Head to head
Epiphone Viola Bass, Vintage Sunburst vs Ibanez SR505N
The verdict
The Epiphone Viola Bass, Vintage Sunburst and Ibanez SR505N are closely matched overall — 66 to 65 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone Viola Bass, Vintage Sunburst wins on
No standout advantage.
Ibanez SR505N wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | Viola Bass, Vintage Sunburst | SR505N |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 66 | 65 |
| Build | 61 | 61 |
| Playability | 64 | 67 |
| Sound | 71 | 68 |
| Value | 69 | 65 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Viola Bass, Vintage Sunburst | SR505N |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Ibanez |
| Type | Bass | Bass |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | Maple | Okoume |
| Neck wood | Maple | Roasted Maple |
| Fretboard | Okoume | Rosewood |
| Strings | 4 | 5 |
| Frets | 22 | 24 |
| Scale | 30.5" | 34" |
| Pickups | NYR Mini Humbucker / NYT Mini humbucker | Nordstrand™ Big Break / Nordstrand™ Big Break |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $449 | — |
| Body shape | Viola | — |
| Body Styles | Viola | — |
| Bridge | Compensated Saddle | MR5S bridge |
| Bridge pickup | NYT Mini humbucker | Nordstrand™ Big Break bridge pickupPassive |
| Case | Optional | — |
| Control Knobs | Gold Top Hat | — |
| Controls | Neck Volume, Bridge Volume, Master Tone | — |
| Finish | Nickel | — |
| Fretboard inlay | Dot | — |
| Fret Count | 22 | — |
| Joint | Glued in | — |
| Model | EBVIVSCH1 | — |
| Mounting Rings | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | NYR Mini Humbucker | Nordstrand™ Big Break neck pickupPassive |
| Nut width | 41.91mm / 1.65in | — |
| Output Jack | 1/4" | — |
| Pickup Covers | Nickel | — |
| Profile | SlimTaper | — |
| Scale length | 774.69mm / 30.5in | 864mm/34" |
| String gauges | .45, .65, .85, .105 | — |
| Tailpiece | Viola Scroll | — |
| Truss rod | Adjustable | — |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | — |
| Tuners | Premium Tuners | — |
| A Width | — | 45mm at NUT |
| B Width | — | 68mm at 24F |
| C Thickness | — | 19.5mm at 1F |
| D Thickness | — | 21.5mm at 12F |
| Equalizer | — | Ibanez Custom Electronics 3-band EQ w/EQ bypass switch (passive tone control on treble pot), 3-way Mid frequency switch |
| Factory Tuning | — | 1G,2D,3A,4E,5B |
| Fret | — | Medium frets |
| Hardware | — | Black |
| Neck Type | — | SR55pc Roasted Maple/Walnut neck |
| Radius | — | 305mmR |
| Recommended Bag | — | IBB540-BK |
| Recommended Case | — | MB300C |
| String Gauge | — | .045/.065/.085/.105/.130 |
| String Space | — | 16.5mm |
| Top Back Body | — | Okoume body |