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Which 6 string to go for?

imurrx

imurrx

Jul 12, 2019
187
138
53
Massachussetts
#1
I am planning to get a 6 string bass. I all ready have a both a fretted and fretless 4 string and want to expand my playing. What I am looking for is a serviceable 6 string for not for a whole lot of dough. My budget is around $200. I am looking at an used Ibanez Gio GSR206, new Harvey Benton B-650 or roll the dice on Aliexpress market place.

Any suggestions?
 
#2
Out of those three, I'd pick the Ibanez (although I'm not a big fan of the pickups, they tend to sound "nasal" to my ear, plenty of deep lows and highs, but the mids are missing, but could just be my ears or my tastes, I'm sure some love them). The Harley Bentons can be good for the price, but they have varying QC, so it's really a gamble, probably as much or more than going Aliexpress (although there aren't that many bad reviews, so could be okay? <shrugs>)... So if you like the sound of the Ibanez, go for it. If not, look for a used 6'er is my advice.
 
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#4
I just got the Ibanez GIO GSR206 last month and I absolutely love it! Super fast neck, SUPERDUPER light weight for a 6 string, doesn't feel like cheap balsa wood like some other basses around that price point (lookin at you Jackson!). You can always replace the pickups.

I played the regular Soundgear basses between 500-1000 and several other brands before deciding on the GIO not because it was cheaper, but because it blew them all out of the water by a long shot as far as ease of playability.
 
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#8
dasaten said:
I just got the Ibanez GIO GSR206 last month and I absolutely love it! Super fast neck, SUPERDUPER light weight for a 6 string, doesn't feel like cheap balsa wood like some other basses around that price point (lookin at you Jackson!). You can always replace the pickups.

I played the regular Soundgear basses between 500-1000 and several other brands before deciding on the GIO not because it was cheaper, but because it blew them all out of the water by a long shot as far as ease of playability.
Click to expand...

I too snagged up a 206 and am very happy with it. My main bass is an sr1300 4 string but I'm learning chords and wanted to try 6, possibly even turn the 1300 into a premium level 6 string? My only complaint is the Phat ii. It's fine for any numeral, slappy, percussive style stuff with some dirt tossed at it and the ultra low cranked up on my amp. But anywhere else...gross. and the lack of volume kinda sucks I am running through a gt1b and I've been setting the volume pedal around 50% and then turning my amp up to as loud as I want there. As I adjust the pickup volumes away from anything but FULL FULL TONE ALL THE WAY UP, it loses all volume and I have to either use my pedal to crank it back up or goto the amp. Both options suck if I'm using multiple effects in a song. I have a 3 band I pulled from my schecter studio i am thinking about taking to a shop to have installed and the phat removed.
 
#11
I have an a********s 6 string. Depends on how picky you are.
**Pros: Price and free shipping, nice level frets, twin dual-action truss rods that work great, pickups ok, looks great.
**Cons: Crap preamp, barrel jack socket just a tight fit with no nut, battery not wired to barrel jack socket so on full time, two scuffs in the finish, neck pocket had a veneer shim for neck angle, 16.5mm string spacing, comes with crap strings.
I expected all of the above and I do luthiery as part of my day gig, so here's what I did, and now I have a great bass!
*Set up the nut properly.
*Reshaped the neck pocket so no need for a shim.
*Installed an Audere preamp and SwitchCraft jack socket.
*Hipshot 17mm bridge.
*Gotoh tuners.
*Rounded off all fret ends.

I bought it knowing I would only use the neck and body, but having OK pickups was a bonus. I have spent more $$ than the original cost and about 8 or 9 hours of my time which would be charged out if I was doing it for someone else. It is still a cheap bass, but if I could not do any of that work myself I would not really recommend it. Like i said, it depends how picky you are.
 
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#13
Nuage420 said:
@Marty Forrer How did you set up the nut? And I'm assuming if I remove the neck I'll find a shim as well?
Click to expand...
The nut slots were too tight and too high. I file them out to match the strings and to slip a .022 feeler gauge between the string and the first fret. When they are correct I file and sand the top of the nut so that 50% of the string sits above the top of the nut. I noticed there is a shim under the nut too, so will replace with a Graphtech Tusq nut sometime. The neck pocket I put a piece of masking tape 1/16" below the pocket and file down to it, making sure I dont take any wood off the pickup end of the neck socket. A slow job requiring mucho patience and constant checking, and in reality makes very little difference to the tone.
 
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#14
SX Ursa 2 MN 6 Ash NA 6 String Bass Advanced Order

I put an Audere in mine (on the left), but they are fine passive.

IMGP4372a.jpg
 

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