I personally don't care for the stock I banez pups. I replaced the stock pups in mine with a set of Barts and now it sounds just incredible. BTW, at this kind of price I recommend getting this bass over the the newer ones with the Mark-I pups; by the time you buy top of the line Barts and you have them installed, it will run you about the same amount of money. I used a set of 72M55's on mine and they sound wonderful.

As stated, comes with Elixirs out of the factory.

Ibanez claims this is a more traditional bass than their Soundgear models, I agree. For those of you who, like myself, like the feel of a big chunk of lumber, this is for you; when you strap it on, it feels like you are slinging a bass!

Custom shop looks on a beer budget; the pictures really don't do the instrument justice.

At this price, you can't go wrong.

This a "not applicable item". I have never had a problem with an Ibanez product.

Simply a gorgeous bass; I always get complimented on mine!

Part time bass player since 1973

Rock, blues, raggae, jazz, alternative............

This is without a doubt one of the best basses i've ever played. the sound is amazing. The tones you can produce are endless. The overall quality of this bass is simply impressive. I play mostly punk with this bass but it has changed the things I play tremendously. I play more emo now because I get so much more feeling while playing this bass. It has truly made me a better bass player.

The 24 volt Dynamix pickups are awesome. I absolutely love the Mono-Rail II bridge, It makes the bass easier to tune and stays in tune much better than most basses. The EQ is also one of the very best allowing for an immense variety of tones without any noise.

This is undoubfully the finest bass I have ever played. It has amazed me from the first note I played at the music store, to everything I have accomplished since I purchased it. I personally have not found another bass that's easier to play, and instantly get the sound and quality out of it that I am looking for. This was my first 5 string bass and the only thing I had to get used to was the width of the neck, not that it was hard to play, but but just the feeling in my hand. I actually feel it is easier to play than many 4 string basses.

The product quality is unparalleled in anything I have seen or played previously. I have no doubt I will be playing this bass 20 years from now and beyond. I find that its only weakness is that I have to replace the two nine volt batteries about every three to four weeks, but everything else makes it completely worthwhile. I don't buy or look at basses for beauty, but this is one of the most beautiful basses on the market. One thing I find very curious however, is the finish. I own the transparent black model, but it doesn't look anything like any picture I have ever seen. It looks 10 times better. Any picture I have ever seen online has a brownish tint to it, but in reality it changes color in different light. when I first purchased it I thought it had a green tint then, when I took it home it looked more of a gray or charcoal color. In my opinion it looks way better in person than any photo I have ever seen.

I purchased this bass not long after it first came out, so I payed near its srp, or about $650 and I have no regret having payed that much. Now it is easy to find under $450 and I challenge anyone to find a better bass anywhere for near that price.

I have not had one single problem with this bass, so I have no idea how thier customer service is, but isn't it better when you don't even have to think about that.

Extremely sexy, I would sleep with it if I could.

Active Musician

Punk, emo, some alternative

This Bass Is Great, I Got It For Graduation, I've Owned It Less Than A Week, And It Already Makes Me Sound Like A Better Bassist (I Own The 4 String) It Sounds Great For Slap, Or Heavy Rock

The EQ knob, And Bass And Treble Boost Make It Sound Perfect. It'll Be Everything You Want. It Is Incredible!!!

This Bass Is 100% great. I Trust It To Last Me A Very Long Time. It Has A Beautiful Honey Quilt Finish, And I Of Course Try To Leave It In The Case, The Knobs & Bridge Are Absolutly Gorgeous. It Is PERFECT

YES!!! It Was My Dream Bass Before I Owned It, And Still Is Now

I Dunno...Brand New, Never Had Any Problems, But The People Who Sold It To Me, Answered Every Question I Had About It

Dude, This Bass Has The Power To Get You Paid, Or Laid. It Is Awesome, Trust Me, I Couldn't Be Happier With It.

I'm In An Active Band

I Am In A Christian/ Alternative/ Emocore Band

This is my first 5 string bass....it caught my eye in the music store and although it was used, the moment I picked it up and played it I had to have it! The sound was deep, rich and delicious! I made sure I played it through several different amps to make sure it was the bass and not the amp that gave it the sound that hooked me!

I was pretty much satisfied with every part and component on this bass...No complaints in exception for the "two" batteries instead of the traditional one battery. (batteries are expensive!)

The only two things that I had to get use to was it's weight...she's heavy! The other thing was the neck width, and that's only because I have been playing a four string bass for many years. This is now my main bass unless the song calls for less "depth".

Well built and solid! This bass should be around another 20 to 30 years! I like the finish although I can't give it just one color when it seems to change colors depending on the light. Gray, green, grayish brown or grayish green?

I realize new, this bass was almost or about $800 but I got it for nearly half because it was used, and I have good business rapport with the store salesperson!

Not applicable

This bass is beautiful "head to strap knob" I can't imagine being without it now!

I've been playing bass since I was 17....I am a lead guitarist also and have played professionally since I was 17.

Jazz, Funk, Blues, Gospel and Rock

This is a very dynamic bass with great range of sound. it has rich, warm lows and great highs. the bass cuts through the mix in most band situations and is great in all styles.

This instrument is extremely playable! no modification is needed to achieve a professional sound. the bass is great to play.

