Ibanez SR506BM (Pretty six String) Is it good?

[JamieBenzies]

Hi everyone,
I was just wondering if anyone out there has owned or played an Ibanez SR506BM, I'm thinking of buying one but i would like to see if anyone on here has any advice or similarly priced alternatives. Any Info at all would be appreciated.



Thanks!!

[tempo]

IMO the best 6 string out there for that sort of cash. The only other I would consider (at that price) would be another Ibby, the BTB676

[budget bassist]

Not tried the six string but i've tried the 4 and it's a very nice sounding and playing instrument for the money and well made too

[Herr Fixxxer]

I've had one for a while, only sold it because I wanted to get back to something more basic, like a good old P, but it's defo the best 6stringer I've ever had. EQ is very good and effective, the sound is clear and massive, the neck is not too thick and feels great playing on, the wood is gorgeous. You can't go wrong with that one, seriously.

[Tait]

i play the 4 string version and i love it. a mix of that and my custom bass has stopped any bass gas since easter, there is literally nothing else that i could want. the soundgear is light, with a thin neck and quite a smooth tone - but its easy to get a good growl out of it when you need it, play in favour of the back pickup and boost the treble and mids youve got a real stingray like growl. play in favour of the front pickup, slightly roll of the mids, slighty boost the treble and really boost the bass you got a precision sound. you can really get any sound you could possibly want.

i've played the six string and the string spacing is very close together, but if youve played it and dont mind the string spacing i'd go for it, you arent going to have any other problems with it.

[Fraktal]

I've got the 505 (5 strings) and I love it: Very good sound, versatile, and excellent ergonomics (light weight, thin neck, good balance and close string spacing)

I havent tried the 506 but I assume it might be close to mine, you should really try it.

[Delberthot]

I had what i believe now to be an SR1016 or something along those lines. Sort of a Japanese forerunner to this series I think before they made the SR1006 neck through range.

Lovely basses. String spacing closer than some other 6 strings but if you've played an Ibanez then you'll know that they generally are quite narrow anyway.

Lovely feel, balance and sound. too many controls for my liking though. lovely slim neck

[JamieBenzies]

Thanks guys this will help me make the right choice! Any input on this matter is still appreciated.

[Brave Sir Robin]

here's a SR506 (and great playing too).

[url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iHPhyRyGAfc&feature=related"]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iHPhyRyGAfc&...feature=related[/url]

[Faithless]

I don't dig one thing about string spacing.. IMHO, 6 strings tells a bit about the, let's say, approach to bass playing, so, in this case, what [i]should[/i] be the problem, should a [i]wide[/i] string spacing be, not narrow..

Or I'm wrong?


And, damnit, OP, this whole thing should be in [b]Ibaneeezes[/b] thread...


Don't mind, just kidding,
cheers,
Faith.

Edited November 23, 2008 by Faithless

[Fraktal]

[quote name='Faithless' post='335000' date='Nov 23 2008, 06:15 PM']I don't dig one thing about string spacing.. IMHO, 6 strings tells a bit about the, let's say, approach to bass playing, so, in this case, what [i]should[/i] be the problem, should a [i]wide[/i] string spacing be, not narrow..[/quote]

It all depends on personal preferences. Some people hate narrow string space, others love it.

In my case, for some strange reason I wont claim I understand, a narrow string spacing saves me a big deal of pain. My right hand, the plucking one, aches a lot when playing wide string spaced basses. Ive heard a lot of friends complain about "strings are too close" when playing my basses and slapping, but hey, slapping is more fun with 4stringers, aint it?

[Faithless]

Well, I think it's definetly more practical to play with narrow spacing - speed, when crossing strings, and sh1te like that..

Though, I'm doing a bit of slapping now, and my both Ibbies are with 16.5mm spacing - don't see any problem here, it just takes some time to dig in. Well, again, that probably depends on personal taste.



Cheers, Faith.

Edited November 24, 2008 by Faithless

[TDM]

Does anybody know where you can actually get one of these? (Thomann is out of stock) and all of the internet shops in the UK seem to be out of stock too. A friend of mine is desperately looking for one.

