Ibanez SR605E-CTF 5-String Active Bass Guitar

The Ibanez SR605E-CTF is a five-string electric bass designed for players who want flexible sound shaping in a comfortable SR body. Its ash body and five-piece jatoba/walnut neck are paired with Nordstrand Big Break pickups and detailed onboard EQ controls. The Cosmic Blue Starburst Flat finish makes it visually distinctive, but the practical appeal is the ability to move between clean, well-defined bass lines and more assertive amplified tones.

Five-string range and the SR playing feel

A 34-inch scale provides the familiar long-scale response used by many five-string basses. The extra low B string extends your range for contemporary pop, rock, gospel and other arrangements that require notes below a standard four-string bass. Its contoured Soundgear body is designed for comfortable playing, and the five-piece neck supports stability. A rosewood fingerboard has 24 medium frets and abalone oval position markers, making it a practical instrument for both lower-register work and melodic passages high on the neck.

Nordstrand Big Break pickups

Two passive Nordstrand Big Break pickups use a split-coil design within a modern soapbar format. They are intended to deliver a full-bodied sound with clear attack and controlled noise. The pickup balance knob lets you favour the neck or bridge pickup depending on the sound you need. This flexibility can be useful when moving from rounded fingerstyle lines into sharper picked playing or more percussive techniques.

Active EQ and passive bypass

The custom Ibanez electronic system offers Bass, Middle and Treble adjustments with a three-position Mid Frequency switch. Its selectable centres are 250, 450 and 700 Hz, providing different ways to shape midrange definition. An EQ bypass switch enables passive operation; in that mode, the Treble control works as a passive tone knob. That makes it possible to compare a straightforward passive sound with a more carefully sculpted active one, without carrying an external preamp.

Bridge and practical setup

The Accu-cast B505 bridge provides adjustable intonation and practical string spacing for different playing techniques. As with any five-string bass, setup, string gauge and amplifier settings have a large influence on low-B clarity. Start with a neutral amplifier EQ before adding bass boost to avoid losing note definition. Ibanez recommends a suitable bass case but does not list one as included in its standard specifications.

Who is the SR605E-CTF for?

It suits players who value an ergonomic bass, extended low range and the ability to dial in several distinct tones from one instrument. Barbad Musical Instruments can help with bass amplifiers, strings and UAE delivery arrangements.