I think I want a six string

[Flux Jetson]

Used Carvin, no two ways about it. I've had three of them (so far) with a grand total of seven Carvin basses altogether. Excellent instruments, but they don't have the "prestige value" or bragging rights that some of the more favored names do. That said, Carvins typaically have low resale value, which translates to ~great deals~ on used ones.

This one was my favorite 6 string Carvin....



One thing I really like about 6 strings is the narrower (is that even a word?) spacing between strings. I have small little girly hands and playing a 6 string made doing bass lines written for four string basses easier to do. While the fret spacing is no different (can even be worse if you end up with a 35.5" scale, which I recommend for keeping a more confident-feeling B-string) the spacing between strings is pretty tight on most 6 strings. For me, this is a bonus.

The only ~bad~ thing in my book about 6 string basses is that EVERYTHING costs more. String sets cost more, pickups and bridges cost more. But other than that, I miss the Carvin in this picture. I've been jonesin' for another one lately.

I also has a Warwick Corvette 6 string which was another wonderous instrument. It didn't sit properly against my chest when standing though, it pressed oddly against my sternum (I guess) due to the body's shape. It was a 34" scale too so the B was a bit loose ... well .. let's say more loose than I prefered. I tried boxloads of different strings in an attempt to produce more tension but those were only compromises when compared to a 35.5" scale .. at least in my opinion which is based on my experiences.

They're an easy transition as well. The standard four string layout is still there, it is simply nestled in between the low B and the high C.

That's about all I got .. everyone else has covered whatever else I might have to say.

But yea .... used Carvin ... probably about 60% of new price-wise. Maybe even less.



Hasta Lasagne!!

[phillybass101]

+1 on the Ibanex GSR206. I played one in a pawn shop and for the the money a useable tone and playability and are they are giggable. Also has a decent weight to it. If you want a step up they make another model (comes in white) thats' a little better with active electronics. I think it's $399.

[curbowkid]

As said, you can get a used ibanez sr506 used for the same price as a new gsr206. The 506 is a MUCH better instrument

[thekyle55]

A used 506 or Carvin are definitely towards the top of my list, but availability and price might be stopping me. I would like to keep it around 500 or less, but I am flexible on that. If an extra hundred will get me a much better instrument, I'm more than willing to pay it.

Does anyone have experience with the ESP LTD basses? The only ESP's I've ever seen have been pointy skinny stringers, but the basses actually look kind of nice. The only other basses in that price range new I have experience with are the Schecter Stilettos, of which the four stringers have impressed me for the price point.

[Flux Jetson]

A lot of the "ecomony" basses are made by Cort (via licensing). I have no idea if the ESP is a Cort construct or not, but if it is you can probably rest easy. Cort usually makes some pretty great instruments, as long as whatever the OEM specs out is worth a dang. I'm pretty certain that many Ibanez instruments are made by Cort, as an example. Some Squiers are as well, my own Vintage Modified Jazz 70s is a Cort product, and that thing is WAY better than some basses I've played/owned priced at 4x to 5x what I paid for the VMJ.

Perhaps someone more informed than myself could illuminate this thought a bit better than I can.

[BassIsFun17]

Originally Posted by curbowkid

Ibanez sr506 can be found for a but more. Plus they are a pretty easy sell. Better electronics and construction than an SX too. I see them used for 300

+1

the Ibanez SR506 is a good intermediate bass. I actually tried a Brice HXB-406 from Rondo Music. The Ibanez has superior quality to the Brice by a long shot in my opinion. I later sold the ibanez to go back to a 5 string. keep in my i always have a 4 string to play though. now after a total of 8 years of playing bass, i have four 4 string basses for my main rock gigs. They are backups for eachother. 2 p basses, one tuned in Eb standard and the other B-E-A-D like a five string. 2 Jazz basses one in Eb standard and the other B-E-A-D. I also am in the works of trading a 5 string bass for a fretless four string, which ill have tuned in standard tuning. and then i have my Spector 6 string. It a USA made bolt on from 2003. its my baby.


so i feel the way i like to work is if i'm going to be moving up from a 4 string, its better to just go ahead and go 6 strings instead of 5. to me it almost feels redundant?

[BtHt83]

I played an ESP D6 for a while, and it was great for the money. Great neck feel, pretty good tone control.

[TolerancEJ]

I'll also cast my vote for the Ibanez SR506. Buy used; you'll save a bundle and it will still be an awesome instrument.

[rtav]

ESP LTD B-206SM - often had for a little more than $300 - gorgeous, solid, and easy to play. You cannot possibly go wrong there - I bought one and am buying more ESP LTD 6 string bass guitars. Can't say enough good things about ESP LTD 6's.

[VanillaThundah]

Originally Posted by curbowkid

Ibanez sr506 can be found for a but more. Plus they are a pretty easy sell. Better electronics and construction than an SX too. I see them used for 300

Definitely a good choice...those are very well-made instruments

[TolerancEJ]

Other things to consider... In addition to actually buying one and practicing with it, a 6-string bass often comes with 'verbal baggage.' Be aware that some (not all) musicians are going tell you "Get a guitar" and/or "Jaco only needed 4."

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by TolerancEJ

I'll also cast my vote for the Ibanez SR506. Buy used; you'll save a bundle and it will still be an awesome instrument.

Yes, true. But oddly I like the tone of my GSR206 better! Both my SR206 and SR506 are older and used. Plain black paint.

But the SR206 isn't 24 frets and isn't quite even in volume across the strings and isn't quite the quality of the SR506. But on the other hand in my case the SR506 electronics don't seem up to snuff (older 2 band rather than newer 3 band) which is why the SR206 tends to have a slightly fatter tone. But you have to tweak the EQ on the SR206 to get a balance across the strings and that makes the bass less versatile than the SR506. I bought each for just slightly over $200 each used.

