Ibanez - SR506BM: 6-string bass
 

[B]Specs:[/B]

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.

[B]Overall Opinion[/B]
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.

[B][COLOR=DarkRed]5/5[/COLOR][/B]

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

^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

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

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

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

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

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.

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???????

yes its just the 4 string version.

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

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

[QUOTE=primus_55]i want one. gaslight where could u get that one that cheap in aus?[/QUOTE]

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

Nah, just a student discount lol.

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

[QUOTE=gaslight]I get a student discount at the music shop near me, and they like me :p.

Nah, just a student discount lol.[/QUOTE]

billy hyde would that be?

[QUOTE=primus_55]billy hyde would that be?[/QUOTE]

Nah, West Ryde Music Workshop.

where bouts u from in aus?

Sydney :thumb:.

i can get it for 689 canadian no tax

Im also going to be getting one soon, or maby the 5 string, anyway its a great bass. :thumb:

would you recommend one of these over a BTB406?

Thanks for the review.

they had one in my local store i wanted to try it but it was a lefty :upset:

i got one mint of ebay for like 400...the guy bought it and then his wife got him one of those basslab basses so he just sold it and there was a buy it now button for $400 so i got it and it was one of the best decisions ive ever made

[QUOTE=Low_End_Communications][B]Specs:[/B]



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.


[B][COLOR=DarkRed]5/5[/COLOR][/B][/QUOTE]

It has dual truss rods, so maybe it is because one is tighter. I got myself one too, so yeah.

put up pics LEC!

[B]Overall Opinion[/B]
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.

[B][COLOR=DarkRed]5/5[/COLOR][/B][/QUOTE]


hehe clever :P because indeed 599 is Under 600

Super Mega Bumpage.

why? its not like the equipment subforum gets alot of hits:confused:

I have the 506 as well and once you get over the fact that its neck heavy and the string spacing is really tight...what like 16.5 mm. Personally to whoever asked i think it is better than the BTB simply because to me it had a better tone and was more expressive. thats it im done.

String spacing on rs505
 

On the Rs505 the string spacing is 16.6mm ?

I own a Stng Ray Anniversary 5, a conklin 6, a yami 4, a fretless, and a 6 string modulus.
I went in the music store John said "man I have this bass I want you to try out". He put it in the case and I took it home. I opened the case and went awww man a 6 string bolt on IBANEZ? WTF?
I read the flyer and went hmmmm active bartolini's?
I plugged it up, and I was amazed by the action, tone, and the overall playability of this bass.
I BOUGHT IT!
Now when I am at a gig I don't have to worry about my bass that costs a thousand(s) more getting stolen.
$650 with a hs case is a steal for the bass.
Never was a big fan of Ibanez, but this bass has totally changed the way I think about Ibanez. Bartolini's active eq and pick ups are probably the lower end cost for Bartolini, but the set up definately makes this bass.
The sr506bm is an cheap, really good bang for the buck bass.
I highly reccomend it.

I had to put up with my bassist brothers coming to a gig and saying WTF man where is your Modulus 6?
I say shut up and play while sticking the bass in their hands.
They all own one now.

nice bass , good review

Sean Andrews playing the 506!
 

If you want to see and hear this bass in action check out these videos:

[url]http://www.youtube.com/user/entheogenesis[/url]

He uses GHS Bass Boomers strings. Iam Nemo

Greetings all , I just registered ! Yep my user name is screwy but any way.

I too have been thinking of getting a 506 , not entirely sure yet. Right now its a draw between a Ibanez 506 and Schecter Stiletto Studio-6 .
Question regarding the 506 what, kind of punch does this bass produce and will it be good for Metal. Further, what is the action like on this bass. Unfortunately due to a medical condition I'm suffering from some neurological damage in my hands. There for I require a bass with decent action .[I] I currently own a 6string Brice , this bass has always require an insane physical effort to play. Yes I did have it looked at it just the way its made. [/I]
Any way I digress. The 506 has 24/medium frets while the Schecter has 24/jumbo frets. Excuse my ignorance, I'm assuming these specs indicate the width of the overall fret board. This might effect the degree of effort in playing.
BTW I messed around with a Scheter 5 string the other day , very impressive sounding bass. I didn't seem to have much problems playing around with it , I'm a south paw and the bass was a righter, there for it wasn't an entirely perfect test drive.

Well, as far as 6ers go, the SR506 has a relatively thin neck. The necks are well made and the action is easy to adjust on an Ibanez--you won't have to worry about action at all. I'll imagine you'll want to use a lighter gauge of strings though.

As for the sound, active Bartolinis are incredibly versatile in the tone department. You can easily dial metal tones, and mellower sounds.

As for jumbo frets vs. medium frets, this is the actual fret sizes themselves. How tall/thick the actual fret markers are, in other words.

Jumbo frets feel [I]slightly[/I] more like a scalloped fretboard, if I had to use a comparison. Basically, less string to fretboard feel. Medium frets are more standard.

I notice absolutely no difference myself. You might however, based on the condition you've stated. Try both if you can.