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~AU$1500 6 string?? HELP!

P

Pantsman

Jan 21, 2005
694
8
39
Brisbane, Australia
#1
Ok, Its tax return time. After copping it in the behind from the taxman this year, he has decided to pay back AU$1400 of the cash he got from me. I've been looking for a 6 string around the $1500AU mark. The ones I know of are:

Ibanez SR506BM ~$1250
ESP-LTD B-206FM ~$1100
Cort A6 ~$1400

Those are my opinions so far, if anyone knows of any others I'd be glad to hear, btw 2nd hand is fine, id rather save the money by buying 2nd and getting more lessons WITH the 6 string.

I'm a little worried about the tight spacing on the ibanez, i played the 5 string version and it was very tight, i don't know if i would get used to it? However i reall liked the tone and the curved back of the body seeing as i wear the bass fairly high.

Never played an ESP bass, so the only thing i can comment on is gold hardware....eewww but i can get over that i am sure.

I've played the Cort A5 and liked it, active passive is a plus, bart mk1's looks nice, neckthrough as well.

So can anyone help guide me through the cheap 6 string maze, or add more obstacles (other basses i have forgotten)?

Thanks muchly
 
#2
Surely you can find a cheaper bass than those. I played a nice Ibanaz sixer that was around $300 US ($400 AUS). I don't know what bass prices are like in Australia, but unless you're really wanting to spend all that money in one place, why not find a more inexpensive instrument?
 
#3
don't take it the wrong way, not laughing at you Lemur, but AHHAHAHAHA. AU$400 will get you a squier p-bass, maybe a couple of other options, but certainly no 6 string. Those are pretty much the cheapest I could find.

Edit: just remembered there is a luthier near me on talkbass, I'll PM him and see about prices, i'd love a 6string jazz bass :bassist:
 
#5
I have a six string jazz that i could be talked out of if you really convinced me. Its a custom called "londay" i dont know much about it at all but im really like it, kent armstrong pups sound great.

As for the others i would go with the ibanez just because i have the most experience on it, and it was a nice bass.

I reckon the best bet is just watching ebay everynow and then something good comes up i got mine really cheap

EDIT: 200th Post!!!!!!!!!! YAY
 
#10
I only see two real options -

1) Buy a bass from the US for $1200 Australian ($950ish US) and spend the necessary $300 to have it shipped over. You'll end up with a sixer that would cost you $3000 here and never buy a bass in Australia again. Thats what I found. It's not very patriotic but it is a sad reality for those of us that cannot afford the local 300% markup on basses. Lots of guys in the US say great things about Peavey sixers and they would be in this range.

2) Put an ad in the wanted section here on TB. Theres a few guys with seriously nice gear around Australia who may have something secondhand. Theres a great local builder out there too.;)

I get really self righteous about music gear prices. $1500 is a big chunk of cash and I think the basses you are looking at are just budget level. Do some online research, go secondhand and you'll get something that you won't want to upgrade in a year.
 
#11
There you are Phil, I had a conversation with you about a 7 string awhile ago. I've kind of given up on that idea, a 6 will be fine for me. But yeah, I'll keep my eye on ebay and shop around, but just wanting to know what other options there are, any Yamaha 6'ers in this price range, I'd love an older John Myung, maybe buy it in the US 2nd hand for cheap and have it shipped?

Edit: Scottyboy, yeah I drooled over that for awhile, but I don't have the cash at the moment. Working my arse off to pay off a few things needed for a REAL life, like car rego, insurance and such.
 
#12
Does Ibanez make a 6er in the BTB series? If so, I'd snag one of these...

or a Yamaha TRB 6er...that would be sweet, too...

6ers are hard to come by in Australia...but if you're patient, you'll get your axe...

I did all the math before on USA basses shipped to Australia...

all up, once you pay import duties and shipping, convert the dollar, etc... you're likely to save about 10-20% by bringing an axe over from the states.
 
#14
They do make a BTB 6 string, its a touch cheaper than the SR too, but I think its fugly ..... but it does have wider spacing. When I get a bit of money saved i'll search the for sale forum here and see if someone would be willing to ship internationally, might find a quality 6 string for $1500-$2000 ... hopefully. :confused:
 
#20
I've bought three basses, one amp, one cabinet and a bunch of pedals from the US. I bought a Schroeder cab new but everything else used and declared full value for shipping and insurance. As long as you aren't sucked in to paying insane shipping amounts (UPS Expedited or Fed EX Priority) you'll save much more than 20%.
PilbaraBass is probably right with his calculations on many new low-mid priced basses but I've never paid a penny for duties on used gear. It can be worth the effort.
 

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