Slim, Fast, and Ready to Groove
If you've ever picked up an Ibanez SR and thought "why don't all basses feel this easy to play," you already know what the SR500N is about. The SR line has earned a loyal following for one core reason: it gets out of your way and lets you play. A slim, fast neck profile, a lightweight body, and electronics that actually respond to what you're asking for — this is a bass built around the player, not the spec sheet.
The SR500N takes that foundation and raises it with a fresh set of components for 2026. Nordstrand Big Break pickups replace the previous generation's drivers, and the updated MR5S bridge adds adjustable string spacing that previous SR500s didn't offer. Whether you're laying down tracks in a home studio or holding down the low end at a weekend gig, the SR500N's combination of lightweight okoume body and tonally versatile electronics gives you a lot to work with.
This is a bass that fits a wide range of playing styles — funk, rock, jazz, pop — without demanding you compromise on feel or sound. It's also one of the more comfortable instruments you'll strap on for a three-hour set, thanks to a body weight that won't leave your shoulder complaining by the second set.
This item is a B-Stock guitar sourced directly from the manufacturer. It is new and has never been previously owned. The photos shown are of the exact instrument you will receive. Before shipment, our licensed technician will inspect and professionally set up the guitar to ensure it is playing its best. During our inspection, we noticed Discoloration in matte finish and small amount of missing finish in back screw holes.. (see pictures) Please note, these may not be the only cosmetic imperfections. As a B-Stock instrument, there may be additional minor blemishes that are small in nature and do not affect playability or performance.
Okoume Body and a Neck Built for Speed
The SR500N's okoume body delivers a bright, focused tonal character with a well-defined low end. Okoume is notably lightweight, which keeps the bass comfortable and balanced whether you're sitting or standing. The deep double-cutaway contour gives you unobstructed access all the way up to the 24th fret — no awkward reaching required.
Up top, the SR4 five-piece roasted maple and walnut neck is the star of the show for playability. The roasting process heat-treats the maple to improve stability, moisture resistance, and resilience to temperature swings — useful whether you're traveling between venues or just dealing with seasonal changes at home. The bolt-on construction keeps the neck joint solid and the tone punchy. Nut width comes in at 38mm, which is noticeably slimmer than many basses in this class, making it an especially comfortable choice for players with smaller hands or those who favor a tighter grip.
The rosewood fingerboard adds focused midrange warmth to the brightness of the roasted maple neck. Abalone oval inlays mark the positions cleanly without overdoing it aesthetically, and 24 medium frets give you the full tonal range with familiar, accurate feel under your fingers.
Nordstrand Big Break Pickups and Active EQ
Ibanez equipped the SR500N with a pair of Nordstrand Big Break passive pickups — one at the neck, one at the bridge. The Big Break design packs a meaty split-coil configuration into a soapbar-style housing, giving you the full-bodied, defined tone of a split-coil without the hum and noise of a traditional single-coil. The neck and bridge positions are voiced to complement each other, and blending between them gives you a wide range of tonal textures.
Those pickups run through Ibanez's Custom Electronics 3-band active EQ, with dedicated bass, mid, and treble controls and a wide boost/cut range on each. The 3-way mid-frequency switch is one of the more useful features here — it lets you select between 250 Hz, 450 Hz, and 700 Hz mid-frequency centers, essentially giving you three distinct midrange voicings to work with on the fly. And if you prefer to go passive, the EQ bypass switch puts you in pure passive mode, with the treble knob converting to a global tone control.
Bridge and Hardware
The MR5S bridge features adjustable saddles that allow you to fine-tune string spacing by ±1.5mm. This level of personalization was previously reserved for higher-tier SR models, so having it here is a genuine upgrade. All hardware is finished in black, matching the Midnight Arctic Ocean Matte satin finish that gives this bass its distinctive, low-reflectance look — a deep ocean blue that photographs dark and reads as cool and modern on stage.
Product Features:
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Body: Okoume — lightweight with bright, focused tone and clear low end
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Neck: SR4 5-piece roasted maple/walnut, bolt-on — heat-treated for stability and moisture resistance
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Fretboard: Rosewood with abalone oval inlays — 24 medium frets, 12" radius (305mm)
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Scale: 34" (864mm), standard scale
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Nut Width: 38mm — slim profile for comfortable, fast playing
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Pickups: Nordstrand Big Break (neck & bridge), passive split-coil soapbar design
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Electronics: Ibanez Custom 3-band active EQ with EQ bypass switch (passive mode) and 3-way mid-frequency switch (250/450/700 Hz)
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Bridge: MR5S with adjustable string spacing (19mm, ±1.5mm)
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Hardware Color: Black
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Finish: Midnight Arctic Ocean Matte (satin polyurethane)
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String Count: 4-string
Brand: Ibanez
Model: SR500NMAM (SR Standard SR500N)
SKU: SR500NMAM-2ND|I250906107
Condition: B-Stock
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
