tiagocunha Posted April 14, 2018 Share Posted April 14, 2018 Hi all, after some time playing my 5 string Cort Curbow, I want to try a new challenge and buy a 6 string bass. I don't have a huge budget, let's say 500 € and I came across this ad (in my home country): https://www.olx.pt/anuncio/baixo-aria-pro-ii-6-cordas-IDytLn1.html#526c49cf87 Does anyone know anything about this Aria bass? The other alternative that I can think off is the Ibanez Sr206, but I really need some help here. Thank you very much in advance, Tiago Cunha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted April 14, 2018 Share Posted April 14, 2018 Where are you located ? Looks like Portugal. Those old Aria Pro II aren't that bad, but you can get a better bass for that money. Way under 500 Euros is this incredible Harley Benton BZ-6000 NT (tried the 7 strings version) : https://www.thomann.de/pt/harley_benton_bz_6000_nt.htm With the spare money, you can buy some spare strings like these excellent D'Addario's : https://www.thomann.de/pt/daddario_exl1706_regular_light.htm And even a decent case : https://www.thomann.de/pt/gator_foam_case_bass.htm Just a bit more, like this ESP-LTD-B-206SM-NATURAL-SATIN, which is a real good bass for the money (I had one) : https://www.thomann.de/pt/espltd_b206.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted April 14, 2018 Share Posted April 14, 2018 I would take an Aria Pro over any Harley Benton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted April 14, 2018 Share Posted April 14, 2018 Not me, as this is basically a 5 strings transformed into a 6 strings because of the demand in those days. These were manufactured without knowing what exactly a 6 strings bass was. I would buy a 4 or a 5 strings Aria Pro II, but never a sixer from this period. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianrendall Posted April 14, 2018 Share Posted April 14, 2018 I think you would be better served with a pre-owned Ibanez or Yamaha 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lownote Posted April 14, 2018 Share Posted April 14, 2018 If you can find one buy a Hohner B Bass VI. Small, nicely balanced, active/passive, soapbar pups, twin truss rods, neck through, beautiful wood. Around £250 off eBay. I've had two and have no idea why I sold them. Anything else is a pale imitation - IMHO of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealting Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 19 hours ago, ianrendall said: I think you would be better served with a pre-owned Ibanez or Yamaha This. There was a decent Yamaha TRB in the classifieds recently. Used Ibanez SoundGears are also good for the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 The problem is the budget he has which is around £430 GBP... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LegateNaarifin Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 (edited) 22 hours ago, ianrendall said: I think you would be better served with a pre-owned Ibanez or Yamaha Owning both a secondhand Ibanez and Yamaha, I completely agree with this. If you manage to find a Yammy TRB within your budget then I'd 100% recommend buying it, same goes for an Ibanez BTB (or SR if that's more your thing). Otherwise, I have heard good things about the Harley Benton basses, plus if you get one from Thomann they have a great returns policy if you end up not keeping it Edited April 15, 2018 by LegateNaarifin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 £450 is a very small budget for a 6. The biggest issues are usually poor neck stability, headstock dive and cheap pickups and electronics. The nicest cheap 6 I’ve ever tried was a Cort A6 artisan - maple so quite springy and bright without sounding too modern, neck through with great balance and the build quality and playability were astonishing. If it weren’t for the slightly anonymous electronics it could pass off as a slightly cheaper Ken Smith easily - it’s that good. To put this in context it felt like a much more expensive instrument than either an Ibanez SR or Yamaha TRB (based on having owned an SR506, SR5006 and a TRB6-ii and TRB1006). My advice? £750 buys you a lot better quality 6, so start saving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted April 15, 2018 Share Posted April 15, 2018 In fact, it's even lower, it's £430 GBP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiagocunha Posted April 15, 2018 Author Share Posted April 15, 2018 I will try to increase my budget, I saw an Ibanez SRC6 and a lovely Warwick Corvette Proline that I will hope that will still be on sale when I have more money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 I have an Ibanez SR1206 which is a very good bass that I'd be happy to recommend you to add to your shortlist. I managed to get mine second hand and something similar should be in your slightly increased budget range. Ibanez generally have skinnier necks and I suspect that becomes increasingly helpful as you go from 4 to 5 to 6 strings; their SR Premium range provide you with a lot of quality for the money. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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