undefined SR500

Bought it new in 2007 (payed way over the odds at a chain store now bankrupted. Karma)
Features descibed thoroughly in other reviews, needless to say the five piece neck and the electronics really make this bass, and the bridge is pretty tasty too. It's the exact opposite of your stripped down P-bass type instrument, in my opinion only thing that it's missing is a passive option for battery cut-outs, but if you're after a passive thunky sounding bass you wouldn't buy this, I'm happy just getting a new 9v for it every six months.

Very quiet, no hiss or crackle, and an extremely broad pallette of tones available (except, as stated above, old school classic tones. Most players at this price point probably have a passive beginner instrument already anyway.)
Strong treble presence, very cutting, not really a slap player myself but it sounds great when the guitarist I occasionally jam with smacks it around. Plenty of low end available via the pre-amp, but especially nice is the tonal variation using just the pan-pot. Amazingly distinct sounds from the two Bartollini type ones, tight and cutting at the bridge through to thick and bruising at the neck.

Factory set up was ok, needed a little bridge adjustment when I got it home, neck could do with a bit of adjustment now it's getting colder (North of England, climate is highly variable.) The skinny neck probably needs a bit more attention than thicker more basic affairs you get on other basses at this price point but it's also much nicer to play on, so I don't mind.

The body finish is extremely thin and susceptible to damage, will probably eventually just skim it and re-finish it (or leave it bare, I've heard the mahogany ain't too pretty though) it doesn't wear in an attractive vintage fender type way. That aside, it's been solid and reliable, no technical quibbles, the discoloration of the bridge mentioned elsewhere has happened but has certainly not affected it's functionality.

n/a

I didn't feel the need to post a review thus far as the others pretty much reflect my views, but at the weekend, while teaching some bass lines to a friend who is just starting out on the instrument, I was struck by how much easier it is to play than pretty much anything else I have access to (I live with another bass player.) Letting her use my Soundgear, I played along on a comparably priced jazz replica and it was, in comparison an absolute pig to play, nowhere near as fast, the neck finish really slowed me down, action and intonation were lousy (not set up at all well from the factory) and it weighed a ton. The Soundgear really is a boon to my playing, if you're after a skinny neck and an active Musicman or Zon style tone without the price tag, there is nothing out there that even comes close.