[Brave Sir Robin]

thomann seem to have them in stock (as they say on website, but that could be wrong).

gak
[url="http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/ibanez-sr-506/67803"]http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/ibanez-sr-506/67803[/url]

some stores I never used, if you haven't contacted them yet.
[url="http://www.giggear.co.uk/p/Ibanez-SR506-Brown-Mahogany-6-String/"]http://www.giggear.co.uk/p/Ibanez-SR506-Br...ogany-6-String/[/url]

[url="http://www.mansons.co.uk/shopping/brands/ibanez-bass-guitars/ibanez/sr506-bass-guitar/"]http://www.mansons.co.uk/shopping/brands/i...06-bass-guitar/[/url]

[url="http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_SR506BM.html"]http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_SR506BM.html[/url]


german store
[url="http://www.musik-schmidt.de/products/gb/Basses/6-Strings/Ibanez-SR-506-BM-Brown-Mahogany.html"]http://www.musik-schmidt.de/products/gb/Ba...n-Mahogany.html[/url]

Edited November 25, 2008 by Brave Sir Robin

[lowhand_mike]

i'll chuck in my 2peneth
i have the 4, but i have played the 6.
like lwtait and others have said broad sounds to be had here, construction is ace. wood is lovely and you can get some really nice grain on some of these.
the neck is a dream with the satin(?) finish its not sticky at all and with playing (had mine about a year and a half now) just gets smoother and faster. initial factory setup is pretty good though i have lowered mine a bit. it not heavy so its good for long spells standing playing.
for the money i don't think you'll get anything as good or versatile.

dolphin have 2 at their gateshead branch according to their site
[url="http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/shop/flypage/product_id/15909"]http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/shop/flypage/product_id/15909[/url]

[Tait]

[quote name='lowhand_mike' post='336373' date='Nov 25 2008, 04:19 PM']for the money i don't think you'll get anything as good or versatile.[/quote]

+1, ive never played anything as good for the price.

[Machines]

Saw one in Birmingham PMT yesterday - looked very nice for the price.

[XB26354]

Just to add a bit of balance (excuse the crap joke) but it is very neck heavy. The body feels light and the six-string width together with the hardwood neck is probably what tips it. It's a little better standing up with a strap than seated but you do have to press down with the right forearm, hardly ideal for a 6-string. The basic tone and eq is miles better than the previous incarnation of this bass and the bottom B is very good at any price. A good bass, with better balance I'd prefer it to any sub-£1000 sixer... except the now-discontinued TRB1006.

[Tait]

[quote name='XB26354' post='337730' date='Nov 26 2008, 09:26 PM']Just to add a bit of balance (excuse the crap joke) but it is very neck heavy. The body feels light and the six-string width together with the hardwood neck is probably what tips it. It's a little better standing up with a strap than seated but you do have to press down with the right forearm, hardly ideal for a 6-string. The basic tone and eq is miles better than the previous incarnation of this bass and the bottom B is very good at any price. A good bass, with better balance I'd prefer it to any sub-£1000 sixer... except the now-discontinued TRB1006.[/quote]

i've played the SR506 before and i can't say i noticed any problem with it being neck heavy. and i was sat down, and you said its worse sat down. to be fair though, i've only played it for a short spell once, so its probably more noticable when you actually own the bass. i just thought i'd tell you it didn't seem a problem for me. definatly check one out.

mind you, it probably didn't seem a problem cos i was trying to get my head around six strings (being a four string person myself). i'm just contradicting myself now though and not getting my point across, so i'm gonna stop typing

[lowhand_mike]

hmm, i didnt notice any problems when i tried it and i was sat down too and played around on it for about half hour, though i was trying to get my head around the 6 strings being a 4ster meself as well.

[XB26354]

Nope, just tried it again, there were two side by side in the shop and they were both massively neck heavy. You can feel it if you hold the bass in both hands - the neck - end feels much heavier than the body end. I've been on sixes for 15 years+ and they can balance a lot better...