• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Brice 6 string opinions?

madbassplaya

madbassplaya

Supporting Member
Dec 28, 2007
8,397
142
#1
I posted this in the ERB thread, but thought I may get more responses if I just posted it as a new thread.

i'm really aching for a six string bass again. the carvin i bought a while back i ended up selling and now i regret it a little.

i'm looking for something that isn't too expensive to introduce myself to the instrument and practice on. if i eventually do get comfortable i will invest in a better 6 and keep this one as my backup.

i was looking at this brice:
Link Removed

what do you guys think of it? any opinions? is there a better 6 string at a similar price?
 
#4
I don't have much to compare them to, and i'm more of a P-bass guy, but they did well for me. I put a set of labella flats on and I can get some pretty sweet thump. I've thought about doing some mods, but I keep picking up other projects and the brice gets pushed further back... the active/passive thing is great, esp if your clipping out the amp or your battery dies!
 
#5
I had this bass and found it heavy and prone to neck dive. I also didn't care for the front-to-back thickness of the neck, but I'm spoiled by my Lakland 55-94. It sounded fine, but I sold it after about a year because I just didn't use it enough. If I were to buy a sixer again, I'd look for one with wider string spacing, too, but that's just my preference. for the money, The Brice is decent.
 
#6
mccartneyman said:
I had this bass and found it heavy and prone to neck dive. I also didn't care for the front-to-back thickness of the neck, but I'm spoiled by my Lakland 55-94. It sounded fine, but I sold it after about a year because I just didn't use it enough. If I were to buy a sixer again, I'd look for one with wider string spacing, too, but that's just my preference. for the money, The Brice is decent.
Click to expand...

thanks. i in no way expect a 300 dollar brice to play like an US Lakland.

just wanting to make sure the bass isn't junk.
 
#9
I've owned one (and still do now that it's a fretless), and I really liked it.

I found that it not only sounded better, but played better than I was expecting.

For $300, there are many, many worse things that you could do........

Do it! I don't regret it once.
 
#10
gus1894 said:
Brice tend to be fairly well made. But just to play devil's advocate:

A name you know...

Ibanez - $299.00 (link)

For a little more...this one is well-reviewed...

ESP - $439.00 (link)

But like anything else ... try to play before you buy ...you can get lots of opinions, but yours is the only one that counts!

Good luck, Gus
Click to expand...

thanks for the suggestions! i would have to pass on the ibby, but the LTD does look nice.
 
#11
Hey you never know what's out there, true? I have to say, I have found some fair bass bargains on ebay too.

I used to own several 5-strings, lots of fun, but I sold them in a moment where I wanted to get "back to basics". Now I wonder why I did. And as I contemplate a new 5-string, I wonder if I should go straight to the 6-string - but then I find that a bit intimidating, I must confess...
 
#12
My suggestion would be to take that $300 and put it into a used bass. Hold out until you can find a deal. During that time you could save another $100 to go with it, then you really can have a quality used instrument over the Brice.
 
#15
As a person that's owned 6 Brice basses, I highly recommend them - but only particular models. The HXB line is OK...

But save your pennies and buy the Prestige Z six string for $499. It's a neck thru 35 scale. The neck is a little chunkier than an Ibanez, but I like it so much that I ordered a custom Prestige last year (maple board, 34 scale, all black, black gloss finish).

I thought I'd have to change out the pre-amp, but the quality has improved over the past few years to the point that I'm keeping it in...especially since it has an active and passive mode.

If you check out my MySpace and click Just Funkin Around, it was recorded with a Brice Prestige for the fretted funk part, and a fretless Brice V2 does the fretless solo.

It's really worth it over a Schecter or LTD.

Now if you want a really thin and fast neck, go for an Ibanez.

Z
 
#16
Another Brice 6 owner here.

I started with the same bmodel you're looking at and ONLY sold it to get the wider spaced Prestige Z series.

The HXB had a good B string, better than all 3 Fender 5's I've owned (2 mex, 1 usa). I swapped in a different pre though, because the stock pre's on the older stuf is pure garbage.

i swapped in a new pre on the used Z series as quick as I could find an affordable solution.

Stock pickups have been fine, although upgraded pickups would probably sound like an upgrade.

The HXB body felt a bit slab-like. i liked the neck just fine.

A great alternative though, if you really like the narrower spacing would be a used SR406BM. That seems like a nice bass.

If you want it wide, go for the Z series.

I played mine Sunday for the first time in a while and fell in love with it again.
 
#17
I've got a different older model Brice 6 string. Mine has been a servicable giggable instrument which plays and sounds fine. For the price, new, they are definitely worth it. I like mine a lot and would buy it again. If you can find a used Dean Edge 6 that would be a better bass for about the same amount of money. That's assuming you could find one. No waiting or searching for the Brice.

There are some outstanding values out there used if you're patient and persistent. I got my Peavey USA Axcelerator 6 for $400 in near mint condition shipped with case, and it absolutely PWNS any import discussed here as far as everything; build quality, sound, you name it.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back