Ibanez SR706

[Fight Another Day]

www.ibanez.com/BassGuitars/model-SR706

I had a brand new SR706 shipped to Guitar Center and picked it up on Monday. I have to say I couldn't be happier! For anyone that feels they need access to the upper register but are intimidated by the typical 6-string, this is the bass for you. The advertised "SR signature slim and fast neck" is no joke. It's extremely comfortable to play. I expected it to be nearly impossible to hit the higher frets on the low B string without looking like Victor Wooten and rubbing the hair off my armpit while playing, but was pleasantly surprised - all notes are accessible from a comfortable position.

I'm playing this bass with the following gear:
Line 6 G30 wireless relay
Boss GT-10B effects pedalboard
Mesa M6 Carbine 600W solid-state amp (w/ tube preamp)
SWR Workingman's full stack (4x10, 1x15)

With the EQ set to dead center on everything I found the lower register had a great tone when strumming, but the upper register sounded very thin/weak - especially when finger-tapping. This was easily adjusted, though, by simply boosting the mids and treble slightly. 2 small adjustments gave it the punch it was missing. The lack of a tone-adjustment knob (like the SD205 and SR405) may steer some away from this bass - especially if you need the ability to go from warm to bright on the fly without additional equipment - but this was easily overcome by using the Boss GT-10B. I simply set the bass up for strumming and finger-tapping, then changed from the "60's R&B" setting I normally use to the "Scoop slap" setting for slap bass. No adjustments were needed on the bass - just a slight volume adjustment on the pedalboard.

The stock Elixir strings sound beautiful, although I'll probably switch back to the DR Black Beauties I typically play on as they sound great and look sexy as hell...

Whether you're a seasoned pro or a complete newb I would definitely recommend purchasing this bass. For $799 it's a steal. Anyone interested in demoing it can find one at the Guitar Center on Hillsborough Ave and Dale Mabry in Tampa. [phone]

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[Fight Another Day]

***Please note I do not work for Ibanez or Guitar Center, and did not receive any discounts, rebates, refunds, happy endings, etc. for posting this review***

(our drummer already asked how much I got paid for it...)

[gunther]

I never played an Ibanez I liked. MTD's, Tobias, Sadowsky, Lakland, yes. But none feel like a vintage 61 P or Jazz bass which I played for years. Notes just popped off the neck. And the sound would pin VU meters to the wall.

A genuine good bass can be had from $3000 upwards into 5 digits. And they're all vintage Fenders. They take it all and give even more. They are alive like humans -- the way great instruments are made. No special electronics and no special amps. Plug 'em into a Dual Showman, turn it up to ten, no mids or bass, treble up all the way, and FIRE AWAY!

BTW, I have a genuine Tobias 5 string with Bartolini's. Sounds like a vintage P bass but it still isn't a vintage P bass. Sadowsky and the Lakland Joe Osborne series might be closest.

The only way to buy a bass is to test it out beforehand. If the instrument speaks to you, especially without an amp, you might have a winner. Guarantee it's gonna cost far more than $799.

Ebay's selling a vintage P bass for $6000.00. I offered $3000. Still waiting to hear.

Mar 9, 2011 9:20:45 GMT -5 Fight Another Day said:

www.ibanez.com/BassGuitars/model-SR706

I had a brand new SR706 shipped to Guitar Center and picked it up on Monday. I have to say I couldn't be happier! For anyone that feels they need access to the upper register but are intimidated by the typical 6-string, this is the bass for you. The advertised "SR signature slim and fast neck" is no joke. It's extremely comfortable to play. I expected it to be nearly impossible to hit the higher frets on the low B string without looking like Victor Wooten and rubbing the hair off my armpit while playing, but was pleasantly surprised - all notes are accessible from a comfortable position.

I'm playing this bass with the following gear:
Line 6 G30 wireless relay
Boss GT-10B effects pedalboard
Mesa M6 Carbine 600W solid-state amp (w/ tube preamp)
SWR Workingman's full stack (4x10, 1x15)

With the EQ set to dead center on everything I found the lower register had a great tone when strumming, but the upper register sounded very thin/weak - especially when finger-tapping. This was easily adjusted, though, by simply boosting the mids and treble slightly. 2 small adjustments gave it the punch it was missing. The lack of a tone-adjustment knob (like the SD205 and SR405) may steer some away from this bass - especially if you need the ability to go from warm to bright on the fly without additional equipment - but this was easily overcome by using the Boss GT-10B. I simply set the bass up for strumming and finger-tapping, then changed from the "60's R&B" setting I normally use to the "Scoop slap" setting for slap bass. No adjustments were needed on the bass - just a slight volume adjustment on the pedalboard.

The stock Elixir strings sound beautiful, although I'll probably switch back to the DR Black Beauties I typically play on as they sound great and look sexy as hell...

Whether you're a seasoned pro or a complete newb I would definitely recommend purchasing this bass. For $799 it's a steal. Anyone interested in demoing it can find one at the Guitar Center on Hillsborough Ave and Dale Mabry in Tampa. [phone]

[Fight Another Day]

Gaurantee you're wrong there - within a couple minutes of playing it (without an amp) it "spoke to me", so I ordered a brand new one. It's not about price, age, etc...it's about how the instrument feels and sounds to it's prospective buyer. If it inspires you to create new music and gives you that "I just fell in love" feeling whenever you play it, you have a winner. Regardless of whether it's a $5000 Modulus, classic American-made Fender or a $300 Mexican made p-bass in a pawn shop...

[gunther]

No, I am right. That's why real professional musicians don't play Ibanez outside of an endorsement. And even then.

Not one Ibanez ever spoke to me. Ever. Not funky, no sustain, no tone, no room shaking sounds without tons of amplication and gimmicks. Guess you never played any vintage Fenders. They remain the gold standard for all who came afterword. Try getting your Ibanez to sound like Bob Babbitt, Jamerson and the best of the best, Max Bennett. Now Max uses MTD exclusively. It's the only maker who makes a bass guitar which actually approxiates the massive sound of vintage Fenders, especially with heavy guage LaBella flats and an Acoustic 360.

Mar 10, 2011 12:49:22 GMT -5 Fight Another Day said:

Gaurantee you're wrong there - within a couple minutes of playing it (without an amp) it "spoke to me", so I ordered a brand new one. It's not about price, age, etc...it's about how the instrument feels and sounds to it's prospective buyer. If it inspires you to create new music and gives you that "I just fell in love" feeling whenever you play it, you have a winner. Regardless of whether it's a $5000 Modulus, classic American-made Fender or a $300 Mexican made p-bass in a pawn shop...

[Fight Another Day]

Lol! Do a quick Google seach on that, gunther...