Ibanez 5 String Acoustic Bass Guitar For Sale (2024 Update)

. Now let me set the scene… I am a guitar lover (I can even play a little too) and a quality professional so My expectations are somewhat higher than most looking at this product. An absolutely beautiful instrument, this is my second SA360 and although they are no longer. Made in Japan, be assured they have not lost any of the build quality or attention to detail. The guitar was really well set up, is great to play, feels good in the hand and sounds the bee’s knee’s. If you are looking to start out in guitar playing get yourself an Ibanez Gio to start as a first upgrade from that, then the SA series is where you want to be at.Timbo

The strings and sound of this bass are great, when it stays in tune. It turns out, the holes drilled for the tuning pegs are too big, so the pegs slip and cause the bass to fall out of tune with almost no use. We only found this out because we thought the pegs were bad, but upon taking them off to install new ones, we realized this fault. If you want a good bass for practice, this one will do fine. I would not recommend it for professionals, unless you want to spend the extra money to drill the holes out further to put in fittings for the pegs.Ryan

Being that there arent any very popular (or effective) battery operated bass amps out there, an Acoustic Bass is really the only option for someone who doesn't have access to a wall outlet, or doesn't want to carry a heavy amp with them. I was hoping to pick one up, but very few were in a price range that I, as a college student, could afford. That is when I found this little gem. The general rule I have found when buying a bass, at least as far as my experiences go, that anything under 300 that you buy will have to have something taken out of it; you can only make an instrument so cheap before it becomes more of a hassle than your time is worth. However, Ibanez has found a way to break this rule time and time again. Starting with the downsides: Do not get this bass expecting it to stand up against the drums and electric guitar unamplified. There isn't an acoustic bass on earth that can pull that off, and if there is, it is way to big to bother with. The pre-amp is OK, but only OK. The output jack is in an odd place. and the wiring would be a pain to deal with as you would have to reach down into the body to get to it. And now for the many, many upsides: It is a bit fat in size, but is very light weight. I usually play an 11 1/2 lb jazz bass, and this thing is such a literal weight off my back (at least a whole 4 lbs). It has an amazing, earthy tone that you just cant get out of a solid body bass. the body is very study, braced very heavily on the inside. As far as Acoustic basses go, this is one of the loudest I have played. The tuner is surprisingly accurate, and very useful. It is also very comfortable to play standing up, and won't strain your back. And the Icing on the cake is that it allow you to practice anywhere, any time, without the need for power. In short, It is very nice, and should be part of your arsenal today. Do not hesitate on this purchase ^_^Koren Rain

This bass exceeded expectations by a country mile. I've had acoustic basses before, and this one plays and projects far better than others I've had that cost a lot more. The Ibanez name tells me that the unit will remain stable and that the company will stand behind it. The factory set-up is fine. Ibanez supplies a higher bridge and hex wrench for neck adjustment, but neither were necessary. Other reviews point to action, "buzz" and low volume. In some cases, these reports may be accurate, but I suspect a lot of folks buy these instruments with unrealistic expectations. Simply stated, acoustic instruments slap, squeak and generally misbehave. This goes for Martins, Ibanez, Guilds…you name it. It is part of the charm of playing acoustic music. Bass strings move more across a long scale length, so you are going to get this in spades. Raising string height to stratospheric levels to overcome these natural traits seems to be something like training a wolf to herd sheep. To me, random tonal excursions are part of the package. Frankly its why I bought the thing and even at that, this bass is pretty well behaved. If you want perfect tones, perhaps a Fender Precision or even a MIDI synthesizer is a better choice for you. As for volume, well, lower tones need far more amplification to carry than their higher pitched cousins. 100 watts out of your Strat needs to be matched by some 400 watts from the accompanying bass. That's simple physics. This bass projects amazingly well, but if you are going to jam in a large group or hall, consider adding a small combo amp. That would go both for this bass or a $2000 custom instrument. Overall, I love the thing. I would buy it again, and I would recommend it without reservation.Ankeny Picker

I really like this Bass! It is just lovely to play. The neck is beautifully shaped and makes a big difference. Also, the slightly shorter length allows one to make chords far more easily (shorter frets) and to keep one finger on a root note while dancing around with the others- something I could never do so easily with a longer necked Bass. I couldn't put it down for days!George W.

