Ibanez SRC6 short scale 6 string bass

[smeet]

So years ago, I got a good deal on a nice 6-string bass with w-i-d-e string spacing and a 35" scale. It sounds great, and I always enjoyed playing it. But it's difficult to play much chordal stuff on it because of the wide spacing. It's been 10+ years since I took it out on a gig.

I was thinking about the whole chordal thing, and I saw one of these on CL: Electric Basses SR - SRC6 Bass Workshop | Ibanez guitars

It's an Ibanez, in the SR line. Kind of a tic tac bass I guess, 6 strings, tuned an octave below a guitar, 30" scale, 10.8mm spacing at the bridge. It seems perfect for what I want to do, which is sort of a Todd Johnson chords and bassline thing, but in a more rock context. As in, play bass until the guitarist is soloing, then do bass plus rhythm guitar parts. Has anybody played one of these? Do they function well as a regular bass? If it sounds good as a normal bass it might be great for a lot of gigs.

I would love any input about this or similar instruments, as well as how well this whole concept might work? I would still be going through a bass amp if that makes a difference.

 

[lz4005]

Has anybody played one of these? Do they function well as a regular bass? If it sounds good as a normal bass it might be great for a lot of gigs.

I would love any input about this or similar instruments, as well as how well this whole concept might work? I would still be going through a bass amp if that makes a difference.

I've spent a few hours with one. It's definitely a Bass VI type instrument, but leans more towards the bass end of things than the Fender or Danelectro equivalents do. If an old school VI is 60/40 guitar/bass this is the opposite ratio.

It feels more like a small bass, has very bass-like electronics and a more bass-like front pickup position than normal VI's do.

But the string spacing is all guitar. It would be very difficult to use normal finger-style bass technique on it. If you're going to use a pick or do more guitar type finger playing it would work fine.

 

[smeet]

Any thoughts on how this would compare to the Musicman Silhouette?

 

[tfer]

I played around with one for a few hours, but ultimately like @lz4005 stated, it simply is more guitar than bass.

Because of repetitive motion injuries, I needed to replace my ESP 6er with something more ergonomic. I went with the SRMS806.

The fan frets seems to have alleviated the twisting on my left elbow, and the new monorail bridge has allowed me to tighten up the string spacing from the already narrow Ibanez spacing, into a faster, but still bass-like spacing.

The problem I had with the SRC6 was a general muddiness when trying to play a more traditional bassline. Above the 9th fret, it sounded great when played like a finger style guitar, but below that, I lost definition. A pick helped to restore it, but I play with my fingers, and it simply isn’t conducive to traditional technique.

Tightening the spacing of the SRMS allows for traditional technique (although slapping could be...difficult), but maintains the lower note definition.

 

[lz4005]

I played around with one for a few hours, but ultimately like @lz4005 stated, it simply is more guitar than bass.

I said the opposite.

 

[tfer]

I said the opposite.

Sorry. Misread your comment.

 

[Aidil]

Hi @smeet, allow me to help you with SRC6 questions again...

The goal that you seek on that playing bass plus rhythm guitar part while the guitarist is soloing is definitely what this crossover bass is good at. I bought the SRC6 with more or less the same reason so that I could play guitar chord patterns on a bass. I tried it on a few normal long scale 6ers, a fanned fret 6er, and even a 7er, by changing the tuning of the 2 higher strings either to BEADF#B or BEADGBE, which resulted just like you said, the wider string spacing (though actually the 7er 15.5mm string spacing is already considered tight spacing) made it difficult for such tasks, which then led me to get a VI: the SRC6.

Let me reassure you that the SRC6 is much more bass than guitar sounding. The pickups and the electronics are real bass pickups and bass preamp. I agree with @lz4005 that other VIs, which includes the Silhouette, are the opposite, which is more guitar than bass sounding. But again, this claim is based on what I saw and heard from their Youtube reviews.

