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Premium SR1605B with Huge, Roaring Tone





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We’re fortunate to get our hands on some of the finest instruments available today, and we can confidently say that Ibanez’s Premium SR1605B 5-string bass punches above its price range in every way. Sporting a toneful African mahogany body, gorgeous poplar/burl top, and rock-solid 5-piece panga panga/purpleheart neck, the SR1605B is a boutique-quality instrument with flawless playability, looks, and tone. A pair of aggressive Nordstrand Big Single pickups deliver massive, roaring tone infused with monumental sustain. The 5-piece neck is titanium reinforced, with premium tuners on one end and a Mono-rail bridge at the other. Custom Ibanez electronics with 3-band EQ complete the setup.





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Massive, aggressive tone from Nordstrand pickups





With a “super-packed” coil, the Big Single is considered by Nordstrand to be the "tonal giant" of their pickup offerings. Ibanez spec’d a pair of these aggressive-sounding single-coil monsters for the Premium SR1605B. In addition, you have the powerful sound-shaping capabilities of Ibanez’s Custom 3-band EQ, which gives you control over boost/cut for bass, mid, and high frequencies, a mid-frequency switch to fine-tune your midrange, and an EQ bypass. No matter what tonal texture your music calls for, this instrument’s superb electronics will get you there fast. Fingers, thumb, or pick ? the SR1605B’s electronics have you covered.





Mono-rail bridge enhances definition and sustain





Ibanez specified their excellent Mono-rail 5 bridge for the Premium SR1605B. Unlike single-body bridges, each Mono-rail saddle is completely separate from the others. This does two things for you. First, since they aren’t connected, the saddles create minimal sympathetic vibration. This prevents unused strings from ringing. Second, each saddle is double-anchored, allowing energy to transfer efficiently between the string and the body. As a result, bassists here at Sweetwater are raving about the SR1605B’s astonishing clarity and sustain.





Ibanez: a brief history





Ibanez began its life in 1908 as the Hoshino Gakki company in Nagoya, Japan. However, the company didn’t get into the guitar business until 1929, when they started importing Salvador Ibanez guitars from Spain. In 1935, Hoshino Gakki began building Spanish acoustic guitars under the “Ibanez Salvador” name, which was later shortened to Ibanez. Although Ibanez began manufacturing electric guitars in 1957, the company was relatively unknown in the West until the 1960s, when they started producing guitars based on American designs. By the late 1970s, Ibanez had stopped producing derivative instruments and had begun manufacturing the innovative original guitar and bass designs that the company is now known for. Ibanez is also famous for their effect pedals, most notably the Tube Screamer. Sweetwater is proud to offer to you such a fine line of distinguished musical instruments.





Ibanez Premium SR1605B 5-string Electric Bass Guitar Features:


Poplar burl top, African mahogany body


Atlas-5 5-piece panga panga/purpleheart neck with KTS titanium rods


Bound panga panga fretboard, abalone oval inlays


Medium frets with premium fret edge treatment


Graph Tech Black TUSQ XL nut


Nordstrand Big Single neck and bridge pickups


Ibanez Custom Electronics with 3-band EQ


EQ bypass switch (passive tone control on treble pot)


3-way Mid frequency switch


MR5S bridge (16.5mm string spacing)


Black hardware