Can't help but chuckle when someone describes an instruments sound as "lifeless" outside of a mix context. It sounds like a bass dude, and it sounds just fine. Anyone out there reading this that has never played in a band before trust me, this bass will more than do the job. One of the best 5-strings on the market for less than 800 bucks.
Glad you had a great time! Thanks for stopping by, they’re definitely a great intermediate bass under the $1k range which instruments are slowly starting to creep up at that price point lately.
Agree, I've no idea what he's calling 'lifeless' when I can clearly heart the Barts articulating, barking and thumping even on a YT recording. Put this thing in a mix and it absolutely slays.
@@outermarker5801 I imagine it is the bartolini pups that he thinks are bland. I hear that a lot. I have played the brown finished 5 string and liked how it felt and sounded. Great bass for anyone looking to journey into 5 strings or just to have in their collection.
This is the best 5-string from Ibanez for a fair price, you won't find anything better on the market for this price, this bass suits all styles and mixes, it doesn't lose anything to boutique basses
This bass has interesting electronics - many don't realize the pickups are passive. The EQ circuit is the active part. In many basses the pickups are active and the preamps have an additional circuit to buffer and balance the pickups before the EQ. I believe this make the system just a little less perky that a full active rig. In this bass the passive pickups allow a bypass switch that would allow a player to bypass a dead battery (or electronics) and keep gigging - important for live and studio. Funny enough many of the SR basses do NOT have the bypass switch only an EQ freq switch. My SR500BM has the 1 switch and I find it can do a whole heck of a lot tone-wise but is missing the last 20% of active goodness. Ceramic pickups and a full active preamp would be a real upgrade but $$$
Someone with a 505 like this told me they changed out the preamp for an Aguilar OBP-3 and it made a huge difference, even with the barts. I have my eye on this exact bass, and I’ll just judge it for myself. I may even change out the barts for nordstrands if I don’t like them that much.
Can’t go wrong with Nordstrands on these basses. I had a set to install but couldn’t modify the bass I reviewed cause it was a loaner. Hopefully down the line I will revisit this bass with the upgraded Nordstrands
A shame on that QC issue but I must say, don’t know what lighting you’re using but this is the best I’ve seen this finish you really made it pop. It’s so cool and makes me almost overlook all the back reviews I’ve heard on the bartolinis haha.
Thank you! The angles you can capture on the bass shows so much of the finish. It’s a real beauty! Shame for the QC as well otherwise this would’ve been kept and had done some mods to it
@@YJD23 QC means quality control and what had happened with this bass was that it came shipped to me with a damaged crack on the first fret. Not the end of the world however, it does raise a concern about how these instruments are being made out of the factory
Great video! Great details! For someone who is looking to buy a versatile (a variety of tones, hoping to just use 1 bass for multiple genres) 5 stringed bass, what would you recommend in the same price range instead? What about if I am willing to spend just a bit more? What would you recommend? Thank you!!!
@@sonojon0 if I should upgrade how significant do you think that change would be? And any advice on what humbuckers to go with? I've only played single coils before
@@joannalewis5279 I’m sure it’ll be a significant change. IMO the in house Bartolini pickups from Ibanez are the weakest link and changing them towards a pickup that has a lot more character and clarity like Nordstrand Big Singles, you’ll have a better understanding of how night and day those pickups sound compared to stock
@@sonojon0 that's interesting. I'd like to try a real set of Barts or another humbucker that's premium. Seems to suit the bass and I have the single coil sound on my j bases
I love so many things about Ibanez but yes, that bubinga wood (or walnut or whatever it is) can be a problem. Oddly enough, on the cheaper 400, they use a roasewood fingerboard and a maple neck, and it's so much better. I also prefer the Ibanez pups to the Bartolinis.
@@BurntMcgurnt Nt depends on what you like. The Bartolini's are sweeter and the Ibanez are more aggressive. I'm not sure what the pups are in the cheaper models.
I've been learning for almost a year with a Ibanez gio GSR180 and a friend recommended the GR500E as my step up bass. Is there much difference between SR500E and this one? I am in love with the finish and the tones. I need the aurora borealis in my part of the country at this time localized entirely within my house. Thanks!
