Ibanez Ashula SRAS-7 Hybrid - A Fretted and Fretless Bass All In One! - LowEndLobster Fresh Look

[@patrickhunter]

This is honestly too weird and too unique to not love, seriously so ridiculous but so fun

[@floridamankyle5461]

THE SRAS7 IS BACK FOR 2023!!! NEW WOODS ANS A NEW COLOR!! THE ASHULA 2 IS MY DREAM BASS, I MUST OWN THIS!!

[@LowEndLobster]

Yes! I saw! Very tempting to revisit

[@scarab944]

This is what I come to get from the Lobster - the creeps and weirdos of the bass world. What a unique instrument. Kudos to Ibanez for letting such a creation get on the production line. Great review, as always, and your fretless playing was mesmerizing!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you Carmine! We are definitely weirdos here ahahaha

[@craigmoran893]

They are a more interesting and brave company than Fender.

[@seanneary7852]

I had one of these for a while, put piccolo strings on the fretted side tuned DGCF, then BEA on the fretless side. The contrast between the soft fretless notes and the sharper fretted ones was really appealing when playing 10th chords and so on. Should've stuck with it...

[@craigmoran893]

That's probably the best way to set it up.

[@mixc8]

Hmmm sounds interesting I may give that a try.

[@seanneary7852]

@@mixc8 I now have another one, with the same setup, DGC fretless, DGCF fretted. Sounds even better!

[@Dunkelzeitgeist]

How'd you think about having ADG - DGCF I'm thinking the weird combinations from the two G strings being close 😅

[@johnbob2698]

Ooooh that Creep cover was amazing. Even though I would never play this bass, It's an astonishing instrument nevertheless and shows Ibanzes experimental side which not alot of big companies are willing to show. Now we need that multiscale BTB with 37 or 36 inches and I'm sold :DD

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks John! I agree on the BYB. Would love to see it

[@TacticalHyena]

amos from tesseract has a LACS BTB parallel fret with a 37 inch scale 👀 but you right, ibby NEEDS to jump on the 37/34 format, BTB and iceman shapes? compete with the combustion and the D-ROC in one fell swoop

[@martinheath5947]

You will (pretty much) never play a multi scale fretless bass in tune unless it's lined because even with dots on the side ... 😓

[@lemonadedreams399]

What the strings tuned? Beeadg? Somebody please answer this. I just curious. Sorry I'm still beginner player

[@Vykk_Draygo]

Good news, the BTB MS series is 37"scale.

[@mixc8]

I remember when this bass first came out, I was at Sam Ash here in NYC. I thought it was one of the most unqiue basses I ever come across. I love axes that are different then the normal, after waiting a couple of years I did pick one up new for like $800 which I thought was a steal for such a unique bass. I own a recording studio and have over 50 basses and guitars and this is easily one of my favorite basses to play. You are correct it does take time to get use to play :) I found going from the fretless side to the fretted side took a little getting use to, but once I got use to it its not so bad. Its actually a best of a bass; so in certain times when I have a need for both a fretted/Fretless on a song I tend to pick this up. I love the thing LOL

[@LowEndLobster]

Sweet! Thank you for sharing. Great comment. This bass really does make you think outside the box

[@jasondoe2596]

It sounds surprisingly good (well, if you tame the treble). What a strange beast! It makes me happy that someone, somewhere put such a thing in mass production.

[@videonerds6415]

When I first saw this bass, I was blown away. It is so unique. I do agree it is not practical, but it is an interesting concept. Thanks for uploading this. It was a lot of fun.

[@FoamSquatch]

You always seem to be enjoying yourself on these videos. But you can truly tell you are enjoying the oddness of that bass. 10/10 enjoyed this video.

[@nicktwoeightninefour]

I played one in a shop a few years ago and can't stop thinking of how easy the Ashula played in comparison to my '70s Fender. The sound was incredible.