As a learner who has been playing a cheap 4 string the move to this 5 string was an excellent experience due to the slender neck. The paint job is out of this world and the hardware oozes quality. I've always wanted an Ibanez and it has not disappointed. A thing of beauty and tones to match any players style.COLIN S.

I spent a few weeks trying out basses at my local music stores before settling on this bass. What set this bass apart from the others was the tone and the various tones I could get out of it, as well as it's playability. The active EQ is far better than the passive EQ's that I find on other basses. For example, the EQ on Jackson basses are all but useless. There was very little tone difference when varying the EQ controls on Jackson basses. But on this Ibanez, you really hear the difference in the tone settings. The Ibanez has a bass, mid, and treble tone control. So you can really dial in the tone you're looking for. Also, the individual string height adjustment on the Ibanez lets me tailor the action to exactly how I like it. The guitar is well balanced weight wise and so hangs naturally when I play it. I have a BC Rich mockingbird bass which is terribly weighted ad the headstock drops to the floor if I don't have my fret hand supporting the neck. The string spacing on the Ibanez 5 string is good, and I can still play slap bass on it. All the knobs on the bass (except the volume knob) have a mid point that you can feel as your adjusting the tone controls, so you know exactly where "flat" is. I really like that feature.beaglebuddy

Unexpectedly nice looking bass. 2 piece fllamed maple body with a darker burst than the website photos suggested. Not bookmatched, but a nicely figured body. Super versatile preamp and nice sounding, powerful and noise free pickups. Fast, slim neck and good quality hardware. I've tweaked the set up over a couple of weeks and it's playing really well. A far nicer bass than I expected for the price, after some playing in I think it will be better than my mid 90s SR. Very easy bass to set up, and the action can be brought down ridiculously low.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

After reading so many glowing reviews, I was very excited to buy my own Ibanez AEB10E. The violin finish is beautiful and the fit was outstanding, for the most part. My only complaint was the frets and how sharp they were/are…Since string height is subjective, I will only say that I liked the way mine was setup-high enough that there were no fret buzzes. I like the organic tone and wish it were louder acoustically but when amped through my Fender Rumble 25 or 200, the sound still maintains the acoustic qualities I wanted it for. I'm still in the 45 day window to decide but right now, it's a keeper!Hoss

Overall: About 30 years ago, I placed an order for a custom bass. It looked absolutely beautiful but it didn't play well at all. So I sent it back for two adjustments that I knew they wouldn't be able to correct and I ended up getting my money back. I say all this to point out I vowed to never take a chance ordering instruments via mail. So I'm cautious because I've wanted an acoustic bass for quite some time and when I saw the Ibanez AEB10E and it low price, I decided to break my VOW and order that damn bass…lol. So now I'm hopeful because their were a lot of people who wrote great reviews, which nudged me to make the purchase. Now that I've had it for more than two weeks, I'm pleasantly surprised because this plays extremely well, I have a little fret buzz but I can tell that it's not going to take much effort to adjust the truss rod!!!!Joseph

I bought this bass a little over a year ago when I found a great deal on it online. I have an electric bass, but wanted something to sit on the couch with and play along with something I could potentially use to record some cool bass licks to use for some of the music I produce. I have to say, given that I didn't play the bass beforehand and just ordered it online, I got extremely lucky and landed on the exact bass I was looking for. The first thing I noticed is how easy it is to play. I feel like even though I'm not a very experience bass player it's not too much of a challenge to play the licks I'm trying to play. Just the way it is setup by default makes it easy for me and my big hands to hit the notes I want without accidentally striking or muting a string next to what I'm going for. The second thing I noticed is how great it sounds. I'm sure it would depend on the venue and type of ensemble, but I feel like this bass produces enough volume to be viable for playing unplugged next to a nice guitar that also has a good bit of volume. The tone is pretty well balanced too, I think the spruce top gives it a little more upper harmonics than you might expect, which is nice since it seems to have a little more presence as a result. I'm sure you probably don't need to hear this but the whole bass screams quality. It's gorgeous, and yes, the wood is lighter than it looks in the pic, but that's not a bad thing. There's no real imperfections anywhere in mine, every part of it looks and feels great. There are much better acoustic basses out there of course, but if you're just looking for one that plays well, looks great and is great quality, you can't go wrong with this one.Dr. Technology Man 504

