Ibanez 6 string

[M-Mittlesteadt]

I ordered an Ibanez GSR206SMNGT 6 string bass. I'm thinking of tuning it to standard guitar tuning (EADGBE) as I've been playing acoustic and electric guitar for a while now, but those strings are too light and too skinny. I've had 6 string basses before and modded 5 stringers into 6 string basses.

I know this bass is not top of the line, but it's just to get me going again. At some point I'll look for an upgrade. And I'm used to modding and doing full setups on basses anyway. At this point upon returning to bass, I'm not being too picky...just want to get playing again.

 

[Snert]

I'm thinking of tuning it to standard guitar tuning (EADGBE)

I answered more fully in your NDB thread, but go for it. One of my BTBs is E-E, plus I have an SRC6. The BTB is using the SIT Conklin 7 string set, less the .135 which when added to a 4 string set makes a good fiver set, so no wasted strings.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

I played it last night with the standard BEADGF six string bass tuning and it sounded and played incredible. But...having owned 5 string basses for a long time, the shorter scale leaves the low B a bit on the loose, floppy side so I think I'm going to string it up like a guitar (since I play guitar too...on those tiny little strings and uber close string spacing) EADGBE.

But in order to get a full set for that, I'll need to get a 7 string set and leave the low B off. Now it's a matter of finding the right 7 string set.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Check out S.I.T. PSR18135 Conklin Signature Stainless Steel 7 string exposed core set.
Set the B string aside.

https://reverb.com/item/62630040-si...nless-steel-7-string-bass-exposed-core-18-135

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[Watchootognbout]

A caveat:The F string is plain steel.
Not wound.

 

[Riff Ranger]

@M-Mittlesteadt I presume packaged sets for 7-string basses are both very limited in selection and expensive, especially if you have no use for the biggest (and by far most expensive) string. In your situation I strongly suggest either going the custom route with Curt Mangan (to name one I’ve used) or Kalium or Newtone (to name two I haven’t used), or cobbling together a set of singles from a manufacturer with a big selection such as GHS (which I’ve also done).

I just put this set I cobbled together from GHS Boomers singles on my Ibanez SRC6MS. I could use packaged bass vi sets for E1–E3 as intended, but of course I had to make my situation even harder by tuning B0–B2 like a bass baritone guitar I used guitar strings for the top four which thankfully kept my cost down, but even a custom 6-string set from Mangan comes in under 40 USD right now.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

The more I play my new 6 string bass, the more impressed I am by the action, playability and tone. I just bought a Fender Rumble 100 and the bass sounds so good, on my day off yesterday I played it pretty much all day. This is one sweet bass. It has the perfect string spacing and the neck is so thin it makes it so easy to comfortably play.

I'm expecting my Dean Markley 7 string set today, so I'll be restringing it up to a standard guitar tuning of EADGBE. Then I will adjust the bridge and action. Stay tuned (pun intended).