[@WildWildWeasel]

That "Creep" bass loop was beautiful

[@rottingcorpse6565]

Hell yeah! Saw this bass a while back and was hoping for some in depth review!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you! In regards to tuning (from your other comment) you can really go to town on this with the dual truss rods. Stock it's ADG-EADG, but you could do a BEADGCF or F#BEADGC..... I used to have a conklin 7 string a long time ago.... I don't miss it lol

[@1okanaganguy]

Ok. Blow us away with your excellence. Go ahead. We love it!

[@ulfdanielsen6009]

I NEEEED one of these!

[@BYLRPhil]

I love the pencil thin Ibanez necks!

[@pianotorious47]

You have a really nice vibrato on the fretless :). What a bonkers bass!

[@grizelda4526]

Beautiful work! Very cool episode ✌️

[@mattmiles8474]

I totally want one! Btw I love the multitrack instrumental ... nicely done 🔥🔥

[@thesnapperkeeper]

Cool I’ve been waiting for this

[@LowEndLobster]

THE RED SNAPPAH! Thanks Mike!

[@sunn_bass]

Great video and great looking bass. Definitely a well built but high priced novelty bass. I would rather have a doubleneck in a fretted 4/fretless 4 configuration. The cool thing about unusual basses like this is that they make you think outside the box and usually you figure things out or write something that can be applied elsewhere. Cool vid.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks K!

[@bethlehemeisenhour5807]

Love how you are enjoying this. 😊

[@pilummurialis6490]

The slap tone on that fretless side, is outstanding!

[@etpslick100]

Wow! If my former Teacher were alive today; he would DEFINITELY had this in his collection. He had a Conklin BD-7, Heartfield DR-6, and MIJ Fender Jazz fretless, and Kay Upright Bass. I like it! I can see playing it in a Trio or quartet situation where there is no guitar player. Doing a Charlie Hunter type of gig. I would get one.😌🎶❤️👍🏾

[@alexskibicki2262]

Pretty cool demo, lobster 😎🎸 I would say this bass is quite the experiment. And yeah I can see how it can throw you off when you play it. I was a little thrown off when I played a 6-string bass live. Normally I’m a 5-string player, but I did purchase a 6-string bass to experiment with one. It took me some time to get use to it, but despite that, it was fun to experiment with a 6-string bass. Other than that, this was a fascinating bass to check out. Not the kind of bass I would play, but it is a fun experiment of a bass.

[@shades8030]

7:20 This man just played a fretless string! He thought we wouldn’t notice, but we did! For some reason, I saw this and wanted to make an Avengers reference.

[@LowEndLobster]

Ahahahahaha thank you Shades!

[@hammondeggert8833]

Lobster, excellent demo! Thanks great sound.

[@simonperez5902]

Why i didn't watch this before? Good job in the review!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Simon!

[@eiou12345]

I ordered the 2023 version and will be delivered this coming March.

[@jacobsmith1877]

I'm really tempted to buy one of these and re-route for 7 string pickups. I really wish they would have put mag and piezo across the whole bass. That would have made it an instant buy for me a few years ago when they first came out.

[@wren23_bass-synths]

I had the first gen of this model, where the D&G treble was fretless. It's a interesting concept.

[@LowEndLobster]

Nice! That one seems a bit more 'usable' from a practicality standpoint, though I've never actually tried one lol

[@jeremiahcowling3837]

I own one of the first gen models, but I converted it to standard 6 tuning

[@philipmcadam5339]

When I see this, I am reminded of the two necked instruments that were popular for a nanosecond. It is no doubt a beautiful instrument, like Pat Metheny's Harp guitar, limited maybe? You make it sound good in any case. Thanks for an oddity, Lobster.

[@Gnat-Wu]

Oh my god i remember seeing this on davie504's channel its really beautiful and sounds beastly. Love the video lobster!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you Anon!

[@inkswithbrush]

I kinda love it.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Ryan!