An excellent bass, beautiful colouring, excellent finish. The weight is nice and light for the wife's dodgy shoulder and the amount of different tones you can get from it are amazing. Well worth the £340 I paid.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

I've always been a huge fan of Ibanez instruments. This one is no different. It has that trademark thinfast neck that I absolutely love so much. It reminds me of my OG rg550. The sound is really good and I dig the EQ system. Great Bass for all types of musicBrian K

I have been waiting on this style to come back for quite awhile. This was the one bass I have been missing in my collection, now I can't say that any longer. Good sturdy design, good quality parts used, not too heavy and a price that is pretty amazing. Thank you to all involved on me finally getting one!jedibassgary

Overall: I was lucky enough to get the last one last month in black Bass is beautiful set up perfect nice and light fast easy neck and the tone with the Nordstrand pickups is amazing and versatile Kinda like a jazz bass on steroids I've done 4 gigs nothing but compliments on the sound I'm very happy with this bass zZounds rocks I've bought a lot of gear from them and 4 basses so far A Ibanez gsr200m for my granddaughter A Ibanez btb 20th anniversary 6 string fantastic bass with Nordstrand pickups A sterling sting ray 5 hh the 1000 dollar one in White Killer bass My other basses that I have owned for a few years are my Yamaha Trb 6 jp2 6 string my boutique baby and a really cool maestro neck thru 5 string fretless So i have a nice stable of basses I do find myself using my 605e now a lot its light comfortable and a tone monster Do yourself a favor and order one ..worth the waitDavid

Molto soddisfatto, ottima elettronica, manico stretto per un 5 corde. Spedizione al solito velocissima e con imballo adeguatoMassimo Alboretti

I've been hacking around with guitars for over 40 years and never had any inclination to get a bass guitar until recently. Partly because of the size and weight, I think. I never saw myself standing up with a concrete block hanging from my neck, trying to pick out a bass line. Not my idea of fun at all. I always play sitting down, especially since I have grown old, and I do mean OLD. And then I discovered the short scale bass. Wow. Never even knew such a critter existed until a couple months ago. That opened up a whole new way of looking at the bass. A guitar-size instrument that will rattle my toes when I play. Now we're talking. Long story short – I got me an Ibanez GSRM20 in black. I absolutely love it. It has everything I need in a guitar – value, looks, playability, the whole nine yards. Can't say it would suit everyone the same way, but for me it is perfect. If you are a guitar geek and never really have been inclined toward a bass, this might do it for you. I love it.king_arthur0_1

The stock pickups and tuners are not so hot, but were easy enough to upgrade. It still has a lot going for it: mahogany body, comfortable maple neck-not too thick, and the fret work was impressive. Also the newer models like I received are using a lighter colored jatoba fret board instead of the darker rosewood. I don't notice much difference in tone between the two woods, more of a visual. I think the lighter colored jatoba looks good in contrast with the black of the this instrument. To me the string tension was a little too loose. Came with 45-130 strings. I put on D'addario 50-135 and now it handle the low B string much better. Is a standard 34 inch scale. As far as the pickups I went with Duncan SSB5 passives-were direct fit, did not have to modify. The stock p/u's are passive as well, just has an active bass boost. They sound better than stock, but I'm still not a fan of the bass boost. Also for some reason 500k pots are used on this, not 250k like most bass's use. I will likely end up wiring up with 250k pots and bypass the bass boost, making a truly passive bass. Tuners would slip and were not smooth. Replaced with Gotoh GB707-5 L3xR2 tuners. They dropped right in and used old screw holes as well. I could have spent seven hundred plus on the nicer Ibanez with name brand tuners and pickups, but saved a few hundred putting together myself. I really dig it. I've tried a few 5's before (mainly a 4 string player), but this one is a keeper. Very comfortable, and now stays in tune and sounds good.mv

The gsrm20 is more than I seriously expected. It's short scale is so convenient for me since I'm a short person so it definitely makes my playing experience more comfortable. The sound that comes from the guitar is definitely amazing, and a guitar like this would very much work for people who are looking for a bass to transport when having gigs or rehearsals. The guitar is really beautiful and is definitely a steal for the price it is at. It doesn't matter if you're a child teen or adult, the guitar can be for everyone and does more than you would expect.leo c.