I also own an ESP LTD in the $400 range. EXCELLENT modern bass. Spalted maple top to die for. Best neck I ever played in a bargain bass. Highly recommended. But heavy.

For Fender guys SX-6 is the answer. There really isn't any other in an afordable range. Passive, Jazz, single coil, 6 string. But depending on luck may need some tweaks like shielding and fret filing. Definitely will need new strings. So they aren't for noobs who need perfect out of the box...though some actually are perfect out of the box.

[Meddler]

I went through something similar recently and wound up with a Brice HXB-406. My decision was partly based on all the good things I'd read about Rondo, partly because I really wanted to try a six, and partly because I specifically wanted a 35" scale. The other choice I was considering that matched this description was the ESP LTD B206, but being about $100 cheaper and with my desire to give Rondo a shot, I went with the Brice.

Overall my impression is mixed. The bass feels pretty good and came setup just fine (the stock strings were garbage though). It's not nearly as heavy as I was expecting (though it is slightly neck heavy and dives a bit when I have a thinner strap). Solid low action, minimal fret buzz, nice looking and sounding woods. The fret and neck edges were slightly "sharp", but nothing unbearable. The satin finish on the neck feels great and it plays pretty fast. It definitely took some getting used to, but I've barely had it for a month and already going back to a four string feels weird. The bass looks pretty nice too. I got the natural flame maple top one, and while the top is about as thin as you can get on a genuine maple (read: non-photo) top, its nicely figured and looks pretty, especially with the matching headstock. The bass has surprisingly nice acoustic tone and sustain, too. The B-string sounds great thanks to the 35 inch scale. The pickups sound good too, and tone-wise, the active/passive thing is very cool. It's very bright and modern in active mode, and warm and smooth in passive mode.

The bad news is definitely the electronics. First, in regard to mine in particular, I'm pretty sure I got a left handed blend pot. It works fine, but moving it towards the neck blends to the bridge pickup and vice versa. It wasn't a big enough deal for me to send it back, just kind of confusing. Otherwise, there's a pretty significant volume difference between the active and passive modes, and in active mode the preamp isn't that great. Specifically, cutting the lows changes the overall volume quite a bit. The treble knob seems to work okay though. In practice with my band, I pretty much have to set it and leave it, or I have to do quite a bit of volume adjustment between songs if I want to change the balance/tone.

Again, none of this is such an issue that I felt I had to return it. The positives definitely outweigh the negatives, but my guess is I would have preferred the ESP LTD. I may eventually replace the preamp if I get serious about using as my main bass, since I do really like the six string thing but can't afford to go too crazy on a nicer one quite yet, and while it feels a bit weird to be throwing another $100 or so into a bass that cost less than 4x that much to begin with, it really would be a fine instrument if the electronics were a bit better. Probably still a notch below what you can expect with the ESP for about the same overall price, but close enough so that it makes little difference.

[Skygoneblue]

If you decide to go the Ibanez route, be sure to try one out first if you can. Soundgear bodies are very lightweight, and the heavy 6-string neck makes them pretty prone to neck dive. BTBs don't have that issue though.

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by Skygoneblue

If you decide to go the Ibanez route, be sure to try one out first if you can. Soundgear bodies are very lightweight, and the heavy 6-string neck makes them pretty prone to neck dive. BTBs don't have that issue though.

This is good advice for most production six strings. Often times, companies will just slap on a 6-string with very little change in the body shape.

[DerHoggz]

Originally Posted by Skygoneblue

If you decide to go the Ibanez route, be sure to try one out first if you can. Soundgear bodies are very lightweight, and the heavy 6-string neck makes them pretty prone to neck dive. BTBs don't have that issue though.

My older 406 has a maple body and doesn't neck dive. The newer ones might be different though. Look on ebay for a used Ibanez.

[Raymeous]

I had an original Ibanez 506 for years and years and the current ones are much better. The 506 is a solid instrument. Ibanez Soundgears have the easiest playing thinnest necks on the market, so they will make for an easy transition with less wrist fatigue.

Currently I'm using a Carvin LB76 with dual EBMM style humbuckers and this thing is a beast. As previously mentioned, because Carvin does not enjoy the "prestige" (i.e. ego boost) that other brands have, you can get them fairly reasonably. I've seen $1,500+ Carvins going for around $500 at GC.

[DwaynieAD]

if you can find a used alvarez. it was between one of them and my stingray SUB four and I ended up getting the Ray. more than once I've regretted that decision and I LOVE my SUB

possibly the most under rated bass I've ever played.

saw a bass player in a country cover band with a 5 string alvarez and that thing slayed.

*edit* the one i played had upgraded seymour duncan soapbar pups

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by Meddler

I went through something similar recently and wound up with a Brice HXB-406.

The bad news is definitely the electronics. First, in regard to mine in particular, I'm pretty sure I got a left handed blend pot. It works fine, but moving it towards the neck blends to the bridge pickup and vice versa. It wasn't a big enough deal for me to send it back, just kind of confusing.

I think it's just a matter of pickup wires being reversed on the blend pot. If you can solder it's not a big deal to fix. Check in with the Electronics Forum for more info.

[bassist4dalord]

I think I'm feeling this way, too. Sigh.. I can't decide between the SX or the Ibanez. I've been a Fender-type guy for most of my bass playing career, but I like the idea of Ibanez. I have an AEB5E acoustic, and I've owned a GSR200 which I really enjoyed.

The SR506 would probably be the route I'd end up taking. Available used for cheap and, from what I've heard, a really great bass. I loved playing my friend's SR505, so that indicates to me that I might like the SR506. Sigh.. GAS is a terrible thing!