[@grisslebear]

19:39 - I LOVE DOUBLE D strings. But the double g string sounds gross & painful. So bass-ically, this is guitar is the answer to a "what if" question that nobody ever asked.

[@wantonitis01]

Perfect song choice! Do more like this!

[@TealScarab]

I ‘d love to see you demo the epiphone eb-0!!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Scarab! The Epi EB-0 was my second bass ever. I wanted it because my dad had a Gibson SG guitar and I thought it was cool. I was not prepared for the turd that I was about to get ahahaha. They're not bad basses, but limited at a time when I needed something more flexible. I was new and was buying based on looks, but it was a lesson learned for sure ahaha. They're cheap enough nowadays that I should snag one, review it, and mod it. I appreciate the suggestion!

[@TealScarab]

LowEndLobster right on!! Yeah they don’t really do much outside of massive fundamental low ends, but seeing how they’re bolt-on necks I’d love to see one made fretless, or an additional p-up added like how Fanblade did.

[@albundy2239]

I really like the finish. Would like this on the EHB multiscale 😅

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Al! For a second I was imagining a half fretless/half fretted EHB monstrosity ahahaha

[@ericj9160]

I remember when these monstrosities came out. I was always curious what they sounded like. Thanks for this demo! It sounds like an Ibanez for sure!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Eric!

[@zeusapollo8688]

Clank!

[@Metalbass10000]

Cool video, and nice interpretation of, "Creep," on the fretless, Purpleheart, and piezo equipped instrument. It would be fun to watch/listen to Les Claypool, or Steve DiGiorgio, rip it up on one of these. I'd prefer a double neck bass with a 4 string fretless and a 5 string (possibly a 6 string) fretted bass... ... I might have to build one next Spring or Summer...

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Metalbass!

[@davidvitale9338]

I really loved the composition you did LEL. And truly, what else do you do with such a bass? You can get much better fretted and fretless basses and you'd swap as required. But the novelty is quite cool.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you!

[@wtcornet]

Interesting! Very nice demo. But I think I would find the legendary Pedula double neck more useful. As for the Ashula, I personally find the Piezo pickup to be a show stopper and not the overall concept of the bass.

[@Dunkelzeitgeist]

Watching this as the new one has released recently and I do really want it 😅

[@tigerscott2966]

Great video. Unusual bass for sure. Davie 504 really plays those basses well

[@devindickinson3903]

My Eye is drawn to that signature valenti of yours

[@davelock3166]

Great instrument. Love the Radiohead!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Dave!

[@JonathanGarcia-iu3ln]

Hey Lobster! cool review! There is one of these, the first generation 6 strings, for sale near me, for around 600, what do you think? Shall I pull the trigger?

[@LowEndLobster]

I've never played the first gen, though I know the setup is completely different. Even from an 'investment' standpoint, I'd think you could probably flip it for the same or a little more without issue if you didn't like it. They're quite rare.

[@MMR_LM]

Man I REALLY want one of these! The only thing holding me back is that price (£1300!!!) but absolutely understandable given how wild it is

[@hammondeggert8833]

I almost want one!! It looks cool!!😅

[@jupiterjames-reynolds2260]

You should check out the ibanez SRC6. Weird bass VI style thing

[@LowEndLobster]

I actually had one briefly but I suck at guitar and found it really difficult to play hahaha.

[@deangomes6280]

When you started playing creep, I thought; man that sure sounds like creep. Lol. Great playing. I had a chance to try one out in guitar center a few years back. Not that uncomfortable just odd. Since it doubles in tuning you can play the same note fretted and fretless simultaneously. And vibrato the fretless note in and out of tune while holding the fretted. 🤷🏻‍♂️ an idea.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Dean! I tried doing that same note on two strings thing off camera... it's hard ahahaha

[@deangomes6280]

@@LowEndLobster hey nothing worth doing comes easy. Hahaha yeah I’d probably have troubles too on account of my pinkys being weird.

