Ibanez Introduces New SR500 Series Basses
Ibanez has announced two new basses to their SR500 series with the SR500TFF and the SR505TFF. The basses, which are four- and five-string versions of the same model, feature mahogany bodies with a traditional Tri-Fade Burst Flat finish.
The neck on each bass is a five-piece laminate of jatoba and bubinga topped with a rosewood fretboard. Ibanez fits the basses with a pair of Bartolini MK1 pickups that they describe as “designed to deliver a full, punchy tone with a clear, articulate top end.” Electronics include a EQB-IIIS 3-band EQ complete with a 2-way mid-frequency selector switch that toggles the mid control between 250Hz and 600Hz.
The Ibanez SR500TFF and SR505TFF will be available soon with street prices of $599 and $649, respectively.
Ibanez SR500TFF and SR505TFF Bass Details:
Construction: | Bolt-On |
Scale: | 34″ |
Body: | Mahogany |
Neck: | 5-piece Jatoba/Bubinga SR4 |
Fretboard: | Rosewood |
Fretboard Inlays: | Abalone oval |
Pickups: | Bartolini MK1 |
Electronics: | EQB-IIIS 3-band EQ w/ Mid frequency switch |
Hardware: | Black Matte |
Bridge: | B300 |
For more information:
Ibanez
They certainly improved the looks, IMO, but the bridge seems to be the same crappy one that breaks by just looking at it. I hope I’m wrong though.
Bartolini Mk1’s highs aren’t articulate, they’re shrill and atrocious.
I bought one that looks just like that one two years ago from AMS. It was a “limited edition” and cost about $50 more than the regular SR505. I was willing to pay extra because I thought that the sunburst looked a lot better than the normal plain brown finish.
By the way, I’ve had this bass for two years and have not experienced any problems with the bridge. I think that the problems with the bridges was due to one bad batch that were not tempered properly.