Yet another "What would you get?" thread.

[el murdoque]

The problem is simple.
I'm looking for a mid priced 6 string with a maple board. Those are not exactly common. Therefore, I cannot simply go to a place that sells lots of them and try them out.
Here are the current contenders:
ESP LTD RB1006

Swamp ash body, spalted maple top (honey or natural), Aguilar pickups and preamp.

Ibanez EHB 1006MS

Roasted maple, but can be found in less dark than on the pic.

MTD Kingston Z6

The Ibanez is readily available, the next place that has them is about 4 hours away, though.

The LTD can be ordered from a shop in my country, (it's a six and a half hour drive there)

The Kingston would have to come from the UK.

In terms of money, they are close to each other. The Kingston is about €200 more expensive than the others.
I have not played any of these and there is no place that I know of that has more than one of them in stock.

 

[bholder]

No clue what would fit your needs better, I'm just throwing my 2 cents in - that Ibanez looks killer!

 

[scuzzy]

can't get much more different than those 3!

What type of music?

 

[el murdoque]

can't get much more different than those 3!

What type of music?

Reggae, Funk, Rock, a bit of Metal and Stoner.

 

[Bright Midnight]

Never played a 6-string, and probably never will, but Kingston looks way better than the other two....

 

[bholder]

Reggae, Funk, Rock, a bit of Metal and Stoner.

Sounds like you need versatility in a bass. Not sure which one that points to the most, it certainly don't count the Ibanez out...

 

[el murdoque]

Sounds like you need versatility in a bass. Not sure which one that points to the most, it certainly don't count the Ibanez out...

I got a big pedal board to make things happen.

 

[el murdoque]

Never played a 6-string, and probably never will, but Kingston looks way better than the other two....

The LTD comes in two different finishes, pictured here is Honey - I think I like the natural better, the spalted maple can be awesome. The Kingston is the actual model that is for sale.

 

[Bright Midnight]

The LTD comes in two different finishes, pictured here is Honey - I think I like the natural better, the spalted maple can be awesome. The Kingston is the actual model that is for sale.

Oh, spalted maple? I know what I would get!

 

[DrBnz]

I've never held any of them. But weight and balance would be my concern. I'd go with the Ibanez ... I dunno what these weigh, but at least it won't have neck dive ... I like their hi-vis fret markers too.

 

[el murdoque]

Oh, spalted maple? I know what I would get!

Here's a pic illustrating the possibilities. . .

 

[Bright Midnight]

Here's a pic illustrating the possibilities. . .

I'm a sucker for beauty in basses (and instruments in general), but couldn't care less what my car looks like. This bass pictured here is definitely beyond elegant and the wood is amazing.

Not that it matters in your quest, but here's my drool since a few years:

 

[scuzzy]

Reggae, Funk, Rock, a bit of Metal and Stoner.

The ltd will dub better than the other two. And with the bridge position in the mix should cut great. But if it was me, I'd go Ibanez. Likely more versatile tones all around. But those MTD's necks are something special as well.

 

[stringthrough]

MTD over Ibby, Ibby over ESP.

 

[Reese T Morin]

I have only heard good things around those Ibanez basses. (At least in the 4 and 5 string world) and even having had played one (tech was working on it and let me take a noodle), they feel and sound great! I heavily considered them before just due to that and how much lighter they are.

 

[mini-milli]

Personally, I'd go for the Ibanez mostly because I've found 6-strings have a tendency to be quite neck-heavy.
If that's not a concern for you, I think they all look good.

 

[Dincrest]

The LTD RB series basses are discontinued, but if you can find one, awesome. That line was designed by Rocco Prestia so they're engineered for lighter weight.

I would've posted ESP/LTDs other 6ers in the thread, but they don't have maple boards.

 

[lermgalieu]

I have only heard good things around those Ibanez basses. (At least in the 4 and 5 string world) and even having had played one (tech was working on it and let me take a noodle), they feel and sound great! I heavily considered them before just due to that and how much lighter they are.

I have one of them, 4-string headless shortie. I keep it in a guitar gig bag and carry it on planes and often practice with it. It’s a great bass - super solid, good neck, active/passive. It’s however not fanned fret like its 5 and 6 string siblings.

 

[Obese Chess]

I would go with the Kingston. The looks of the Ibanez are polarizing and may garner some confused looks/negative attention at dub gigs, though if that's not an issue they're great basses. The ESPs are great as well, but the Kingstons are really special. You've posted the rare one of these polls in which there isn't a clear winner, they're all fantastic instruments.

 

[bassGtar]

I like the Ibanez headstock the best … but it isn’t the prettiest. The ESP spalted maple is. But I don’t have experience with any of them. I’d get the one that most closely meets the specs you like.