Ibanez SR500A LTD Edition Transparent Gray Flat

Essential Information About the Ibanez SR500A LTD Edition Transparent Gray Flat Bass

• Ultra-fast SR neck: thin 5-piece roasted maple/walnut profile for excellent stability and immediate playing comfort.


• Bartolini BH2 pickups: tight low end, punchy mids, and consistent string-to-string response thanks to the "blade" pole pieces.


• Highly flexible active electronics: 3-band EQ + 3-position mid frequency switch + EQ bypass for passive mode.


• Lightweight okoumé body: sharp attack, good balance, and a sober, modern "Transparent Gray Flat" look.

An LTD Edition That Extends the SR DNA: Modernity, Comfort, and Versatility

For decades, the SR series has established itself as the modern alternative for bassists seeking an ergonomic, fast instrument ready for both stage and studio. This SR500A in LTD Edition follows this logic: a bass with a clean design, crafted to keep up with current styles while retaining what defines the SR signature - a smooth neck, an easy-to-carry body, and perfectly calibrated electronics to shape sound without hassle.

Who and What For: A 4-String Designed for Stage, Home Studio, and Rehearsals

With its stable luthiery and comprehensive electronics, this Ibanez is especially aimed at intermediate to advanced bassists who want a responsive instrument capable of covering many registers effortlessly. It suits styles where precision and definition are essential: modern rock, metal, funk, pop, gospel, or fusion. The long scale length provides solid low-end support, and the rosewood fingerboard helps maintain a musical and balanced tone even when pushing the EQ.

The MR5S bridge allows string spacing adjustment, a real plus if you alternate fingerstyle, pick, and slap playing, or if you're searching for your ideal right-hand feel. Add to that 24 frets: you have plenty of room for melodic lines, solo phrases, and higher-register harmonies.

Precise and Shapable Tone: BH2 + 3-Band EQ + Customizable Mids

The sonic heart of this SR500A is the pair of Bartolini BH2 pickups. Their character is marked by a tight low end (useful for clarity in dense mixes), present mids to highlight attack, and a smooth response that avoids unnecessary harshness. The dual-coil design and blade-type pole pieces widen the magnetic field, resulting in very pleasant string-to-string consistency, especially if your right-hand dynamics vary greatly.

The Ibanez Custom Electronics 3-band EQ is designed to be straightforward: volume, pickup balance, then bass/mid/treble. The highlight is the midrange control: boost and cut are centered on slightly different frequencies, providing more "musical" and easy-to-dial-in corrections. Thanks to the 3-position mid frequency switch, you choose the area to emphasize: scoop for a bright slap sound, push to cut through in rock, or balance for a clean, defined studio tone.

Need simplicity or reliability on stage? The EQ bypass lets you switch to passive mode. In this setup, the treble pot becomes a master tone control: ideal for instantly softening the high end or continuing to play while staying in passive circuitry.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

A D'Addario EXL165 string set with gauges .045/.065/.085/.105 matches the intended setup perfectly and is a safe choice to maintain original balance and response. Since the bass requires a 9V battery for the active electronics, it's also recommended to keep a spare 9V battery in the gig bag or case.

Technical specifications

Electronics: microphone configuration	HH	Body	Okoume
Strings	Steel	Electronics	Active
Nbr of strings	4	Color	Grey
Fingerboard	Rosewood	Finishing	Satin
Nbrs of frets	24	Hardware	Black
Scalloped	Double

Number of strings	4	Fingerboard width at end	62 mm / 2.44"
Format / series	SR	Radius	305 mm / 12"
Body material	okoumé	Number of frets	24
Top	-	Fret type	medium
Body finish	satin polyurethane	Fret edge treatment	-
Total length	1121 mm	Inlays	oval abalone
Neck type	SR4	Side markers	-
Neck/body joint	bolt-on	Bridge	MR5S
Neck material	5-piece roasted maple/walnut	String spacing	19 mm
Neck finish	satin polyurethane	Tailpiece	-
Neck thickness at 1st fret	19.5 mm / 0.77"	Tuners	Ibanez machine heads
Neck thickness at 12th fret	21.5 mm / 0.85"	Nut	plastic
Scale length	864 mm / 34.02"	Hardware color	black
Nut width	38 mm / 1.50"