Harrison! - Ibanez SR305E 5-String Bass – Cerulean Aura Burst – 2020

2020 Ibanez Soundgear SR305E 5-String Bass in Cerulean Aura Burst

Meet Harrison, a 2020 Ibanez Soundgear SR305E five-string electric bass finished in striking Cerulean Aura Burst, with a slim five-piece maple/walnut neck, 24-fret jatoba fingerboard, PowerSpan Dual Coil pickups and active 3-band EQ with Power Tap switching.

Harrison arrived at The Stray Chord after spending years largely forgotten at the back of a wardrobe. Although carrying only minor cosmetic wear, his high action, sharp fret ends, dry fingerboard and unstable setup meant this modern five-string wasn't performing anywhere near its potential.

Following extensive fretwork, electronics servicing, finish restoration and a complete professional setup, Harrison was successfully rehomed for £265.

About Harrison

The Ibanez Soundgear SR series has built its reputation around lightweight, ergonomic bodies and exceptionally slim necks, and the five-string SR305E follows that familiar formula.

Harrison's sculpted nyatoh body is finished in Cerulean Aura Burst, a dramatic reverse-style burst that emphasises the deeply contoured shape of the Soundgear body.

The bolt-on five-piece maple and walnut SR5 neck provides the slim, fast playing feel for which the Soundgear family is known. Its jatoba fingerboard carries 24 medium frets, providing a full two-octave range on every string.

A pair of Ibanez PowerSpan Dual Coil pickups provides the foundation of the SR305E's unusually versatile electronics.

These are paired with an Ibanez Custom Electronics 3-band EQ and Power Tap switching, allowing Harrison to move between powerful modern bass tones, warmer character and more articulate sounds without external processing.

For a five-string bass, particular attention is naturally drawn to the low B. With the instrument correctly set up, Harrison delivered a tight and articulate low register rather than the indistinct response that can affect poorly adjusted five-string instruments.

Restoration & setup

Harrison had survived his years in storage reasonably well cosmetically, but his factory setup and prolonged period of inactivity left considerable room for improvement.

During his rehabilitation at The Stray Chord he received:

• Complete professional five-string bass setup
• Neck relief precisely adjusted
• All 24 medium frets levelled
• Frets recrowned and polished to a mirror finish
• Sharp factory fret ends individually dressed and rounded
• Fingerboard edges carefully rolled by hand
• Jatoba fingerboard deeply cleaned and conditioned
• Nut slots carefully refined
• Nut graphite-lubricated to reduce friction and improve tuning stability
• Complete control cavity and electronics service
• Stiff controls cleaned and restored to smooth operation
• PowerSpan Dual Coil pickups checked and balanced
• 3-band EQ checked and serviced
• Power Tap switching checked
• Individual bridge saddles adjusted
• Action lowered and balanced across all five strings
• Full intonation
• Low B string specifically optimised for clean articulation
• Nyatoh body thoroughly cleaned
• Cerulean Aura Burst finish polished to restore clarity and gloss
• Protective carnauba wax applied
• Final electronics and playability inspection

The result was a substantially more refined SR305E with smooth fretwork, comfortable action and a properly controlled low B, ready for recording, rehearsing or stage use.

Specifications

Harrison's adoption

🪲 REHOMED 🪲

After years spent gathering dust at the back of a wardrobe, Harrison finally got the chance to shine again.

He has now found his new home and is no longer available for adoption.

His page remains permanently in The Stray Chord Rehomed Archive, documenting his restoration and providing a reference for players researching the Ibanez Soundgear SR305E five-string bass.

Rescue • Restore • Rehome