Ibanez src6

[Moog005]

So ive been looking for an Src6… very hard to come by but i WILL get my hands on one
But in the meantime i discovered that the Ibanez 5 string Micro has about the identical spec (body)…. So im gonna swap the nut and bridge for 6 strings (i bought the same bridge on the src6. Down the line ill have it routed out for the emg 35 something or the others (src6) or equivalent. Obvi its not gonna sound like a solid walnut body but i think its doable thoughts?
Before anyone says, why? Just buy this or that. No. I want what i want lol. I was debating buying a different body but i dont know what would fit with the mikro neck.

 

[Snert]

Obvi its not gonna sound like a solid walnut body

The SRC6s are not walnut, merely a walnut looking finish. The early ones are mahogany and the later okoume. I have both and they look and feel much the same, and don't buy into the tonewood thing on solidbodys, so I couldn't care less.

Down the line ill have it routed out for the emg 35 something or the others (src6) or equivalent.

Sounds great with 35DCs and the non-MS version used 35 sized PUs.

 

[Moog005]

The SRC6s are not walnut, merely a walnut looking finish. The early ones are mahogany and the later okoume. I have both and they look and feel much the same, and don't buy into the tonewood thing on solidbodys, so I couldn't care less.

Sounds great with 35DCs and the non-MS version used 35 sized PUs.

Wanna sell the older one?!? Lol.
I dont buy into the tonewoods either. I was wondering if it was really walnut. Didnt look it and thought it would make for a heavy bass. My Warwicks are freakin heavy. Especially the 6 string.
I got another question maybe you could enlighten me. Say i have a 30” fender bass would a 30” guitar neck fit the same pocket?

 

[Snert]

Wanna sell the older one?!? Lol.

Nah, it's set up A-A baritone as I sing in the same register, so it's good when I play with the girls (singers + acoustics).

I got another question maybe you could enlighten me. Say i have a 30” fender bass would a 30” guitar neck fit the same pocket?

Not a Fender guy sorry, so I have no idea.

 

[InkCow]

The Mikro is 28” scale, isn’t it? More like a baritone than Bass VI.

 

[Snert]

The Mikro is 28” scale, isn’t it?

28.6

More like a baritone than Bass VI.

Is the 1.4" really significant? String gauge determines tuning more for me than a small difference in scale.
Gretsch and EBMM (at least used to) make baritones in 30 and 29.625.

 

[InkCow]

28.6

Is the 1.4" really significant? String gauge determines tuning more for me than a small difference in scale.
Gretsch and EBMM (at least used to) make baritones in 30 and 29.625.

I don’t know! 1.5” is pretty significant, though. I would expect intonation to be tough and the low E would probably be pretty floppy.

Baritones use regular guitar strings for E to B, so I’m not sure they’re really comparable. A Bass VI is an octave below that.

 

[InkCow]

For example, you can’t string a Mikro with standard short scale strings, so I’m not sure how Bass VI strings would be different.

 

[Snert]

Baritones use regular guitar strings for E to B

But heavier gauge. Mine are .72 IIRC and the SRC VI is .105. My bari is A-A so a 4th above bass VI. I like the way it sounds this way, but I could probably play the same on the E-E tuned one and no one would be able to tell the difference.

 

[Snert]

For example, you can’t string a Mikro with standard short scale strings, so I’m not sure how Bass VI strings would be different.

I dunno what the Mikros use but they have a small loyal fanbase here so they'd be able to tell you. If you were to string them E-B/C, then 9 string guitar sets would likely fit; I know the EB ones would.

 

[InkCow]

But heavier gauge. Mine are .72 IIRC and the SRC VI is .105. My bari is A-A so a 4th above bass VI. I like the way it sounds this way, but I could probably play the same on the E-E tuned one and no one would be able to tell the difference.

Tuning a B string down to E would make it unplayable: unless you’re making a backhanded comment about your guitar playing, everyone would be able to tell the difference.

I dunno what the Mikros use but they have a small loyal fanbase here so they'd be able to tell you. If you were to string them E-B/C, then 9 string guitar sets would likely fit; I know the EB ones would.

I stand corrected! Apparently some (but not all, it seems) short scale strings will fit: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/string-upgrade-for-a-mikrobass.1270020/

I do wonder what the string spacing would be like: after all, one of the more distinguishing characteristics of Soundgears is the skinny neck. Maybe it would be better to start with a GSRM205, although seems like a waste of a pretty cool bass.

 

[InkCow]

FWIW, Talman 30 and 35 are both 30” scale.

 

[HaphAsSard]

The Mikro is 28” scale, isn’t it? More like a baritone than Bass VI.