I’d say the difference is in the pickups/preamp. Especially coming from a GSR180 with PJ pickups. I’d say transitioning to an SR500E is a solid upgrade and a good choice at that! I would love an Aurora Borealis in my collection as well. Hopefully later this year!
It makes me sad 😢, I really like to see good instruments in the hands of budding musicians, not junk. My first guitar was junk, and I have not got around to playing Bass till recently! I have fever and discipline I didn't, but all those wasted years I could have played.
@@user-qj2xo8tz6fPity? If you like it, then get it. You'll figure out the tone controls in time. No reason at all to pass this bass up just because someone says its not for a beginner. That's like saying don't eat seasoned roast chicken...start out on plain raw chicken first.
@@The_Invisible_Self Thank you for your reply! Don't worry! I finally bought this bass, because I really like it so much! I will try my best to be a good bassist!
You bought from the Ibanez factory...? All those "failures" that according to you come from the factory could have happened on the road and/or in the instrument store where you ordered it....!!!
@@stinky_lizard 👍Up vote for SW and other vendors (and there are many), who do their own QC and sometimes will throw in a setup. With any guitar that I have paid more than $500 for, I have asked for these things and generally found that the good ones have no problem extending the courtesy.
Can't help but chuckle when someone describes an instruments sound as "lifeless" outside of a mix context. It sounds like a bass dude, and it sounds just fine. Anyone out there reading this that has never played in a band before trust me, this bass will more than do the job. One of the best 5-strings on the market for less than 800 bucks.
Glad you had a great time! Thanks for stopping by, they’re definitely a great intermediate bass under the $1k range which instruments are slowly starting to creep up at that price point lately.
Have to agree. Lifeless pups?Don't want to be to harsh but felt the playing was lifeless.
Agree, I've no idea what he's calling 'lifeless' when I can clearly heart the Barts articulating, barking and thumping even on a YT recording. Put this thing in a mix and it absolutely slays.
There's no such a thing as "liveless" pups.😂
@@outermarker5801 I imagine it is the bartolini pups that he thinks are bland. I hear that a lot. I have played the brown finished 5 string and liked how it felt and sounded. Great bass for anyone looking to journey into 5 strings or just to have in their collection.
This is the best 5-string from Ibanez for a fair price, you won't find anything better on the market for this price, this bass suits all styles and mixes, it doesn't lose anything to boutique basses
Swapped out the BH2 barts for Nordstrand Zen Blades and a Delano Sonar preamp on my SR505e. It's amazing
Precis vad jag tänkte göra! Basgitarren i sig håller ju måttet för att inte kosta mer än 9K. 🙂👍
This bass has interesting electronics - many don't realize the pickups are passive. The EQ circuit is the active part. In many basses the pickups are active and the preamps have an additional circuit to buffer and balance the pickups before the EQ. I believe this make the system just a little less perky that a full active rig.
In this bass the passive pickups allow a bypass switch that would allow a player to bypass a dead battery (or electronics) and keep gigging - important for live and studio.
Funny enough many of the SR basses do NOT have the bypass switch only an EQ freq switch.
My SR500BM has the 1 switch and I find it can do a whole heck of a lot tone-wise but is missing the last 20% of active goodness.
Ceramic pickups and a full active preamp would be a real upgrade but $$$
Someone with a 505 like this told me they changed out the preamp for an Aguilar OBP-3 and it made a huge difference, even with the barts. I have my eye on this exact bass, and I’ll just judge it for myself. I may even change out the barts for nordstrands if I don’t like them that much.
Can’t go wrong with Nordstrands on these basses. I had a set to install but couldn’t modify the bass I reviewed cause it was a loaner. Hopefully down the line I will revisit this bass with the upgraded Nordstrands
I had the same pick up almost sitting at a 45 deg angle issue, but luckily mine didn't have a cracked neck! :O
A shame on that QC issue but I must say, don’t know what lighting you’re using but this is the best I’ve seen this finish you really made it pop. It’s so cool and makes me almost overlook all the back reviews I’ve heard on the bartolinis haha.
