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Ibanez Bass Workshop SRMS805 Multi-scale 5-string Bass Guitar - Deep Twilight Certified Open Box

5-string Multi-scale Electric Bass with Walnut/Mahogany Body, Poplar Burl Top, Jatoba/Walnut Neck, Panga Panga Fingerboard, and 2 Humbucking Pickups - Deep Twilight
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Item ID: SRMS805DTWd1
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Ibanez Bass Workshop SRMS805 Multi-scale 5-string Bass Guitar - Deep Twilight
Ibanez Bass Workshop SRMS805 Multi-scale 5-string Bass Guitar - Deep Twilight

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Condition Notes:

This guitar has a finish chip at the treble side of the neck pickup. There are also fine scratches on various parts of the body that are not photographed. These scratches do not show well in photos, if at all. This guitar comes with a setup adjustment tool(s).

This item was thoroughly inspected by our factory-authorized service team and is backed by Sweetwater's exclusive 2-year warranty. These images are of the exact item advertised, and provide as accurate a representation of its condition as possible. If you need further information, please call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700.

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Ibanez Bass Workshop SRMS805 Multi-scale 5-string Bass Guitar - Deep Twilight
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A 5-string Bass for the Seasoned Musician

The Ibanez Bass Workshop SRMS805 is built from an exciting blend of tonewoods. A poplar-burl-topped walnut/mahogany body delivers a warm, earthy tone with a round bottom and bright top end. A 5-piece jatoba/walnut neck makes a fine tonal complement while supplying excellent comfort and stability. The SRMS805's multi-scale fingerboard offers optimal tension and playability. Experience superior intonation and vibration transference, thanks to a Mono-rail VS bridge. A duo of Bartolini BH2 dual-coil pickups yields incredible depth and clarity, a 3-band EQ allows for further sonic sculpting, and a 3-way midrange switch rounds out the SRMS805's controls. To top it all off, the Bass Workshop SRMS805 features black matte hardware for a sleek, eye-catching look.

Related Videos: Bass Workshop SRMS805 Multi-scale 5-string Bass Guitar - Deep Twilight

Better comfort, tension, and tone

Multi-scale frets are an exciting new trend in high-end bass guitar design. They yield a longer scale on the bass side of the instrument and a shorter scale on the treble side, offering you better intonation and more consistent tension and attack from string to string. And while getting used to them may look like it will be quite an undertaking, Sweetwater bassists insist that it's a very natural transition. And the better intonation, consistent string tension, and more open tone far outweigh any difference from other basses.

Bartolini BH2 pickups deliver full and balanced tone

Bartolini BH2 pickups maintain a superb balance between the Bass Workshop SRMS805's clarity and depth. They provide complexity and warmth in the mids and low-end depth that won't wash out. Long-blade pole pieces allow these dual-coil pickups to offer hum-free single-coil-style character and consistency. When you want to sculpt your SRMS805's tone, just reach for the 3-band EQ. This active equalizer delivers wide frequency-range adjustments on each band. There's also a 3-way midrange switch that lets you define your instrument's presence. Whether you want round R&B throb or responsive thumb-technique punch, the SRMS805 delivers.

Mono-rail VS bridge for ultimate string isolation

The Mono-rail VS bridge installed on the Bass Workshop SRMS805 solves the issue of too much string crosstalk some other basses struggle with. When you play a string, sympathetic vibrations can set the other strings into motion. But by separating the bridge into five independent "mini bridges," the Mono-rail VS maximizes vibration transfer without interference from the other strings. Ibanez goes so far as to call the Mono-rail VS "the ultimate bridge for bass string isolation." Each bridge is independently and securely locked down to the body for maximum vibration transfer without interference.

Ibanez Bass Workshop SRMS805 Features:

  • Poplar-burl-topped walnut/mahogany body delivers a warm, earthy tone with a round bottom and bright top end
  • 5-piece jatoba/walnut neck makes a fine tonal complement and supplies excellent comfort and stability
  • Multi-scale fingerboard offers optimal tension and playability
  • Mono-rail VS bridge ensures complete string isolation and maximum sustain per string
  • Bartolini BH2 dual-coil pickups deliver clear and open mids with deep and punchy lows
  • Shape your tone with an active 3-band EQ, complete with a 3-way midrange switch for added versatility
  • Eye-catching black matte hardware

Why Buy Your Guitar from Sweetwater?

See how Sweetwater goes to great lengths to give you the very best online guitar buying experience. From our online Guitar Gallery that allows you to see and select the exact instrument you want to our 55-point Inspection process and our in-house guitar techs, we take the guesswork out of buying your next guitar online.

What is Certified Open Box Gear?

