Review Demo - Ibanez SRH505F 5-String Fretless Bass

Read the review: bit.ly/IbanezSR...
Dr. Jonathan Schwabe, a bassist and professor I studied under at the University of Northern Iowa’s music program, affectionately refers to the upright bass as the “king of instruments.” When you consider the physical challenges in playing the acoustic juggernaut, it’s an appropriate label. Many electric bassists have attempted to make the transition to playing the unforgiving axe, only to realize the upright bass’ beautiful timbres require significant adjustments in technique and aural facility. Thankfully, there are options for these dejected players seeking more of an acoustic sound-including this new offering from the Ibanez Bass Workshop. Labeled the SRH505F, it’s a semi-hollow adaptation of their classic Soundgear series design that features a fretless fingerboard, chambered body, and piezo electronics.
To achieve their sonic goals with the SRH505F, Ibanez constructed a somewhat thicker body-comprised of mahogany and topped with spruce-to accommodate the chambered design. Two large chambers enhance resonance and reduce weight, and a forearm contour provides comfort while adding subtle styling. Speaking of looks, the “natural browned burst” finish delivers an organic vibe, and the carved, bass-side f-hole is a classy touch.
The jatoba and bubinga combination for the 5-piece neck helps deliver midrange complexity and add mwah to each note while providing neck stability. The fretless, bound-rosewood fingerboard complements the warm woods of the bass, and as a friendly guide, Ibanez installed black line-markers and offset white-dot inlays to minimize intonation issues. Ibanez was also savvy to carve a thumb rest at the end of the fingerboard. Not only does it provide a convenient anchor for string crossing; it keeps the thumb from resting on the resonant spruce top.
Continue reading the review: bit.ly/IbanezSR...

[@basspowerof6]

I just bought one and I absolutely love it! More versatile than one would expect. Beautifully crafted and great tone and play ability.

[@onzkicg]

Did you have trouble with its Piezo pickups when using live?

[@basspowerof6]

Not at all actually.

[@achaille9110]

I bought one, as well. I couldn't be more pleased about it. I love the growl of my fretted, solid body, 5 string basses. But, I also love the laid back, acoustic fretless sound from this bass. Plus, it is so easy to play. Spoils my fingers and my ears. I'd be interested to know gear the you use to make yours get the best sound.

[@mrholister4182]

You had a like when I heard "If I only had a brain".. Also played one of these, and it was SOOOOO smooth and mellow sounding. It was honestly a brilliantly put together instrument that didn't seem like the fretless aspect was an afterthought.

[@franktalarico689]

Come back just to here this demo every now and then

[@erickvillegas2544]

Why buy this over the 4 string? So you can rest your thumb on that b string since there’s no pick up.

[@LaCr0ix4139]

exactly

[@BoultonOKelly]

Because I want a bottom D or C

[@DoglessEndeavor]

The edge of the fingerboard is effectively a thumb rest. You also get the best tone from this bass by playing there.

[@johnwortham1595]

Best review for this model on all of KZbin. Thanks! 👍🏻

[@Obidibidou]

Benjamin Shepard does the definitive demo of this Bass !!

[@Pepper-cd9yr]

ben shapiro destroys libtard fretless bass guitar with INTONATION and WAH

[@peppypp]

i need this in my life

[@sidez81]

Peppy Peng get the epiphone zenith.... Wayyyyy better

[@davidjmcclelland]

where? discontinued and hardly ever see one for sale

[@DoctorIntrepid]

I miss Steve Cook. Premier Guitar doesn't seem to do bass stuff anymore. It's pretty much all guitar all the time now.

[@edwincancelii2917]

It’s also good for salsa, Latin jazz & Brazilian jazz.

[@ransely.riveraperez7647]

I don't own a fretless bass so bear with me when I ask this but: Would it be a bad idea to use Roundwounds or Rotosound strings on this bass or any fretless bass for that matter?

