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Good quality six string, at a reasonable price.

#41
There are "world class" basses that are works of art and look like expensive coffee tables. I was just over at Carvin last week having a fresh look. I would suggest Carvin as an option if the string spacing suits your needs. They seem like they are providing a very high quality instrument for the money. I too am considering a six string and for under $1500 I don't know what else is out there besides Ibanez in this price category.
 
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#42
Damian Coccio said:
If you don't mind a 35" scale, a peavey cirrus is a great value especially used. Also used zons are really good value too. Fbass makes a nice 6er as well.
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35 scale is what I really like in extended range. Not because of a tighter low b, like people say. I've never played a 34 with a lose b except a five string MIM jazz bass at gc. Longer scale makes ALL the strings feel a bit tighter, I like that for slapping, and it sounds a bit more, hmmm... Aggressive I'd say.
 
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#44
I Need a six... said:
Ebony fingerboard(love the feel!)
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How does the fingerboard wood affect the feel on a fretted bass? You must be crushing the strings if you are feeling the wood underneath them (on a fretted bass)?

For your requirements, I would (well, did, actually) look for a Peavey Cirrus 6. Mostly, they are Pau Ferro fingerboards, but you can find them with other woods. Mine is birdseye maple. I have seen others from the Peavey Custom Shop with ebony. They are 35" scale and neck-thru. They don't make them any more, so you would have to find a used one. The Cirrus 6's usually sell in the $1000-1500 range.
 
#48
Doug Parent said:
There are "world class" basses that are works of art and look like expensive coffee tables. I was just over at Carvin last week having a fresh look. I would suggest Carvin as an option if the string spacing suits your needs. They seem like they are providing a very high quality instrument for the money. I too am considering a six string and for under $1500 I don't know what else is out there besides Ibanez in this price category.
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I've played the Ibanez sound gear 6, it's really nice especially for the price. I just don't like how it looks as much :roflmao: Not a big deal but, carvin is also got the "made in the USA" stamp. If Ibenez was a better product then, I wouldn't care. It's quite comparable, so pretty and american wins.
 
#49
Emanuel Apascaritei said:
It does. The feel of ebony board in my hand is great. You have to try it out. The pau ferro does it too...Nice feel!
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I have a fretless Jazz 4-string with an ebony board. Even with it being fretless, I don't notice any difference in feel. My fingers barely touch the wood on the fretless and touch the wood even less when I'm playing fretted. The strings don't touch the wood at all when I play fretted.
 
#51
mat666 said:
Why not getting a luthier make one for you? Why go with a brand? For that much money possibilities are kind of limitless as far as quality goes
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Well, I'm just don't think my first 6 should be a luthier made, I need to learn to play it before i go that route. I still want something high quality, so I can feel like it is worthy of the money I spend, got it narrowed down to carvin or Ibanez. I can choose tonewood on carvins, and most Ibanez don't have ebony boards, which I love.
 
#52
StuartV said:
How does the fingerboard wood affect the feel on a fretted bass? You must be crushing the strings if you are feeling the wood underneath them (on a fretted bass)?

For your requirements, I would (well, did, actually) look for a Peavey Cirrus 6. Mostly, they are Pau Ferro fingerboards, but you can find them with other woods. Mine is birdseye maple. I have seen others from the Peavey Custom Shop with ebony. They are 35" scale and neck-thru. They don't make them any more, so you would have to find a used one. The Cirrus 6's usually sell in the $1000-1500 range.
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I have a very light touch, but I can tell between the boards by feel, it's just feels better on ebony than rosewood, IMO
 
#54
I Need a six... said:
Well, I'm just don't think my first 6 should be a luthier made, I need to learn to play it before i go that route. I still want something high quality, so I can feel like it is worthy of the money I spend, got it narrowed down to carvin or Ibanez. I can choose tonewood on carvins, and most Ibanez don't have ebony boards, which I love.
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I get it, I got my luthier's bass after 12 years of playing and lots of research on woods ;-)

I would definitely go with Carvin since your in the USA. They got a nice range of different options and I know their guitars are awesome so I expect as much for their basses.

Ibanez are as nice, probably just different so it goes down on wich you prefer. But if I lived in the US I would get a Carvin
 
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#55
mat666 said:
I get it, I got my luthier's bass after 12 years of playing and lots of research on woods ;-)

I would definitely go with Carvin since your in the USA. They got a nice range of different options and I know their guitars are awesome so I expect as much for their basses.

Ibanez are as nice, probably just different so it goes down on wich you prefer. But if I lived in the US I would get a Carvin
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We think alike. I'll probably go with the carvin since I wan to keep it for years without finding gripes about the quality. But any thing is welcome. I really liked the loom of the wyn and f basses somone suggested but, a bit TOO high end for me at the moment.
 
#56
I have a 5 string Spector rebop that feels amazing. I definetly wouldn't count out the euro spectors, they have incredible build quality. But as above I can't say I've ever felt a fretboard wood with a Fretted bass and I've tried lots of different fretboard woods. I'd bet if you blind tested that you'd never be able to tell the difference. Feeling with your eyes as they say. Not to mention I've heard the harder a fretboard is the worse it is to refret if you ever end up doing it. Due to tear out from the wood.
 
#57
Honestly, the only things you would have to change is hardware/electronics and color. I suggest you put hipshot tuner and bridge ;-) you may want to get other preamp or pickup later. Color can be change to wood grain and vice versa.

For the bass itself, construction will probably be near perfect anyway. I have a Brice Z6 that fits your description but for the rosewood fingerboard. All I changed was the pickups and electronics for seymour duncan and the bass is awesome so I'm sure you can't be disappointed with your choice
 
#59
I just recently discovered how sweet Carvins are.. Was at GC the other day trying out a few pedals when a guy came in with one of these and let me mess around with it for a little bit. First time playing a sixer, but man did that thing look, play and sound awesome!

IMG_7701.PNG
 
#60
I Need a six... said:
Well, I'm just don't think my first 6 should be a luthier made, I need to learn to play it before i go that route. I still want something high quality, so I can feel like it is worthy of the money I spend, got it narrowed down to carvin or Ibanez. I can choose tonewood on carvins, and most Ibanez don't have ebony boards, which I love.
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One of the Carvins I played sported an ebony board, and very very fast neck. really stout hardware man, very solid instrument. That one had soapbox pickups on it. 24 frets. great upper fret access. Good luck!
 

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