Ibanez SR500 Soundgear 4-String Bass  (Used)

Comments about Ibanez SR500 Soundgear 4-String Bass:

First of all I bought this bass looking for a lighter alternative to my main gear which is a German made passive Warwick Corvette 4 string. I also have had experiences in owning and playing American and Mexican Fenders, Korean Schecters, Yamahas, Washburn, Peavey ... just to name a few. The most I spent on any bass was $1200 for a used Warwick Thumb active 4 string which I ended up selling since it was neck heavy.

Anyways, the Ibanez SR500 at first glance is a beauty. The weight compared to my Warwick is about half lighter which is a back saver for me. Unfortunately, the light weight also made it feel cheap and took away from the sustain I was accustomed to from the Warwick. The neck is slim which would be great for small hands like mine but the curve seemed too flat. Bridge was hefty and saddles adjust smoothly. Nothing special about the nut especially when it looks like a cheap piece of plastic that wasn't even polished after it was cut. The frets were the worst I've seen in a bass especially at this price point. Frets from 7 onwards were not even dressed! Sharp edges all over and the last frets were even lifted a bit off the fretboard. Medium frets don't even cut it. As for the electronics and sound the only problem I had was a scratchy blend control. Otherwise all the pots worked nicely especially the even volume control adjustment. If I could swap the electronics on this bass and slap it on my Warwick then I should have one awesome bass.

This bass overall has great tone but really bad quality (assembly)...even an old Rogue bass I started out with 20 yrs ago had better build IMO. Very disappointing.

Comments about Ibanez SR500 Soundgear 4-String Bass:

This is, without doubt, the most versatile bass I've ever played for under 1,000$. You can get literally any sound you want out of it without a problem. The action is perfect, the string spacing is perfect, and 24 frets allows a ton of options for solos. I play blues, funk, thrash metal, and some hard rock, and this is a top 3 I've ever used for EVERY STYLE. The sound is unrivaled, and the slim neck is great for speed if you want to get some complex grooves going. All around, the perfect bass for under 1,000$.

Comments about Ibanez SR500 Soundgear 4-String Bass:

This bass sounds great, plays great, and feels great. Out of the box, the bass was perfect, so kudos to Musicans Friend for that. The G string was a little sharp out of the box, but that was literally the only thing I needed to adjust. I`ve had the bass for a little over a week, and it still is perfect. All in all, I`d say this is pretty much the best bass you can buy for under a grand, and it easily keeps up with my Geddy Lee Jazz Bass.

Comments about Ibanez SR500 Soundgear 4-String Bass:

Very happy with the quality, ease of ordering, and speedy delivery.

Comments about Ibanez SR500 Soundgear 4-String Bass:

This bass is fast and really fun to play. I have had it a while and have not had issues with the finish wearing off as some were commenting about. This bass is not physically heavy either. I have 4 basses and all have thief pros and cons, but this one is all pros. I don't like to put down other products because each instrument has its own selling and it's up to the buyer to decide. If you have small hands and want a lightweight fast bass , try this one. Also you can dial in any tone you with there pick-ups.
I play gospel and Christian Contemporary in a praise/worship band. I also jam to some hard rock. I have recorded with this bass. It sounds sick.

Comments about Ibanez SR500 Soundgear 4-String Bass:

Overall, SR500 is a beautiful looking, well sounding bass. There are no big issue with it's sound quality and the pickup on it is excellent. But for it's price, I think it should have came with the case.
Bartolini MK1 pickups are very good and are suitable for many different genre. It definately has the punch and power thats for sure. And it is definately an upgrade compared to the pickups found in SR4xx and below. The two mid EQ, which can be toggled using the switch, is centered around 200Hz and 800Hz, I really wished that it had 3-toggle switch with 400Hz mid but I guess I'll just have to compensate it using the amp.
One major complaint about this bass is that the strings have uneven volume. This is because the E and G strings are closer to the pickup than A and D strings. I've fixed mine with equal pickup-string distance but the neck radius is curved so as my fingers climb up the frets, E and G string gets pressed deeper than A and D strings which can still result in uneven volume but not as noticeable as before.
Battery compartment is very compact which is good, it prevents the battery from rattling the bass.
The bridge on this bass is good too I guess this is due to my dislike of fender style bridges of any type.
The neck is also very comfortable, it is thin enough for me to wrap my hand around it, which is how I like it.
Built well for a bass that is made in Indonesia, even in a fairly low action, each fret made a note without a buzz. However, I really wished that the frets are shaved a bit more on the side because it can really cut someone if they are not careful.
One more thing I want to add is that the bass has a dead note at G string 7th fret, but this is understandable since all bass guitar has this.
My big fuss about Ibanez is that they don't come with a guitar/bass case. This is my second Ibanez I've bought and again the case didn't come with a purchase.