Premium built guitar with very attractive price tag (sale). Beautiful maple top, comfortable neck with roasted maple fretboard, lovely sound. Only pots feel cheap and tone change pot in passive mode could be improved as it's far from the smoothness experienced on for example my other bass guitar which is Fender Precision.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Lovely instrument and much lighter than expected, wasn't expecting the finish to be quite as it was but hard to be sure when buying online. Very pleased none the less.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

This bass guitar has a lovely feel and plays with superb sound. The balance is perfect for my playing style, the action is just where I like to see it. I have now procured and new favourite bass guitar.Derek W.

First time buying a guitar (blind) online but it proved to be a success. Free delivery and it arrived well packaged and undamaged within 2 working days. The bass was set up and even almost in tune! The bass itself came with XL strings (nice) and has low action so is very easy to play. Lovely body finish too. The string spacing is very suitable for a first-time 5 string. The pick ups and active electrickery sound MEGA. Great value for money and my first ibanez so will definitely buy another in the future and order from GAK again 10/10 5* 100%Adam S.

I appreciate the opportunity to rate this product and express my feelings specific to this bass guitar. I've owned this Ibanez SR370E Aged Whiskey Burst for a short while now and in exploring its capabilities, I am still discovering all the tonal possibilities. Being a guitar tech, I couldn't resist improving the playability of this out-of-the-box beauty. Two one quarter turns to tighten the truss rod made the neck super straight as I like it. This did not result in any fret buzz on any string up and down the fretboard. Now I lowered the saddles to improve the action (Still no buzz.) My bass was built with an upgraded Accu-cast B300 bridge (I don't know why). The saddle adjustment is done quickly with just one screw (cool feature!). I fussed with the intonation to get the tuning right on. (Note: The saddles sit so tightly into the bridge in order to transfer maximum string vibration that you need to push on the saddles a bit to ensure proper intonation) I checked under the hood and found the electronics to be neat and tidy but complicated. I have no desire to modify the existing excellent tone controls. I tightened all the screws shined this baby up and now I have a bass guitar that plays like a dream. I'm holding with putting on stainless steel strings, the set of D'Addario's that came with the bass are still new and bright. Musician's Friend is my go to dealer for new gear. I have never been disappointed, but this deal was particularly special. Thank you for letting express my views.BoondockSaint408

I am a new bass player and tried standard electric bass guitars … and then learned about acoustic bass guitar. This is a beautiful looking and sounding guitar. I am buying a second one for our vacation home to keep there.Ken

Overall: Overall, it has great tone for its size; however, out of the box, the frets were extremely sharp at the neck's edge. and I had to do a little filing of my own. Also, I had to put a chrome plate around the 1/4" jack. It was my fault for leaving a cord plugged in while placing it on a stand for the first time. Doing so, caused the jack to press into the body and slightly crack it. The aftermarket plate corrected my issue.Thomas

Overall: Ordered through zZounds, first one came in damaged. Easy return policy made getting a replacement simple and painless. Now on to the bass itself. Right out of the box, it has a nice playable action. No fret buzz problems anywhere on the neck. Notes ring out clean and clear. I purchased it just to add some sound into casual campfire type jam circles. It can project enough to match an acoustic guitar if you pluck it good enough. Honestly projects a little less than I had hoped for, but it does the job none the less. Not the smoothest playing instrument I’ve ever picked up, but it’s comfortable enough to play. Built in tuner is super convenient and accurate. I would highly recommend it for any casual setting, and it’s even come in handy for recording little songs at home without having to invest in a bass amp.Josh

I find this bass easy to play, sounds really great, and can plug in when needed. The case is really nice, too. I could not be more pleased.bear_tom

After reading so many glowing reviews, I was very excited to buy my own Ibanez AEB10E. The violin finish is beautiful and the fit was outstanding, for the most part. My only complaint was the frets and how sharp they were/are…Since string height is subjective, I will only say that I liked the way mine was setup-high enough that there were no fret buzzes. I like the organic tone and wish it were louder acoustically but when amped through my Fender Rumble 25 or 200, the sound still maintains the acoustic qualities I wanted it for. I'm still in the 45 day window to decide but right now, it's a keeper!Hoss

