Ibanez SR505 5-String Electric Bass Guitar  

On paper this bass sounds like a dream - it checks all the sought after categories: exotic woods, high end pickup/preamp maker, low profile neck, good looks. Well - I went through two of these (both returned back to MF and exchanged for Music Man) and both of them were pure kindlewood! Too many problems to list but I'll go over a few of the major ones. First - these exotic woods are composites, sometimes of 6 pieces or more glued together so sustain is questionable. The Bartolini system amplifies these problems further. On a recording these basses sound bright and buzzy, with almost no midrange body to them. The fretjob on both of these was horrendoust - fretwire sticking out on both sides of the neck, if you do a more aggresive slide you'd need to go to the Doctor because your hands will be bleeding. The neck fit on both of these was too close on one side and loose on the other, showing that probably their cutting specs were a bit off or they never cared about correcting them. On one of these guitars the paint was also transferred to the pickups, meaning that most likely the guitar was painted after the pickups were mounted. The nut on one of these had gorges where the "craftsman" (and I apply that term loosely) had fit it, deep gorges that cut under the nut and protruded on the other side. Both guitars also came in with very fuzzy nut assembly jobs - bad fit on both of these. I don't know what else they make but quality control on both these guitars was awful, looks like Ibanez doesn't inspect it merch at all and MusiciansFriend.com also let this quality issue slip through. Luckily for me, they swapped this for a 5 string Music Man import Stingray which had it setup and inspection in California. Even though also made in Indonesia, the quality on this one is light years ahead. At close to $600 this quality by Ibanez is atrocious, I'd expect to see this on a $200 instrument, but it'll just tell you that nowadays it is really hard to get quality for under a grant.

I'm a 25 year veteren guitarist that started playing bass in '03. I started with specter and schecter basses, then i went to ibanez. This is my second 505. this one has an added feature to it that i absolutely love....the mid switch. i unfortunately haven't quite developed my finger technique to play fast precision rock riffs so i use a pick and i use finger styled techniques. the mid switch helps when i switch techniques and allows me a mid adjustment to my tone when I switch that keeps me from even having to adjust my mid knob. i played through a svt classic and an ampeg 810. needless to say ampeg is the standard for amps and the 505 had that low midrange bite i look for in my particular style of finger play. I also played through a mark bass 112 combo. (obviously different from an ampeg but definately a kick ass brand of amp that i dig!). i had to crank the mids a bit on my 505 a bit, but i STILL found that low mid bite i like to hear in my tone when i use a finger style. with this bass, getting that "piano" high end tone i want, i have no problems on ANY amp finding that particular tone with my 505. I would love a lakland, mtd, warwick, or any fender american. but i just can't afford them.....ibanez to the rescue. i'll take this bass and play it anywhere, any style, any type and size venue. it works for me. there are many reviews about the pickups. for me and what i want for my tone and my projects, the mk 1's do more than what i need, more than adequately. and the price and the quality.....ibanez rules. period. (i also choose the ibanez rg and s series guitars when i'm playing guitar as well.) ibanez.....there is no other for me. i'm good with that.

After buying this bass, i felt compelled to write a good review; Ibanez definitely deserves some glory. I still find it hard to believe that I purchased this caliber of bass for such a reasonable price. From what i have seen, there is no other bass on the market that offers so many features, which would be considered as 'upgrades' on other basses. Even when comparing the sound and feel to my other bass (Warwick Thumb BO - 4 string, yes Warwick, not RockBass by Warwick), there is no comparison. The Ibanez is comfortable, light and feels custom-made. The tone is also VERY versatile. The Bartolini pickups and EQ have an extremely wide range, so you can find the sound that suits you. I have played many basses over throughout my life. From $400 - to $11,000 and everything in between. This was honestly my best music-related purchase of my life. No regrets, no complaints.

I bought the first version of this when it was the RD905. The best Bass I've ever owned. I use it for every thing. A session player in Muscle Shoals liked mine so much, he got him one. The other bass he uses in a Fodera. I highly recomend this bass. Used it through Fender amps and Ampegs it is awsome.