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SR706 or BTB676

R

Rykashu

Dec 23, 2010
37
0
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
#1
Hey, I'm new to the forum and browsed through the reviews, but didn't find anything on these particular basses. I've been playing a 4 string for a few years (nothing too serious) and now I'm considering getting one of these Ibanez 6 strings. Any thoughts on which of the two would be better and for what reasons?

If it helps I'm looking to play a good variety of Rock, Classic Rock, Punk, Metal, and Ska. I have rather small hands so I'm thinking that a 35" scale on a wider neck is going to be a bit difficult for me to play. I unfortunately haven't gotten my chance to see the BTB at a local GC to get my hands on and feel it. I realize the neck-thru gives better note sustain, but I'm not that concerned about being able to sustain notes for long periods of time.
 
#2
I own an SR506...it's basically the same exact thing as the 706, minus the finish and whatnot. I love the 506, the neck is perfect for me, as I also have small hands. I've tried playing 35 inch scale necks before (including a 5 string BTB) and did not like it at all.Felt uncomfortable, and bulky.
 
#3
I apparently was confused from what I've been reading now, the 35" scale shouldn't effect the fret spacing only the tension on the strings, but I could be wrong again.

Also sorry for the thread post. some one has pretty much already started this thread except comparing the SR506, only difference on the 506 and 706 being the finish.
 
#6
I have the BTB 675 and love it but I got used to wide fretboards (and now prefer them) from playing classical guitar. While I haven't done the measurements, it's reported the 676 has closer string spacing than the 675 but, overall, the 676 still has a wider fretboard. The 675 has 19mm string spacing, check around to see what it is on the 676 to compare. The depth of the neck is on the thinner side so I don't have any problem reaching all the strings and I have pretty good form with my left hand - I don't let the thumb hang over the top of the fretboard. If you have any doubts, go with the narrower fretboard.

The 675 has Korean Barts - Mk2 but I'm replacing them with SGDs because my A string falls on a dead spot between the split coils. I love everything else about the bass. YMMV
 
#7
I think it really comes down your preference in playability. The SR is very sleek and small in every way and the btb is a bit more bulky. From what I've tried, the 35" inch scale does provide a better B string but the stock strings are no good and a good set of strings might go a long way helping the B on the SR.

Honestly I don't think much of the electronics on either of those basses pickups are mediocre at best and the preamp will hardly make the letterbox fill up back home. You can make pretty much any bass suit most styles of music so I wouldn't be that worried about that. Both are nice budget six strings but if I had to choose, I'd pick the 506. It's the cheapest and IMO most bang for buck to be had with these. The only difference between that and 706 is the maple top and black color and in this case even though I'm a real tonewood fanatic, the tonal difference is subtle if it even is there. And if you use the money saved wisely, it could turn out to smoke both of the stock ones with some well placed mods.
 
#8
If your hand are anything like mine, the BTBs longer scale length will be the deciding factor between the 2. My sr705 is the only 5 string I can comfortably play, due to its tight string spacing and thin neck. The BTB, or any other 35" scale bass craps my hand badly. Electronics wise their pretty similar, with the SR being a bit more flexible with its mid selector switch. The biggest thing with ibanez basses is you have to play a lot of them to find "the one". I went though 3 sr505, an sr605, and 2 sr705 before i found one with and acceptably low number of flaws to take home.
 
#10
Epitaph04 said:
I own an SR506...it's basically the same exact thing as the 706, minus the finish and whatnot. I love the 506, the neck is perfect for me, as I also have small hands. I've tried playing 35 inch scale necks before (including a 5 string BTB) and did not like it at all.Felt uncomfortable, and bulky.
Click to expand...

Kipaste said:
I think it really comes down your preference in playability. The SR is very sleek and small in every way and the btb is a bit more bulky. From what I've tried, the 35" inch scale does provide a better B string but the stock strings are no good and a good set of strings might go a long way helping the B on the SR.

Honestly I don't think much of the electronics on either of those basses pickups are mediocre at best and the preamp will hardly make the letterbox fill up back home. You can make pretty much any bass suit most styles of music so I wouldn't be that worried about that. Both are nice budget six strings but if I had to choose, I'd pick the 506. It's the cheapest and IMO most bang for buck to be had with these. The only difference between that and 706 is the maple top and black color and in this case even though I'm a real tonewood fanatic, the tonal difference is subtle if it even is there. And if you use the money saved wisely, it could turn out to smoke both of the stock ones with some well placed mods.
Click to expand...

