Ibanez bass guitar SR505E-BM

The Brown Mahogany (BM) version of the Ibanez SR505E 5-String Bass Guitar is a premium 5-string bass in Ibanez's Soundgear (SR) series, designed for players who want a lightweight instrument with a fast neck and highly versatile electronics.

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Specifications

• Strings: 5
• Scale Length: 34" (864 mm)
• Body: Okoume
• Neck: 5-piece Jatoba/Walnut SR5 neck
• Fingerboard: Rosewood (2021 onward; earlier models used Jatoba)
• Frets: 24 Medium
• Nut Width: 45 mm
• Bridge: Accu-cast B505 with 16.5 mm string spacing
• Pickups: Dual Bartolini BH2 passive humbuckers
• Electronics:
  • Ibanez Custom 3-band active EQ
  • Active/Passive (EQ bypass) switch
  • 3-way mid-frequency selector
  • In passive mode, the treble control functions as a passive tone control.

Controls

• Master Volume
• Pickup Balance
• Bass
• Mid
• Treble
• Active/Passive switch
• Mid-frequency selector

Finish

• BM = Brown Mahogany
• Satin-style brown finish that highlights the wood grain with black hardware.

Tone

The SR505E-BM is known for:

• Warm, punchy low end
• Clear and articulate B string
• Strong midrange definition from the Bartolini BH2 pickups
• Wide tonal range suitable for rock, jazz, metal, gospel, fusion, and modern pop.

Weight

Most examples weigh approximately 3.8–4.2 kg (8.4–9.3 lb), though individual instruments vary.

Pros

• Very comfortable slim SR neck
• Excellent upper-fret access
• Versatile active/passive electronics
• High-quality Bartolini pickups
• Lightweight compared with many 5-string basses

Considerations

• The 16.5 mm string spacing is narrower than some other 5-string basses, which some players need time to adjust to.
• Players on Reddit frequently describe the SR505E as one of the best values in its price class, praising its comfort and versatility.