6 String Recommendations

[Hort Elvison]

I'm looking for a decent but not overly expensive ($800-$1200) 6 string bass for a jazz fusion project I'm involved in. I regularly play Sandberb, Suhr and Sadowsky so I'm used to high end, boutique instruments and so I'm wanting something that I will actually play. So far I've found little in that price range and right now I'm looking at Ibanez basses, in particular the BTB846SC and the BTB846V (the V interests me because it's a 33" scale with 16.5 spacing but I love the shape of the SC).

I have beginning issues with arthritis so wide necks or baseball bat necks don't work for me, I need something thin.

Anyone have experience with the basses above or have other suggestions?

 

[B-Mac]

I'm looking for a decent but not overly expensive ($800-$1200) 6 string bass for a jazz fusion project I'm involved in. I regularly play Sandberb, Suhr and Sadowsky so I'm used to high end, boutique instruments and so I'm wanting something that I will actually play. So far I've found little in that price range and right now I'm looking at Ibanez basses, in particular the BTB846SC and the BTB846V (the V interests me because it's a 33" scale with 16.5 spacing but I love the shape of the SC).

I have beginning issues with arthritis so wide necks or baseball bat necks don't work for me, I need something thin.

Anyone have experience with the basses above or have other suggestions?

Dean 6 string basses usually have thin and narrow necks.

I don't own any 6 stings basses, but I do own 4, 5, 8 octave course, 10 octave course and 12 octave course Dean basses, so I have to assume their 6 stringers follow suit.

Check out used.

Here's a late 90's Dean Edge 6 string (passive)


Here's a Dean Edge 6 from 2017
This is based on the 2017 Dean Edge 4. Flame Maple top on Mahogany as opposed to Basswood body. Active with B M and T plus a Mid scoop switch in addition to Vol and Blend.

Discontinued in this format and Country of origin manufacture (MIK) but still selling on Amazon old new stock and elsewhere for $899

https://www.amazon.com/Dean-Guitars-Flame-String-Electric/dp/B07957YCH8

You can probably find a used one for $600

New 6 string Dean MIC rather than MIK and Passive but $300 Mahogany

Dean Edge 1 6 String Vintage Mahogany

Edge Select 6 Burl Poplar top Mahogany body Active around $800 new Made in Indonesia
Dean Edge Select 6 String Burled Poplar SN

Edge 6 Pro Walnut top Swamp Ash body Made in Indonesia around $800 new The pro series is no longer a through neck design, which is a shame
Dean Edge Pro 6 String Walnut Satin Natural

Edge 6 Active discontinued Basswood body basswood top. Can still find these as NOS for around $500 MIK
Dean

Their older Edge 6 models also included a quilt top 6 string and a fretless 6 string that are gorgeous but hard to find because those that have them tend to hold onto them.
Here's a TB post giving an older Edge 6Q woderful praise from way back in 2003 from @alembic5
edge 6Q Praise

Here's another TB-er's ( @Draculea ) Edge 6Q
edge 6Q

Discontinued 6 string fretless

[This invalid link has been removed]

 

[Hort Elvison]

Wow, thanks man! I've not looked at those but they look like some really nice basses. I will definitely do some research on them.

 

[B-Mac]

Wow, thanks man! I've not looked at those but they look like some really nice basses. I will definitely do some research on them.

I like Dean's if you didn't notice. Especially the Deans from the oughts
I also have some catalog info that does specify neck width at the nut

 

[Hort Elvison]

I don't know if any store around my area sells them but I'm in Nashville a lot, I'll look at one there. Thanks for the recommendation, I haven't considered them at all. Nice looking basses!

 

[B-Mac]

I'm looking for a decent but not overly expensive ($800-$1200) 6 string bass for a jazz fusion project I'm involved in. I regularly play Sandberb, Suhr and Sadowsky so I'm used to high end, boutique instruments and so I'm wanting something that I will actually play. So far I've found little in that price range and right now I'm looking at Ibanez basses, in particular the BTB846SC and the BTB846V (the V interests me because it's a 33" scale with 16.5 spacing but I love the shape of the SC).

I have beginning issues with arthritis so wide necks or baseball bat necks don't work for me, I need something thin.

Anyone have experience with the basses above or have other suggestions?

I also own a few Ibanez basses (SoundGear and Artcore), and I'm sure the BTB basses are fine as well.

 

[B-Mac]

I don't know if any store around my area sells them but I'm in Nashville a lot, I'll look at one there. Thanks for the recommendation, I haven't considered them at all. Nice looking basses!

You might also want to post your question here: 6 String BASS Club (Guitarists keep out!)

 

[RumbleBot]

I would personally recommend Yamaha or Tune basses if you can find a 6 string available anywhere. Used Yamaha TRB1006 basses can be gotten for well under $1000.

 

[B-Mac]

I would personally recommend Yamaha or Tune basses if you can find a 6 string available anywhere. Used Yamaha TRB1006 basses can be gotten for well under $1000.

He's looking for thin and narrow necks though.

 

[RumbleBot]

He's looking for thin and narrow necks though.

Ah. Missed that. My bad.

 

[RumbleBot]

I know it's out of the price range, but this little beauty looks fun...
MENSINGER Cazpar 6a - Active 6 String Short Scale 30" Bass - Burl Poplar, Blackburst

 

[WillyW]

My 94 corvette is nice but it weighs more than my mother in law...

I play standing even when I practice, and this is definitely a sittin’ bass

wenge neck and maple body, active Bartolini’s

 

[RumbleBot]

My 94 corvette is nice but it weighs more than my mother in law...

I play standing even when I practice, and this is definitely a sittin’ bass

wenge neck and maple body, active Bartolini’s

View attachment 3888713

I assume that those wear marks are from playing?

 

[Grueber]

So far I've found little in that price range and right now I'm looking at Ibanez basses, in particular the BTB846SC and the BTB846V (the V interests me because it's a 33" scale with 16.5 spacing but I love the shape of the SC).

I have beginning issues with arthritis so wide necks or baseball bat necks don't work for me, I need something thin.

For your needs, I would recommend either the BTB846V or one of the Ibanez SR Models. I own several SR 6 strings and the SR876 is my favorite, but out of production I think. I also have a BTB846V, and while the scale is 33, the neck doesn’t feel as thin as the 6 string SR’s that I own. The BTB also has a flatter radius. I tune mine EADGCF, so keep in mind I can’t speak to the tension of the B-string.

You can hear several examples of my different Ibanez 6 strings on my YouTube page for reference.
YouTube

I would also recommend Schecter Stiletto 6’s except that they are all 35 inch scale.

Good Luck!