Ibanez SRF705 vs Fender Player II Modified Active Jazz Bass V
Quick Verdict
The Ibanez SRF705 is the clear choice for a fretless five string with a mahogany body, panga panga fingerboard and dual magnetic plus piezo pickups. It earns an 82 out of 100 and suits players who want a singing fretless voice with low B range. The Fender Player II Modified Active Jazz Bass V is the better pick for a working bassist who wants an upper mid-range active Jazz Bass five string with alder, maple, rosewood and two single coil pickups. It scores 80 out of 100. Both listings omit some hardware and control details, so you may need to confirm specs before buying.
| Spec | Ibanez SRF705 | Fender Player II Modified Active Jazz Bass V |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Mahogany | Alder |
| Neck and fingerboard | Maple and bubinga neck with panga panga fingerboard, fretless | Maple neck, rosewood fingerboard |
| Scale length | Not published in listing | Not published in listing |
| Strings | 5-string | 5-string (gauge not published) |
| Pickups | 2 pickups with piezo pickup system | 2 single-coil pickups |
| Controls | Not published in listing | Not published in listing |
| Bridge | Not published in listing | Not published in listing |
| Tuners | Not published in listing | Not published in listing |
| Finish | Brown Burst Flat | Electric Blue (finish type not published) |
| Included accessories | Not published in listing | Not published in listing |
Body, Neck and Playability
The Ibanez SRF705 has a mahogany body, which the listing describes as a warm tonal foundation. The Fender Player II Modified Active Jazz Bass V has an alder body, a familiar Fender tone wood. Both are upper mid-range instruments with solid body wood choices on paper. Finish differs: Ibanez comes in Brown Burst Flat, and Fender comes in Electric Blue.
The Ibanez neck is maple and bubinga with a panga panga fingerboard, and the listing explicitly calls it fretless. The Fender neck is maple with a rosewood fingerboard, and the listing does not describe it as fretless. Panga panga is dense and hard wearing, while rosewood is a traditional fingerboard wood. Both models are five string basses with extended low range, but the Ibanez requires precise fretless technique.
Playability scores reflect these differences. The Ibanez earns 26 out of 30, and the Fender earns 24 out of 30. The listing does not publish scale length or nut width for either model, so direct neck feel cannot be fully compared. Buyers should confirm scale length and setup before choosing.
Pickups and Tone
The Ibanez SRF705 is built with two magnetic pickups plus a piezo pickup system. This dual source setup offers both electric bass tone and piezo-driven nuance. The Fender Player II Modified Active Jazz Bass V uses two single coil pickups, which preserve the classic Jazz Bass voice. The product name also implies active electronics for added output.
Both instruments score 20 out of 25 for tone and pickups. The Ibanez benefits from the warm mahogany body and the extra textural layer of the piezo system. The Fender benefits from alder and two single coils, giving the familiar Jazz Bass character depending on settings. Neither listing describes the preamp or tone stack, so the full tonal range is not published.
The Ibanez has no published control layout, and the Fender also does not publish its control layout or preamp type. This makes it hard to compare active EQ points or passive bypass options. On paper, the Ibanez leans toward a modern fretless voice with piezo shimmer, while the Fender leans toward a classic active Jazz Bass sound.
Hardware and Electronics
The Ibanez SRF705 publishes very little hardware information. The bridge and tuner specifications are missing from the listing. The piezo system is mentioned, but the control layout and preamp details are not published. The Fender Player II Modified Active Jazz Bass V also omits bridge, tuner, control layout and preamp type.
Both models score 8 out of 10 for hardware and electronics. The Ibanez has the advantage of a dual source pickup system, but unknown bridge and tuner quality limits confidence. The Fender has active electronics implied by its name, but the listing does not say whether the preamp is Fender designed or third party.
Because the hardware details are unknown, buyers should ask for a full spec sheet or inspect the instrument before purchase. The published materials suggest that both are built to an upper mid-range standard, but the missing hardware information prevents a definitive comparison. Hardware affects sustain, tuning stability and overall reliability, so those omissions matter.
Build Quality and Finish
The Ibanez has a mahogany body and a Brown Burst Flat finish that reduces glare. Its build and materials score is 13 out of 15. The Fender has an alder body and an Electric Blue finish, though the finish type is not published. Its build and materials score is 12 out of 15.
Neck construction is a strength for both. The Ibanez uses maple and bubinga with a panga panga fingerboard, which is dense and hard wearing. The Fender uses a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard, a proven combination. Neither listing mentions binding, inlays or fret markers for the Ibanez fretless, which may matter for fingerboard navigation.
Both models lack published accessories, so case or gig bag quality cannot be compared. The upper mid-range positioning suggests acceptable hardware, but without bridge and tuner details, finish and body wood are the main published quality indicators.
Setup Out of the Box
The listing does not state factory setup details for either model. Scale length, string gauge and action are not published, so out of the box playability cannot be verified. The Ibanez is fretless, so its setup and intonation depend heavily on the player's ear and left hand technique.
The Fender does not publish string gauge or setup specs either. Active electronics may require battery installation, but the listing does not mention including a battery. Neither listing describes any included accessories, so buyers should expect to handle setup themselves or visit a technician.
On paper, the Ibanez may require more careful setup for fretless intonation, while the Fender should follow familiar fretted bass setup practices. However, this is an inference based on the fretless design, not a published fact. The upper mid-range price class suggests the factory setup should be decent, but the listing offers no confirmation.
