveat: it's not any shade of translucent green ; } - and I much prefer the articulate and punchy sound of narrow sensing that one gets out of a P or J pickup (these are wider humbuckers). It's a great bass for the price, even new. Ibanez seems to have some duds in their lineup from time to time too; got to take it on a case-by-case basis. <-- greenboy ---<<<< . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Friedland Posted February 3, 2001 Share Posted February 3, 2001 I see ALOT of SDGR basses in my teaching studio. They are relatively cheap so students tend to pick them up. I've seen some good ones, and some dogs like any production axe. Because there are many levels of SDGR basses, how much you spend determines alot. One student has a nice 5 string with an ash body that sounds pretty good. www.edfriedland.com The Bass Whisperer Bass Whisperer TV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g. Posted February 3, 2001 Share Posted February 3, 2001 I think mine listed for about 9 bills. Three piece maple neck, better preamp and pickups, I think the body is alder though it's covered with the usual mass-manufacturer thick polywhatever ; } <-- greenboy ---<<<< . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g. Posted February 3, 2001 Share Posted February 3, 2001 Oh yeah: that SR506 has dual truss rods! I like that. Heard that's to confuse newbies. Hah-hah! Ibanez has a sense of humor. Ho. <-- greenboy ---<<<< sorry it didn't cost $3000, honest ; } . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Friedland Posted February 3, 2001 Share Posted February 3, 2001 The best Ibanez I've played was one of Gary Willis' signature models. I was at his place and played several of them. Great basses, very responsive. They are similar in shape to the SDGR, but better construction and materials make a big difference. www.edfriedland.com The Bass Whisperer Bass Whisperer TV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g. Posted February 3, 2001 Share Posted February 3, 2001 Yeah, the Gary Willis model is cool. I just mentioned this on another forum a couple of days ago, that unlike some of the scammy signature and endorsement models in the guitar world, Gary Willis actually has a relationship with Ibanez's axe. And I really like the ramp. <-- greenboy ---<<<< . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBENNVAhotmail.com Posted February 4, 2001 Author Share Posted February 4, 2001 Peeps, We've got an Ibanez/SR-885 at our studios(DBENNVA). It plays just fine. We like the sweepable mid tone controls. Just wanted to see what some other bassist's felt about the Ibanez. Quantum! C/O DBENNVA@hotmail.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g. Posted February 4, 2001 Share Posted February 4, 2001 I usually set the sweep on about the same frequency center Carvin chose for their preamps, somewhere around 250 I'm guessing. In this case I usually use it to roll off just a tad of the humbucker mud (I like narrow string sensing better) and then have better articulation. I tend to do most of my tone messing at the rack though, and use the onboard for rolling up the note length at the end of a section or song, and driving distortion/overdrive or compression differently. I do think the better Ibanez basses have proved themselves over at least a decade as serious instruments. <-- greenboy ---<<<< . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornbread_medhotmail.com Posted February 5, 2001 Share Posted February 5, 2001 I have an old one that I got in '91 and it's great. I got it when there were only 2 models available, active or passive. I got the passive and it sounds great for passive and has tone for days. I'm about to upgrade the electronics to an Aguillar OB-1 with some Barts. I just hate to put her down. She is the most comfortable bass I have ever owned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Wise Man Posted February 5, 2001 Share Posted February 5, 2001 The Soundgear basses are so unpredictable in quality it's ridiculous. The differences between models are bad enough -- the neck-through American-made ones are far better than the Korean ones -- but there are also extreme differences in quality from bass-to-bass of the same model. Additionally, the electronics, although improving over the years, have never been very good (a little noisy and a lot artificial sounding). That said, the sleeper among the Soundgear basses is probably the SR895 (I don't know what the four-string version of this model was called): a high-end bolt-on with a light "swamp" ash body. These were very light and made of pretty good wood -- many of them are see-thru green with gold hardware, which probably accounts for their failure to sell in great numbers. A much better acoustic tone than any other Soundgear I've played, so presumably they's sound good with better electronics. My old one is with a Berklee upright student as her doubling axe. If you like the feel of the Soundgear basses and want a better instrument with excellent electronics, seek out a TUNE Bass Maniac, from which the Soundgear was copied. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianrost Posted February 8, 2001 Share Posted February 8, 2001 Sound Gears come in so many models you can't really make a blanket statement about the whole line. The SR800 was the first one and variations of it are still made, although they are now built in Korea instead of Japan and various changes in design have occurred over the years. The ones with four digit model numbers (1000, 1200, 2000, etc.) are serious pro grade axes while the ones with low numbers (200, 300) are beginner grade. Ibanez definitely sells the cheaper ones based on the rep of the better ones (no surprise, Fender does the same thing). The active electronics on the lower end models (300, 400, 500 series) tend to be at the expense of good wood and even good pickups in my opinion. Making a better passive bass for the same price makes more sense to me, but "active" sells basses. The "active" on the 300 by the way is their "Phat" circuit which is a simple bass boost. They claim 30 db boost is possible, yowza, who can use that much bottom? What they do all have in common is very fast necks. With a good setup and some fret dressing they are great for players who think Jazz Basses have fat necks http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virtual.rayprodigy.net Posted March 14, 2001 Share Posted March 14, 2001 I have an SR885 which I bought in '99.I like the neck and the sweep mids but wasn't real happy with the B string until I put one of those Fatfinger thingies on it.Not a night and day difference,but noticeable.Mine was made in Japan and has a basswood body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fisk Posted March 14, 2001 Share Posted March 14, 2001 I'll give you guys another point of view. I'm new to playing bass and i'm taking lessons every week. I bought an Ibanez gsr200 for one main reason- the price. If I had to shell out a grand to get started, I doubt I could slip that one by the wife. But since i've been nagging her for over a year that I wanted to buy one and learn how to play, the couple hundred I did pay was not that big of a hassle. So now I have one and I love it. For what its worth, it sounds good to me. I practice every night and I plan on playing in a local band when I get good enough. I know its not a top-of-the-line bass, but for now I dont need one. Its perfect for me right now. When I get in a band someday, i'm sure i'll upgrade and keep this one as a back-up. Just thought i'd add another view point fisk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBENNVAhotmail.com Posted March 15, 2001 Author Share Posted March 15, 2001 virtual.ray@prodigy.net, We had the same problem with our SR/885. I thought it was just us. Kinda had the same problem with the low B on our Ibanez/RG-7620 7 String guitar. What's up with them, & their low B string set up's? And where can I get that product from that fixed your B string on you SR/885? Quantum! C/O DBENNVA@hotmail.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virtual.rayprodigy.net Posted March 16, 2001 Share Posted March 16, 2001 The Fatfinger is made by GT Electronics,more widely known as the purveyors of Groove Tubes.I bought mine at the local Guitar Center.If you look for one,make sure you get the Bass model(it's larger),because they also make one for guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenLoy Posted March 23, 2001 Share Posted March 23, 2001 I bought a fretless soundgear a few years ago and ended up selling it. It just wasn't a punchy instrument at all. I've known a couple of players that love them but I just can't get into them at all. I have to agree with Ed, though, the Gary Willis model is definately an exception. Very punchy when played with a light touch, which is impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belazaras Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 I had an Sr300DX and its a great bass, very good for begineers, good for backup. Now I have an SR885 and its a bomb. Fast, confortable and stable neck. Never out of tune. Wide range of sounds. Light touch. Perfect string spacing, even for slappers. Sr 400 are very good too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Phil Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 All you guys know that this Thread was started in Febuary of 2001 right? http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattC Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 Phil, that was 3 years ag- I'm sure that new opinions have surfaced. I'm suprised to hear all this about the SDGR line, although it doesn't suprise me for axes of such low price. For my part, however, I play a SR405 and I have never had any single problem with it. It was profesionally set up the day I bought it, some 3 1/2 years ago. In that time, it was ben flawless. The action stayed low, the electronics have always been dead silent, and the sound quite useful. I guess that I must have been lucky, although I wouldn't hestitate to buy another. ...think funky thoughts... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornbread_medhotmail.com Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 I have since sold my Soundgear. I sold it a few months after I posted in this thread. I miss that bass, but I probably wouldn't play it very much with my Stingray sitting so pretty right next to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warlock1016 Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 Put it like this...I'm selling off one of my Les Paul basses so I can get another Ibanez. I've got an SR500, and it's probably the most comfortable/best sounding bass I've ever had. I've run into a couple of crummy ones, but overall, I love 'em. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoot Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 FWIW, I have a SR3005ESOL and love it. Great tone, sweepable mids, thin neck that plays great, string spacing that fits me, and a bridge that is broken up into 5 "separate" bridges. Looks great too. Ah, nice marmot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattC Posted September 18, 2003 Share Posted September 18, 2003 It seems that there's a whole range of polarity with Ibanez basses. My plan and advice: if you want one, buy it from a store and play it for a long time before you buy it. I played my 405 at GC for a full 2 months before I bought it. ...think funky thoughts... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fonz Posted September 18, 2003 Share Posted September 18, 2003 i had a sg500 limited edition in a funky wood combo. they only made 1000 of them in 1990. i paid $1100, it resold for $100 10 years later. i had to have it fixed once because i snapped the headstock at rehearsal. i'm not a big fan of soundgears. Eeeeeehhhhhhhhh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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