Your favorite 6 string bass for less than 2 grand

[knight of ni]

I'll go another route and not recommend a particular brand but rather advise that you think about any ergonomic preferences you have and then find basses that might fit that. With a 6'er, coming from a 4, there are two main measurements that may or may not be important to you:

scale length (4s are typically 34", 6'ers are usually either 34" or 35")
bridge spacing (4s are typically 19mm give or take, 6'ers can be anywhere from 20mm down to 14mm)

Beyond that, details like nut width and width at the body joint can have an impact. Some people have no issue with going from very different measurements, others find it problematic. It took me about five tries to figure out what I wanted/needed in a 6'er. For instance the Ibanez SR basses have fairly tight bridge spacing - some love it, I didn't.

If you've done a lot of experimentation with different instruments you may already have some preferences. Of course with practice you likely can make anything work, but depends on a lot of factors. In my case I end up switching between 4 and 6 in a set, and for me having the same scale length and bridge spacing made that easier. But what works for me may not work for you. 6 is a different beast than 4, and I found I needed to approach it differently and adapt some of my technique. Ymmv.

^this (as been said earlier)
I have a Yamaha TRB6II, 35" with a great B which I attribute (maybe wrongly) to the scale length. Note : 35" is a significant difference with 34" and depending on your finger length and technique it can cause strain. I'm not too eager to try a 36" Tune model ! The MTD Z6 also is 35". You may want to have a look at the Andrew Gouché Kingston model.
Ibanez SR models are 34" and have a tight string spacing and I'm not too keen on that. The Ibanez BTB series are 35", and have a wider string spacing although not as wide as a TRB6 (18mm) or a TRB6JP (19 mm). BTBs are tempting but IMO lack character until you reach the range where they have brand pickups and electronics and by then they get more expensive and the competition.
A less expensive alternative is the Cort Artisan A6.
To sum up : I love my TRB6II, no wonder Yamaha have been selling it for 20+ years (now they sell it as TRB1006, made in Indonesia. Everyone agrees that the used japanese made TRB6II are a better deal). TRB6JP2 may be found for less than 2k used, but 19 mm makes the neck really wide for my taste.
MTD Kingston KZ6 and AG model : I'd buy one of these if I hadn't already had the Yamaha.
Ibanez : extensive catalog but I always feel they're like "Jack of all trades but master of none"
Cort Artisan A6 : top of the line from a very capable company, I'd consider this model if I was looking for a 6er.

 

[Barticus]

Can't go wrong with a used Ibanez or Warwick, both sound/play amazing. I like the 1406 and especially the 1406te which is neck through. The Corvette is a great value too, but tend to be much heavier due to wood selections.

 

[Frodolicious]

I love the responses and the varieties of answers! Thanks everyone!

At this point, the bass I am most tempted by are to grab an Ibby SR 1806 or 5000 version, as well as the Yamaha TRB-JP2 John Patitucci 6 string bass (that thing is massive!!)

 

[kbr]

I used to play a lot of country and now play a lot of worship music. Also a lot of metal but that is beside the point. I use a Dingwall Afterburner II 6 when I need to cut and various Ibanez basses otherwise. The SR5006 is one of the best overall basses I've played for church. It has a sound that just works for most things. It also plays wonderfully.

 

[knight of ni]

At this point, the bass I am most tempted by are to grab an Ibby SR 1806 or 5000 version, as well as the Yamaha TRB-JP2 John Patitucci 6 string bass (that thing is massive!!)

These models are quite on the opposite ends of the spectrum. That should be easy to sort out if you try them.

 

[BoomBoomOGTL]

Carvin, Peavey or Ibanez Prestige as many others in this thread have noted.

i've owned and played all three extensively and you can't go wrong with any of them.

The Carvin is the least expensive and if you look around, you'll find beautiful, hand built basses that play like boutique models costing three or four times the price. Mine's a fully optioned fretless with a piezo so I've come to hang onto it. I think I paid under $500 for about 10 years ago.

The Peavey is the most boutique of the lot and I think it has a lot a tonal options. It's built like a $4000 bass. I recently sold off my USA Cirrus 6 only because I don't need multiple sixes, I'm primarily a 4 string player.

But the one 6'er I've come to fall in love with is the Ibanez SR5006. It's simply beautiful to look at and feels just as good as it looks in your hands. The SR neck is perfect for me and I love the Barts that come stock in this model.

Good luck because as we all here know, the hunt is just as much fun as the purchase ( well, almost).

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

Used Music Man Bongo 6 HH. They're one of the best built, best-sounding most versatile (the Bongos can dial out a lot more of the classic Music Man tone than the other models for some reason, I assume the neodymium pickups and 18V preamp play a role in it) basses out there and can be found for well under two grand. They also look like a futuristic, alien toilet seat, so if you can't abide that, they're probably not for you, haha!