Electric bass recommendations?

[zeontestpilot]

My husband has had an Ibanez sr300 for 7-8 years now, and is starting to have problems with it. It has this like double layered switch, and it keeps breaking. We've had it replaced once not too long ago, and it's broken again. Apparently they fixed this on newer models. So he was thinking about just buying a newer version of the same one, but wondering if it would be better to go for something a little better. He likes the Ibanez SR series, so wants to stay in that area. Also not looking to spend a ton.

[kkrell]

I think you should just find a decent tech to wire in a quality switch to replace it. Should be a minimal cost, maybe $50 + switch.

If not, please send me a free bass.

[LSemmens]

I'm with kkrell on this. Find a quality tech, an electronics tech would probably be be a better choice for a repair. Switches should not fail that regularly. My Ibanez blazer is over 30 years old and still has the original switches on it. A good technician would easily be able to replace said switches for a very reasonable price. Come to think of it, I have just purchased a 40 year old amplifier that had very noisy volume and tone controls on it and all I needed to do was to clean them out with some contact cleaner. So controls should last you a long time, unless, of course, you manage to break them, then you must replace them.

[Bill Yellow]

Yep, as a fellow bass player, I'd say don't give up the relationship and familiarity you have built up with your instrument for the sake of an old switch. It should be possible to source a comparable switch of say US origin rather than far eastern, for a couple of dollars more.

[zeontestpilot]

It's not the tech that's the problem. The switch is built in such a way as to be easier to bend. I think it's getting a bit jostled in the case, which might be why it's doing that. I don't have a picture at the moment, but it's like a switch on top of a switch. It's not very durable. Can't just put a normal switch on since it's a two in one switch.

We would likely fix the knob again, then just keep this one around the house so it won't get jostled again. Then get something else for outside the house use.

[Bill Yellow]

Yep, as a fellow bass player, I'd say don't give up the relationship and familiarity you have built up with your instrument for the sake of an old switch. It should be possible to source a comparable switch of say US origin rather than far eastern, for a couple of dollars more.

[kkrell]

Are you talking about the stacked bass/treble pot & knob? Looks kinda like these?


Common enough part, and a quality version should exist that shouldn't be that fragile. I think Warwick uses them. Anyway, I'm not sure they're necessarily any taller than a standard knob, although the pot (potentiometer) is often longer and requires a deep route in the body to fit. Perhaps yours is not well supported underneath and is getting stressed by movement in the case. Maybe also use some foam bumpers to keep the bass itself from moving around in the case to prevent future failures?

Again, a good (electric) tech should be able to easily eliminate the problem.

[zeontestpilot]

Yes, it's similar to that. That may be a possibility if they really make them durable enough.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by zeontestpilot

...We would likely fix the knob again, then just keep this one around the house so it won't get jostled again. Then get something else for outside the house use.

Sometimes that's the most practical solution, and it also provides the opportunity to try something different; as you admit, it may be time to step up to something better - the SR300 is an entry-level instrument by any reckoning, and as good as many Ibanez products can be (I've owned two basses - still own the SR405 5-string, may purchase another 5'er - and one acoustic guitar) they have a way of letting you know when it's "retirement time." Setting an arbitrary price limit of $750, there's quite a variety out there: short- and long-scale, semi-hollow and hollow-body as well as solid, traditional and cutting-edge designs, active and passive electronics, a couple dozen different types of pickups - enough so that locking into a single make/line eliminates the opportunity to find what may well be the sound he's been hearing in his head all these years (speaking from experience here)...

Here's an example of something a bit out of the ordinary from Ibanez:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AGBV205ATCL

- Epiphone:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EBAKWRGH

- and Fender:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SCBassMBlk
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MustBaPJRSBLd

- and there's always old classics that have been revived in a less-pricey format:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EBG3EBCH
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EBTCVSBH
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/IgClubSB
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/IgViolinSB
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/JBassSTRBSB
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PBassSTRBSB

Happy shopping...