[@jebbushu711]

If you ever get your hands on one it would be cool to see an ibanez sr506 (theres also a more modern sr506e with a little more electronic control) though i reckon the sr500 series is all basically the same no matter how many strings it has. I recently got one and it sounds and plays well above its price, and it was a bargain at $400 used (i believe it was about $620 new, but they now only produce the 506e which is around $750). I love it but it would be interesting to see what someone who has more experience with high end basses thinks.

[@bongosock]

I took a long look at that bass, but didn't end up getting it. I was going to change the tuning of the 3 fretless strings to C# F# B descending - so it's a high C# on the top string, to a low B. That way, the bass would become a function 5 string B E A D G, with the low B on the fretless board And I'd have some reversed fretless strings to do weird shit on.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Pectorialis! That's a neat idea for tuning

[@bongosock]

@@LowEndLobster I'm kind of curious if it would have worked out the way I thought - tuning kind of like a Warr guitar. I know you've got a lot on, but would you mind giving it a go and telling me what you think? Ta :)

[@zahirmawji3178]

Love the T-shirt lol

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Zahir!

[@mauricemusician7636]

I'd've had the low strings fretted & the A-D-G fretless. Crunching lows with singing leads

[@zyxwfish]

I love Jatoba

[@coryrich5514]

I had one that I purchased from zzounds brand new. When it arrived, the battery was dead. I changed it but the batteries only lasted a few days before dying on me.

[@LowEndLobster]

Look in the cavity for some bad contact. I had the issue with my AFR and found that part of the jack (the battery lug) was touching a pot or shielding paint causing the battery to always be engaged

[@chrismorris3897]

I like your shirt!

[@daveinitely3204]

Would it make sense to tune/string this thing like a Chapman Stick, that is, inverting the order of the fretless strings, such that the lowest string is towards the middle of the fret board, and the highest string where the lowest string usually goes?

[@LowEndLobster]

I think there's so many alternative tuning possibilities here to utilize the space, but you'd probably need to cut a new nut.

[@daveinitely3204]

@@LowEndLobster Thanks for pointing that out. Kind of an obvious point you have there.

[@daveinitely3204]

Speaking of Ibanezes: You don't plan to review some of the Ibanez Signature Basses, do you? I'd be interested in hearing you take on the affordable versions of the Gerald Veasley, Gary Willis and Adam Nitti (5 string) basses. You'd hate the spring spacing on the GVB36, i suppose.

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

It would be awesome if you could track down an Ibanez Alphonso Johnson sig bass and compare the two. It has a similar layout but it’s allso very different. It would be very interesting for your channel if you could track down a professor of a music university to discuss those two instruments in depth.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks for the suggestions! I've never heard of that signature model and looked it up. I see it's from the Musician Series! I have a Roadster 924 but would LOOOOVE a nice musician (fretless even!)

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

@@LowEndLobster Alphonso Johnson is a very gifted musician and a very very nice person. I assume you could even send him an email and add his thoughts on those two basses. For these are basses for geniusses. And it’s inspiring to pick their brain.

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

I am quite certain if you make a video and ask one on loan one will pop up very near to you so you can do the comparison. I can’t wait.

[@thesnapperkeeper]

Are you still going to do the Ibanez version of the Fender VI?Cant recall the model name

[@LowEndLobster]

I had one early on in the channel but never did a video. I didn't really like how small it was (and I really suck at guitar). Ended up selling it lol

[@thesnapperkeeper]

@@LowEndLobster yeah I remember asking you before a while back lol

[@russellzauner]

4:45 wait for it...3 2 1 MASHES BOTTOM REGISTER ON PIANO *7 year old me laughing*

[@russellzauner]

15:00 but this would be dynamite for live loopers and other multi-instrumentalists...

