Cheap-ish 6-ers

[dougal]

Promising myself I wouldn't buy a bass before the end of the year, I'm now mentally spending in the new year. If that makes sense. Only 2 months to wait.

I fancy a mass production 6-string of some description; ideally used, up to about £750 - the idea being that a used mass produced instrument in this price range should be relatively easy to shift on here without losing too much money.

I'm considering:
Bongo 6 (well outside my price range!)
Warwick Thumb (a little bit out of my price range!)
Ibanez (BTB676)
Yamaha (TRB1006)
ESP (LTD D-6)
Peavey (NTB6)

Question is: has anyone tried / owned one or all of these who could give me insight? Is it worth saving an extra scoopful and spending 1k on a thumb?

D.

Edited October 25, 2010 by dougal

[Johnny BoomBoom]

[quote name='Johnston' post='999760' date='Oct 25 2010, 10:20 AM']If you want to REALLY lower your budget.

Keep an eye out for an old Dean (I have one) or a Washburn XB600(?) virtually the same. Both come up on ebay 2nd hand around the £100-£200 mark.

My deano
[/quote]


You might consider a Spector ,there are 2 on ebay just now:-

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Spector-6-String-Bass-Guitar-/270652222432?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3f04212be0"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Spector-6-String-Bas...=item3f04212be0[/url]

and

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Spector-Euro-LX-6-String-Bass-Gorgeous-Spalted-Maple-/160497578331?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item255e66b15b"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Spector-Euro-LX-6-St...=item255e66b15b[/url]

The former is Korean made ,and the latter their Euro series.

I have a Korean 6 stringer in Holoflash and it's a pretty nice bass, not too difficult a fretboard to work even with my smallish hands! I also have a Euro 5 stringer and can;t fault the build quality....just about the best value for money bass I ever got!

[charic]

the yammy trb1006 is a great choice

[ezbass]

Indie Guitars do a sixer, 1026 The Swamp 6, that was well reviewed when it first came out [url="http://www.indieguitars.com/guitarshop/erol.html"]http://www.indieguitars.com/guitarshop/erol.html[/url]. Don't know how much these are though. +1 On the Yamaha TRBs too.

[ThomBassmonkey]

[quote name='Johnston' post='999760' date='Oct 25 2010, 10:20 AM']Washburn XB600[/quote]

Aren't they called XB106? Or are they different models?

I've used a BTB406 for years and it's never let me down, that'd be my suggestion. If you want a really cheap one, look for Brices (from Rondo music, same brand as the SX range IIRC), I got a HXB406 from them and it was a great instrument for the money. I've sold it on now but I never had any complaints abou tit.

[ezbass]

I just remembered that I saw this Yammy John Myung for sale the other day [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=94471&hl=john+myung"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...p;hl=john+myung[/url] well within your budget.

[dougal]

[quote name='ezbass' post='999888' date='Oct 25 2010, 12:07 PM']I just remembered that I saw this Yammy John Myung for sale the other day [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=94471&hl=john+myung"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...p;hl=john+myung[/url] well within your budget.[/quote]

That's PERFECT.

Just 2 months early

[Thurbs]

[quote name='dougal' post='999749' date='Oct 25 2010, 10:10 AM']Ibanez (BTB676)

Question is: has anyone tried / owned one or all of these who could give me insight? Is it worth saving an extra scoopful and spending 1k on a thumb?[/quote] I have a Ibanez BTB675.

It has a great natural finish, weighty fell, great action. I often get comments about how the bass really punches through the sound of a rock band like none of my other passive basses can. This is even with the infamous 'Wolly' Ashdown Engineering Amps & Cabs!

Being active you can also turn the knobs for just the sound you need without faffing with a effects pedal.

For me it is perfect and I can see little which would make me buy another.

The only slight downside is the rather wide neck. I have another 5 string and the Ibinez's neck is quite a bit wider, especially towards the body. Oh, and only fretted, no fret-less option.

HTH. R.

[XB26354]

[quote name='dougal' post='999749' date='Oct 25 2010, 10:10 AM']I'm considering:
Bongo 6 (well outside my price range!)
Warwick Thumb (a little bit out of my price range!)
Ibanez (BTB676)
Yamaha (TRB1006)
ESP (LTD D-6)
Peavey (NTB6)[/quote]

I picked up a TRB6 on here for £400. Japanese made, Honeyburst ash/maple/rosewood. Nothing under a grand would touch it.
Of that list I would pick the Yamaha every time - good build quality, nice tight B, good elecs and PU's and not too heavy (as long as you like the look). I gather they're back in production, too.
The Bongo and Thumb are not worth the (very large) outlay - for that money new you're into Ken Smith/MTD/Roscoe etc used prices.
BTB676 is really anonymous to my ears, as are the ESP and the Peavey.
The problem with 6-strings is that it not easy to make one cheaply - they need even response over a wider frequency range, better construction and design to sort out the wider neck and headstock and (usually) more thought to electronics to cater for tones from sub-bass to guitar.

[sprocketflup]

I have a Washburn XB 6 stringer for sale if anyones intrested

[pantherairsoft]

TRB1006.

Amazing bass. Feels like it's worth 2k. Buy one!

[geoffbyrne]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6-string-hohner-B-Bass-/270653794487?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3f043928b7"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6-string-hohner-B-Ba...=item3f043928b7[/url]


I have the 5er, and they are much under-rated.

G.

[XB26354]

I also played a Cort A6 a few months ago - the finishing reminded me of a Ken Smith (I'm not kidding), but the tone lacked a little something. Still, you can pick them up used around £450-500 - excellent all round basses - neck thru as well.

[fretmeister]

The Warwick necks are massive.

Can't get on with them at all.

[Kiwi]

Toby Pro 6 - you'll need to upgrade the pickups and maybe the bridge but snag one second hand for as little as 400 quid and have a bass you will probably never need to update unless you want to make 6 string your main instrument.

[Lfalex v1.1]

Don't overlook the Ibanez SR506!! It'll give you some change, too!
Otherwise, look to the Yamahas already mentioned... Or see what S/H throws up...

[eude]

Have you spotted this?...
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=85921&st=20&p=900797&#entry900797"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...mp;#entry900797[/url]

I know it's over budget, but the extra £150 is worth it for the preamp alone never mind the fact it's a hand made bass!
I've played that particular bass and if it'd been 33" scale I'd have been all over it!

Cheers,
Eude

[EdwardHimself]

+1 about going used. If you're wanting it to keep it's value then that is by far the best option imo.

[cocco]

I'm in a similar situation of wanting a decent 6er for not much money. Never played one before. I just fancy a go to be honest. I'm told there's not much that will stack up to the quality of the trb. If I do decide to get a 6 it will more than likely be a second hand yammy!

[dougal]

Thanks for all the input guys; the TRB sounds like it's the winner, unless I can snag that ACG!

[AttitudeCastle]

I'm in an identical boat! that or a 7 string

I'm after specs usually from higher end basses =S

The BTB matches all my specs except the 35" and i prefer the 34" rotosounds =S

The BTB or the Yamaha (LOVE THE TRBS!)

the 34-35" scale thing is where i'm unsure

also I play metal and alot of decent 6ers have a something about them idk but it puts me off,

i dislike the sr506 though, the colour puts me off haha shallow but still!

Edited October 29, 2010 by AttitudeCastle