Overall: About 30 years ago, I placed an order for a custom bass. It looked absolutely beautiful but it didn't play well at all. So I sent it back for two adjustments that I knew they wouldn't be able to correct and I ended up getting my money back. I say all this to point out I vowed to never take a chance ordering instruments via mail. So I'm cautious because I've wanted an acoustic bass for quite some time and when I saw the Ibanez AEB10E and it low price, I decided to break my VOW and order that damn bass…lol. So now I'm hopeful because their were a lot of people who wrote great reviews, which nudged me to make the purchase. Now that I've had it for more than two weeks, I'm pleasantly surprised because this plays extremely well, I have a little fret buzz but I can tell that it's not going to take much effort to adjust the truss rod!!!!Joseph

I bought this bass a little over a year ago when I found a great deal on it online. I have an electric bass, but wanted something to sit on the couch with and play along with something I could potentially use to record some cool bass licks to use for some of the music I produce. I have to say, given that I didn't play the bass beforehand and just ordered it online, I got extremely lucky and landed on the exact bass I was looking for. The first thing I noticed is how easy it is to play. I feel like even though I'm not a very experience bass player it's not too much of a challenge to play the licks I'm trying to play. Just the way it is setup by default makes it easy for me and my big hands to hit the notes I want without accidentally striking or muting a string next to what I'm going for. The second thing I noticed is how great it sounds. I'm sure it would depend on the venue and type of ensemble, but I feel like this bass produces enough volume to be viable for playing unplugged next to a nice guitar that also has a good bit of volume. The tone is pretty well balanced too, I think the spruce top gives it a little more upper harmonics than you might expect, which is nice since it seems to have a little more presence as a result. I'm sure you probably don't need to hear this but the whole bass screams quality. It's gorgeous, and yes, the wood is lighter than it looks in the pic, but that's not a bad thing. There's no real imperfections anywhere in mine, every part of it looks and feels great. There are much better acoustic basses out there of course, but if you're just looking for one that plays well, looks great and is great quality, you can't go wrong with this one.Dr. Technology Man 504

After reading so many glowing reviews, I was very excited to buy my own Ibanez AEB10E. The violin finish is beautiful and the fit was outstanding, for the most part. My only complaint was the frets and how sharp they were/are…Since string height is subjective, I will only say that I liked the way mine was setup-high enough that there were no fret buzzes. I like the organic tone and wish it were louder acoustically but when amped through my Fender Rumble 25 or 200, the sound still maintains the acoustic qualities I wanted it for. I'm still in the 45 day window to decide but right now, it's a keeper!Hoss

Overall: About 30 years ago, I placed an order for a custom bass. It looked absolutely beautiful but it didn't play well at all. So I sent it back for two adjustments that I knew they wouldn't be able to correct and I ended up getting my money back. I say all this to point out I vowed to never take a chance ordering instruments via mail. So I'm cautious because I've wanted an acoustic bass for quite some time and when I saw the Ibanez AEB10E and it low price, I decided to break my VOW and order that damn bass…lol. So now I'm hopeful because their were a lot of people who wrote great reviews, which nudged me to make the purchase. Now that I've had it for more than two weeks, I'm pleasantly surprised because this plays extremely well, I have a little fret buzz but I can tell that it's not going to take much effort to adjust the truss rod!!!!Joseph

I bought this bass a little over a year ago when I found a great deal on it online. I have an electric bass, but wanted something to sit on the couch with and play along with something I could potentially use to record some cool bass licks to use for some of the music I produce. I have to say, given that I didn't play the bass beforehand and just ordered it online, I got extremely lucky and landed on the exact bass I was looking for. The first thing I noticed is how easy it is to play. I feel like even though I'm not a very experience bass player it's not too much of a challenge to play the licks I'm trying to play. Just the way it is setup by default makes it easy for me and my big hands to hit the notes I want without accidentally striking or muting a string next to what I'm going for. The second thing I noticed is how great it sounds. I'm sure it would depend on the venue and type of ensemble, but I feel like this bass produces enough volume to be viable for playing unplugged next to a nice guitar that also has a good bit of volume. The tone is pretty well balanced too, I think the spruce top gives it a little more upper harmonics than you might expect, which is nice since it seems to have a little more presence as a result. I'm sure you probably don't need to hear this but the whole bass screams quality. It's gorgeous, and yes, the wood is lighter than it looks in the pic, but that's not a bad thing. There's no real imperfections anywhere in mine, every part of it looks and feels great. There are much better acoustic basses out there of course, but if you're just looking for one that plays well, looks great and is great quality, you can't go wrong with this one.Dr. Technology Man 504