At Sweetwater, we're so picky that what we call "Certified Open Box" is actually better than what most music retailers sell as "new" gear! Our gear hasn't endured hundreds of people a week plunking away at all the keyboards, fumbling through Stairway to Heaven on every guitar or playing with every fader and knob on a mixer or control surface.

Certified Open Box (also known as a demo) means we’ve had it out of the box for our YouTube channel, displayed at events, tested in our studio, or maybe it was in a customer’s hands for a few days and isn’t ‘factory fresh’ as a result. Every Certified Open Box item we sell has Sweetwater’s 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ warranty and has been tested and verified up to ‘new’ specs by our factory-authorized technicians to make sure it’s in perfect working order before we ship it to you.

When you buy a Certified Open Box item at Sweetwater, you get:
  • 2-year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty™!
  • Products inspected and tested by our factory-authorized techs, guaranteed to function like new (or better)!
  • FREE shipping on most items
  • Equipment that will MEET or EXCEED your expectations!

Click HERE to browse our current inventory of Certified Open Box equipment. Purchasing Certified Open Box gear from Sweetwater is a smart and safe way to save!

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Tech Specs

  • Number of Strings: 5
  • Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
  • Body Shape: SR
  • Body Material: Poplar Burl top, Mahogany body
  • Color: Deep Twilight
  • Body Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
  • Neck Material: 5-piece Maple/Walnut
  • Neck Shape: SRMS5
  • Radius: 12"
  • Fingerboard Material: Bound Panga Panga
  • Fingerboard Inlay: Acrylic special inlay
  • Number of Frets: 24, Medium
  • Scale Length: 34"-35.5"
  • Scale Length Type: Multi-scale
  • Nut Width: 1.771"
  • Nut Material: Plastic
  • Bridge/Tailpiece: Mono-rail VS
  • Tuners: Ibanez machine heads
  • Neck Pickup: Bartolini BH2 Humbucker
  • Bridge Pickup: Bartolini BH2 Humbucker
  • Controls: 1 x volume, 1 x balancer, 3-band boost/cut EQ, EQ bypass switch, 3-way Mid frequency switch
  • Strings: .045-.130
  • Case/Gig Bag: Sold Separately
  • Manufacturer Part Number: SRMS805DTW

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Reviews

4.9

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Ibanez srms805 workshop bass dtw
This 5 string is a work of art and is by far one of the best bass I've ever had the pleasure of playing. It has a fast playing neck,smooth fret bars that don't catch. The active bartolini pickups are monstrous sounding. I'm so glad I took a chance on this one. It reminds me of the spectre bass and plays just as good. The resonance and sustain are unbelievable. You can play this bass without an amp and it still sounds beautiful which I do alot of when I'm not near my amp. I highly recommend this bass for anyone who is looking for a killer bass to play in the metal genre's. This bass is very versatile and probably would do just as well in any other genre of music. I absolutely love this bass. It's so hard to put down and addictive to play. I added 2 videos of this bass playing in a deathmetal song mix I wrote , check it out below.
by Eric Gehrke from hershey, PA on
Music background: I've been a metalhead all my life. I have also been playing guitar and bass for 35 years.
The perfect low tuning bass
I am a guitarist primarily. After joining a project as a bassist that was primarily tuned to drop Gsharp, I picked up a cheaper Ibanez model to get me started, an Ibanez gio205b, and while this is still a wonderful beginner bass, it’s 34 inch scale length just couldn’t really handle the lowered tuning. This SRMS805 handles the tuning with ease. The string tension is magnificent, the fanned frets make the playability of riffs easier as well. The quality of the bass is something of a marvel. I have a feeling these will become a highly demanded product. I hope to see more multiscale guitars and basses hit the product line in the future.
by Matt from Texas on
Un-fu@king-believable value!
TL;DR just buy it!! If you want the Dingwall NG2/3 sound, it's going to take some work, but doable. Worried about the multi-scale? Don't be - it's awesome and takes VIRTUALLY NO TIME to get used to. If you have huge hands or play "loosely" the string spacing will be a bit tight at first.

