Ibanez BTB866SC. My first bass ever.

[lastsonofmars]

Excited to post about my first bass! I'm new to strings in general, previously playing the piano and flute. I've done my research, and I know the 6-string might be a little bit of a struggle at first, but I'm ready to grind this out. I'll be trying to dial in Matthew Garrison's four-finger technique while learning the basics at Bassology (if they are taking students).

Hyped.

 

[5StringBlues]

Welcome to the show. Sweet looking bass.

 

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Excited to post about my first bass! I'm new to strings in general, previously playing the piano and flute. I've done my research, and I know the 6-string might be a little bit of a struggle at first, but I'm ready to grind this out. I'll be trying to dial in Matthew Garrison's four-finger technique while learning the basics at Bassology (if they are taking students).

Hyped.

Starting on a 6 should be not much harder than a 4 - it's the changing from one to the other that's tricky, not the "absolute value" number of strings - you're comfiest on what you learned on, generally.

 

[Phe]

That is a sweet bass, be it first or last or anything between.
I agree, string count doesn't matter. Awesome that you have a goal in mind, that will make learning easier.

 

[GwennyT]

Make sure you change your strings at most every two months if they're roundwounds! If they're flats or tapes, well... those quite literally last forever. Sweet bass!

 

[Snert]

Sweet bass. If I didn't already have enough 6s, and one of these showed up locally, GAS would likely get the better of me. I've gone from hating SCs to not minding that one at all.

View attachment 5402402

Excited to post about my first bass! I'm new to strings in general, previously playing the piano and flute. I've done my research, and I know the 6-string might be a little bit of a struggle at first, but I'm ready to grind this out.

Grind it out baby. Sixes rule. As Barticus correctly says, what's easiest is what you learn on, and changing from a 4 to something else is too much work for many players, based on the bajillion posts I've read on the subject here.

Watching this might help as I use the same basic technique, seated or standing. The faster you learn and get your muting sorted, the better player you'll become.

 

[Maestro29]

View attachment 5402402

Excited to post about my first bass! I'm new to strings in general, previously playing the piano and flute. I've done my research, and I know the 6-string might be a little bit of a struggle at first, but I'm ready to grind this out. I'll be trying to dial in Matthew Garrison's four-finger technique while learning the basics at Bassology (if they are taking students).

Hyped.

Great bass! My first bass was a Squire P bass that came with a crappy little guitar amp and instructional video on how to play acoustic guitar lol. Welcome to the bass world!

 

[Nek07]

Quite the challenge to start with a 6, but I hope you enjoy the journey!

 

[TeeSee]

Not often you hear about a woodwind player/flautist taking in strings as well, so kudos to you mate . If you've never really spent a lot of time on a 4 string, a 6 string shouldn't be a barrier. I struggle with a 5 string TBF.
Lovely bass, and welcome to the community.

 

[Five or Six]

Make sure you change your strings at most every two months if they're roundwounds

Not quite sure why that's necessary especially when all he's going to do is practice? I've gigged my 6 heavily for 6 months before I change anything.

OP...in your learning. Use all the strings. As I've said here before. A wise man once told me that if you don't, or seldom use the "B" or "C" strings, having a 6 is a waste of time. Same thing being true having a 5 and no use of the "B" string. May as well play a 4. Have at it and good luck!

 

[NobodyImportant]

Very nice! Best wishes on your stringed journey.

 

[Kuskah]

OP...in your learning. Use all the strings. As I've said here before. A wise man once told me that if you don't, or seldom use the "B" or "C" strings, having a 6 is a waste of time. Same thing being true having a 5 and no use of the "B" string. May as well play a 4. Have at it and good luck!

This. As a newbie it took me a while to realize but the B string isn't just for those 5 notes below E. Going from 4 to 5, the 5th string gives you essentially two octaves across the strings instead of 1.5 you'd get on 4. That unlocks a ton of possibilities. With a 6-string, it's even more.

OP, after learning the basic technique, spend some time to really learn the fretboard. It's boring, it takes time but it's so crucial. It can be the difference between "Ugh, I have to dance between those 2 extra strings I don't use because the song is played on a 4-string" and "wow, I can play this in a different position on my instrument and make it way easier".

As a side question for anyone with a bass like this, I've seen this "single-cut" design in quite a few basses, does it serve any practical purpose, for example preventing neck dive, or is it simply a design choice?

 

[Krakmann]

Salud!

Nice! Welcome to the 6 fat strings!

 

[Krakmann]

Salud!

As a side question for anyone with a bass like this, I've seen this "single-cut" design in quite a few basses, does it serve any practical purpose, for example preventing neck dive, or is it simply a design choice?

I once was told it adds sustain (??). I never really liked single-cuts, but you get used to the looks and some of them are real beauties. This one seems like a great instrument.

 

[Jeff Elkins]

Welcome to Talkbass and bassing in general! I also came from piano and a wind instrument (brass) to bass. Piano theory really helps me (even now, almost four decades later), but I was slightly hindered in my development by thinking strictly in notes, as opposed to the useful layout available on a fourths-tuned fretboard. You didn’t ask, but I’d recommend not being afraid of using patterns as you learn the instrument!

Beautiful 6-er!

 

[Kuskah]

Hey OP, how are you liking it so far?
Single cuts have been flying completely under my radar but ever since this post I’ve genuinely started considering grabbing a 5-string version of this haha. The looks grew on me.

 

[Reynoldbot]

Ibanez sure knows how to name a bass. Congrats!