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6 string options

uOpt

uOpt

Jul 21, 2008
1,580
446
Boston, MA, USA
#1
I need a 6 string bass for a specific project. I need something "clear" sounding that doesn't choke on chords. Preference for some form of narrow (jazz bass style) pickups, but probably need active with the 6-strings?

I think I've narrowed it down like this:
  • Save some money and get one of those LTD spalted maple top 35" scale 6-strings. Played one in GC and it was pretty good.
  • 6-string Corvette. Love my 4-string JJ corvette and it sounds exactly like what I need here, however I am a bit concerned about the weight. It's heavy enough as a 4-string. Also, not sure about the non-wenge necks.
  • 6-string Bongo. I have a 4-string tangerine pearl HH that I don't quite like sound-wise, I think it lacks mass. Maybe flipping it to get a 6-string bongo kills two flies at once. Unfortunately I'd really like it in single H format and that is never available, not to mention I want the back of the neck not painted solid. On and I want Alnico pickups. Duh.
  • Have Carvin make me a LB76. It's reasonably priced and would support kinda-local business but if it doesn't turn out the way I want I would be screwed because of the (lack of) resell value. LB76s available used are all ugly as sin in my eyes.

Opinions? Would love to have a straight 6-string Jazz bass.
 
#3
the new ibanez singlecut 6 looks very nice

i've owned 3 carvin basses, they're superb. the XB76 is great, but 35.25" scale isin't for everyone, and it doesn't come with a single coil, only MM style bucker, at the bridge.

the LB76 is a great choice. the one i had was super lightweight, felt great and sounded really good. it was an older 2-band preamp model, but the new or old ones are all really nice.
 
#4
I started on 6 with the ltd, great for the money. Hard ash body, lots of sustain but, kind of a scooped sound. With the dual truss rods you can get the action super low. My second 6 was the warwick corvette, For me it added the midrange snap I was missing, the notes and chords are much clearer, especially when amplified, only downside is of course the bubinga is a bear to hold up for long shows. According to the manual ovangkol and wenge have a very similar tone. The ovangkol feels way smoother and is more comfortable than wenge IMO.
 
#7
I just picked up a 1206 a couple months ago, I love it. I tried a sub $500 LTD and a new $700 sound gear six string, the 1206 is far better, I wish I could of tried more six strings but they are hard to come by in the music stores. For me it was the difference of being a novelty instrument that gets played every one and a while, or a really nice bass that I would want to use as my main instrument, which the 1206 is for me. For me a quality neck and fingerboard is really important, along with good electronics and pickups, you really do get what you pay for unless you can find a steal on the used market. This is my 1206. I think its a great bang for the buck, it has that high end boutique feel. It replaced my Warwick German made thumb 5 bolt on, the Warwick was nice but very heavy, really bad neck dive and a longer scale, I had that bass for 14 years and could never get over that. It had a lot of upsides too, which is why i put up with its downsides for so long. The 1206 is so much more comfortable, especially if you have to stand up playing it for hours. Zero neck dive, very light, sounds amazing and plays like a dream.

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#9
uOpt said:
I need a 6 string bass for a specific project. I need something "clear" sounding that doesn't choke on chords. Preference for some form of narrow (jazz bass style) pickups, but probably need active with the 6-strings?

Opinions? Would love to have a straight 6-string Jazz bass.
Click to expand...

We'd ALL like to have a 6 string jazz bass! But if you don't have bales of money sitting around for a nice Low End or Vintage Steve Bailey, there is only one answer.

And that would be to get one or two (I've got three: Flats, rounds, and fretless) SX six string Jazz basses.

Link Removed

Get a John East preamp for it and do the usual SX mods: New Strings, shielding, fret level check and setup, neck threaded inserts, etc. and there you go.

Yes, there is some effort involved. But even if you pay someone to tweak it in, you still shouldn't be too far out of line. I love mine!

Mine are Alder but the Ash one should have a brighter clear tone you are looking for. Pickups are single coil so soloed there may be hum.

PS. I have an ESP LTD and it is a good approximation but as you note it doesn't QUITE do it because it's got soap bars. A new Carvin 6 would be great especially if you want a thinner neck. I agree on the older ones! An Alembic Epic 6 (like mine) would be perfect if you could find a reasonable used one. Yammy is great if you love wide spacing. The others just won't quite do what you want IMHO.
 
#11
uOpt said:
I need a 6 string bass for a specific project. I need something "clear" sounding that doesn't choke on chords. Preference for some form of narrow (jazz bass style) pickups, but probably need active with the 6-strings?
Click to expand...

I think you can get "clear" without going active on a six. The pickups and and their placement are more important than an onboard preamp in my opinion - you can make most of the same adjustments a preamp offers elsewhere in the signal chain. That said, there are a lot of great, clear sounding active basses out there...

uOpt said:
  • Have Carvin make me a LB76. It's reasonably priced and would support kinda-local business but if it doesn't turn out the way I want I would be screwed because of the (lack of) resell value. LB76s available used are all ugly as sin in my eyes.
Click to expand...

I don't know that you'd be completely screwed with Carvin as you would have the 10-day trial period under most circumstances. And based on the clips I've heard, the new "vintage" single coil they put in the bridge of the PB models does have a classic "J" tone. Check out some of the clips on youtube, you might dig it.

I think any the basses you listed could be a good choice for a clean, clear tone. And you seem pretty aware of possible pros and cons of each. I'd also suggest the Peavey Cirrus, which is a very comfortable, clear sounding instrument - though in a hi-fi sense, not really a traditional jazz bass sound (and it is active).
 
#12
If you actually want a 6-string jazz, probably the most "authentic" sounding and looking one you could get would be by Valenti. He's affordable, he specializes in Fender-style basses, and he will make a 6-string. You can't get Lakland, Lull, or Sadowsky to make you a 6-string Jazz, and besides, they are more expensive than a Valenti.
 

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