For the money, there are very few basses that come close to the SRMS. It sounds and plays better than basses that sell for 3x what this Ibanez does. I've had mine for about 1.5yrs and I have had some minor quality control issues: the volume pot loosened within a few weeks of owning it, the input jack come loose after a couple months, and the nut decided to pop off during a string change. However, these were all easily fixed right at home and were nothing more than minor annoyances. Factoring in the playability and tone I still give this bass an EASY 5 stars for the money. The EQ curve can be a little different to get used to, it's a very mid-heavy bass, tonally. Fortunately the midrange has more variability due to the 3-position mid-center switch and once you learn the sound characteristics it's easy for me to dial in anything from the brutal, clanky Darkglass style sound (combined with the X7 pedal, great combo!!) that I use in Living In False Eyes (djenty metalcore) to a nice burpy midrange, that is almost Warwick-like, by rolling to the rear pickup and playing close to the bridge. I can get a nice, fat slap tone with the pickups centered, slight bass and treble boost, and slight low-mid cut (switch in up position). Mine is currently set up to play F-C-F-A#-D# with heavier strings and it handles everything beautifully.
If you're worried about the multi-scale neck, all I can say is don't even hesitate to try it. When looking down at the neck from a normal playing position all you're seeing is the edge of the fret and the fret markers, and it looks like any other bass. It will feel pretty normal right away, and after some time you'll find it ever so slightly odd to play non-fanned fret basses! Maybe it's because the tension is balanced, but it just feels more "natural" after time. Plus, this isn't as extreme in scale length variance as something like a Dingwall, I think it's a great compromise and a beautiful first fan fret bass. Some reviewers have complained about the slanted nut being sharp on the G-string side, but that has not been an issue for me.
The string spacing is tight: if you're someone with gigantic hands or if you play sloppy, you may find it a bit cramped. Personally, I prefer the narrow spacing, especially for fast finger style or pick playing that requires a lot of fretwork, or tapping, etc. since the Ibanez necks have always been some of my favorite for very fast movement. The only issue I have with the tight spacing is slap, for which I generally use my Jazz bass anyway, since that thing has the string spacing of a four-lane highway. It's been on many, many gigs, on tour, and it's held up great (exceptions mentioned above, no deal-breakers). I cannot recommend this bass enough; 10/10 for value. Phenomenal!
by Val Harris from Caldwell, ID on
Music background: 16yrs experience, all styles, metal-focused
Excellent Bass
This is an excellent bass. It is very sold, the neck is what you'd expect from an SR, and the electronics are excellent. Yes it has Barts but that's just fine by me. They sound great. The finish is awesome. I really love this bass and haven't owned it very long.

I've been extremely hesitant to buy a multiscale bass just because it is different and after playing standard fretted basses for 30 something years, I didn't see any reason to change. I ordered a couple standard fretted basses and this one. I was very concerned with how I would adjust to the multiscale. Almost instantly I realized that playing a multiscale bass wasn't any different to play. Looking down at the top of the fretboard while playing there is zero difference. You absolutely cannot tell. After playing it for a few minutes, I switched over to a standard fretted bass (also an SR) and played it for a few minutes. Then, I switched back to the multiscale and wow is there a very noticeable difference in comfort. The multiscale is extremely comfortable to play, enough so that I seriously doubt I will ever play anything else. The B string is also a lot tighter which makes it a useable string compared to the buzzy mudflub on a standard fretboard. The only issue I have had with the multiscale is the pickups. I found their angled orientation interferes with my natural picking area. I've had to adjust that some, ands it's not been a problem. I can't recommend this bass and a multiscale bass enough.

Also a big thanks to Sales Engineer Jeff F. He was a tremendous help in my purchasing. This is my first purchase from Sweetwater and I won't purchase anywhere else in the future.
by Jason C from Iowa on
Music background: Playing upright and electric bass since 1988.
Ibanez SRMS805 Multi-Scale Bass
The bass arrived 6 weeks ago. Now, after daily practice, several rehearsals and 3 gigs, I can write this review. My go-to bass has been a Fender Elite J-bass 5 string with Daddario ENR71-5 half-rounds. Played that bass since 2012 and I really love it. Being 72 years old, I wanted something a little lighter and a little easier on my left wrist. Decided to try a multi-scale for wrist relief. This Ibanez 5-string is truly wonderful. The sound is great. The B-string especially pops. I find that I can play for hours without wrist pain. I was a little concerned that the fanned fret would take some getting used to. But, I immediately adjusted to them, and can go back to the J-bass with no problem. Had Sweetwater do a setup. They are unable to perform the 'plek' setup on multi-scale guitars, but their standard setup was good enough. The action is just as I like it, and the intonation at frets 5, 10, 12 and 15 are all accurate. There is a somewhat limited selection of strings for this guitar. Ibanez installs Daddario EXL170-5SL strings. Notice the SL suffix which means 'super-long'. After contacting DAddario, I found that any of the Daddario 'SL' string sets will work. Since I prefer half-rounds, I was disappointed to find that Daddario discontinued their ENR71-5SL half rounds. I decided to go with Daddario ECB81-5SL chromes. These are darker than the half rounds, but sound great on this bass. All DR strings with 37 3/4" scale length (most DR bass strings) will also work. The Fender J-bass has single coil pickups which pick up a lot of hum from LED stage lights. I was hoping that the humbuckers on this bass would solve that problem. LED lights still pose a problem even with this bass's humbuckers - though not as badd as the single coil pickups.
by Robert Moyers from Cedar Park, TX on
Music background: Play in local bands and church bands
See also: 5 String Bass Guitars, Ibanez, Ibanez 5-string Bass Guitars