I bought this bass to record with. I run a consumer level Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and plug this bass straight in and use Ableton Live 9 as my DAW. This bass sounds amazing, I have been playing for over twenty years and my go-to rig was a 1974 Ampeg SVT with an early eighties Fender Precision Bass, so I would like to think bass tone is something I know a bit about. I am not using an amp, micing an amp or cab OR using a DI and this bass sound fat and warm in any mix. The electronics are great, the Bartonlinis can really get any tone possible. The only negative I would put down is that you do get a little buzz if you boost the treble control, normal in my experience and I won't be boosting treble with a bass, ever, so it doesn't concern me. To be clear, there is no buzz in the neutral position or when you cut the treble, just when you boost it up in what would be the 6 to 10 range. I bought the blackberry finish on an open box deal, it was in MINT condition, arrived in great shape, I did have to tighten the nut around the pick-up blend pot, it loosened up in transit, I backed off the set screw on the knob and then adjusted the nut, put the knob back, tightened the set screw and it was perfect. NO BIG DEAL. I also adjusted the neck to dead-straight, my preferred set-up and it plays and sounds ridiculously fine. The only other bass I have owned that sounds this good was an Alembic Epic and it was over $2K, it also had so much adjustablility that you could really get yourself in trouble. I believe that is a compliment to Ibanez. It is amazing what they can do for the price-point and I was skeptical for years about these basses, YEARS, not until I realized I didn't need top-of-the-line Gibsons and Fenders did I even consider these basses. You pay a lot for those names! Ibanez has the production down! They CNC the body (saves time and labor-costs), they don't cut corners on the electronics and provide a quality product for the money. Unbelievable. I plan on picking up another Ibanez bass soon. Check out their Terra Firma, 35" scale 5-string, looks like a dream and I can't imagine the quality Ibanez would put out for around $1K!Trail Rider

Overall this is a great bass and has become in a short period of time one of my favorites, and I own 17 bass guitars. The neck is very thin and not quite as wide as other 5 strings which I like as I don't have gigantic hands. In fact, this was a major factor in my purchase. This guitar is probably heavier than most would expect but it certainly feels great in your hands. And if you're not a heavy handed player, the action can be set incredibly low and still be playable with no buzz. Well, at least on mine and with no truss adjustment. The pups are great and the active preamp permits highly dynamic control of the tone. This is just a great bass guitar to play, simple as that. Downsides? Well, there were a few. The cutout at the G string side, when running my finger around it, I noticed a slight indent. Almost as if someone sanded it too hard in one spot. I found this odd as mass-produced guitar bodies are computer milled and should require very limited manual smoothing. Its not visible although I can feel it. But since I had no other real issues with the guitar, it was not enough for me to return it and wind up with a guitar that didn't play as well as this one. Its also easy to scratch the finish as its only stain with a light protective coating, somewhat like a wooden table. So be careful with those giant trucker belt buckles! The jack input is also a little odd. I would have preferred an input on the bottom edge. These downsides however were no big deal and I'm more than satisfied with it. If I wasn't aware of this bass and its price, if someone were to put it in my hands, I would have guessed its price as much higher.Sky Chief

