Devin! - Ibanez SR306EB 6-String Bass – 2023 Weathered Black

2023 Ibanez Soundgear SR306EB Six-String Bass in Weathered Black

Meet Devin, a September 2023 Ibanez SR306EB six-string bass from the Soundgear SR Standard range, finished in Weathered Black and equipped with PowerSpan Dual Coil pickups, active three-band EQ and Ibanez Power Tap switching.

Devin arrived at The Stray Chord after spending most of his young life sitting unused in a case inside a wardrobe. Cosmetically he was excellent, but scratchy controls, unwanted grounding hum, unfinished fretwork and a dry jatoba fingerboard meant this extended-range bass wasn't performing to its potential.

Following complete fretwork, electronics servicing, copper shielding, grounding correction and a professional setup, Devin was successfully rehomed for £360.

About Devin

The Ibanez Soundgear SR306EB takes the slim, ergonomic design of the long-running SR family and extends it across six strings.

Its sculpted nyatoh body is finished in Ibanez's tactile Weathered Black, allowing the natural grain and texture of the timber to remain visible through the dark satin finish.

A bolt-on SR6 five-piece maple and walnut neck provides the slim profile associated with the Soundgear range, helping make the substantial width of a six-string bass considerably more manageable.

The jatoba fingerboard carries 24 medium frets, providing a full two-octave range across all six strings.

Electronics comprise two Ibanez PowerSpan Dual Coil pickups paired with an active Ibanez Custom Electronics three-band EQ.

The three-way Power Tap switch expands the tonal range further, providing access to different pickup voicings ranging from clear, articulate sounds through fuller humbucking tones to a low-end-enhanced Power Tap setting.

Combined with its extended range, the SR306EB is equally capable of conventional bass duties, chordal playing, melodic work and modern technical styles.

Restoration & setup

Devin didn't require significant cosmetic restoration, but his electronics and playing surface needed considerably more attention.

An intrusive grounding hum and scratchy volume control were particularly noticeable through clean amplification and made the electronics the most significant part of his rehabilitation.

During his time on The Stray Chord bench, Devin received:

• Complete professional six-string bass setup
• Neck relief precisely adjusted
• All 24 medium frets levelled
• Frets crowned and polished
• Fret ends individually dressed and rounded
• Jatoba fingerboard edges carefully hand-rolled
• Fingerboard thoroughly deep-cleaned
• Jatoba conditioned and rehydrated
• Pots and controls thoroughly cleaned and flushed
• Scratchy volume control restored to smooth operation
• Grounding path traced and corrected
• Relevant electronics cavities copper-shielded
• Unwanted electrical hum dramatically reduced
• PowerSpan Dual Coil pickups checked
• Active three-band EQ checked and serviced
• Three-way Power Tap switching checked
• Bridge action adjusted and balanced across all six strings
• Full intonation
• Premium La Bella black and purple tapewound strings fitted
• Final electronics and playability inspection

The result was a quieter, smoother and considerably more refined SR306EB, with a fast playing surface and an electronics system finally able to perform without the distracting hum and scratchiness present when Devin arrived.

La Bella tapewound strings

Devin was rehomed fitted with a premium set of La Bella black and purple tapewound bass strings.

Beyond complementing the Weathered Black aesthetic, the smooth outer winding substantially reduces finger and string noise while producing the warm, rounded response associated with tapewound strings.

On a modern six-string Soundgear, the result is an unusual combination: extended range and contemporary active electronics paired with a smoother, warmer and more vintage-inspired string response.

Specifications

Devin's adoption

🎶 REHOMED 🎶

Six strings. Twenty-four frets. And absolutely no reason to spend his life sitting inside a wardrobe.

Devin 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 electronics repair and rehabilitation while providing a reference for players researching the Ibanez Soundgear SR306EB six-string bass.

Rescue • Restore • Rehome