Ibanez SR500 (4-String Brown Mahogany) Reviews

4.1/5.0 based on 6 customer reviews

Sweetwater Advice

Simon Picazo

As soon as I played this bass I fell in love. From the Bartolini pickups to the mahogany body, any player from the beginner to the pro will be completely satisfied with this bass. Best of all the price - finally a pro bass for a great price!

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Customer Reviews

Jeff Crook
from Hammond, IN
March 22, 2011 Music Background:
35 years playing covers and original music: rock, blues etc.

Outstanding value!

I have been playing guitar for roughly 35 years. I own several American Fenders, a Les Paul, a PRS, Martin and Taylor. I also own 2 MIM Fender bass guitars, a P Bass and a Jazz. I recently considered buying an American Deluxe Jazz or P Bass, approx. $1,300 for either. My slaes engineer at Sweetwater suggested I try this Ibanez and I am forever greatful he did. It is a tone monster and being a guitar player, this thing has the lowest action and the fastest neck of any bass I have ever held in my hands. I can dial in a P Bass, a Jazz or anything else I desire and have the benefit of hummbucking pups to boot.Trust me, the quality of the build is second to none. It is a much higher quality than anything else I've seen selling for twice the price!

The Director from Traffic Director and The Pedestrians
from Paducah, KY
August 20, 2010 Music Background:
Bassist for Traffic Director and The Peddestrians, general bass repairman/expert

A pretty nice mid-priced ace

I played this bass in guitar center, but the one I played was sunburst. Maybe a limited edition? I dunno, but this is great for the price, just as good as the Japanese Fenders.
First of all, the output of this bass is REDICULOUS. I had the store's Ampeg stack set at 4 and I nearly fell over. The pickups have some serious punch to them, and the EQ works very well, better than other active EQ's I've played with. The low end can be a little boomy if it's turned up past halfway though.
All the hardware seemed of decent quality, everything was screwed into place tightly. The knobs wouldn't move on their own (an issue I have with my Jazz Bass). The tuners worked well and didn't rattle. I particularly liked the bridge, you can plainly tell it's huge and high-mass but it doesn't get in the way of playing close to it.
The body shape is by far the most comfortable I've ever used. I'm a small guy, and either standing or sitting the bass was very light and comfortable. The neck was very thin and comfortable, I was able to play a lot of fast licks I can't do on my jazz bass. I also love the fact that there's a volute on the back of the headstock, that makes it a lot harder for the headstock to break, another problem I've had with my basses.
Overall, for the price this bass is fantastic. You get a nice thin, satin finished neck, a comfortable body shape, and Bartolini active pickups for a great price. I'm definately buying this as soon as I can afford it.

Len
from Raleigh
November 19, 2007 Music Background:
20 years on guitar,lead,Satch,Malmsteen

Awesome Bass

Im a guitar player and this bass is the best hands down bass,easy to play.nice thin neck,sounds great.
I was going for a jazz style bass for the thin neck but this bass has an even better and thinner neck than any JAzz bass i have seen

Jay
from Houston, Texas
August 14, 2008 Music Background:
30 years of being a pro/semi pro musician.

Great Bass!!!

Great bass! I've had my Ibanez SR500 for about 2 years now and it is by far the most comfortable easy playing bass I've ever owned! The tone is great, very versitile and can easily fit into any type of music you play. For the price the SR500 is the best bass guitar deal around! The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is that I'm not crazy about the position of input jack!

Steve Taylor
from Central Florida
December 14, 2010 Music Background:
Musician

Not for Everyone

Do you like music from the 50's to the 70's? You know that sound that you think of when you think of a bass guitar? You know - James Jamerson, Bob Babbit? Well, this is bass does not have that sound. If you're a "Fender" guy, trust me, you will probably the tone of this bass. I've known people who have bought these sight unseen, and sold them shortly thereafter. One of these in a 5-string version was being used by a bassist in a time-share practice space, and was left there while my band practiced also. On a whim, I strapped it on just to see how it would sound. It was so awful sounding I would periodically plug it in between songs when no one was looking just to see what kind of reaction I would get from my band mates.
It is hard to describe how this bass sounds compared to a fender jazz because they are two different animals. On the bass end, the ibanez is big a boom-y, as apposed to the taught-ness of a fender. The midrange on the ibanez is pretty much not even there. I'm all about a little mid-scooping but geeze. On the treble end, this bass does have some sizzle and sparkle. A little too bright for my taste, although it would probably sit well in some neo-soul or r&b settings.
The good thing about this bass is the neck - it is in fact quite narrow and comfortable to play on. Fieldy from korn uses Ibanez basses, have you heard his tone (or lack there of)?!? Just go play on one before you buy one, it's not for everyone... If you want a cheap 5 string, look at squiers new jazz deluxe... Its cheaper and its almost a fender... :)

Anonymous
May 1, 2005

great

this is a great bass and to any of the bass players in to Victor wooten if you put the right strings on it sounds just like his bass and for the price their is no other choice you could make the sound it prouduces is just as amazeing as it looks.

inSync Review

Phillip Trammel
3-02-2007

When I laid my eyes upon the SR500 in Sweetwater's showroom, I had to play it.

I have been a fan of Ibanez for many years and I love their products. When I picked up the bass the first thing I noticed was the Bartolini pickups. Without looking at the price I assumed this bass was probably $1,000 or up. Bartolini pickups are typically not found in instruments for under $1,000. Bartolini pickups are the Rolls of pickups for basses, and when I saw the price my jaw dropped - the going rate for this masterpiece is $549.99. You will not find a better bass for anywhere near this price. The highs and lows you get from these pickups are amazing. That is why the top players ranging from rock to jazz to R&B use Bartolini pickups, and the list goes on. These pickups can be used with any style of music.

The second thing I noticed was the mahogany body. This wood sounds great: great lows, huge sustain. Plus, this bass is light with this wood. I love a light bass because I can stand for longer periods of time and my back feels a lot better and with the Bartolini pickups and the mahogany body you are not losing that bottom end that you would have with a heavier bass.

The third thing I love about the SR500 is the thin neck. It allows you to really wrap your fingers around the fingerboard. This neck feels great! It's made of bubinga and it's smooth and fast. There is no gloss so your fingers are not getting friction from the neck, especially when your hands get moist.

Overall this is one of the best basses I have played and for the price, you cannot go wrong. Anyone from beginners to pro players can buy this bass and be extremely happy and satisfied.