nicsim Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 I'm toying with either changing or just getting another bass. I currently have an Aria XRB - from the late '80's - (think Jackson Concert series), which plays well and has a nice slim neck (40mm at the nut - not sure about the depth). The P-J pickup arragement offers tremendous punch even without switching to Active EQ. From looking around at websites and this forum (and others) the SR series is well thought of and ticks all the boxes - slim, fast neck, sounds and looks great, good VFM etc. But - I've got my eye on a Yammie BB414 which I've always liked - loved the bass sound of early Dio albums and Van Halen's Michael Anthony. I know the BB wll be heavier than the SR, but it's still tempting . My one doubt is what the neck is like on the BB. I suspect it may not be the slimmest of the three - my Aria, an SR and the BB. Has anyone had experience to compare BB/SR's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sykilz Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 I've owned both, and yes the ibanez is way lighter and neck is way thinner, but having said that my Yamaha BB I still own and gig regularly, and the Ibby lasted about a year. The neck on the Yamaha is by no means big, it's a 40mm nut and mid size depth I'd say, nowhere near as fat as an average P bass, but a little thicker than an av Jazz bass. I swapped the Yamaha tuners for hipshots, and it now balances perfectly and weighs approx 8 1/2 lbs, so not super heavy. Sound wise, IMO, the Yamaha just slays the Ibby, the Ibby was pretty ....dull to me,or overly thin if you cut the bass, whereas the Yamaha is just a huge sounding bass, with the 3way toggle you get the P style thump, both pickups give you a Duff Mckagan like bite, and the rear is all biting and snarling. What type of music are you going to play, and what amp will it be going through? If it were my money I'd 100% go for the Yamaha, though the Ibby isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, just not for me!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sykilz Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 Just had a measure, the Yamaha at the nut is 40mm wide, and 20mm deep, up at the 12th fret the depth is 21mm. I have a Mex jazz, that's a bit fatter front to back surprisingly. Having re read your post, seems like you're a rocker, the Yamaha will deffo sound good playing that sort of stuff!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sykilz Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 Just had a measure, the Yamaha at the nut is 40mm wide, and 20mm deep, up at the 12th fret the depth is 21mm. I have a Mex jazz, that's a bit fatter front to back surprisingly. Having re read your post, seems like you're a rocker, the Yamaha will deffo sound good playing that sort of stuff!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 Another vote for the BB414, although I have to add that I've never played any Ibanez basses... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicsim Posted June 18, 2016 Author Share Posted June 18, 2016 (edited) [quote name='sykilz' timestamp='1466191977' post='3074084'] Just had a measure, the Yamaha at the nut is 40mm wide, and 20mm deep, up at the 12th fret the depth is 21mm. I have a Mex jazz, that's a bit fatter front to back surprisingly. Having re read your post, seems like you're a rocker, the Yamaha will deffo sound good playing that sort of stuff!! [/quote] Cheers sykilz. I need to measure the neck on my Aria just as a comparison I guess. You are right about musical style - I'm not in a band just yet, but in the past when I was, I played anything from Free, The Cult, Queen, Status Quo, The Beatles and ZZ Top (via Simple Minds and Pink Floyd!). And Duff McKagan's sound is one I like, in fact I'm also watching a Squier Precision Special P-J bass as well (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262481009619?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT) - although I'm not sure how this compares quality wise with the Yammi or Ibanez. Edited June 18, 2016 by nicsim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 I have a BB and an SR, and they're chalk and cheese! Traditional style passive v modern style active - I would expect your preference to be quite marked if you played both... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sykilz Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 Those Squier P specials are quite nice, IMO not quite as well finished as Yamahas, but I'd imagine sound wise it's similar style. As stated above, the Ibanez is active, but oddly enough the Yamaha put out a hotter...i.e louder, signal to the amp than the Ibanez did. The newer Ibanez have a better eq system than the one I had , that had a style sweeper, which never quite did it for me. Not sure that Squier is worth £200 though, think they were about that new, and it's certainly not that rare, I saw several in music shops round Essex a few years back!! A plus for the Ibanez was that it was so light you hardly knew you had it on the strap, I've been tempted by an Ibanez 5 string if I get another one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 Either. Both great....it's that simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinball Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 If your after an SR I would say wait and watch out for a 2nd hand SR500 Both are great value Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicsim Posted June 18, 2016 Author Share Posted June 18, 2016 (edited) Thanks guys. I think the Yammie edges it over the Squier - pricewise definitely. Strangely, despite my Aria having Active/Passive EQ, I rarely used the Active option as the sound was so dynamic anyway. Sykilz - I'll agree on the Ibanez 5-string front. If I was to go for a '5-er' I think an SR is a no brainer as first port of call anyway. Edited June 18, 2016 by nicsim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sykilz Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 [quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1466261107' post='3074506'] If your after an SR I would say wait and watch out for a 2nd hand SR500 [/quote] Definitely