Ibanez - SR506BM: 6-string bass

[Low_End_Communications]

Specs:

SR6 neck
5pc Wenge/ Bubinga Neck Material
Mahogany Body
24/Medium frets
Rosewood Finger Board
Bartolini Pickups
Abalone Oval Inlay
Black-chrome hardware
Bartolini MK1 3-Band

I recently purchased this bass and have spent quite a while with it already. A few side notes are that it comes with Elixir strings installed and has a front input jack (important because my old cable wouldn't fit, the casing was too large). The bass can be found online for aroudn $600 US.

This bass has an absolutely beautiful tone. The sound is crisp and very clean. The pickups balance out very well, and you can really change the sounds with them alone (they wouldn't give you Bart's and expect them to sound the same). The EQ only adds to the tone shaping. All 3 bands give you great tonal control. The combination of woods really is a treat. The mahogany gives a great natural punch and the wenge and bubinga neck combo give some nice growl. A rosewood fretboard helps to warm up the sound.

The bass feels great too. The spacing on the strings is absolutely perfect. Fast, but great for slapping. In fact, it's wider than my old Ibanez 5-string. Go figure. The thin Soundgear neck adds great speed to your sound, and 24 frets give you plenty to explore. The frets are beautifully set and don't overhang or anything. Also, for a 34'' neck, there seems to be more tension to the low strings for some reason. It could be the way the strings load into the bridge, but I don't know.

Overall Opinion
If you want a 6 string bass is the sub $600 US range, this is for you! I got mine at zzounds.com with zero shipping for $599. This bass is uber-versatile and is a steal for this price.

5/5

i have been wanting one of these for so long, but i've found it for about $450

[Low_End_Communications]

^Where at? That's a great deal. I almost got mine off eBay.

willcutt guitar shoppe in lexington, KY

and i do beleive that is it in your avatar

[Low_End_Communications]

Indeed it is... and amazingly enough, that's me playing it. It's great bass. BUY IT NOW!!!

[bassoprofoundoSlapstah]

Yeah, i just bought one I LOVE IT! best bass ive ever owned. the only problem is that i didnt get it sooner

[Low_End_Communications]

Cool. It's a great bass... I'd say best in it's price range, no matter how many strings you play.

my dad doesnt underestand why i want one

[Tobias bassman56]

haha tell your dad that if you learn to play then the bass will start to pay for itself

[gaslight]

Hey LEC, I want to buy the 4 string version, will all the comments you made still apply to it? It looks like an awesome bass.

They are roughly $1045 Australian though, but I could pick one up for roughly $900.

[Low_End_Communications]

I'd think that it would be jsut as good in 4 and 5 string versions. The only problem I have with the 4 or 5 is that the PU's are the same size for the 4 and 5 versions, so they stick out pretty far on either side of the strings.

It's an awesome buy no matter how many strings... those Bartolini PU's and EQ make all the difference.

is the 500 as good as the 505 and 506???????

[Bass+Fingers+Amp=Groove]

yes its just the 4 string version.

[Alma]

i want one. gaslight where could u get that one that cheap in aus?

[wardrobe malfunction]

Thanks guys. I'm going to order one in a few days.

[gaslight]

Originally Posted by primus_55

i want one. gaslight where could u get that one that cheap in aus?

I get a student discount at the music shop near me, and they like me .

Nah, just a student discount lol.

[Lowness]

i got an sr706 for about 878 at a store in my city its really great and i tried the 506 and i liked that too i just liked the 706 way better

[Alma]

Originally Posted by gaslight

I get a student discount at the music shop near me, and they like me .

Nah, just a student discount lol.

billy hyde would that be?

[gaslight]

Originally Posted by primus_55

billy hyde would that be?

Nah, West Ryde Music Workshop.

[Alma]

where bouts u from in aus?