True as far as tendencies: most VI (EADGBE) instruments are 30", most baritone guitars (ADGCEA, or BEADF#B) are 26" to 28".
The Ibanez miKro doesn't know nor care, of course, being that it comes tuned to bass-pitch (B)EADG from the factory. It's not like adding treble strings makes the scale suddenly unsuitable for bass tuning: whether or not it is depends on personal preference, as it measures against the specific compromise (which every scale length is, in essence).

28.6

Is the 1.4" really significant? String gauge determines tuning more for me than a small difference in scale.
Gretsch and EBMM (at least used to) make baritones in 30 and 29.625.

Conversely, the Fender Jaguar Baritone Custom from the early Aughts was tuned E to e and had a 28.5" scale:

Fender Jaguar Baritone Custom - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I don’t know! 1.5” is pretty significant, though. I would expect intonation to be tough and the low E would probably be pretty floppy.

Baritones use regular guitar strings for E to B, so I’m not sure they’re really comparable. A Bass VI is an octave below that.

Intonation depends on saddle (and bridge-plate) placement: there are diminishing returns (the window of tuning stability and not-overly-inharmonic tone, for bass-pitch steel-core strings, closes the shorter the scale gets), but if you consider there are 23" scale electric basses around, 28.6" is still bass-viable, if not for everyone.

As for floppiness, it depends on the gauge, which can be increased (at the expense of physical room at the lowest frets, marginally; as well as, for the lowest strings, of "usable", not-too-thumpy, chorus-free tone up the fretboard).

I do wonder what the string spacing would be like.

You don't have to: it would be wider than most VIs, with the 5-string MiKro (GSRM25) having a 45mm nut

GSRM25 | miKro | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

GSRM25 at Ibanez. Ibanez offers electric guitars, bass guitars, acoustic guitars, effect and pedals, amps, plus guitar accessories like tuners, straps and picks.

www.ibanez.com

vs. the 42mm of the SRC6 both old and new

SRC6

The SRC6 is a six string Soundgear series solid body electric bass model introduced by Ibanez for 2014. It was made in Indonesia as part of the Ibanez Bass Workshop line. Although a six-string bass, it's design philosophy is very different from others in Ibanez line, featuring a much narrower...

ibanez.fandom.com

https://www.ibanez.com/usa/products/detail/src6ms_1p_02.html

The neck taper could even allow a 13mm spacing at the bridge, like on a Shergold Marathon/Eastwood Hooky Bass 6, vs the 10.8mm of the SRC6, if the OP were so inclined (in that case a different bridge, or single bridge elements, would be required).

 

[Ritter667]

The Mikro is 28” scale, isn’t it? More like a baritone than Bass VI.

I think that would be defined by it's tuning, not it's scale length, you got uke basses too.

I've pondered on converting my 5 string Mikro Bass to a Bass VI too.

 

[InkCow]

By the scale, I was more referring to finding strings to accommodate it, not there was something inherent in the length itself.

We obviously also have medium and short scale basses, too, but you can’t put standard 34” scale strings on them and have a desirable outcome.

It’s possible that Bass VI strings will work at 28.6”, but it’s going to be hard to know before you’ve invested a lot of work. I suppose that if it isn’t long enough, you could drill to make it string through body for extra length.

 

[Ritter667]

By the scale, I was more referring to finding strings to accommodate it, not there was something inherent in the length itself.

We obviously also have medium and short scale basses, too, but you can’t put standard 34” scale strings on them and have a desirable outcome.

It’s possible that Bass VI strings will work at 28.6”, but it’s going to be hard to know before you’ve invested a lot of work. I suppose that if it isn’t long enough, you could drill to make it string through body for extra length.

They do, I've got personal experience, also if not just cut them to size.

It is perfectly safe to cut hex core roundwound strings to size, as long as you make sure to make an abrupt bend bellow the cut off point, before you cut.

I've done this hundreds and hundreds of times, and have never had any issues whatsoever.

As to OP, I would use mono rail bridge pieces for the bridge, and install blade/rail pickups.

 

[InkCow]

It is perfectly safe to cut hex core roundwound strings to size, as long as you make sure to make an abrupt bend bellow the cut off point, before you cut.

Fair enough, this is definitely outside my experience or knowledge. Is tension not an issue, though?

 

[Ritter667]

Fair enough, this is definitely outside my experience or knowledge. Is tension not an issue, though?

If you expect to slam/pull/strike the strings like a brute as some might do on their regular long scale bass, even if this is a totally different instrument, then yes, it might be.

For me, who got a pretty delicate, but very precise, touch, no.

Look at the tension of standard guitar strings, way lower than both regular bass, and than this would be.

Or the tension of s standard set of baritone strings on a regular 27" or 28" scale baritone guitar, lower tension again too.