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Six strings in the UK

TaySte_2000

TaySte_2000

Jun 23, 2001
8,104
2,048
Houston, TX
#1
Hi all,

I was thinking of getting a six string bass but finding them quite difficult to find here in the UK. Also I have so idea what i would like to get.

Got a budget of about £1000 and been thinking about:

Yamaha TRB II
Spector not sure of the model
Ibanez BTB 406Q
Maybe a Status but don't know how much they go for.
ESP (not seen any about though)
Conklin GT-7 if there available in the UK

Does anybody have any suggestions of basses and somewhere to get it from as well. I need something with a versatile tone, very stable neck, good for chords and tapping and you know just generally good.

The further question is while I may struggle to find a nice 6er for £1000 I could get a pretty good 5er for around that and string it w/high c. Do any of you extended range players find that you don't need the low b and the high c in the same setting.

Thanks you any information any one can provide
 
#2
Not what you want to hear but...

I went into Sound Control, London to try out 6-strings and there wasn't a single sixer in there! Tens of fours and fives but not one six (despite me phoning and checking that they had some)!

Hopeless. Should have gone to The Bass Gallery.

Alex
 
#3
What shops have you got in Manchester? Didn't it have a Bass Centre once or was that in another universe....? :D

If you don't have any choice locally, it might be worth calling both the Bass Centre and The Gallery in London - they'll be able to advise what range of suitable stock they've got in (six string basses that fit your £1000 budget, including any extras you need and less whatever the trip will cost). Both are good places to deal with and that might be the way to go if you can travel down at fairly short notice (otherwise they might have sold all the basses they talk about before you get there!).

Wulf
 
#5
Very nice I like the Budda Conklin but have no clue what the other is. Care to enlighten me?

Wolf yer the is a bass centre in manchester but they never have any 6ers in unless u order it in and then I only want to try the thing. Also I find the service and customer care crap there always on the phone and never with the customer. So I fI can avoid the place I will.
 
#6
ive always found napper to be helpful whenever i go into the bass centre.

or you could go talk to jay at dawsons on portland street. i think they had a couple of 6's in last time i was there. to be honest, even if they dont then its worth it to go try the g & l's they have that its almost impossible to get anywhere else in the uk ;)
 
#9
The Gallery is a good place to check out, and the Bass Centre in London always has 'some' sixes in stock...

As for specific models - the ones worth trying below a grand include the TRBs, Dean Edge 6, the various Ibanez 6s, the Washburns... no idea what Peavey have got in your price range, but it's often worth a look.

But your other option is also worth considering, getting a 5 with a high C, especially as you can put a hipshot on it, and have that tuned to low B, so it's there if you want it. That way you'll have way more choice (though you may have to get the nut replaced)

cheers

Steve
www.stevelawson.net
 
#10
I second the bass Gallery advice, they usually have a good choice of nice bass and the staff are very helpful.

/shameless plug: I have a nice 6 string MTD for sale in the UK :D
 
#12
TaySte_2000 said:
Also I find the service and customer care crap there always on the phone and never with the customer. So I fI can avoid the place I will.
Click to expand...

I''ve also found them to be disinterested... I called them up abouta month ago looking for someone in the UK that would sell me a BBE B-Max bass preamp, and the bloke who answered the phone said "what's that? never heard of it, mate...." in a pretty 'couldn't care less' kinda way

needless to say, I went elsewhere
 
#13
TaySte_2000 said:
PM'ed ya back.

Toastedweed - I've always done my business with Dawsons I usually deal with Rick but last time I went in they didn't have anything. Also stockport store is closer to me so I usually end up in that one.
Click to expand...

For around that price, or not that much more, you can get a *handmade* 6 from a UK maker:

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If, that is, you stick to the less fancy "trim" levels, like the Standard or Deluxe bolt-on--the Elite thru-neck can get pricey, though not unfairly so, considering what some boutique basses cost. I have two of Jon's basses; that's one in my avatar. Not only are the prices reasonable, but you're dealing with one guy, who actually makes the bass himself.

I dunno if Jon is back from MusikMesse yet, but you can give him a call or e-mail him. He's a good guy and is really interested in trying to give players what they want. You could even go to his shop--he's in Sheffield, I dunno how far that is from you.
 
#14
Richard Lindsey said:
For around that price, or not that much more, you can get a *handmade* 6 from a UK maker:

Invalid Link Removed

...
Click to expand...

I had the opportunity to try a few Shuker basses at the Musikmesse, they are very good instruments and Jon is a very nice guy.
 
#18
You guys have some really nice basses that MTD is lovely but not a fan of burl and the price is out of my range but it's nice to dream.

I really appreciate all the help you guys have been given me and I've been swamped by pm's at the moment I have 2 basses that i have seen that look really really nice to me that i'm really concidering. Not saying which as I don't think that would be fair.

Thanks alot guys.
 

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