Daily Use and Practice
The Ibanez SRF705 is best for players who practice fretless five string technique regularly. The panga panga fingerboard resists wear, which helps daily use. The dual magnetic and piezo system gives a wide range of practice tones from electric to acoustic-like.
The Fender Player II Modified Active Jazz Bass V suits working bassists who need a five string Jazz Bass for gigs and practice. Its alder body and maple neck are familiar, and the rosewood fingerboard is comfortable for long sessions. The active electronics should provide enough output for live use, though the preamp detail is unknown.
Weight and balance are not published for either model, so daily comfort cannot be compared directly. Neither listing includes a case or strap, so players must factor in those accessories. The missing string gauge for the Fender and missing control details for both are practical unknowns.
Versatility and Styles
Both models score 8 out of 10 for versatility. The Ibanez uses two magnetic pickups and a piezo system, which can cover fingerstyle, fretless melody and ambient or acoustic-like tones. The Fender uses two single coils, which have long covered jazz, funk, rock, pop and studio work.
The Ibanez is explicitly fretless, so it is not the first choice for players who need a conventional fretted bass sound. Its upper mid-range design and mahogany body lean warm, but the piezo adds sparkle. The Fender is a five string active Jazz Bass, making it a broad fit for standard bass roles.
Both listings omit control details, so exact tone shaping across styles is unclear. Buyers should decide based on fretless versus standard Jazz Bass character. The Ibanez suits a niche fretless buyer, while the Fender suits a more general working bassist.
The Deciding Question
The main question is whether you need a fretless five string with piezo or an active Jazz Bass five string with classic single coils. The Ibanez SRF705 is the only model in this comparison with a published fretless fingerboard and piezo pickup system.
If a fretless voice and extended low range are your priority, the Ibanez matches that purpose. If you want a familiar active Jazz Bass platform with alder, maple and rosewood, the Fender matches that purpose. Both are upper mid-range and share similar score profiles, with the Ibanez at 82 and the Fender at 80.
Missing specifications make the decision harder. Scale length, controls, bridge and tuners are unpublished for both. Players who cannot confirm these details should postpone the decision or seek additional information from the seller. This is especially important for the fretless Ibanez, where setup affects intonation more directly.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the Ibanez SRF705 if you are an upper mid-range fretless five string player who wants a mahogany body, panga panga fingerboard and dual magnetic plus piezo pickups. It fits players who want a warm but detailed fretless voice and do not need every spec published.
Buy the Fender Player II Modified Active Jazz Bass V if you are a working bassist who wants an active five string Jazz Bass with an alder body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and two single coil pickups. It fits players who want classic Jazz Bass tone with modern low B range.
Avoid the Ibanez if you need a fretted bass, beginner friendly setup or complete hardware details. Avoid the Fender if you require exact bridge, tuner, preamp and setup information before purchase. Both listings leave key specifications unpublished, so confirm before buying.
Ibanez SRF705
Pros
- Fretless five string layout for extended range
- Mahogany body with a warm tonal foundation
- Panga panga fingerboard is dense and hard wearing
- Dual magnetic pickups plus piezo system
- Upper mid-range build expectations
- Flat Brown Burst finish reduces glare
Cons
- Listing omits scale length and nut width
- No control layout or preamp details published
- Bridge and tuner specifications are missing
- Fretless playability requires precise technique
- No included accessories or case information
Fender Player II Modified Active Jazz Bass V
Pros
- Alder body and maple neck with rosewood fingerboard
- Five string range adds low B without losing standard tuning
- Two single coil pickups preserve classic Jazz Bass voice
- Active electronics implied by product name for added output
- Upper mid-range Fender build expectations
Cons
- Scale length not published
- Control layout and preamp type not published
- Bridge and tuner specifications not published
- No included accessories listed
- String gauge and setup details not published
Who Should Buy Each
Ibanez SRF705
- Fretless bassists who need a five string range
- Jazz, fusion, and progressive players seeking tonal blend options
- Ibanez SR body fans who want a workshop level fretless model
- Players willing to research missing specs or try before buying
Fender Player II Modified Active Jazz Bass V
- Intermediate to advanced players moving to a five string Jazz Bass
- Funk, rock, R&B and pop bassists who like single coil articulation
- Fender loyalists who want active electronics in an upper mid-range model
- Players who already know they prefer alder bodies and rosewood fingerboards
Quick Decision Guide
| If you want a fretless five string with a piezo pickup system and a warm mahogany body | Choose Ibanez SRF705 |
| If you want an active five string Jazz Bass with two single coil pickups and an alder body | Choose Fender Player II Modified Active Jazz Bass V |
| If you do not want to play fretless and prefer a familiar Jazz Bass feel | Choose Fender Player II Modified Active Jazz Bass V |
| If you want a dense panga panga fingerboard and dual magnetic plus piezo tones | Choose Ibanez SRF705 |
| If you are less comfortable with fretless technique and need a standard five string bass | Choose Fender Player II Modified Active Jazz Bass V |
FAQ
About This Comparison
Mandrillis Team
The Mandrillis editorial team researches and compares audio and music gear using manufacturer documentation, verified specs and real buyer feedback, so you can make a confident purchase without wading through marketing claims.
Read our full research methodology.
We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.