In regards to the muddy sounding of traditional basslines on the lower frets, I can assure you that it might happen only on the 6th string when using its stock .084 string. I strongly suggest restringing any VI instruments which came with .024/.034/.044/.056/.072/.084 gauges to original gauges that Fender Bass VI used in the first place, which were .025/.035/.045/.055/.075/.095, or their slight variants from La Bella which I use now on my SRC6: .026/.035/.044/.055/.075/.095.

 

[jdthebassman]

I have a music man silhouette, in my opinion it is the best bass 6 out there. I tune it like a bass in fourths. E-F. they go for a lot more money than the Ibanez but on the used market you can find a good deal. as far as tone it covers the whole range

 

[smeet]

Thanks for all the input all. Currently I'm leaning toward the SRC6. Although I'm guessing the Silhouette is higher quality, the Ibanez demos sound more like what I'm looking for, and it's cheaper. Plus the super-narrow string spacing sounds interesting for chording.

On the low-budget end of things... How does the Brice 6-string short scale compare to the SRC6 and Silhouette? I assume it doesn't measure up, but I don't hear much about any of these, so just wondering.

 

[Silly_Monkey]

re taking on this bass. its my favorite bass for playing (I play in a power trio) very fast and all. but there is one thing I hate a bout it. the sound. its no crispy clear an sounds like moody . I replaced the strings , changed battery and all. still not clear sound.

don't know if the pick ups, eq electronics ... I really love the bass .. just needs the punch

 

[Aidil]

re taking on this bass. its my favorite bass for playing (I play in a power trio) very fast and all. but there is one thing I hate a bout it. the sound. its no crispy clear an sounds like moody . I replaced the strings , changed battery and all. still not clear sound.

don't know if the pick ups, eq electronics ... I really love the bass .. just needs the punch

what strings are you using right now?

 

[Silly_Monkey]

what strings are you using right now?

changed them for the same as stock. however you recommend La Bella Hellcat and I'm waiting for those on amazon

 

[Aidil]

I assumed the thing you were referring to as no crispy clear an sounds like moody was the string articulation. Then I wondered if you should try the stainless steels round version of the La Bella Hellcat series, instead of the more common nickel plated steel round version or the flatwound version which I've been using on mine.

Which version did you order?

 

[Mustang Surly]

My problems with the SRC6 were the tight string spacing and light string gauge. I like short scale length and narrow nuts/necks on basses (e.g.: Mustang, Guild Starfire) but the SRC6 feels more like a guitar or baritone guitar than like a bass. Since I always play finger-style (never with a pick) I found that the SRC6 required too much right hand technique adjustment without (for me) any commensurate benefits. Once the novelty wore off, I stopped playing mine. Your results may differ.

 

[Silly_Monkey]

I assumed the thing you were referring to as no crispy clear an sounds like moody was the string articulation. Then I wondered if you should try the stainless steels round version of the La Bella Hellcat series, instead of the more common nickel plated steel round version or the flatwound version which I've been using on mine.

Which version did you order?

flat wound stainless steel. cant wait. I'm here even thinking on changing pick ups or eq system.

I love the playability and the spacing its not an issue, I play guitar as well and using a pick is not a problem

 

[Aidil]

but... you are aware that the La Bella flats are known for their thumpy old school sound, right? I choose flatwounds cause I like my SRC6 to have deeper bass sound and not twangy on the high strings.

I would have chosen their stainless steel rounds had I sought for a crispy clear sound.

 

[Silly_Monkey]

but... you are aware that the La Bella flats are known for their thumpy old school sound, right? I choose flatwounds cause I like my SRC6 to have deeper bass sound and not twangy on the high strings.

I would have chosen their stainless steel rounds had I sought for a crispy clear sound.

ordered those too

 

[Aidil]

A simple tip when switching strings from stocks to La Bellas:

I'd suggest pushing back the saddle of the A strings almost to its furthest position (about 2 mm before touching the end of the bridge) and the saddle of the low-E string to the end of the bridge before installing the two strings. Cause these two strings, especially the low-E, are quite thick compared to the stock strings, and given they have to be installed thru-body, it will make the intonation setup, which then you will only need to push the saddle forward in the process of intonating, not leaving any kinks or string bending marks in front of the saddle as you would get if you kept pushing the saddle back during the setup.