Ibanez SRF705 Portamento 5-String Fretless Bass Review

Ibanez SRF705 Portamento 5-String Fretless Electric Bass Flat Brown Burst Rosewood Fretboard
8.8

Critic Consensus- MusicPlayers.com and Bass Musician Magazine join in the growing chorus of critics that are celebrating the Ibanez SRF705 Portamento 5 String Fretless Electric Bass.

MusicPlayers.com states, “this highly versatile, pro-level tone monster shares all of its generous features with its four and six-string siblings, the SRF700 and SRF706, all at a very reasonable price.” and Bass Musician Magazine shared, “Being an upright player as well as electric, I am very well pleased with how the Portamento SRF705 5 String Electric Fretless Bass seems to bridge the gap between electric and upright.”

$1049.99
Last Amazon price update was: September 7, 2024 12:20 am
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The Ibanez SRF705 Portamento 5 String Fretless Electric Bass Guitar is a exceptional Fretless bass guitar that has critics raving. The design and use of Bubinga and Mahogany in the body along with the impressive electronics make this bass stand out in the 5 string bass guitar world, even as a fretless bass. With the piezo pickup, this bass guitar can sound electric and acoustic. With the fretless acoustic feature, it gets fairly close to the sound of an upright bass.

Compared to same brand’s similar models

    • Ibanez SR Premium 5 String Electric Bass is similar to the Ibanez Portamento 5 String Fretless Bass in that they are both 5 string bass guitars made by Ibanez. The Ibanez SR Premium 5 String Electric Bass is not fretless and it only features mahogany wood in it’s design whereas the Portamento 5 String Fretless Bass also incorporates Rosewood, Bubinga and Maple. The SR also does not feature the piezo unit with the Portamento incorporates for achieving an acoustic bass sound that compliments the Fretless tone perfectly.
      • Ibanez SR Premium 5 String Electric Bass – ASIN B0796PTG5T

Compared to other brand’s similar models

    • Squire by Fender Classic Vibe 60’s Fretless Jazz Bass is somewhat similar to the Ibanez Portamento 5 String Fretless Bass in that they are mid to pro level fretless bass guitars. The Squire Classic Vibe 60’s Fretless Jazz Bass is a 4 string fretless bass made of poplar wood with nickel plated hardware, whereas the Ibanez Portamento 5 String Fretless Bass, is made of Bubinga and Mahogany with a Rosewood fingerboard and Maple neck.
      • Squire by Fender Classic Vibe 60’s Fretless Jazz Bass – ASIN B07N2995J8
    • The Fender 5 String Bass guitar is in the same class as the Ibanez SRF705 in design and price. The five saddle high pass bridge on the Fender 5 String Bass along with the Player Plus Noiseless Jazz Bass/Player Plus Precision pickups, give the Fender the class Fender jazz bass tone on a 5 string bass.
      • Fender 5 String Bass – ASIN B09G2S3MHD

What’s New In This Model Year Vs Previous Model Year

    • The Ibanez SR605E would be considered the predecessor although the SR605E is not a Fretless Bass. The SR605E is the Standard version of the Ibanez SR Premium 5 String Electric Bass. This model came before the SRF705 but is still in production and is not considered a replacement or previous model in the Ibanez catalogue.
      • Ibanez SR605E Standard 5 String Bass Guitar – ASIN B08Y1XHZ7P
8.8 Expert Score

Critics, including MusicPlayers.com and Bass Musician Magazine, are in agreement that for bass players looking for a bass guitar that can rock out as an electric bass guitar and double as a fretless acoustic guitar with the near tone of an upright bass, the Ibanez SRF705 Portamento 5 String Fretless Elecdtric Bass Guitar will be tough to beat.

Sound
8
Price
10
Look
8
PROS
  • Use of fine woods including Mahogany and Bubinga
  • Piezo Pickups to allow for electric or acoustic tones
  • Built for durability
CONS
  • If you have an issue with the instrument, Ibanez has mixed reviews on customer service
  • Not everyone really needs a 5 string bass