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Seeking “budget” 6 string

M

mikeylikesit89

Aug 21, 2025
24
10
#1
Hey everyone I’ve been reading a handful of old posts after looking at a few dozen 6 string basses on FB marketplace, eBay, MF, etc. I currently play an SR1400 premium and wanted to stay within the Ibanez line, but wasn’t seeing raving reviews on their 6 strings. Long story short my search lead me back here in a thread about Brice basses on Rondomusic. I’m looking to spend ~$500. I prefer thin neck profiles (I know… 6 string neck lol). I’ve seen a few Chinese headless basses that looked cool but people were saying had crap electronics. Just wondering if there are any hidden gems out there still like the Brice basses on Rondo?

I also saw a few used ESP LTD b206 but they were over 100 miles away. Haven’t played an ESP in ages but I remember them having a similar neck profile to Ibanez.

I play just about every genre with the exception of metal. Not looking for a home run, but maybe something I could invest in down the line? This has gotten longer than I wanted. Thanks for any plugs
 
#3
ahbass2500 said:
Curious what is pushing you away from Ibanez here. SR406 or SR506 is the answer I would give for your budget. The next two on my list would be Peavey Grind 6 or Peavey Fury 6 (these are much harder to find).
Click to expand...
A mix of reviews on various forums/markets combined with my personal experiences. I’ve owned a lot of the SR line in the past and I’m not a huge fan of the pickup selection. Especially after playing on the Nords for a while. When I pickup any of the SR series they sound very thin/hollow. If I had the money at the moment I’d just shoot for the btb1936 or sr1356b. But at this place in our family life I need to stick to this budget
 
#6
The ESP’s can be very heavy.

I think six string reviews can be less reliable - as some reviewers may mix up their own frustrations in getting used to approaching a six with the actual shortcomings of the bass.

SR six strings are generally well thought of everywhere, especially among folks partial to the fours.

If your SR has Nordstrands in it, a cheaper Bart equipped SR won’t have the snap and scoop that you may be used to. But it will be a well made instrument.

I have a V1 SR 706 (there have been two versions) that I got used and had Hoshino send me a replacement bridge. It’s great. I’m no expert at it, but I know it’s fit and finish and sound are excellent.

If you’re into fretless at all, maybe a six string fretless would be a cool alternative option unless you’re looking to donating etc. I also have the current SR 706 fretless (SRF706? I forget the designation) and it sounds great with those basic Barts. Just right for the application.

You might also find an older MIJ SR886, I had one and it was beautifully made.

But honestly I think even the basic Low number SR sixes are worth having — and once you’re an absolute monster on it, you can upgrade. ;)
 
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#7
Standalone said:
The ESP’s can be very heavy.

I think six string reviews can be less reliable - as some reviewers may mix up their own frustrations in getting used to approaching a six with the actual shortcomings of the bass.

SR six strings are generally well thought of everywhere, especially among folks partial to the fours.

If your SR has Nordstrands in it, a cheaper Bart equipped SR won’t have the snap and scoop that you may be used to. But it will be a well made instrument.

I have a V1 SR 706 (there have been two versions) that I got used and had Hoshino send me a replacement bridge. It’s great. I’m no expert at it, but I know it’s fit and finish and sound are excellent.

If you’re into fretless at all, maybe a six string fretless would be a cool alternative option unless you’re looking to donating etc. I also have the current SR 706 fretless (SRF706? I forget the designation) and it sounds great with those basic Barts. Just right for the application.

You might also find an older MIJ SR886, I had one and it was beautifully made.

But honestly I think even the basic Low number SR sixes are worth having — and once you’re an absolute monster on it, you can upgrade. ;)
Click to expand...
Great point and observation on the barts. I didn’t think of fretless. I had one in my earlier years of playing and it was actually really fun. May not perfectly fit our style but could still be supplemental. I’ll have to go down to a couple local shops and try out a few of the Ibanez again. From what I remember I tried the sr706, but it may not have been. I may have some unrealistic expectations coming from 4 strings as well
 
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#8
Standalone said:
But honestly I think even the basic Low number SR sixes are worth having — and once you’re an absolute monster on it, you can upgrade.
Click to expand...
My SR206 is a great bass and I'd happily gig it (and have) even though I have other higher end 6s including other SRs. The necks feel about the same as other SRs, but the body is more slab than rounded and the neck is single piece + scarf joint maple and 2 truss rods. Mine is stable as heck.

Any other SR you can find that you like within your budget, I'd also recommend, and I'd buy blind online because I already trust the model range.

One other that's very worth considering is the Cort A6. I have one and it's awesome for the money, uses Hipshot hardware, 5 piece NT and beautifully made. I'll add some review clips at the end. One is very old, but mine is a 23 and it's basically the same.

The Bart electronics may not be the greatest, but they're perfectly functional and can be made to sound great with some effort or possibly replaced if you really feel the need after a while and you've gotten used to the bass and 6s in general. I have several basses with Mk1s and some will be changed simply because I have a strong preference for other types of PUs such as EMG DCs. My Cort (if I decided to) rout it and fit it with a full EMG electronics package, most of which I can do myself, would mean a new NT bass for about 1/3 of a new Spector Euro 6. And it has Hipshot hardware. That might rub some Spector fans wrong, but they hang uncomfortably on me and prefer the ergonomics of the Cort.