Thank you! The angles you can capture on the bass shows so much of the finish. It’s a real beauty! Shame for the QC as well otherwise this would’ve been kept and had done some mods to it
What is QC issue? Is there any problem with this bass?
@@YJD23 QC means quality control and what had happened with this bass was that it came shipped to me with a damaged crack on the first fret. Not the end of the world however, it does raise a concern about how these instruments are being made out of the factory
@@sonojon0Oh so that's bad. Thank you for kind reply! I ordered this bass today. Your review is so helpful and fun to see.
@@YJD23 Thank you for the kind words K9. Have fun with the bass for me! 🔥🤘🏽
Great video! Great details! For someone who is looking to buy a versatile (a variety of tones, hoping to just use 1 bass for multiple genres) 5 stringed bass, what would you recommend in the same price range instead? What about if I am willing to spend just a bit more? What would you recommend? Thank you!!!
got the 5 and it was ok..
These bases really need the preamp with the pickups so you really need to go active. Which is fine
Agreed. You definitely get a tad more character with the preamp engaged with the pickups
@@sonojon0 if I should upgrade how significant do you think that change would be? And any advice on what humbuckers to go with? I've only played single coils before
@@joannalewis5279 I’m sure it’ll be a significant change. IMO the in house Bartolini pickups from Ibanez are the weakest link and changing them towards a pickup that has a lot more character and clarity like Nordstrand Big Singles, you’ll have a better understanding of how night and day those pickups sound compared to stock
@@sonojon0 that's interesting. I'd like to try a real set of Barts or another humbucker that's premium. Seems to suit the bass and I have the single coil sound on my j bases
@@sonojon0 I also saw someone say that reversing whether it's series or parallel might help
I love so many things about Ibanez but yes, that bubinga wood (or walnut or whatever it is) can be a problem. Oddly enough, on the cheaper 400, they use a roasewood fingerboard and a maple neck, and it's so much better. I also prefer the Ibanez pups to the Bartolinis.
Do the pickups in the cheaper models sound better?
@@BurntMcgurnt Nt depends on what you like. The Bartolini's are sweeter and the Ibanez are more aggressive. I'm not sure what the pups are in the cheaper models.
I've been learning for almost a year with a Ibanez gio GSR180 and a friend recommended the GR500E as my step up bass. Is there much difference between SR500E and this one? I am in love with the finish and the tones. I need the aurora borealis in my part of the country at this time localized entirely within my house. Thanks!
I’d say the difference is in the pickups/preamp. Especially coming from a GSR180 with PJ pickups. I’d say transitioning to an SR500E is a solid upgrade and a good choice at that!
I would love an Aurora Borealis in my collection as well. Hopefully later this year!
I like the way bartolinis are like a blank canvas so you can color them with the preamp. Otherwise, why have an active bass?
I also like how the Bartolinis have that unique sound to em. Especially the preamps
It makes me sad 😢, I really like to see good instruments in the hands of budding musicians, not junk. My first guitar was junk, and I have not got around to playing Bass till recently! I have fever and discipline I didn't, but all those wasted years I could have played.
It was a great instrument! Just got a bad one
Can a beginner take this bass as his first bass?
Probably not, mainly due to the amount of control knobs and switches that could be intimidating for a beginner IMO
@@sonojon0 That's a pity. I like this bass very much because of its colour.
But thank you for your review video. It's great.
@@user-qj2xo8tz6fPity? If you like it, then get it. You'll figure out the tone controls in time. No reason at all to pass this bass up just because someone says its not for a beginner. That's like saying don't eat seasoned roast chicken...start out on plain raw chicken first.
@@The_Invisible_Self Thank you for your reply! Don't worry! I finally bought this bass, because I really like it so much! I will try my best to be a good bassist!
You bought from the Ibanez factory...? All those "failures" that according to you come from the factory could have happened on the road and/or in the instrument store where you ordered it....!!!
Where else was he supposed to buy it from? The streets?
Sweetwater, where you see pictures of the whole instrument first
@@stinky_lizard
👍Up vote for SW and other vendors (and there are many), who do their own QC and sometimes will throw in a setup.
With any guitar that I have paid more than $500 for, I have asked for these things and generally found that the good ones have no problem extending the courtesy.