Ibanez SRC6 Crossover Electric Bass, 6-String
Is it a baritone guitar or 6-string bass? Whatever you call it, you'll be hooked once you get your hands on the SRC6's 5-piece jatoba/walnut 30" scale neck.
Overall User Ratings (based on 5 ratings)
Submitted February 3, 2017 by William P in Conway, AR
"Magnificent, very well done."
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It's incredible what Ibanez is doing in Indonesia these days. Coming from the guitarist side of the "crossover" - for me this instrument feels and plays like a guitar. But also a bass - I mean it is really right down the middle - but leans toward guitar with how playable it is. It's officially a bass, as designated by its Ibanez bass headstock. But it has the tone of a FAT sounding guitar. Indeed it opens new creative avenues. You can even start by playing a riff that you've written before and are now rendering in the deep register of the src6. There's something about it - it's a different song now - with a different power and weight. It's heavy without distortion. Playing it shows you how 'heaviness' lay primarily in the density of a sound. Combine that density with the angularity of a riff-line, and you get 'heaviness'. I put it through a peavey xxl 212 (imo the best most tubelike solid state amp that won't break the bank) and it rings, shrieks, or weeps (you choose). I cannot imagine a tube-based amp like a Legend r&r50. Visually it's beautiful with the walnut mahogany and bubinga crafted into the Ibanez bass form. The only thing I don't like about the design - (and this is simply a physical attribute of the Ibanez bass architecture which is not a problem at the larger scale of a traditional bass) - is how the placement of the (wonderfully useful) pots/knobs make it difficult to employ a palm-mute at times.I replaced the knobs (not push-on FYI) with a shorter, flatter shaped set, and then it suddenly became quite useful to have the volume/pickup pots so accessible during a palm mute. Bottom line, don't be afraid of this guitar if you're coming from the guitar rather than the bass side. I own traditional 6-strings and also 7-strings. I own an Ibanez 8-string (walnut finish as well) and these two complement one another like sister guitars battling for my primary spot but in the end they get equal time. (I really don't mean that as a euphemism, truly)
Musical Background:
20 years playing guitar, use of piano for composition (mostly writing for string orchestra).
Musical Style:
I write metal with an ancient, meditative sensibility.
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Submitted September 1, 2015 by Gabriel Palmer in Tremonton, UT
"Such a unique and versatile instrument!!"
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Alrighty, I come from a unique viewpoint here as both a bassist and guitarist in my 3-piece band. I play both and am equally skilled at both but we needed both a bassist and lead guitarist in this little group of ours and let me just say... THIS INSTRUMENT DOES IT ALL. I can go from playing straight up bass lines to playing lead guitar with a push of a pedal and it sounds absolutely killer, even right out of the box! I mainly use it for metal, as I am a metalhead, and tuned to E standard it sounds exactly like my 8-string tuned to Drop E but more full as it also fills up the bottom end frequencies which is fantastic for the band's sound. t also has a really unique, very full sound when used to play more melodic and chordal stuff on a clean channel. It sounds pretty dark and resonant due to the pickups putting out all that bass. Playing it as a bass is sweet too, it has a kind of chime to it even when you're layin' down some slap, I came across that bit just goofing off haha. The pickups are great for what they are, I believe these are dedicated bass pickups if I'm not mistaken. They're passive too (that's a plus) and they have great dynamics, I get a cool overdrive type tone out of them if I turn my pedal's distortion all the way off while running it through just your average Fender bass amp. A word of advice though, if you plan to use it like a baritone like I usually do, the pickups will need a change. They sound great for E standard but any drop tuning (even just drop D) sounds horrible but that's ok considering this was probably not initially meant to be drop tuned the way I have it (drop C almost exclusively). The strings are also gonna need changing if you wanna drop tune past D. Overall, this instrument is incredible and capable of doing EVERYTHING. Right outta the box it sounds awesome, but you'll really need to do some EQ to get a good tone due to it's hybrid nature. It's build quality is pretty awesome too, the neck feels really good, has a real solid feel to it. Body-wise it feels pretty nice, good weight and the finish is pretty cool. The preamp works exceptionally well as well, and is essential for good tone. The tuners hold a tuning like an effing champ too, I barely have to tune it. In short, it is well worth the cash and is an excellent addition to anybody's guitar collection! Just buy it, you will not be disappointed!!