[@petermikolay]

I use Rotosound Tru Bass 88 nylon tape wound on my Warwick RB Streamer passive fl. (Placed a thumb rest right under the neck: highly recommended.) No nasal sound. No treble. No clarcking. No coke. (Dr. Alban)

[@mrebear9758]

No, Jaco used roundwound rotos. But you'll wear out the varnish / fingerboard quicker

[@PEACEinYESHUA-oj7vc1pk7w]

I played fretless exclusively over the years. And I used regular roundwounds on my old Warwick 5 string fretless, however the fingerboard was made from solid ebony and so it was okay. The roundwounds at the time suited certain types of music I was playing. I would be reluctant to put rounds on this fretless because it would make a mess of the fingerboard and cause some problems further down the road. Rounds would dig into it and it would be problematic. Costly at that. A decent set of flatwounds are safest for this. Or tapewounds I have the Ibanez SRF 705 fretless and it has a solid body and two and a half octave neck it’s awesome. I wouldn’t dare put roundwounds near it though because it would chew up the whole fingerboard. You can get away with it on an ebony board. There will be small traces. I used to hate flatwound bass strings until I got the SRF and it came with Flats and they were great and very bright however they became a tad rusty looking a bit suspect so I splashed out and purchased a really good set and it sounds incredible. The brand of strings really makes a difference as well it’s really just trial and error 😅❤

[@carterelliottmusic]

Was that "If I Only Had a Brain" I heard at the beginning?

[@radmin2]

if I only had a fret

[@MsCellobass]

wow what a bunch u are saying so many negative things. HE IS SHOWING you this bass! Whatever he is playing doesn't matter. I bought this bass and it is a nice bass. i play it with no tone- VERY COMFORTABLE TO PLAY WITH vs a heavy solid body.

[@Blech319]

Picco bow the initial melody is from Wizard of Oz you ignorant moron.

[@MsCellobass]

Blech319 Why are u calling me that?? So what if he plays jungle bells. HE IS DEMONSTRATING the instrument- Makes u the moron that u r.

[@onzkicg]

Nice! Gorgeous looking!

[@edwardssistershands]

That string buzz...

[@jazzman1954]

Spot the guitar player.

[@PEACEinYESHUA-oj7vc1pk7w]

😂 yes

[@tristangorin8087]

Sounds better than any solo walking baseline blshit for a demo 😂

[@ArthurStone]

Thanks: great coverage from Premier Guitar :D

[@tiagocardoso9810]

god thats a gorgeous bass.

[@luisnatera]

Can anybody tell me whats the weight of this bass? due to my physical condition, I need a lightweight instrument.

[@malcolmrose-zadow5517]

That sounds cool, but it sounds nothing like an upright

[@vincentkoster6291]

Malcolm Rose-Zadow I believe that's because he plays in the 'middle' of the bass. playing slightly over the fretboard kind of emulates the sound of an upright

[@Saxoprane]

Because it's not an upright, obviously ;)

[@stepheneickhoff4953]

I can confirm. The top edge of the fretboard has a peninsula that is conveniently placed for anchoring the thumb. Play here, and you get more Mingus and less Pastorius.

[@oliverseddon7950]

because a lot of people find it much more comfortable to anchor your thumb while playing

[@oliverseddon7950]

MomoTheBellyDancer it’s just a matter of preference on a 4 string.

[@leonardbragg7910]

This one beat out my Nazz Bass!

[@vinigretzky97]

pretty cool sound. didnt know piezos were capable of such a fat sound.

[@megajames3000]

should've kept playing all blues.

[@Triumphinchrist1]

Beautiful bass.I would prefer more a n electric fretless than an upright tone though.

[@D14V0R05]

It would need a magnetic pickup for that, like the SRF700/5. This one is built to emulate the sound of an upright.

[@pickupghoul4196]

OMG! Fettles Sandberg California are just a... great bass... but this one... uff! A BIG UFF!

[@Mister47Gaming]

Howie Mandel kicks ass at bass! Never knew.

[@joelanderson_t]

Now I can’t unsee it, thanks a lot!

[@prodevus]

Howie doin????

[@bowds7]

Do they make a left handed version?

[@scg81790]

How well does this work with deathcore/metal? Anyone know?

[@joshstarkey8883]

I think you could make it work quite well, but a solid body bass with a humbucker or two is arguably more suitable. I think Ibanez makes their solidbody soundgears in fretless. If I were gonna buy a fretless 5 like that today I'd probably go with a Sire Marcus Miller M2.

[@jazzman1954]

Badly.

