New Ibanez multiscale bass VI

Seems to me like a niche product, but I’m glad Ibanez is making it. They really offer some awesome stuff.

I will definitely sell my SRC6 to get this unexpected one.

I want a 24 fret 6 string short scale really bad. Since I have slowly been getting more comfortable with guitar lately this might be as close to what I want as I am going to get. Ideally I still want a EHB1506SMS but 6 string short scale basses seem to be quite rare if you cannot afford custom basses.

I don't think I'll be swapping my SRC6 to the SRC6MS. I'm satisfied with mine after heavily upgrading it with all Gotoh GB350 Res-O-Lite tuning machines, Dunlop Dual Design strap buttons, EMG active electronics (a pair of EMG 35TWX pups & EMG BQS Control preamp), and La Bella HC6-F strings.

The SRC6MS will come with a pair of Bartolini BH2 pups which don't have as many pickup swap options as the SRC6 factory EMG 35 pups.

Ugh, those stock D'Addarios are terrible. LaBella no longer makes Hellcat strings and nobody makes flats for non-vibrato Bass VIs. String this thing in G like you're Charlie Hunter and go to town. But as a modern Bass VI, no dice.

Aidil said:

I don't think I'll be swapping my SRC6 to the SRC6MS.

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I've calmed down a bit and am not sure I see the benefit either, especially as mine is sounding pretty good with an EMG DC/J and will get one of my preamps when I make the next batch.

Were the Gotohs a worthwhile investment, and how did they improve the bass (not sure if I've asked before)?

Argh, the GAS has returned! I've wanted an SRC6 for a while now, and this one's even better.

Snert said:

I've calmed down a bit and am not sure I see the benefit either, especially as mine is sounding pretty good with an EMG DC/J and will get one of my preamps when I make the next batch.

Were the Gotohs a worthwhile investment, and how did they improve the bass (not sure if I've asked before)?

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The Gotoh GB350 Res-O-Lites are staple on my Ibanez basses (w/ the exception of the headless, of course). It's about reducing weight from the headstock and not to mention that they look nicer. I'm not saying there was neck dive problem with the original tuning machines. Swapping all 6 factory tuning machines with the GB350 reduces the weight by almost 120 gr, comparable to taking 2 factory tuning machines off the headstock.

I think this is going to be surprisingly popular. With Bass VI's having a moment, people may quickly start looking for a more "modern" version of the instrument, which really didn't exist until Ibanez made this thing. I think it's dope, I want one.

HelpImaRock said:

Ugh, those stock D'Addarios are terrible. LaBella no longer makes Hellcat strings and nobody makes flats for non-vibrato Bass VIs. String this thing in G like you're Charlie Hunter and go to town. But as a modern Bass VI, no dice.

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Stringjoy makes a decent set of bass VI string. But, yeah, they really should have gone headless on this so that we can put whatever we want on this bass. The platform is begging for weird tunings - don't box us in with headstock pegs!

BarfanyShart said:

Stringjoy makes a decent set of bass VI string. But, yeah, they really should have gone headless on this so that we can put whatever we want on this bass. The platform is begging for weird tunings - don't box us in with headstock pegs!

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Stringjoy's Bass VI set accommodates the Fender vibrato. You'd need to order a custom baritone set from them. The .95 baritone should fit this one (though you might ask them first).

HelpImaRock said:

nobody makes flats for non-vibrato Bass VIs.

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As I mentioned in your dedicated thread, nobody save for Pyramid: beside their Fender/Squier-ready set (VI2595F), they also make another, originally designed for the Harley Benton GuitarBass, with a .085" for its lowest string (admittedly pretty thin, both in absolute terms and compared to the .075" A) and a 33" winding length:
your dedicated thread

HaphAsSard said:

As I mentioned in your dedicated thread, nobody save for Pyramid: beside their Fender/Squier-ready set (VI2595F), they also make another, originally designed for the Harley Benton GuitarBass, with a .085" for its lowest string (admittedly pretty thin, both in absolute terms and compared to the .075" A) and a 33" winding length:
your dedicated thread

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An 85 is fine for tuning to G or A. For E, I need a 95 at minimum, preferably 100.

Fender Bass 6 string set 24-100 will cure your floppy E problems. At least it did on my Schecter Hellcat 6 and Squier bass 6. They sound great!
Some unwrapping was necessary on the Hellcat, no big deal. Sweetwater has them for cheap.
You're welcome.

String through body may make flats more challenging? I wonder if the bridge will be able to handle thicker strings without modification.

I didn’t have the opportunity to plug it in yet but feel free to ask any question.

Unmost said:

I didn’t have the opportunity to plug it in yet but feel free to ask any question.
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Well, it's been nearly 2 weeks...so whaddya think?

Snert said:

Well, it's been nearly 2 weeks...so whaddya think?

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I ordered it while I was packing stuff and preparing to move houses so I only had the time to plug it in to my Headrush Gigboard to check if the electronics were OK.
From what I've heard there is not a huge difference with the previous model. The Bartolini pickup in the neck position seems to sound more bass-like than the EMG though. I mean, I wouldn't use the old model purely as a bass (but I never intended to do that) whereas the SRC6MS is quite pleasing through headphones and an SVT model.
In the bridge position or with both pickups and a dual-amp model with high gain, it sounds a bit more articulate than the old one, but that may be due to the strings being newer, I'm not sure yet.
Both instruments are the exact same (light) weight. The non-MS version's ergonomics are awesome while the MS one's are even awesomer. Chords are easier to play on the MS but not by a massive amount. It's more about the consistency of the sound, string-to-string, and the tension being manageable on the high side.
The new model is a massive step up in the aesthetics department, but that was an easy challenge as I really hate the brown finish of the old one as much as I love playing it.
Another thing I really dig is that the new multi scale feature allows for a much better intonation. On the old model, my low and high E bridge saddles are maxed out each on the opposite side, and it is barely enough for the high E to intonate correctly. With the new model, no issue at all.
So, just for the intonation and aesthetics, I'm gonna keep the new SRC6MS and sell the old SRC6. If you have no issue at all with the old model, the upgrade may not be necessary.

Unmost said:

I didn’t have the opportunity to plug it in yet but feel free to ask any question.
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Could you post the dimensions of the BH2 pickups they put on the MS?