Sound
I realized right off that even drop tuning to D made this guitar sound terrible, which is due to the stock pickups being bass pickups and the top string being kinda floppy. If you wanna drop tune, I would just leave the neck pickup in and replace the bridge one with something like an Alumitone Deathbar. They will fit fine with a wee bit of routing and would intstantly clarify your tone by using just the standard guitar frequencies seeing as it is supposed to be for standard guitars. Also, you will need to make good use of the bass's active preamp to get a good tone, this is absolutely essential. Sure, using your amp's EQ is gonna help but it won't be near enough. Make use of that preamp friends!! You can't afford not to!
Features
The preamp they armed this thing with is amazing, it works wonders for your tone. It's like a whole other set of amp EQ knobs to use to carve your tone. Just brilliant. And NECESSARY. That aside, the build quality is very nice, the body isn't too heavy or light and the neck I am in love with, it's got quite a round feel (like a bass neck) and is fast and smooth, trademark of the Ibanez SR bass line. I love they didn't do a gloss finish on the neck too, I dig the woody feel. And the body too, the grains of the wood are attractive to me haha. The tuners are INCREDIBLE too, they hardly ever fall outta tune and if they do it is marginal at best. That's a massive plus for me.
Ease of Use
If you sit down with your EQ for a good 10 minutes just messing with the knobs on both the preamp and your amp itself and really listen, you can easily grab a good tone to run with. that's how I did it anyways, but really listen to how it sounds so you don't just sit and guess on adjustments. As for playability, it plays exactly like your average six-string guitar yet you can play straight up bass with it. It's so addicting to play around on! No need to learn to adjust technique either, just play the thing and it sounds awesome. Unless of course you dunno how to play bass in a band setting, but it depends on how you plan to use it. Compared to my other instruments I can go straight from my standard bass (an Ibamez SR500) to this and have zero issues, it honestly feels like a mini SR bass. Feels exactly the same just smaller. Going from a six string standard guitar to this is a piece of cake, it just feels like I'm picking up another six-string. Going from my 8-string to this is easy too, since the neck on this one is slightly wider than normal six-strings which let's me adjust easier to it going from the ultra-wide 8 to this with ease and vice versa.
Quality
The build and hardware are excellent, it feels super solid. It feels like it would last a long long time if you took care of it regularly. The finish doesn't seem too high quality though, I get the feeling it'll wear off really easy. But it's a bolt on so you can easily have it refinished.
Value
This is SO BEYOND WORTH IT. I would easily have paid another 100 bucks for this quality!
Manufacturer Support
I didn't have to contact Ibanez or anything like that, so I dunno how well they do their customer support unfortunately.
The Wow Factor
The wow factor here is the hybrid nature of it. Bass and guitar in one instrument?! WHOA!! Is what I said anyways! Sure, I could go without it if I had to but it's a staple for me in my band due to the fact it fills out the bass end while I play leads.
Musical Background:
Been playing guitar a year and a half now. I play bass and guitar equally and am equally skilled with both.
Musical Style:
I play metal mainly but I also do some more melodic solo stuff that is more atmospheric and emotional. Depends on who is playing
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Submitted May 7, 2020 by Jimmi K in North Augusta, SC
"A Long Time Search Ended"
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As a Bassist for over 40 years I also learned how to play Guitar to become a better Bassist. However I've got extremely large hands with long & wide fingers. Most Guitars are 25"-25.5" Scale Length which makes it nearly impossible for me to use Standard Positions for Chords on a Standard Scale Length Guitar. This Bass is actually more like a type of Baritone Guitar with one very different feature. Instead of B to B tuning it's E to E just One Octave Lower. Right now I've got DR Black Beauty Strings from 10 - 46 Gauge Strings tuned to Standard E. I typically play a 5 String Riot or Stiletto Schecter Bass & occasionally a 6 String Cort. But as a All Original Band Member I write & cowrite our songs & I come up with the material on Guitar. Either use of Chord Patterns or by Bass Runs while adding lyrics as I progress. This Ibanez SRC6 Crossover is set up EXACTLY like my Schecters. That's the Beauty of the Instrument for me. I use a Fender Rumble Stage 800 Amp because of the Presets Available. So I purchased a Line 6 Firehawk Guitar Amp for the exact same reason for Guitar and I'm astonished with the type Setup & Settings at easily attainable disposal. I feel I've got the tools I need for my Trade. I travel a lot & require all my equipment be stored safely & meticulously so it's never damaged & always in tip top shape. Finding a case that's hardshell proved to be a problem until I started to think outside of the box. I've got a Gator Extra Long Case that's available here on the zZounds.com Website and I had purchased it when I got a Schecter C7 Deluxe Guitar. I had to slice a notch where the front strap holder is and WALLAH BROTHER I was in Business. That simple cut & the Gator XL ELEC extra long fit all Guitar Case @ $129.95 appears to be MOLDED for the Ibanez SRC6 Crossover. This instrument will always be with me & I might have it put in the casket with me when I pass. Hope this helps y'all know that I believe this instrument to be one of the best investments I've ever made & it might be worth it for you as well. Every Artist and Player is Unique and all are different. This was made for me and I'm hard to see perfection in anything due to being an architect/builder & extremely precise person that seeks perfection in all that I do, use & have. Take it Easy Jimmi aka Bass Man & Problem Solver.