Comments about Ibanez SR500 Soundgear 4-String Bass:

Its a truly solid bass for the money that offers alot more variety than your typical model. I personally had a little quality issue but Ibanez was fast to provide a replacement part for no cost under warranty. For those that like a light, slim body it fits perfectly and doesnt weigh you down like a precision or jazz can after a few hours of jammin. If your looking for a more modern sound with some edge to it, you've found your bass. It excells at metal, punk, ska and rock but those looking for a more mellow bluesy sound might not find what they're looking for.
I've owned this bass now for a little over a year, recieved it Dec 2010, and feel now is a fair time to give it an honest review. It's a real gem of a bass. For the price you get far more than you would expect and it's gorgous on the eyes. As for features, its pretty loaded. The active EQ offers a very nice range of styles, its light as a feather compared to a typical fender and has probably the slimmest most comofortable necks I've played nex to a Geddy lee sig. One thing that would have been nice would have been an active/passive switch for those dreadful times when your battery kicks the bucket, but to be honest in the year I've owned this bass I never once had to replace the battery, and I play at least an hour a day.
For a bass on the smaller side, it still feels very solid. The mahogany body is very nicely crafted and the neck is smooth and easy to navigate. Sadly my bass did have one quality control problem. The bridge pickup's magnets must have been defective since they barely picked up my A no matter how many times I changed sets or adjusted the setup. But no worry, because the one year warranty through Ibanez they simply sent to my local music shop a replacement pickup and with a quick soddering job my bass was playing at full power.
For the price, you really cant find a better bass with these kind of features. Fender mexican models aren't bad, I own a jazz myself, but it was just a tad more and doesnt nearly have the tone this baby cranks out. The Bartolini pickups come standard so its practically a steal.

Comments about Ibanez SR500 Soundgear 4-String Bass:

Let me start by saying I do not own this bass. I have 12 other basses from varying companies but not this one. Dumb right? If money were not part of the equation I would have this already instead I pay taxes.

My preference is towards lighter weight, smoother, cleaner & faster basses. I love the speed of a jazz neck and something that doesn't have the weight of a Fatty Fender. The SR500 Soundgear
definitely meets these requirements all like Kakow!

This Ibanez has amazing sound. From finger playing to picking and with slap in between it hits clean, clear and with balls. The Bartolini MK1-4 pickups give this bass an amazing sound as is well complimented by the SR neck which is unmatched by any bass [in my opinion] besides ESP. Also in regards to the neck, if you are looking for a slim, speed driven neck with a great feel this is definitely the bass for you.

As I stated I do not like heavy bases. The body of this bass has a slimness and lightness not achieved by many other bases with the sound and durability it has. Although unpainted, I have seen this bass go through a lot of "customization" and last..

I do not own this bass at the current time but I am in the market. In comparison the ESP F-204, which I do own, is a perfect substitute. Light, fast, loud and with a great range of sound as well makes these basses two brothers from two different mothers. Play both and make your decision for yourself.
This thing has features out it's wazoo.
Shazam! Blows my effing mind.
The value of this is aight. I mean I would prefer if it was cheaper over all but when you got rump kicking electronics and hardware it tends to kick your wallet in the jewels a little more.

Comments about Ibanez SR500 Soundgear 4-String Bass:

The Ibanez SR500 is an incredibly well put together bass at a decent price. The on-board EQ and active pickups provide a rig capable of tuning in a plethora of sounds and tones at the turn of a dial. As an active musician and as a person prone to musical ADD, the ability to switch from metal to funk to blues and all points in between is a virtue. The rosewood fretboard is like butter, and invites you to flex your musical chops with the smooth tones and warm soul the instrument provides. However, the body seems to be a little soft, accumulating minor scratches and dings at the drop of a lead hat. Overall, this is a must have in the arsenal of the rock-n-roll warrior on a budget.

Comments about Ibanez SR500 Soundgear 4-String Bass:

The playability of this bass is excellent, fretboard is fast and the string spacing is perfect for bassist who also play guitar. The active bartoli pick ups really shine, with clear high's, crisp mids, and focused bass attack. The appearance is sleek and the mahagony body is light making long gigs not seem so long. The reason for not giving it a 5 is that the tuning pegs seem really delicate. Do yourself a favor and buy a hard shell case. This is my 4th bass,(fenders and epiphones) and I couldn't be more happy with my purchase.