You get what you pay for...and more, great looks, solid flexible sound, very comfortable to play (for me at least) great in recording/live performance applications. I started on Ibanez and I love this bass. I will hopefully and likely hold onto and play this bass for many many years to come.

Sound
Great sound and shaping, cleanly emulating bright P to mellow J to a cool rock throaty mid growl all it's own. Sweet sounds are easy from this bass.

Features
Bartolini pickups and EQ are flexible and accurate. Mid adjustment is powerful, nice wide template of sonic options without the questionably unusable sounds/features some seem bent on providing. Knobs and tuners are die cast metal. Feel is solid and approaching elegant for a bass in this range.

Ease of Use
Great low action out of the case, minimal buzz, but it is there with first setup. Appears to be relatively easy to setup, but did not see the need to, so will find out eventually with string change probably. Nice new bouncy crisp Elixer strings should last a while with some basic care!

Quality
I have owned a few other basses, fender, and a previous ibanez sr-500 that served me well. I can't speak to the super high end "rick" quality, never owned one, although played some and they were great. This is a perfect working mans or advanced beginner bass for studio and stage, it may find it's way to the hands… read more of pros easily as well. It looks plays, and sounds great, way beyond it's price tag. Even though I have not been crazy about "flat" finishes on other instruments. This one just plain works! When some of my friends came by the immediately noticed it and said it looked "bad@ss!" Very nice flame to the maple, no rough edges, glue sots, dead spots, or cut corners in the overall design finish that I can find. Some previous reveiwers said they had dull fret markers, mine look nice, not bright really. I'll take the classy look of subtle pearl inlay over boring obvious white markers anyday.

Value
Fantastic value!

Manufacturer Support
well...uh...haha...have not dealt with much, but would not look forward to trying...with a massive company like ibanez, somewhat removed from the common musician. Maybe if you have an endorsement you would get a call back. Most stuff i fix on my own or take to a local shop.

The Wow Factor
I wanted it...and got it...yes.

Musical Background:
Active musician/composer, performer/studio.

Musical Style:
Around the world and back, funk, jazz, punk, rock, alt, metal, odd stuff i made up. read less