New Bass - Ibanez or Yamaha?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Alexrkstr
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Alexrkstr

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I know the obvious will be GO PLAY THEM... but given that there are no GC or SA around here I have to ask before I TRAVEL...

Considering Ibanez GSR 200 vs the Yamaha RBX170 .

I am just looking for something to record the bass lines with, and learn at the same time (I play guitar).

Thanks!

ALex
 
hmmmmm..........both budget guitars, hard to say. You'd definitely need to play them first, that's for sure. I think Ibanez has a better reputation for basses? I know I'm not a huge fan of Yamaha guitars, but actually I'm not a huge fan of Ibanez either. I'm not as good with advice on bass guitars though........I think I'd go with the Ibanez with no prior connection to either guitar....
 
Yamaha

No two ways about it.

My friend plays bass in a band. He has a Music Man Sterling a Geddy Lee Jazz Bass and a cheap Yamaha Bass.

We just went to guitar center to get strap locks for the Yamaha yesterday. Why? Because once he played that Bass at a gig through his Ampeg there was no looking back. It has become his favorite Bass.

Incredible tone and playability in a budget Bass. I had the cheaper IveBeenHad and it was a piece of firewood.
 
I've had both Yamaha and Ibanez basses. The Ibanez bass is still in my studio while the Yamaha got traded for a mic. I'm a guitar player first and bassist second so the neck on the Ibanez is the best for guitarist since the neck is narrow and is easy to fret. As for sound...at that price range...you can always change out pick-ups at a later date. Not really much difference in quality of construction that I could see. Bottom line...Ibanez had a narrow neck so I could play it better than the Yamaha.
 
Yamaha all the way. The I'vebeenhad feels like a big guitar. I know guitar players like that, but it a bass dammit. Yamaha basses and guitars are superior to the Ibanez equivalent in every way. I'm not the only one with that opinion, either. Most people I know that have owned both prefer Yamaha.
 
Similar to HogasnHiro, I too am a guitar player and like the feel of the Ibanez. The Yamaha that I tried at GC had the frets sticking out from the sides of the neck and were cutting into my fingers (then neck must have shrunk after construction).
Anyway, go somewhere and play both...you'll know right away which you prefer.
 
Of the two I'd go with the Yamaha-their budget basses are of a pretty high quality. If you would like a standard Jazz or P-style bass, you can pick up an Essex (SX) Jazz or P copy from www.rondomusic.com for about $120 plus shipping. These basses are a heck of a lot of bang for the buck. You will need to change the strings on it when you get it, and will most likely have to do a setup, but chances are it will play better than anything three times it's price once its been setup properly. I play high-end five-string basses (a pair of Elricks), but I owned one of the Jazz four-strings for a while, and was certainly a very good bass. They get high marks over at TalkBass.com.

Check 'em out.
 
I too am considering the Ibanez GSR200 and Yamaha RBX270J. Don't waste your time with the RBX170... it is below decent...

I tested both basses with the same amp setting.... to me the GSR200 wins hands down... more clarity and punch....

but it may not be a very fair comparison since the Ibanez uses active pickups...
 
I like the Ibanez GSR200.

I have one in blue, and I've thought about getting a second one in red!;)

It's a nice bass, & I like it.
 
Hmmm....

The Ibanez has 4 knobs, the Yamaha only 3.

I'm sold!











(and yes I'm kidding - I know what they do. in order,
1. Turns up your acoustic volume
2. Turns up your electric volume
3. Turns up the volume you hear in your head
4. Turns up the volume for the monitors

Duh!)
 
Yamaha. I generally concider them higher quality and better bang-for-your buck. And yes, I have played multiple cheap and expensive Ibanezs as well as Yamahas.
 
I had to laugh. The responses almost directly alternate between recommending Ibanez vx. recommending Yamaha. :D
 
I tried both the GRS200 & the RBX170. I bought the Ibenex with no second doubts.

My Fender Mexi Jazz Bass now sits in a closet since I enjoy playing the Ibenez so much more.
 
in my experience Ibanez basses have slimmer necks and thus are easier to play, at least for me.

however, i own two yamaha basses, RBX765(5 string), and a BB300(4 string), and love them both.

regardless of your decision, you should change out the factory pickups and possibly even the bridge. i replaced my BB300's stock pickups wiht a set up EMG J pickups, and WOW - huge difference in sound. this bass plays as well as anything under $1000, and it cost me about $300 total total including upgraded pickups, including shipping and everything.

the bb300 has a much wider string spacing than the RBX765.
 
Thanks guys!

I got an Ibanez SR300DX for $155 softcase included and strings... I love it!!!!!

DSC00088.jpg
 
I've owned three Yamaha basses, RBX 250, BB350F, and RBX 765 and I've loved all them. While I don't still own the first one (similar to the one you're looking at, but about 12 years older), I do know who has it and could get it back if I jonezed for my first bass.

I've owned one Ibanez and sold that noodler shortly after I bought it. Worthless.

The Ibanez is going to have a flimsy thin neck that appeals to guitar players and flimsy thin tone. The Yamaha won't be much to write home about compared to high end basses, but with good strings and a good amp, it'll do what you need for a long time.

Things to watch out for:
1. In the store, the bass with bright tone will sound better, but it might not be.

2. With any budget instrument, build quality will vary from instrument to instrument even in the same model, try out as many as possible.

3. Make sure the frets are even and smooth.

4. Make sure the neck is straight with just a slight bow (relief) between the nut and the 7th fret.

5. If 3 & 4 are true, you won't hear any buzzing on any fret/any string.

6. Get the store to do a setup when you pick one.

7. Try to get one with as even tone as possible across the frets/strings.

8. Learn to play "Sunshine of Your Love" and jam out.
 
I was checking these basses out at GC yesterday and (as a guitar player) found them surprisingly decent for the buck. Both seem very useable for a budget recording bass.

Question...
Does anyone know why the Ibanez 200 uses a 9-V battery? If the pickups and EQ are passive, then why the internal power? (I didn't see a battery compartment on the Yamaha 170, but it's plain as day on the Ibanez.)

Thanks for any insight,
J.
 
jeffree said:
I was checking these basses out at GC yesterday and (as a guitar player) found them surprisingly decent for the buck. Both seem very useable for a budget recording bass.

Question...
Does anyone know why the Ibanez 200 uses a 9-V battery? If the pickups and EQ are passive, then why the internal power? (I didn't see a battery compartment on the Yamaha 170, but it's plain as day on the Ibanez.)

Thanks for any insight,
J.
Click to expand...
The EQ isn't passive, it's active.
 
jeffree said:
Question...
Does anyone know why the Ibanez 200 uses a 9-V battery? If the pickups and EQ are passive, then why the internal power? (I didn't see a battery compartment on the Yamaha 170, but it's plain as day on the Ibanez.)

Thanks for any insight,
J.
Click to expand...

There is no "passive" EQ- a preamp needs to be powered by a battery (or phantom power, but no one really does that since it's way too much trouble unless you have a ridiculously high voltage like 27 or 36).
 
Thanks, guys. So if all EQ is active, does that mean that the Yamaha (and any other bass) also takes a battery? And for that matter, why don't my 6-string guitars use batteries, too? Excuse my ignorance, but...

J.
 
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