[@russellzauner]

just found this lol you bet I asked them for tabs When you want to play banjo but only have BASS 115,550 views Nov 27, 2021

[@CHJbassOfficial]

i have the 1st version Ashula which is awesome (in fact just did a video with it on my channel ;-)... this one.. hmmm not so sure...

[@jamcam9]

The only person I know of that plays one in a band is Linus Klausenitzer (sp?) formely of Obscura.

[@ironblast5]

Linus is the only one I've seen use these effectively

[@tpslowbie]

“Yeah that’s bit on the brightside.”

[@LowEndLobster]

:)

[@adams115]

Look into its eager eyes

[@denfinch5694]

The pitches of the strings are I presume:- Fretless - EAD then the fretted - EADG but you could tune them however you want!.....

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Den! It's oddly ADG - EADG out of the factory. You can definitely go ham with alternate tunings though and probably make something that is a bit less confusing haha

[@denfinch5694]

@@LowEndLobster Thanks, Mr. Lobster. Any weird tuning on such a peculiar bass would wreck my mind!.....But having the fretless in a higher register is logical to allow for higher pitched solos...

[@baileywatts1304]

Guitarists called the EVH axe a Frankenstein. They don't know bout Frankenstein. This is a Frankenstein. It's still sexy tho

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Bailey!

[@rustyshackleford6811]

I have a Ibanez hollow body bass short scale hardwood neck..Nashville. Branson special... I love it but it is country .. I'm a old rocker..oh well.

[@Minoltalphafan]

See Pearl Jam’s “Garden” played on this on YT.

[@Bass.Player]

So the top string for both the fretted and the fretless are turned to E?-- Oh Lord! To me it sounds like a Ibanez SR series which is terrible...

[@LowEndLobster]

It's ADG-EADG, even more of a mindfuck lol

[@Bass.Player]

@@LowEndLobster Yeah that would hairlip the shit out of me!

[@rottingcorpse6565]

@@LowEndLobster Could you restring it GDA-EADG? Having the strings mirrored going higher away from the low E in the middle makes more sense to me, like a Warr or Chapman stick.

[@TheDarkKnight73]

fun bass but hmmm no it can look good on the wall

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Rick!

[@nickfoster9350]

This bass is weird, and I don't like it, but I like your video.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Nick! It is such a weird bass

[@dantesinfernopurgatory7826]

You need a third claw to play that axe.

[@bassimprovjams3772]

Definitely a bass to say the least, I’m stumped at words lmao sorry lol

[@LowEndLobster]

Ahahaha it's such a weird instrument. I could imagine a showoff bringing this along to a jam session and getting all mixed up on the neck and looking like a fool (and I'm having flashbacks to me with a Conklin GT7 in high school ahahahaha - I don't think there's any photos of me playing it)

[@bones2532]

Creepy!!!😜

[@craigmoran893]

Ibanez was pretty brave throwing money straight down the toilet.

[@LowEndLobster]

Ibanez Exec: "We need a new bass, NOW!" R&D: "Ok, fretted or fretless?" Exec: "Yes" Accounting: "Are you sure this is is a good id-" Exec: "Nobody asked you!"

[@Cobra-c8j]

Such a weird factory tuning...

[@ramshaar2597]

Strange look i dont like this combination but still the sound is very good real good for ibanez

[@LowEndLobster]

It is strange hahaha

[@anotherrandombassguitarcha9482]

All I can say is,....."What's the point?"

[@joethebar1]

They should have named it 15 minutes of novelty. Someone at Ibanez was trying to justify their worth, and actually sold the concept. SMH

[@projectz975]

this is such a stupid bass... i want one

[@LowEndLobster]

ahahaha it really is

[@officialflannelweek]

"go ahead and pinch the like button so my hand'll turn back to normal" >shit i already liked the video >his hand will never turn normal >i'm so sorry lobster i never imagined i would betray you like this >oh god oh fuck what have i done >I'm SO SORRY LOB- *hand turns back to normal* >mfw.jpg

[@LowEndLobster]

YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA