Just how dominant Ibanez is in the entry-level and mid-range segment of the market is not that hard to grasp. Their bass guitars have been providing the best bang for the buck performance for decades now. One of the most notable models we have around today is the Ibanez SR250.

This puppy is the perfect combination of quality, price, and performance you can get for less than 300 dollars. Not only that, but it's among the few active models that are also affordable. To see which those are, check out our shortlist for the $300 range top picks.

Body & Neck

While it's not one of those super fancy looking bass guitars, the SR250 features a comfortably shaped Nato body that comes in a variety of finishes. Combined with a 3 piece maple neck, you can already see that this model has potential. The joint between the two is a more or less standard bolt-on design, but you can easily reach those higher notes. The fretboard is a rosewood piece and features 24 frets, meaning that you have access to two full octaves.

Hardware

In terms of hardware, the situation is average. Ibanez has decided to stick with the vintage style bridge that features four fully adjustable saddles. This way they could invest the limited resources into enhancing the SR250 in other, more cost-efficient aspects. It's a similar story with the tuning machines. There are four die-cast pieces, two on each side of the headstock. All things considered, the hardware is solid and does what it was meant to do pretty well.

Electronics

For a $300 bass guitar, SR250 packs some pretty impressive pickups. You get two CAP EXF-N2 pups, which feature a whole lot of output while still regaining a lot of expression potential. While they might not be the top of the range EMGs, these pickups are miles ahead of anything passive in this price range. The pair is controlled by a Master Volume knob, a Pickup Blend knob, and a three-way EQ.

Sound
The output of this guitar is not the only thing that you might label as impressive. The tone being produced by the active electronics on the SR250 has a whole lot of range to offer. We are talking anything from growling scooped mids type of tone, to a muddy and fat one that kills it in the lower end of the spectrum. For a fairly affordable set of active pups, these bad boys have a decent amount of definition.

Conclusion

Ibanez SR250 is one hell of a bass guitar, that's for sure. The type of build quality, features, and performance it offers are not something you will find every day. For the most part, it's among the best bass guitars in its segment of the market, which isn't that hard to achieve considering it's one of the few active models there. If you are looking for a good metal bass, or simply one that will get you the best bang for the buck, Ibanez SR250 should be on top of your list.

For more info about the Ibanez SR250, click here.
For more Bass Guitars under $300, click here.