This is the older one.
 
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#9
PS: Ibanez have released a new model the GSR186, which might not be available everywhere yet, but I have the store nearest me going to call me to try it when it comes in. It's basically a passive 206 with VVT and I might get one as a mod platform simply so I can have fun with it because of the low entry cost, and I like the colours. No US prices I can see yet, but converting from Thomann, circa $350.
 
#11
My first sixer was an Ibanez SR306 -- current production model, sub $400 when I bought it new. It's a great entry point into the world of six string basses, but I soon outgrew it and bought a Yamaha TRB. Those are also absolute beasts if you can get one cheap on the used market, though they will more than likely break your budget limit. The 306 does have splittable humbuckers though, meaning you can get a humbucker and a single coil sound out of them. Super versatile, and I've played mine in a big band setting for years which required me to have a very broad tonal palette.
 
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#12
mikeylikesit89 said:
Hey everyone I’ve been reading a handful of old posts after looking at a few dozen 6 string basses on FB marketplace, eBay, MF, etc. I currently play an SR1400 premium and wanted to stay within the Ibanez line, but wasn’t seeing raving reviews on their 6 strings. Long story short my search lead me back here in a thread about Brice basses on Rondomusic. I’m looking to spend ~$500. I prefer thin neck profiles (I know… 6 string neck lol). I’ve seen a few Chinese headless basses that looked cool but people were saying had crap electronics. Just wondering if there are any hidden gems out there still like the Brice basses on Rondo?

I also saw a few used ESP LTD b206 but they were over 100 miles away. Haven’t played an ESP in ages but I remember them having a similar neck profile to Ibanez.

I play just about every genre with the exception of metal. Not looking for a home run, but maybe something I could invest in down the line? This has gotten longer than I wanted. Thanks for any plugs
Click to expand...
I bought an ESP LTD b206 used this year. I mainly play metal and funk stuff, I bought it to play some dream theater songs
Just for the heads up I also got 135-32 strings on it, At first the 135 B-string wont fit through the hole of the bridge.
I had to widen it with a drill
Sound and playibility wise I like it for the price. The preamp is and pickups is not what i expected but i can manage it with some EQ
Its good for the price if you manage your expectations
On the Other hand if i could have found a Sire M6 I would have waited and gone for that
M series is just amazing
Hope i could help🙏🙏
 
#13
mikeylikesit89 said:
I currently play an SR1400 premium and wanted to stay within the Ibanez line, but wasn’t seeing raving reviews on their 6 strings.
Click to expand...

Did you find lots of raving reviews for OTHER brand's 6-string basses?

Let's be honest, 6-string basses are a niche product, so I wouldn't expect to find many reviews for ANY 6-string models.

If you like 4/5-string SR's I don't see why you shouldn't also like 6-string SRs.

But as always: Try before you buy. A bunch of strangers online (with varying levels of experience) can't tell you what type of bass YOU will like.
 
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#15
Six string on a budget? Buy used!

Six string basses are more expensive when you buy them new, compared to the same model with 4 or 5 strings - obviously there's more hardware and more wood involved.

But when you want to let them go, the demand for second hand 4 or 5 string basses is a lot higher than the demand for 6 string basses is, and that reflects in the second hand prices.

I have, twice in recent years, put out an ad that I'm looking to buy a used 6er and listed the specs I wanted, and was contacted by a surprising amount of people - but also by the one guy looking to sell what I was looking to buy.
 
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#16
ahbass2500 said:
Curious what is pushing you away from Ibanez here. SR406 or SR506 is the answer I would give for your budget. The next two on my list would be Peavey Grind 6 or Peavey Fury 6 (these are much harder to find, but GC used seems to have them in stock).
Click to expand...

I own an Ibanez SR506 and I have played it a lot.

On the Barts: I also did read all sort of negative comments, but honestly I believe it's more the bottleneck is more the active-eq than the pickups.
As @Standalone wrote, the barts won't be particularly "hi-fi" but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

I have put NOLL electronics in my SR506 and I just like it a lot: lightweight incredibly well balanced bass with a solid sound.

....I should make a youtube review of this bass: so we could have at least one "raving review" ;)
 
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#17
MrWolf14 said:
On the Barts: I also did read all sort of negative comments, but honestly I believe it's more the bottleneck is more the active-eq than the pickups.
Click to expand...

I have read others say this and tend to agree. I have an Ibanez GVB36. Came with the Bart MK1 pickups and an Aguilar OBP3 preamp. I have never liked the MK1 in any other Ibanez I have tried. They sounded good in the GVB36. The other Ibanez basses I have tried with them had an Ibanez preamp.

Worth noting I still modified the GVB36 to US Bartolini pickups and an Underhill preamp, but it was for the sound I was chasing. In other Ibanez basses with MK1 pickups it would have been to get away from a sound I did not like.
 
#20
Obviously I'm biased, but I do love my inexpensive Ibanez GSR206. I love everything about it...looks, quality, playability, versatile tone. I did a few visual mods to it. While it's not an expensive bass, it is far from being cheap...

GSR206-studio.jpg


6String-new2.jpg
 
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