A Musical Journey Through the Northern Lights

I hope you're prepared for an unforgettable Ibanez Bass review!

Ibanez SR505E Bass Guitar - Black Aurora Burst:

The signal chain is plugged direct onto an Ampeg RB112 into a Scarlett Focusrite 2i2 in Logic Pro X. Using no plug-ins and a teeny bit of compression in playthroughs.

When it comes to strings, I try to use the strings that already came stock on the instrument to capture the experience of owning these instruments and playing them at home bone stock!

Feel free to reach me on my personal e-mail:

🕰️ TIMESTAMP 🕰️
0:00 Of Course…
0:59 Get To The TONES!
2:06 A Cool Feature
3:19 These pickups stink!
3:37 Watchout! RadioACTIVE Man!
4:44 Mids, The Final Frontier
12:16 Bring Me To Life
14:09 Droppin Bass
15:28 For The Pick Player In You
16:20 Slap City
16:41 You’re an odd fellow
17:16 You Steam A Good Bass

[firemarshal]

Can't help but chuckle when someone describes an instruments sound as "lifeless" outside of a mix context. It sounds like a bass dude, and it sounds just fine. Anyone out there reading this that has never played in a band before trust me, this bass will more than do the job. One of the best 5-strings on the market for less than 800 bucks.

[filhojoao]

This is the best 5-string from Ibanez for a fair price, you won't find anything better on the market for this price, this bass suits all styles and mixes, it doesn't lose anything to boutique basses

[TechOttawa]

This bass has interesting electronics - many don't realize the pickups are passive. The EQ circuit is the active part. In many basses the pickups are active and the preamps have an additional circuit to buffer and balance the pickups before the EQ. I believe this make the system just a little less perky that a full active rig.
In this bass the passive pickups allow a bypass switch that would allow a player to bypass a dead battery (or electronics) and keep gigging - important for live and studio.
Funny enough many of the SR basses do NOT have the bypass switch only an EQ freq switch.
My SR500BM has the 1 switch and I find it can do a whole heck of a lot tone-wise but is missing the last 20% of active goodness.
Ceramic pickups and a full active preamp would be a real upgrade but $$$

[joannalewis]

Swapped out the BH2 barts for Nordstrand Zen Blades and a Delano Sonar preamp on my SR505e. It's amazing

[DaftFader]

I had the same pick up almost sitting at a 45 deg angle issue, but luckily mine didn't have a cracked neck! :O

[allan_w]

Great video! Great details! For someone who is looking to buy a versatile (a variety of tones, hoping to just use 1 bass for multiple genres) 5 stringed bass, what would you recommend in the same price range instead? What about if I am willing to spend just a bit more? What would you recommend? Thank you!!!

[countesscrows]

I've been learning for almost a year with a Ibanez gio GSR180 and a friend recommended the GR500E as my step up bass. Is there much difference between SR500E and this one? I am in love with the finish and the tones. I need the aurora borealis in my part of the country at this time localized entirely within my house. Thanks!

[michaels]

Let's dig in...I have this bass in the wood color and I I have practical experience with TONS of hardware . One thing that disturbs me is how anyone with a working brain buys an instrument and does not check it, nor have an expert check it within the period you can return it. I bought mine, carried it back to my state, and before the week was over, took the train to Guitar Center to have it set up, I asked questions, I bought a tuner, I had the strings changed, and took her home. If there was anything wrong that I would not know to look for GC would have found it. Secondly, I have a close friend who has an Ibanez he plays in a band with, and it sounds great. Admittedly I am a total beginner, yet I have practical experience as a musician and have performed with some well known, talented musicians, and YOUR playing is probably the reason you claim the bass is 'lifeless'. Anyone and everyone of all eves can clearly see you can barely keep in time with your own riffs, with obvious pauses and lots of string noise. Once again, you're still better than ME at this point, yet do not have to be Marcus, Victor, nor Dey to know sloppy playing when I hear/see it. I would say that BOTH of us need a lot more practice way before we start being critical of the bass itself. Oh and for the bozo who commented about how many strings it has, you're a complete and petty

[RobeyKenobi]

That's an SR500E not a 505E. I have the wood version. I think it sounds decent with pickup knob in the middle. For some reason I feel like my A string doesn't sound powerful enough, but I just got it and am still getting dialed in.

[loosedeadmoose]

A shame on that QC issue but I must say, don’t know what lighting you’re using but this is the best I’ve seen this finish you really made it pop. It’s so cool and makes me almost overlook all the back reviews I’ve heard on the bartolinis haha.

[Spartan]

Someone with a 505 like this told me they changed out the preamp for an Aguilar OBP-3 and it made a huge difference, even with the barts. I have my eye on this exact bass, and I’ll just judge it for myself. I may even change out the barts for nordstrands if I don’t like them that much.

[MetalRomain]

I've been looking for a mid range guitar that i can use for drop C.
First I let the Ibanez sr400ePBDX come to the store and there was glue all over the fretboard and frets, plus there was a little crack in the fretboard next to the 13th fret.
This totally looks like ibanez did a terrible job at finishing the guitar, or just finished it while it was damaged. Tomorrow this sr500e will come in and I will test it. Lets see how the fretboard and the set-up is...
I'll let y'all know!

[snakeplissken]

I like the way bartolinis are like a blank canvas so you can color them with the preamp. Otherwise, why have an active bass?

[joannalewis]

These bases really need the preamp with the pickups so you really need to go active. Which is fine

[NelsonMontana]

I love so many things about Ibanez but yes, that bubinga wood (or walnut or whatever it is) can be a problem. Oddly enough, on the cheaper 400, they use a roasewood fingerboard and a maple neck, and it's so much better. I also prefer the Ibanez pups to the Bartolinis.

[chrismorris]

It makes me sad 😢, I really like to see good instruments in the hands of budding musicians, not junk. My first guitar was junk, and I have not got around to playing Bass till recently! I have fever and discipline I didn't, but all those wasted years I could have played.

[Eduardo-ewdi]

You bought from the Ibanez factory...? All those "failures" that according to you come from the factory could have happened on the road and/or in the instrument store where you ordered it....!!!

[森森-ku]

Can a beginner take this bass as his first bass?

[christopherstorrier]

I prefer the SR600E with Nordstrand pickups...nice