this if you prefer the Ibanez, the woods and electronics get much better on the SR500 and above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 I have owned both and for me the Yam is the winner. I still think that the P pickup is the best sounding one out there, imo of course. I find that the active circuit in cheaper basses lets them down and I always end up moving them on. But the SR is still great value for money and if you like a small neck, light weight, then it could be the one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=272277229301&globalID=EBAY-GB Can't tell you the model number but if you happen to live within reach of Yorkshire, the County Council are selling this BB on e-bay current bids £52, collection only. Less than 24 hours to go, must be worth a punt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicsim Posted June 19, 2016 Author Share Posted June 19, 2016 [quote name='sykilz' timestamp='1466269004' post='3074565'] Definitely this if you prefer the Ibanez, the woods and electronics get much better on the SR500 and above. [/quote] Missed out on the BB, but I spy a SR500 for £300! Interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocco Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 I adore my SR, but as has been said it's worlds apart from the BB. Play both and see what suits. If you're keeping the aria I'd swing for the SR because it's less like the aria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicsim Posted June 22, 2016 Author Share Posted June 22, 2016 There's an SR500 on ebay for £300 ono at the minute. It's collection only, but travelable for me. Is that a reasonable deal for a used SR500? The bloke selling is more than happy for folks to test it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocco Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 [quote name='nicsim' timestamp='1466604022' post='3077171'] There's an SR500 on ebay for £300 ono at the minute. It's collection only, but travelable for me. Is that a reasonable deal for a used SR500? The bloke selling is more than happy for folks to test it out. [/quote] I'd say so, they don't hold their value too well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LewisK1975 Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 SR500's look to be around £485 new atm so it's about right for one in decent condition. I'm guessing it's the one in Liverpool, it looks in OK nick, can see one bump near the bridge and possibly one on the arm chamfer..he does however say it is 'an instrument with character', so I'd give it a good look over... Plus it has a case too. If it's what you have in mind, I'd say go and try it out, and if you like it, why not make a cash offer there and then? Worst he can say is no.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass_Guardian Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 Yamaha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicsim Posted June 22, 2016 Author Share Posted June 22, 2016 (edited) Yep, that's the one. I noticed the dinks - not too worried, but it's worth checking over I think. cocco : they sound like the Mondeo's of the bass world! Best bought nearly new! Edited June 22, 2016 by nicsim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForestPoetry Posted June 23, 2016 Share Posted June 23, 2016 (edited) The new 2016 SR300s are made of mahogany now, like the 500 series, and have upgraded electronics. Definitely worth looking into. I'm getting one of the 5 strings soon as I need a good modern active beater for gigs. Looking forward to it! The 500 does have the Bartolini pickups (which seem to polarise a lot of people, I really liked them) and Wenge/Jatoba neck. The neck on my old SR505 was brilliant. I wouldn't pay £300 for one though, although maybe I'm still smarting from only getting £150 from mine when I sold it on good old Ibby resale value... OP you may want to look into Cort. The B4/C4 is essentially the SR500 slightly cheaper (same materials and electronics), slightly fatter body, and this year they've jumped on the upgrade train and started putting MarkBass preamps in them which sounds pretty nice! I have yet to play one myself but on paper it ticks a lot of boxes. [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Cort_C4_Plus_OTAB.html"]http://www.bassdirec..._Plus_OTAB.html[/url] Edited June 23, 2016 by ForestPoetry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted June 23, 2016 Share Posted June 23, 2016 [quote name='Grahambythesea' timestamp='1466352651' post='3075195'] http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=272277229301&globalID=EBAY-GB Can't tell you the model number but if you happen to live within reach of Yorkshire, the County Council are selling this BB on e-bay current bids £52, collection only. Less than 24 hours to go, must be worth a punt! [/quote] £91 for a BB414? That's an absolute bargain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicsim Posted June 27, 2016 Author Share Posted June 27, 2016 So I dropped on a used SR500 from Andertons . I figured better to spend the same money on a used bass from somewhere with a Returns policy if there was a problem, rather than an ebayer - altough I'm sure it would have been fine. The chap I emailed at Andretons said he'd had a quick play on it to check for fret buzz etc, and it was fine. Arrived via courier yesterday. Apart from a little shop dust it was perfect. I think the packaging must weigh more than the bass - so light! I haven't done a side-by-side comparison with the Aria yet - the neck feels a little different, but very playable. A great range of tones via the EQ and Pickup controls. I just wish I had a proper rig to play it through. Maybe some time. ForestPoetry - I will definitely look at the SR305's if I go down the 5-string route - they're mahogany too, although I prefer the "Iron Pewter" finish of the old series to the "Weathered Black" on the new ones. My other preference would be a Jackson Concert Series 5-er. Thanks to everyone for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 Awesome...I hope you're very happy together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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