Musical Background:
40+ years Bass & Guitar
Musical Style:
Anything but Rap
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Submitted January 18, 2021 by Mark Norman in Johnson City, TN, TN
"Ibanez SRC6 Crossover 6-String Bass VI"
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In their description above: "medium frets is expertly treated to give your chording hand the smoothest ride possible"... this is absolutely a flat out LIE, this guitar had the Worst fret finishing job I've ever seen on Any guitar. Each and every fret where the ends are cut off at edge of fingerboard are sharp enough to scrape the skin off your fingers, over edge of fretboard the frets extend over edge enough to catch High E string while playing. Nut was defective, one string cut too deep to prevent open-string buzz. Tail-piece was Chinese type garbage giving great difficulty to adjust for intonation, (some screws were either cross-threaded or had rough edges) zZounds won't do anything about it after 5 emails so I'm buying a kit to finish them up properly by myself (first time ever necessary in 48 years of playing guitar, having had about 30 guitars in my life). If this is an example of over $700-$800 Ibanez guitars today, I bet their sales take a nose dive, (and I was wanting some of their over $1200-$2100 guitars which I won't order on line because of this experience - will have to wait upon rare occasions I see what I've desired, in person)!
Sound
Any Sound you want is Awesome with active electronics but fat E flubbers a bit. Headstock is Black, everything else is Brown natural, minimal finish. Fret job Sucks, Intonation / setup / neck flex / nut depth all SUCK! It is like the guy who was in charge of final prep / quality inspectors were off that day and they had a child do it! Retailer Zzounds couldn't care less and refuse to do anything!
Features
Electric guitar 6 string neck is fast and shaped for speed (get slowed down by incomplete fret job)... Very light and comfortable wearing and playing. Perfect for a guitarist who wants to do their own bass lines for recording, 30 inch scale is a lot shorter than long scale of 34/35 inches. Also, Any Bassists would say: "I can't live without this one because of flexibility and versatility of what it can do" (after they get it Plek'd at Sweetwater, service not available from zZounds)
Ease of Use
No learning curve for guitarist, for bassist it takes getting used to strings so close together and much shorter scale, but I'd say BOTH will love it after a $300 Plek'd and Nut job.
Quality
UNSERVICEABLE NUT, DIFFICULT BRIDGE TO ADJUST DUE TO POOR QUALITY CONTROL STANDARDS
Value
You must take this into consideration if deciding to purchase, You Will have to get NEW Nut along with fret job and final fitment of individual parts of bridge. Plek's with new nut is $300 on top of $750 purchase price.
Manufacturer Support
Bought new recently from zZounds who refuse to do anything to help...
The Wow Factor
nothing else can do what a Bass VI can, Eastwood has a set neck & tremolo but rare to find, Fender / Squire are substantially heavier
Musical Background:
BEEN IN 11 MUSICAL GROUPS
Musical Style:
Rock / Metal / Jazz / Progressive / Fusion
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Submitted January 3, 2021 by a customer from Gmail.com
"I don't think so"
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"and medium frets is expertly treated to give your chording hand the smoothest ride possible"? I don't think so, worst fret job I ever saw, setup nowhere near right, but with finishing work it will be a keeper, thinking of getting it plek'd
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