Looking for a 6 String
 

What's the best 6 string around, $1200 or under. I had a Yamaha TRB that was awesome, I've played some Ibanez basses. please share! thanks

What are you looking for in a 6 string? Sound, feel, scale length, electronics, controls, woods, etc. Give us some hints. You've got a very healthy budget and if you're a wise shopper, there's a plethora of great basses available new and used.

I'm a jazz player, and love funk and junk. but I'm looking for the low end for metal. Just looking for a tight, punchy bass with a tight b string. preferably a 3 band EQ at least. Wood is wood, I'm not anal. I would also like if the knobs weren't directly under the neck pup because it gets in the way when double thumbing the high string.

I gotta say after a fret file, my SX ursa 6 is awesome. I have Laklands fenders etc and it is great.

For a tight, punchy bass with a tight b string suitable for metal, I`d try a 35 inch scale bass.

My Spector Legend 6 is a great bass. 35" scale, super tight B and lots of electronic upgrades available (if you feel like changing things up). The neck is probably my favorite part, honestly. I'm going to be holding on to that bass for a long, long time.

Check them out if you get a chance. Good luck!

For 1200, you could get a fairly no-frills Carvin made, or get one with more options used. Carvins have terrible resale value, which is a good thing for you.

Ibanez SR1206E Premium and/or Yamaha TRB1006J
 

Ibanez is a mahogany body with ovangkol top-Yamaha alder body with quilted maple top
Ibanez sport three band equalizer with midfrequency control (250hz or 800hz) and on off switch-Yamaha sport three band equalizer
Ibanez sport a 5 slice jatoba/bubinga/jatoba/bubinga/jatoba neck-Yamaha sport a 5 slice maple/walnut/maple/walnut/maple
neck
Ibanez has a 16,5mm string spacing-Yamaha a 18mm string spacin'
Ibanez sport Nordstrand BigSingles, with exposed polepieces-Yamaha sport proprietary soapbars

Both are made in Indonesia, both are around $. 900.00 if new

Cheers,
Wallace

You're on the right track. If you like a wider spacing (slap/pop) then go for the Yamaha TRB (heavier). If you want narrow spacing for chord work go for the Ibanez SR (much lighter).

This!

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/...-6-string-bass

If a tight low B is one of your biggest criteria I would strongly recommend Carvin unless you are buying used. I don't think you can get a B as good as Carvin's in that price range.

34" will still give you a tight low B, but once you get higher up the neck you will get overtones, the 35" will be less and in some cases almost all removed, but scale length has nothing to do with a tight and responsive open B, it just affects the higher frets. Carvin does has the XB which is 35".

The Carvin spacing is 16.5mm if that is a make or break factor for you.

Good suggestions so far. OP, based on your criteria I strongly recommend that you try an ESP/LTD, like the LTD B-1006. They don't get a lot of love around here for some reason, but they're incredible basses. Super modern hi-fi tone, versatile EQ, excellent fit and finish, and you can get crazy low action on them. Every LTD I've ever played (even the lower end models) have also had very tight and punchy B strings. I personally stopped using LTD's in favour of Warwick basses... but based on your description, I think you should at least give one a try and see what you think. Even their ~$500 offerings can compete with some of the other more expensive basses suggested in this thread.

thanks guys! No so into the Carvin body shapes or look. I'm going to check out the Spector and Ursa basses a little more in depth

Just played an Ibanez SR 6 today and the string spacing was fine for slap and double thumbing, had some tasty barts in it too. However harmonically it was hard to get a hold of, not sure if it was the hotness of the pups or whether they were just too close to the strings...

looking for something that isn't pretentious looking, I want the playing to stand out not the bass. Also looking for something with really even tone. I think the TRB bass is incredibly even and the highs sound amazing rolled up, but it's a little plain and generic sounding all around.

Have you tried a Peavey Cirrus?

Ibanez play really nice and feel amazing, but just dont sound like i want them to. Barts or Nordstrand?

I recently speced out a Carvin LB76 for $1100.

peavey
 

Peavey Cirrus neck thru USA. Can be found for under 800.00 if you are patient