Ibanez SR300EB Electric Bass Guitar - Candy Apple Red

The narrow neck makes the SR basses the easiest to play with my small hands. Its weight is only 8 lbs, and the thin body with rounded edges help, too. Angled-in machine heads have made them slightly easier to reach. No neck-drop, thanks to the top horn being long enough. Ibanez’ designers put the output jack on the body front and near the edge; there’s no need to flip the bass nor grope underneath to find it. That’s good, as the active electrics mean plugging and unplugging to switch the battery on and off. Wireless playing is tricky. The recess is too deep for a Donner DWS-3, and the DWS-1 might or might not fit, but the DWS-2 does. The Boss WL series sender is a snug fit. That means that it won’t get rattled loose like on my other bass. That’s why I looked to getting one of these Ibanezes. Active pickups compress the signal, lessening accenting and dynamics. You don't get that on the SR; the actives are in the EQ. I found a YouTube on how to bypass the circuit board whilst keeping the EQ cut, but I don’t want to lose my warranty by doing that. Control knobs are for bass, middle, treble, neck/bridge pickup balance and volume. Finding the mid-setting on all but the latter is done by feeling a slight notch as you turn the knobs. A toggle switch lets you choose between pickup kinds. There’s humbucker with bassiness and warmth, low-hum single coil for trebly and a third setting that gives both. I spent much of my time trying the bass out in working the EQ; the range is so wide that bright slap and dark rumble are all there without having to change the amp settings. Full bass puts the signal into an overdrive that’s usable, the bottom end still there. The bass boost is so strong that my Blackstar Fly 3 Bass sounds deep and bassy. You can get a good trebly growl, too. All I would change about the SRs: giving them a passive & battery-off/active so that we can have off the battery without having to unplug the lead. A great bass at a great number of Hissing Sids at £218. I knew that I wanted an SR. I chose this model for its lovely toffee apple red.

I bought this bass guitar to learn how to play it. Unfortunately I had been very busy and didn't give it a proper look and try it for a few months. But when I did it became clear the one I got was a little messed up. One of the pick ups wasn't fixed properly but was at an angle and it moved around. Then I noticed the sound had some kind of metallic resonance that was higher pitched compared to the note and didn't stop for up to a second or two after I stopped the strings. It seemed to be coming from the neck. Checking the neck screws on the back I found one was not stopping turning even with light twisting force meaning it didn't grab the wood anymore. Checking the neck rod I noted the Allen socket was badly damaged. It's either appaling craftsmanship or it wasn't new and someone tampered with it then sent it. Unfortunately, it's too late for me to send it back. It's better to go to the shop an test the one you are about to buy. Probably it's a decent bass. Apart from the one I received. I'll see to find a replacement neck... Disappointed