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Help me choose a six string!

W

wyrmspawn

Jul 25, 2011
175
83
Ingelheim Germany
#1
Highly respected fat string aficionados!
I wanted to give a six string bass guitar a shot and there are 2 used 6ers in my area (within 60 miles each).
An Ibanez SR 306 and an Ibanez BTB 406QM.
I am caught between a rock and a hard place here.
Maybe some of you can give me some insights on the instruments as I have only experience with Ibby SR 4 string models.

The pros for the SR 306 for me are:
Body shape
Weight
The cons:
String spacing

The pros fort the BTB
String spacing
The parametric EQ (maybe)
The cons:
Weight

I am leaning towards the SR due to the slim ergonimc body, but maybe the BTB is an attractive blast from the past…
Let me know your opinions on that!
Cheers
Alex
 
#2
I play SR and BTB 6s and the spacing is 1/2mm different, 16.5 vs 17 but the scales are 34 and 35. They feel different and I don't really have a preference especially if I recall correctly and the BTB is an older BO model - I've not tried one of these so I don't know how they feel or sound as my BTB is a recent model.
 
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#3
Snert said:
I play SR and BTB 6s and the spacing is 1/2mm different, 16.5 vs 17 but the scales are 34 and 35. They feel different and I don't really have a preference especially if I recall correctly and the BTB is an older BO model - I've not tried one of these so I don't know how they feel or sound as my BTB is a recent model.
Click to expand...
I have played 34" and 35" models and enjoyed both. Yes the BTB is bolt on and about 20 years old!
 
#4
An Ibanez SR 306 was my first foray into the world of six strings. If string spacing is your only concern, I found that adjusting your playing to the tighter spacing came easier than expected. You'll just have to get used to it, which is a process you'll have to undergo anyway when moving to sixers. Keep at it, it'll come to you in no time.

You didn't write anything about sound. Which one did you like better? I would base my decision on that.
 
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#5
Nashrakh said:
An Ibanez SR 306 was my first foray into the world of six strings. If string spacing is your only concern, I found that adjusting your playing to the tighter spacing came easier than expected. You'll just have to get used to it, which is a process you'll have to undergo anyway when moving to sixers. Keep at it, it'll come to you in no time.

You didn't write anything about sound. Which one did you like better? I would base my decision on that.
Click to expand...

Due to limited time I have not tried either. From whatI heard online I seem to like the SR better, but I have no hands-on experience
 
#10
wyrmspawn said:
Highly respected fat string aficionados!
I wanted to give a six string bass guitar a shot and there are 2 used 6ers in my area (within 60 miles each).
An Ibanez SR 306 and an Ibanez BTB 406QM.
I am caught between a rock and a hard place here.
Maybe some of you can give me some insights on the instruments as I have only experience with Ibby SR 4 string models.

The pros for the SR 306 for me are:
Body shape
Weight
The cons:
String spacing

The pros fort the BTB
String spacing
The parametric EQ (maybe)
The cons:
Weight

I am leaning towards the SR due to the slim ergonimc body, but maybe the BTB is an attractive blast from the past…
Let me know your opinions on that!
Cheers
Alex
Click to expand...
Is it SR306E? If so, the active EQ has a good, wide range, widened still more by the pickup tap switch. I like the low weight of my SR300EB.
 
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#11
I have 5+ - 6 strings. They tend to be heavy just because of how they have to be built. It all depends on wood type used in a build as usual. My Ibanez BTB is older and has a fairly wide neck. But, it has excellent sound and playability after "setup". The Ibanez SR 6, is a thin body, amazingly light, and is an easy bass to play. My Bongo 6 is also a touch heavy, but is comparable to the BTB. That bass is an animal and hard to beat all the way around. The neck is also wide. Bongo price might scare some people away and I'm in no way saying this should be a first time 6 string purchase. I also have an ESP LTD. Excellent playability and sound but, it is a brick! I posses a Glarry 6 that I use as a travel bass. Light as a feather and sounds just fine for what I use it for.

I don't get into all this string spacing stuff on a 6. You should be able to acclimate to anything with practice. Necks are all fairly wide to accommodate 6 strings. Again, material used in the build will dictate weight. Weight is a concern if you plan on gigging with it? 3 or 4 hours can be tiring and a back beater hanging one around your neck.

Then you get into the TB neck dive controversy here along with the proper strap you have to have to play one. All of which is dealt with on a personal basis. "Setup" is the most important just like any bass! Make sure that is done correctly or your "like" for a 6 won't be there long.

If you can't play any bass before purchase don't buy it. That is especially true of any 5 or 6 string. If you are new to either, price should be a concern. 6s vary in price and it makes a difference in in what you get. Again, play before pay! You may not like it so there is that money thing. It takes time to acclimate to a 6. You should spend time with it to become proficient. Set your other basses aside for a bit to see if this is what you want. Good luck in your endeavor.
 
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#12
I really like the range of tones that the sweepable mids knob gives, on my older BTBs…I like the BTBs in general, as well, and never really clicked with any of the other Ibanez basses. Admittedly, I have a small sample size, but I also don't find my BTB400 or 405 to be prohibitively heavier than other 4 and 5 strings I have, and certainly not an absolute boat anchor, like my Warmoth 4 is.
 
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#13
Oh, one more thing: I can't say much about the SR series' string spacing, but my Carvin 6s are even tighter (IIRC 15.5) and I happily swap between any of my 6s, from those at the tighter end, to my Dingwall 6s, at 18mm. It doesn't make much difference to me, and adjusting when I swap is trivial. YMMV.
 
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#14
I've tried a number of SRs and BTBs, and have always preferred the BTBs universally. There was one top-tier SR I tried once at Guitar Center that was pretty awesome, though. It was an SR5000, and it was amazing.

Given the choice, I would go for the BTB, as long as you're okay with the longer scale and wider spacing.
 
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#16
I would widen the search parameters.

Dingwall six string basses are amazing, and the AB-1 six string I had was just under 9 lb. 18 mm string spacing. The multi scale fanned fret really shines with six strings. 37" B string to 34" C. Excellent balance across the neck. A compound radius that is more curved in the lower regions and flattens as you get up higher.

I haven't played a combustion or NG six string, the import models, but I'm super impressed with the QC on my import Dbird.

Be prepared to put all the other basses away for the foreseeable future. You can't really dabble in six string, it has to be all or nothing. And get a fret wrap, really helps with muting all the extra strings.

Ergonomics and weight are important.
 
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#17
Had the sr706 - didn't like the flat neck profile but otherwise was a nice instrument. Bought a bongo 6 for way more money and way happier…. I don't know if I'd like a 35" scale so not sure about the btb. The are other choices out there too that are budget friendly but I don't think you'll get more bang for the buck than the ibanez.
 
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#19
I love my BTB--if I can, I would try to make any future custom bass of mine have a custom neck modelled after this one.

I was not impressed on the few times I've played 6-string SR's, though those were in that worst of sampling places (Guitar Center). Still, I can't recommend the BTB highly enough as a starter 6. The weight is manageable with a good broad strap.
 
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#20
GretschWretch said:
Props to OP for using the archaic spelling of wyrm (dragon) in his user name. However, sentences like his initial one always put me in a reference crisis. Is it the strings or the aficianados that are fat?
Click to expand...

I am sorry to have confused you with my attempt to write something interesting. Please be patient with me, as English is not my first language (it's not even not my second).
Would "fat-string aficionado" burry the misleading ambiguity?
Also I sincerely didn't want to body-shame someone in this forum, mea culpa!
 

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