Ibanez SR505E Bass Guitar - Brown Mahogany Reviews
The Ibanez SR505E 5-string electric bass offers one of the most playable necks in its class. With its thin 5-piece jatoba/walnut construction and SR5 profile, you won't believe how fast this neck plays and how effortlessly you can access the upper frets, thanks to this sleek instrument's deep cutaways. The okoume body is nicely balanced and contoured to be comfortable for hours of playing. When you need to deliver earthshaking lows and crystal-clear highs, the Ibanez SR505E's Bartolini pickups and 3-band EQ really come through. This beauty is an amazing player and an incredible value.
Earn $38 back in Bonus Bucks† OR pay $32/month with 24 month financing*
$38 Earn $38.00 back in Bonus Bucks† on this purchase when you use your Sweetwater Credit Card without financing. Select your offer in checkout. Terms
As low as $32/month
with 24 month financing*
See all payment options
This guitar is currently acclimating to the climate inside our warehouse before we can complete our 55-point inspection. Order yours now, and we'll ship it as soon as our team is finished with the inspection process, usually within the next 48 hours.
While this guitar is available for purchase now, it may not yet be available to demo in our world-class music store, so please give us a call at (800) 222-4700 first.
Customer Reviews
Customer Added Media
This product doesn't have any review media yet!
Share Your Thoughts
Help other music gear aficionados by sharing your opinions of gear you've purchased.
Questions about the SR505EBM?
Or call us at (800) 222-4700
Sweetwater's Sales Engineers are regarded as the most experienced and knowledgeable professionals in the music industry, with extensive music backgrounds and intense training on the latest products and technologies. They are available to offer you personalized product advice any time you need it.
Highest Rated Reviews
Amazing Bass
First I would like to thank Sweetwater and Ian Lemberg for the products and service they provide , absolutely none better , the guitar was more than I had hoped for , just and amazing bass and would recommend it to anyone , pro or amateur, if you can't get your sound out of this bass it doesn't exist, I have not found one thing to complain about , the tuners are top notch , the bridge is my favorite out of my 3 basses , the way the ball end of the string slides over to lock it in and the saddle the string rest on will hold the string in place , they do slide to adjust string spacing but I have found no need to do that , string spacing is perfect and the neck being a little narrower is perfect , with the 3 band eq and the 3 way toggle for the mid range has let me find the tight bass I have always wanted and just a small adjustment on the eq makes a big difference, I also have a Warrior 5 string and a American Fender 5 string p bass , I'll take this Ibanez over them as they won't be played much , I have been playing since 13 years old and know I'm 73 so I have played a lot of different bases over the years and in a lot of different genre bands , so what it is worth I definitely would recommend this bass at any price and have yet to find anyplace on it to leave a fingerprint and active or passive , has it all , Thank You Ian and Sweetwater and just a note , I have heard Ian play drums , World. Class Drummer !!!
One of the best 5 strings for the price
For 699 this bass blew me away. Although the Bartolinis aren't actual Bartolinis the tone is amazing. I have modified mine with the Darkglass Tone Capsule pre amp and with Aguilar pickups and it has destroyed all my previous basses.
BEST BASS FOR THE PRICE
I have a Fender Mexican Jazz bass, I've also played a 6-string ESP bass and a Yamaha TRBX304, and so far, this is the bess bass guitar out of them all.
Review Based On Previous Expectations
Let me say that this is not a terrible bass and is very functional.
I would still recommend it.
My review is based on my previous Ibanez purchase.
I own the SRF705BBF 5-String Fretless bass and am VERY, VERY, VERY happy with it. This was my reference for this purchase.
When I purchased the Ibanez SR505E, I was expecting and hoping that it would play and sound similar to the -705-, minus the piezo bridge.
In this configuration, it did not sound as good, or close enough to satisfy my needs.
I was actually hoping for the SRF705BB platform, but with frets. Not even close. Ibanez was never smart enough to offer a fretted version.
Positives:
- Bridge appears to have a decent feature set that allows for full adjustability.
- It can funk out with some similarities to a Jazz bass.
- Fretwork was decent. No fret sprout.
Differences:
- Has a slim Jazz-style neck with 5-strings.
- Body is not finished like the -705-. Kind of a Paint-stain. May be prone to chipping, exposing the plain wood underneath.
- Tuners are not in-line, but could be.
- Tone and feel are not terrible, but different.
Over-all, I'd still recommend it for a sub-$1K bass.
It just didn't meet my particular needs... Even though I'll keep it and still use it.
"Your Results May Vary"
