Ibanez SRH500F Review｜Acoustic Resonance Born from Piezo × Semi-Hollow

I usually play fretted basses, but after being captivated by performances of fretless basses by legendary players like Jaco Pastorius and Tony Franklin on YouTube, my musical curiosity was ignited, and I finally decided to introduce a fretless bass into my setup.

That said, I don’t have many opportunities to play a fretless bass on a daily basis due to my playing style. However, during recording and music production, there are often moments when I want to add a sound with a slightly different atmosphere from the usual. So, if I were going to add one, I wanted to choose a model with a clearly distinct character from my existing basses.

That’s why I chose the Ibanez SRH500F.

Ibanez / SRH500F NNF

The SRH500F offers a soft, warm tone reminiscent of an upright bass, making it an ideal model for easily creating that upright bass-like feeling. As a bass that balances practicality with a unique sound character, it was truly an appealing choice.

SRH500F Details

Body

The standout feature of the SRH500F is its thick, semi-hollow body construction. The inside of the body is extensively hollowed out, resulting in extremely rich acoustic resonance. While the body is about 1 cm thicker than a typical electric bass, it is equipped with an elbow cut, making it easy to hold and designed to reduce fatigue even during long playing sessions.
Additionally, the neck heel is contoured to support smooth transitions to higher positions, offering excellent playability. The combination of the F-hole and brown sunburst finish gives it a luxurious, string-instrument-like appearance.

Neck & Fingerboard

The neck has a slim profile that’s easy to grip, even for players with smaller hands, making it highly maneuverable. The fingerboard is made of Panga Panga, a wood that has been widely adopted in recent Ibanez basses since it offers a tight and clear sound.
Fret lines are marked all the way up to the 24th fret, allowing for a wide range of playing styles, from backing to solo work. Additionally, the fingerboard on the 4th string is extended, and it was thoughtfully designed to also function as a thumb rest.

Controls and Pickup

The controls are kept simple, with just one volume and one tone knob. The wooden knobs add a stylish touch that enhances the natural aesthetic of the instrument.
It comes equipped with an Ibanez original piezo pickup.

While piezo pickups are generally known for producing a hard and cold sound, this model delivers a warm tone with an acoustic character.
Additionally, to compensate for the typical output imbalance of piezo systems, the back of the body features trim pots that allow you to adjust the volume of each string individually.

Impressions from Actually Playing It

My first impression after playing this bass was how incredibly comfortable it is to hold. Based on the SR series design, the body shape fits well against the body, and the slim neck supports comfortable playability. I felt it would be easy to handle even for players with smaller hands or a more petite build.
As for the sound, it delivers a blend of the sweet nuance unique to fretless basses and the rich resonance of a hollow body, creating an airy feel reminiscent of an upright bass. Despite the simple 1 Volume / 1 Tone configuration, just shifting your right-hand position allows for a wide range of nuances, and the bass responds faithfully to the player's touch, which is another major appeal.
Please also refer to the audio clip I recorded directly into an audio interface (SSL2+ Mk2).

Recommended Effects Pedals for the SRH500F

While the SRH500F sounds great even through a standard bass amp, to fully bring out its acoustic character, using an acoustic preamp is highly recommended.
Among them, a top recommendation is the ZOOM AC-2.

ZOOM / AC-2 Acoustic Creator – Acoustic Guitar Preamp

The AC-2 is generally known as a preamp for acoustic guitars, but it actually includes a dedicated upright bass preset and supports input settings optimized for piezo pickups. This allows for more natural and organic sound shaping.
Additionally, the built-in reverb is excellent because it enables you to easily create a complete acoustic sound with just one unit. Below is a sample recording of the same phrase as before, but this time with the AC-2 applied.

Conclusion

The Ibanez SRH500F goes beyond the boundaries of a typical fretless bass, offering a hybrid experience that incorporates upright bass-like resonance and an acoustic feel. With its touch sensitivity, excellent playability, and beautiful appearance, every aspect of this model is compelling.
I highly recommend these basses not only for those interested in fretless basses, but also for anyone seeking a more acoustic-oriented sound.

The “sound & person” column is made up of contributions from you.
For details about contributing, click here.