+1 to all of this. I have an SR506 and it is killer. It gets super smooth with the Aguilar OBP-3 preamp that I put in it, with a nice growl (I play similar types of music as the OP as well). The only problem I've found with it is that the bridge spacing is too narrow for most replacement bridges (I love the spacing by the way) as are the pickups. Bartolini has one set of six string pick ups that I have found to replace the MK-1s that are in the sr506, which is what I plan on putting in mine, but I haven't tried them.
 
#11
I'd go with the btb personally. Although it isn't light as a feather like the sr's are the necks on the btb's I've played are just so smoothe and feels like butter to your fingers if properly set up. Although the close spacing and thin neck of the sr make them easy to play I've found myself finding them to be a lil to small to the point I felt like my fingers were jammed together in the lower frets. The btb is not too wide either. Sound is hard to make the call. It all depends on the model number cuz an sr305 and 705 and 505 all have diffenent pickups pre amps and controls. In addition the woods of the body and neck and finger board are different. The key is to play all the different grades of each kind of bass. First decide by feel of each neck style btb vs sr and then as many of each as you can touch to do a price to quality analysis and pick the right level for you.
Hope I helped
 
#13
A thinner neck would be nice for me, and I'm not too worried about string spacing because I've actually spent a little time practicing bass lines on acoustic and electric guitars just to challenge myself with the spacing (probably silly I know, but often I'm bored and my friend's guitar is right there). I still need the chance to get my hands on each of these to see what feels best, I should be heading to gc Monday. I would like to have the extended range of play the 6 offers, but in the end I might even settle for a 5.

I've seen quite a few people hyping up the Aguilar OBP-3 preamp as a replacement and if I went with the 506 it is something I could get with the money I save, but that wouldn't leave me with nearly enough for any other kind of pickups for quite a while. I don't like the look of the finish as much on the 506, but then again I'm not buying a bass based on aesthetics. Any suggestions on replacement pickups?
 
#14
If you're into thin necks, the SR would be the one. I do find the btb neck to be ok too, but unlike the SR, it definately doesn't feel like a sleek and thin neck. And about the scale lenght.. To some people it matters and some hardly notice the difference. It does feel a bit bigger, but nothing you wouldn't get used to.

About the mods, it's hard to go wrong with the aguilar. It's well priced, doesn't sound obnoxius in any way and sounds pretty musical. I'm not completely sure about the dimensions on the pickups, but most common upgrades are real bartolinis. I've never been a huge fan of bartolini pups, and I'd personally take a look at nordstrand fat stacks, dual coils or big splits if you want to keep it noiseless. I've played a 506 with john east pre and fat stacks and man, that thing was a monster...

And I wouldn't be worried if you don't have money to get everything right away, or even at all. If you can play you can rock pretty much bass and very few if any people in the audience will notice or care. Of course as musicians, the search for perfect tone is a long and hard one (and damn it feels good to get results) so there is no need to make rush decision. When you buy a bass, play it for a month or two and take time to learn what you like and dislike about the tone and especially how it works in the mix. No need making changes before you know what you want to change.
 
#15
I own the BTB676 and I have played a 506.

I think the BTB has a richer and more growly sound stock than the SR, however the size of the neck makes my hands hurt when I have to play on the E and B strings in the lower positions.

As much as I love the 676, I would probably pick the 706 in the end... Its a better price too isn't it?
 
#16
The price on the SR is a bit lower than the BTB. I went to GC yesterday and I was a little surprised about the larger difference in neck width coming from the SR505 to 506 over the difference from the 500 to the 505 neck width. The 6 string is a little wide for my small hands. I didn't get to try a BTB, but with how comfortable the SR506 felt, I think I'll be going with that.
 
#17
I have compared the 506, the 706, and the BTB. I ultimately got a 506 because it made the sound I wanted. The 706 is an excellent instrument also, but I wasn't looking for that maple top sound. It's very impressive. The BTB felt bulky and unwieldy. Certainly not as easy to play for me as the 506 and 706. YMMV
 
#18
I have an Ibby SDGR 5-string at the moment, and I think the neck is actually TOO skinny. Cramps up my left hand. It probably isn't going to stay with me for much longer because of this.

However, if you are worried about the size of the BTB, the SDGR is probably the right way to go. I am not exactly a big guy either and, to me, the BTB feels like a large, intimidating bass. Could be the 35" scale or the wide spacing, but probably a combo of both factors. I have actually played other 35" scale basses that were a lot more comfortable to me than the BTB, but they all had tighter string spacing.

FWIW, you probably won't have a noticeable lack of sustain on the SDGR.
 

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