Bass5-string

SR305E

Name: Ibanez SR305E — Pearl White
Brand: Ibanez
SKU: B01BCMDIP8
Rating: 4.3 (52 reviews)

Pearl White

The five-string that makes the extra string feel easy

8.7

Fretline score

Amazon rating

4.3 (52)

Price band

$300 - $500

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The short version

The reason the SR line converts so many four-string players is the neck. At 16.5 mm the string spacing is tight by five-string standards, and the SR profile is genuinely thin front to back, so the reach across five strings never feels like the workout it does on a wider bass. The body is okoume — light, resonant, and the main reason these hang comfortably for a long set. What lifts it above the usual budget five-string is the Power Tap switch: the PowerSpan pickups are passive humbuckers, and the switch runs them in single-coil, humbucking, or a hybrid Power Tap mode that keeps the single-coil clarity while holding on to the low end. Three real voices, not three variations on one.

Score profile

Six axes, scored 1-10. These are editorial judgements about what this instrument delivers for the money — not measurements, and not anyone else’s ratings.

Build: 8.0
Tone: 8.0
Versatility: 9.0
Comfort: 9.0
Electronics: 9.0
Value: 9.0

8.7overall / 10

Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.

Full specifications

Full specifications for the Ibanez SR305E
Body
Brand	Ibanez
Model	SR305EPearl White
Body	SR solidbody
Body wood	Okoume
Neck & fingerboard
Neck joint	Bolt-on, five-piece
Neck wood	Maple and walnut, five-piece (SR5pc)
Scale length	34" (864 mm)
Fingerboard	Jatoba with white dot inlays
Frets	24
Fret size	Medium
Hardware
Bridge	Accu-cast B125, 16.5 mm string spacing
Hardware finish	Black
Electronics
Neck pickup	PowerSpan Dual Coil (passive)
Bridge pickup	PowerSpan Dual Coil (passive)
Configuration	HH
Electronics	Ibanez Custom Electronics three-band EQ with three-way Power Tap switch
Controls	Volume, pickup balancer, bass, middle, treble, Power Tap switch
General
Type	Electric bass
Strings	Nickel-plated steel
Finish	Pearl White
Orientation	Right-handed

21 verified fields. Specifications come from the manufacturer first, then the Amazon listing, then authorised dealers — sources are listed at the foot of this page. Fields the manufacturer does not publish are omitted rather than estimated.

The good and the bad

What we like

Slim SR neck and 16.5 mm spacing make the fifth string genuinely approachable
Power Tap switch gives single-coil, humbucking and hybrid voices from one pickup pair
Light okoume body is comfortable over long sets
24 frets and a three-band EQ at a price where neither is guaranteed

What we do not

Pickups sound somewhat scooped and generic compared with premium alternatives
The low B is usable but not as tight as longer-scale five-strings
Hardware is functional rather than a highlight

Who it is for

Skill level

BeginnerIntermediateAdvancedProfessional

Styles it suits

RockMetalFunkPopJazzIndie

What owners and reviewers report

Patterns we found across published reviews and owner feedback. These are summaries of recurring themes — we do not reproduce or invent individual testimonials.

What comes up most

Neck comfort and the narrow string spacing dominate positive feedback
Owners frequently mention the light weight as a reason they reach for it
The electronics package is described as unusually generous for the money

Frequent complaints

Setup quality out of the box varies between examples
Some owners replace the pickups to get a more distinctive voice

Recognised strengths

Widely reported as the easiest five-string to adapt to from a four-string
Tonal flexibility from the EQ and tap switch is consistently praised

Recognised weaknesses

Factory setup and fret finishing are the most common variables between units

The verdict

For a first five-string, this is the easiest recommendation in the price bracket, and the reasons are ergonomic before they are electronic. The slim neck and narrow spacing make the transition from four strings almost painless, and the light okoume body removes the other common objection to five-strings. The three-band EQ and Power Tap give it far more range than the price suggests. The compromises are visible if you look for them: pickups sound a little scooped and generic next to boutique options, the hardware is functional rather than special, and the B string, while workable, is not as tight as a longer-scale bass would give you. None of that undoes the value.

See it on Amazon Compare with another instrument

Sources

Amazon rating captured 2026-08-26. ASIN B01BCMDIP8.

Strings for this guitar

All strings

The manufacturer does not publish the gauge this instrument ships with, so these are ordered by our editorial score rather than by fit. Measure the set on the guitar before changing to something noticeably lighter or heavier.

D'Addario · Strings
EXL170 XL Nickel Wound Bass
The four-string bass set every other set gets compared to
7.8/10

What else you need

All accessories

The highest-scoring option in each category that suits this instrument. If you have never owned a guitar before, the starter guide explains what each of these is for and what you can safely skip.

New Bee · Cables
Instrument Cable
The cable an electric guitar needs on day one, at the price of a coffee
6.6/10
Fender · Tuners
FCT-2 Professional Clip-On Tuner
The tuner to buy first, before strings, before a strap, before anything
7.8/10
Dunlop · Picks
Tortex Standard
The Delrin pick that replaced tortoiseshell, in the gauge most people settle on
8.2/10
GLEAM · Stands
Adjustable Guitar Stand
The accessory that decides whether the guitar gets played at all
7.4/10