Great Woods Great Construction although this bass looks tempremental and fragile, it is build to last. it is solid. awsum pickups and the mono-rail bridge is perfect.

Active Musician

All styles

Ya can't eff with the sound of this bass. You can alter it to fit almost any style of music you want to play. Very crisp highs and rattling lows.

The mid control on this bass is great. Unlike a lot of basses the low and high boosts actually have a significant difference in the sound.

Great sound and look. Nice wide neck with perfect string spacing. It might seem a little big for less experienced bassists though.

The best sounding bass I found in it's price range.

Hopefully this won't even come into play.

One of the best looking basses I've seen. The transparent black is beautiful.

Anything worth a damn

the sound can be very deep and rattle houses to the ground, yet it can also provide an extremely distorted as well as a crisp tone for whatever reason you may like.

the tuning features are excellent. the plastic coated strings mine came with are still being used a year later and only recently has the coating started to come off where i've been using a pick. very nice and smooth sliding action.

Very solid, solid bass. finish is very pretty. the transparent black has made my entire band say at one time or another "that's a serious bass...i'm a little scared." they get scared when i treat it like a child. i love it so.

may seem a little expensive, but it is very easily worth more than the price. you will know as soon as you hit your first clean note how much it is worth. damn fine sound for the price.

i consulted them about a catalog and where i could buy the bass and they were very cooperative. good customer service.

very beautiful and striking bass. you will fall in love when you see it and then beceom attatched to it when you play it.

Alternative

got that deep brown sound i love the tone screamin highs or low chatter great sound

didnt like the battery thing at first but its worth it man

i play live with this one.... i love it all the onboard eq is awsome get it its super cheap 4 what u get

worth it all the way

i dont know wtf this means but i give it a 10 anyways

i feel like jesus when i thump with this thing lol i dont want to be on a cross though its great i love it even if i had another one same quality as alembic i wouldnt know bc i have never touched one but hey if theres a bass better than this i would give my left foot 4 it

heavy metal to an extent i dont scream to much

The amount of tone & range you can get can drive you nuts, I love this bass.

The Monorail bridge just looks so good. Even with low action there's no buzzing, good for tapping.

This bass is gonna last forever.

The quality & the tone is a lot better than the 300 models, so if you're gonna get it you might as well get a 400 model.

Guitar Center is the best.

The trans black color is hott.

Classicly trained jazz musician in a funk metal band.

Metal

The sound is the best for the money. With the preamp, you can put in morre bass, mids, and highs. You can get all kinds of sounds out of it. If you turn the mid knob up and down while playing, it has a slight waa effect. The strings (Elixer) are awesome.

I was fairly satisfied in this area. All good.

Its a tough bass. The finish looks great. The only thing I've noticed is when I got it there was a small screw missing. It didn't hurt anything and its not that odvious.

It is a little expensive for a lot of people but its worth it. Its worth it to see your friends faces when you show them.

I haven't had any problems with it.

It looks good and sounds good to.

rock, alternative, rap

The stock pups can sound muddy without proper equalization.

The Monorail bridge is a great feaeture as is the Neutrick locking jack.

Extremely well built and pleasing to the eye, all at a great price.

A great bass that is highly upgradeable; a real keeper!

Active Musician

Rock/blues

htis bass iz off tha chain! the other bass player at my church has the 515 and another bass player i know has this one. the sound iz amazing. get tha right sound out of it every time!!! i use his btb more than my sr 405. add some ken smith stings on it, this would be a tonal monster!!!

with the features on this bass, it should had been more expensive than it is. neutrik jack, studio-quiet electronics, 35" scale. i wish it had bartolini pickups though. all those great features in a $600 bass??? crazy!!!

the qaulity of this bass its very good. everything it was just right.

compared to some basses in its price range, it has a lot more to offer in features. i plan on purchasing one soon.

this bass iz a definite must have. tasty tones, awesome features, i cant wait to get mine!!!

active musician

fusion jazz, contemperary gospel

Great tone. WOW! This only cost me $379 and it has such awesome tone!

You get alot for your money, that's a fact.

Excellent set up from the shop. Super playable. Elixir strings on it out of box, WHAT A BONUS!!!

For the price I have yet to buy any guitar from any other manufacturer that would even compare. As stated, Elixir strings are already on this beast.

Such a deal.

I haven't had to deal with them yet...

Exellent look and feel. The blue stain is really quite astounding. The quilted maple used is OK, not the highest grade, but well worth the cash I spent.

Hobbyist - Recording Engineer - Semi-Active Musician

Neo-Future-Present Funk/Punk

the active electronics are great, sometimes a little to active, it works great when the power is up!

On the looks side i give it a ten i have seen 3 different colors on this base and everyone of them is wonderful. i have gotten a lot of comments on the bass since i have had it for it being so "pretty"!

no complaints.

it can be compared to more expensive basses.

the warranty sounds good but i have never had to use it.

to me it was i want it, no i need it so i give it a high rating

Rock, Heavy metal, rapcore, christian alternative

Your jnever gonna get a brand bass better than this for 400 bux. This thing used to retail 800, and was 600 on this site. Good bang for buck.. the neck is HUGE though. Like a tree trunk