[@benpeltola1364]

Out here asking the real questions 🙌

[@jonathantegnell9935]

That's not how you pronounce piezo!

[@leblille4146]

You mean pie-zo?

[@1dabirdman68]

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII, Like it!!!

[@Albee213]

That's not what I use an f hole for

[@michaelmaier7262]

What do you use an f hole for?

[@spaghettiopizza8686]

yeah, albee. what do you use an f hole for? 🤨

[@pleximanic]

Guitar player!

[@franktalarico689]

This seems pretty cheap for how good it sounds. What kind of negatives does this thing have?

[@EJSjjh]

The finish does nothing to protect the mahogany body, and you can easily find yourself putting a bunch of scratches on this thing.

[@MookieB_The_Artist]

I wish this came in a 6

[@zal8424]

i play fretless all the time. this guy sounds like me playing fretless for the first time

[@SonicXRage]

Why? Because of all the sliding? :p

[@PEACEinYESHUA-oj7vc1pk7w]

Hahaha I recognise he’s not a fretless player or probably not even a bass player but he did alright. If I want a good demo especially if a fretless I am after the Mwah haha it’s all about the MWAH 😅 These Ibanez basses have that anyway they’re set up for it and the piezo pickup is incredible and helps. I would love to get my hands on this beauty I got the SRF 705 before Christmas and it has the piezo pickup but also Bartolini bridge and neck pickups and they are active the through neck is really cool 👌 I’m using flats and I have played all kinds of stuff basic straight eights pumping away just a solid rock beat and I was only using the piezo and it’s huge! I’m recording in Pro Tools and not using an amp. I’m barely adding any eq I’m just using the piezo and adding some 1k and a little 100hz it’s massive on the low notes they really resonate and pack a punch. It’s how you play it and the setup of your fretless bass guitar. I’m not the greatest fretless player there is but yeah I’m more about playing for the song and it has to feel right for the music and sit well with the drums and the beauty of the fretless is it is so versatile and depending on how you play it or what you are doing it is beautiful for creating melodies playing octaves and yeah it takes a bit of getting used to playing fretless. It’s a very different experience but I highly recommend it.

[@sveme]

Basa favorit gw.... Lebih suka yg hitam dasar Terutama yg bass jazz

[@dr.riccardo3575]

Use a foam mute and you get an off brand upright tone

[@carloslozada2121]

play the theme to Barney Miller

[@codymeng1580]

sounds like an appropriate intro song for a bass player

[@christocr]

Hey smart ass... supply your own bassline from now on. NO more bassists for you--we all give you the finger from here on out. Wank over the top of nothing.

[@ivanmateobeltran5121]

Tune...

[@stevez6300]

Is that a Ruger shirt?

[@kamesjey]

man! he can play

[@thewomanwithnohead]

I'm drooling all over my keyboard ... like ... really drooling ...

[@jakemf1]

Price?

[@matthewcurtiss7557]

He says like $750

[@MCDJGUY123]

By the way those strings sound and look and the sound they make when u slide them gently. Thoes are Flatwound Ernie ball Slinky

[@leonardbragg7910]

Jazz

[@joelpriddy9986]

Why do none of these "professionals" know how to pronounce piezo correctly?

[@rdvgrd6]

Sounds like a bunch of farts in the key of shit

[@MsCellobass]

SweBass is that what you've been doing all day😂😂

[@sebastianlacroix5871]

Welcome to fretless bass lmao

[@dylanwillis1473]

The tin man has got to have a brain.

[@Lanearndt]

too bad about that hideous body shape!! otherwise a fantastic gem of a fretless semi-hollow!!

[@DJProfessorL]

Lane arndt looks pretty normal to me

[@prestachuck2867]

It’s all subjective. Different strokes and all that.

[@dionysis_]

I find it quite beautiful 🙂

[@louisep6612]

nice but a battery will last you 2 hrs max

[@g00p3r]

Louise P I haven’t changed the battery in my bass in about 9 months. Still sounds perfect.

[@prestachuck2867]

I have played numerous active basses which utilized numerous different active circuits. In the past 35 years of gigs and sessions, not one of those instruments has had a battery last less than one year.

[@drew9719]

2:38 video starts (Would be better to talk less)