Sound: I was impressed by the sounds I could get from this little beast. I'm a pretty heavy handed finger style player (I've always had a heavy attack), but I could hear the differences every time I alternated pickups, adjusted the EQ, and flipped the "Power Tap" switch. This thing offers a lot of sound for very little money! Features: As stated, the thin fast neck of this bass is amazing. I have smaller than average sized hands, so the slimmer design is really comfortable for me. The PowerSpan dual coil pickups are really decent sounding for what they are. The "Power Tap" switch is what sold me on it. After some knob twiddling, trial and error, I found a really nice warm, but heavy sound that I enjoy. Also, the ease of access to the battery compartment is a nice feature as well – no screwdriver needed! Ease of Use: Ease of use is great! Plug it in and play 😉 Seriously though, my stepfather is a guitarist by nature, and even he's remarked at how nice it plays and how nicely the knobs freely turn to dial in the sound you are looking for. Quality: I was impressed by the overall quality of this instrument for the price. I own and play "higher end" basses (Warwick's, Ibanez SR Premium's, etc.), and the quality of this is bass is almost as nice as my SR Premium at a fraction of the cost. Of course it had a few things that needed some tweaking out of the box, but overall I am very pleased with the product. You could spend a lot more and get a lot less (I have anyways…). I guess there's a reason I keep coming back to Ibanez basses. Value: The Ibanez SR300E is considered by most to be a beginner bass. I get that. Yet, for the price, you will be hard pressed to find something with better quality and features. If you are new to bass, or need a backup for your regular player, I would highly recommend the SR300E. I see it becoming my regular player because of it's features and sound. And hey… If something were to ever happen to it at a gig in one of those "seedy" venues, I could easily replace it and not be too upset about the price. Manufacturer Support: I've never had to deal with Ibanez directly, but I have dealt with zZounds a few times and their customer service is wonderful! Friendly, knowledgeable, and courteous. Those are the things that make me a repeat offender to this site! The Wow Factor: This bass is a lot of bang for the buck! I love the look of the black hardware on the weathered black finish. When my girlfriend gave me the "Oh no. Did you buy another bass?" look – even she had to admit the weathered black finish was sexy looking. Ha! Overall: I originally bought an Ibanez SR300E Iron Pewter as a gift for a member of my family who took an interest in playing the bass. When it arrived I took it out of the box to tune it and give the action a little tweaking. Of course, being a bass player myself, I had to give it a try to see how well it played. I was in shock and awe by how well it played and sounded. The neck was extremely comfortable; very thin and fast! It felt like this thing could play itself. After playing it for a few days, (and a few times since), I was so amazed by it that I had to come back to order one for myself (Weathered black – that black hardware on black bass just looks so good).Jason

As a long time guitarist, I thought I'd dip my toe into the world of bass. This is an incredible product for the money and in no way feels or looks like an entry level product. Really usable features which lend towards a huge range of tones from a single instrument. The guys at GG set up instruments to be played straight off and this one was no different – great action on a highly playable neck.Superb!Reviewed by guitarguitar custome

The perfect instrument to add to a home studio to get that fretless 5-string sound without the fretless 5-string price (usually north of 750 simoleons). While there are rough edges in the craftsmanship, it was intonated perfectly and has no discernible playability issues. I had to fiddle with the electronics in the cavity to get rid of a ground issue that was causing scratches and pops. The backplate has foil stuck to it to minimize EF noise. Unfortunately, the preamp inside could contact that foil and cause noise when you touch the pots, the backplate itself, or if you hit a note that vibrates the preamp on and off of the backplate's foil. Find an intermediary material for between the backplate and the preamp, like a thin sheet of foam. It should be good as new from there. Also, if you're like me and don't enjoy roundwound strings on a fretless; buy a set of flatwounds as these ship with rounds. Don't let the cons dissuade you from this incredible value as this is the best balance of tone, feel, craftsmanship, and price you can find at retail.Bob

I've bought three of these so far. The first one I gave to my bass player. When I decided I wanted one for myself, I ordered another one. Like the first one, it was attractive, with no obvious manufacturing defects. However, the D string had a bad buzz. It wasn't fret buzz or sympathetic vibration, because it happened wherever I fretted the D string, but would not buzz when I played D on the A string. I determined it must be a problem in or under the bridges. I loosened and reset the bridge pin for the D string and it didn't help. I called Ibanez, and they told me to try the things I'd already tried, then told me to send it back. The MF customer service fellow was EXTREMELY helpful, so no complaints there. But the one I ordered in it's place had the EXACT same problem. Since nobody else makes a bass in this class, I'll keep this one and troubleshoot it myself. Just saying, if you buy one of these be sure and check it out immediately.Paul

Instrument was ordered and delivered very quickly. Only took about 4 or 5 days to arrive. Pros: The bass feels pretty good right out of the box. Only thing is that the washers on the tuning machines were loose which just needed to be tightened. The smaller size makes for more of a guitar feel to the frets which is great for jamming out. The intonation of the instrument seems good. All notes across seem well in tune and ring well. The harmonic at the 12th fret is in tune to the open string. The frets don't protrude off the neck and seem to be sanded down well. The pickups sound fine. All the frequencies come through the amp very well. The built in tuner works well. Sometimes it has to think about the low E but that's understandable. Cons: The strings are extremely flexible and slinky which causes the string to go under the frets. If you strike very heavily and are digging into the strings when playing on the first three strings then some buzz occurs. My guess is that the harsh vibration of the strings touches the other frets which might occur because they are long scale bass strings. A friend mentioned that the GS Mini strings from taylor might fix that up which makes sense though I am doubtful. Good luck finding a bag for this instrument. The size is close to a guitar in length, however, the body is just a bit thicker than an acoustic guitar. I think a dreadnought body is similar though might not be thick enough. Maybe the acoustic guitar roadrunner bags might work but I haven't had a chance to try it. TL,DR: it's aight.Vic the Butcher

Sound: I own a lot of basses, and many are high dollar-instruments: Warwick Neck-Thru Katana 5 string, Fender American Elite Jazz Bass V, Fender American Elite Precision Bass (IV),1962 Hofner Reissue 500/1, Rickenbacker 4001 Bass. You get the idea. I purchased an Ibanez SRSC805 Bass about a year ago. First, the negatives: When I took it out of the box it looked unfinished (and not just a body without a finish). There was still sawdust in the crevasses of the bass. The natural unfinished wood made the instrument look cheap. There was no sealer, nothing, just raw wood. Two coat of Tung Oil with a good buffing after both coats absolutely made the Burled Poplar and Purple Heart and Maple woods "pop"! Now the bass is beautiful. I tried to setup the instrument to my liking, which is a low action with no fret noise or muted notes. I know exactly how to do this. But the instrument string height above the fretboard could not be set low. The strings buzzed and/or were muted at the first and second frets. Design flaw I imagine. The neck is slightly pitched up from the body of the bass. Want low action? Pitch the neck slightly down from the bass body. The truss rod placement and end-connection at the head of the bass may be flawed. Meaning; the neck is not uniformly adjustable by the Truss Rod. I was frustrated. Ibanez advertises that the SRSC805 has the "fastest action in its class". Whatever that means? Well it does not.But now the good news: The string height above the fretboard can be set to a reasonable clearance that is within professional expectations. It is light and ergonomic, and it sounds magnificent! I have never had a bass that is so very balanced in tone, from string- to-string and at any fret position as the Ibanez SRSC805 is. With most active, five string basses, you set the EQ for a nice full, but clearly articulate low B and E strings. But then the high notes on the D and G strings are thin and metallic sounding and are softer by significant and annoying decibel levels. The Ibanez SRSC805 does not have this annoying trait. The bass has exactly the right mix of clear articulation and "stringy" sounding sustain. I love this bass. And most of my $60,000 worth of bass collections now sits in storage while I and the Ibanez are having a fine-hot time. It is the best sounding bass I own. Get one, live with the flaws. You will not be dissapointed. Features: Everything is great, except for the neck. The neck is not the same as other SR Basses. The neck needs to be stiffer. The truss rod placement is wrong. The pitch of the neck; up from the body should be changed to a downward pitched neck. Ease of Use: Fantastic sounding bass! Very ergonomic. WOW! Quality: All of the components are very good. But the instruments has some flaws that could be remedied with design adjustments. Ibanez will probably never read this evaluation of the bass. Too bad. They should listen. The bass could be so very much better. Value: Yes. Manufacturer Support: I have not contacted Ibanez. The Wow Factor: Once the wood is finished, the instrument is beautiful to look at. Overall: See below.Dr

I bought this bass as my first 5 string. I own Japanese Ibanez bass and vintage Ibanez guitar. Japanese made are always better. What I like about this bass the the great sustain it has and overall the looks is really nice. But being made in Indonesia I was skeptical, I was right. Maybe I'm nip picking but craftsmanship is a little low for the price point this bass is at. Probably because of the type of wood being used. The abalone inlay on my bass is a slightly off, the individual bridge are all not the same height compared to the pictures online. overall the bass sounds great and is playable despite the little details I'm picking on,. but would I recommend this bass? Yes but do check details if you care about it. I kept mine because the little details doesn't effect the playability or sound of the bass. being made in Indonesian, don't expect it to be the same as Japanese made Ibanez.Ash

I play 8 to 10 gigs a month in the D/Ftw metroplex. I bought this bass in may. What a joy to play ! I get incredible tone through my acoustic 450, no effects. The neck is awesome, the whole feel is great. Its light so after 4 hours i dont feel tired. Plus is a beautiful bass. I highly recommend this bass. Love it !Barry