Guitar Guide

Bass Guitars & Amplification Buying Guide

Six Strings on a Bass: Genuine Range or Just More to Learn?

V Rated by Vincent Vandegans · Updated Sep 2026

A 6-string bass adds both a low B and a high C compared to standard 4-string, opening up chordal playing, extended solo range, and melodic freedom a 4-string simply can't offer. It's a genuine expansion of what the instrument can do — but it's also a real commitment to learning a wider neck and new right-hand spacing, worth being honest with yourself about before buying.

The basses below are real, currently-listed 6-string extended-range instruments, checked for seller reliability and priced against comparable recent sales.

At a Glance — Our Top Picks

Editor's Top Pick
Ibanez 6-String Bass Guitar with Bonus Elixir Strings Excellent Condition

Ibanez 6-String Bass Guitar with Bonus Elixir Strings Excellent Condition

Score 95/100 · $1,947.83 · Used

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Best New
LACE Aluma X-Bar 4.5 Extended Range 8/9/10-String Guitar, 5/6 String Bass Pickup

LACE Aluma X-Bar 4.5 Extended Range 8/9/10-String Guitar, 5/6 String Bass Pickup

Score 95/100 · $119.99 · Open box

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Best Used
F-bass BN6 Used Bass Guitar

F-bass BN6 Used Bass Guitar

Score 95/100 · $6,506.38 · Used

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Top 10 Bass Guitars & Amplifications on eBay & Amazon

Ranked and rated by Vincent Vandegans — verified you can buy.

1

Ibanez 6 String GSR206B Electric Bass Guitar - USED - VG

Rating Score: 94/100 · $275.00 Used

4 photos
Brand
PRS
Handedness
Right-Handed
Type
Electric Bass Guitar
Body Color
Brown
  • Condition: Used
  • Seller rating: 99.1% positive (1610 ratings)
  • Shipping: $59.00
  • No returns accepted
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Customer reviews on eBay ›
2

Ibanez Electric Bass Guitar 6 String

Rating Score: 83/100 · $365.00 Used

4 photos
Brand
Ibanez
Handedness
Right-Handed
Series
Standard
Type
Electric Bass Guitar
Body Type
Solid
Performance Level
Professional
  • Condition: Used
  • Seller rating: 100.0% positive (43 ratings)
  • Free shipping
  • No returns accepted
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Customer reviews on eBay ›
3

Ibanez 6-String Bass Guitar with Bonus Elixir Strings Excellent Condition

Rating Score: 95/100 · $1,947.83 Used

4 photos
Brand
Ibanez
Country
Japan
Body Color
Natural
Body Material
NA
Body Type
Solid body
Handedness
Right-handed
  • Condition: Used
  • Seller rating: 100.0% positive (1287 ratings)
  • Shipping: $352.00
  • Returns accepted (30 calendar day)
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Customer reviews on eBay ›
4

F-bass BN6 Used Bass Guitar

Rating Score: 95/100 · $6,506.38 Used

4 photos
Brand
F-bass
Model
BN6
Type
Bass Guitar
String Configuration
6 String
Body Type
Solid
Body Material
Ash
  • Condition: Used
  • Seller rating: 100.0% positive (2094 ratings)
  • Free shipping
  • Returns accepted (30 calendar day)
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Customer reviews on eBay ›
5

SX 6 String Electric Bass Guitar Red/White 47” J-Style with Gig Bag – Used

Rating Score: 95/100 · $450.00 Used

4 photos
Brand
SX
Handedness
Right-Handed
Type
Electric Bass Guitar
Body Type
Solid
String Configuration
6 String
Body Color
Red White
  • Condition: Used
  • Seller rating: 100.0% positive (2115 ratings)
  • Free shipping
  • Returns accepted (30 calendar day)
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Customer reviews on eBay ›
6

LACE Aluma X-Bar 4.5 Extended Range 8/9/10-String Guitar, 5/6 String Bass Pickup

Rating Score: 95/100 · $119.99 Open box

4 photos
Brand
Lace
Active/Passive
Passive
Type
Dual Coil Humbucker
Position
Bridge
Color
Chrome
MPN
Aluma X-Bar 4.5
  • Condition: Open box
  • Seller rating: 100.0% positive (3971 ratings)
  • Free shipping
  • No returns accepted
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Customer reviews on eBay ›
7

6 String Electric Bass Guitar Millettia Laurentii+Okoume body maple neck w/ bag

Rating Score: 95/100 · $319.99 New

4 photos
Country of Origin
China
Features
With Pickup
MPN
YG100-F6
String Configuration
6 String
Series
Standard
Dexterity
Right-Handed
  • Condition: New
  • Seller rating: 99.5% positive (3335 ratings)
  • Shipping: $29.99
  • Returns accepted (30 calendar day)
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Customer reviews on eBay ›
8

White 6-String Electric Bass Guitar with Active H-H Pickups, 24-Frets, Gig Bag

Rating Score: 95/100 · $135.99 New

4 photos
Country of Origin
China
Body Type
Solid
Size
Full-Size
Body Color
White
Neck Material
Maple
Set Includes
Cable, Gig Bag, Picks, Strap
  • Condition: New
  • Seller rating: 99.9% positive (9862 ratings)
  • Free shipping
  • Returns accepted (30 calendar day)
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Customer reviews on eBay ›
9

SR306EB 6-String Electric Bass Guitar

Rating Score: 95/100 · $479.99 New

4 photos
Brand
Ibanez
Type
Not Available
Model
SR306EBWK
MPN
SR306EBWK
UPC
887802241530
  • Condition: New
  • Seller rating: 99.8% positive (271167 ratings)
  • Free shipping
  • Returns accepted (30 calendar day)
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Customer reviews on eBay ›
10

Black 6-String Electric Bass Guitar, H-H Passive Pickups, Maple Neck, Full-Size

Rating Score: 95/100 · $126.99 New

4 photos
Country of Origin
China
Body Type
Solid
Size
Full-Size
Body Color
Black
Neck Material
Maple
Set Includes
Cable, Gig Bag, Picks, Strap, Allen Wrenches
  • Condition: New
  • Seller rating: 99.9% positive (9862 ratings)
  • Free shipping
  • Returns accepted (30 calendar day)
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Customer reviews on eBay ›

Buyer's Guide: How to Pick the Best Bass Guitars & Amplification

What to know before committing to 6-string bass.

Neck Width Reality

6-string necks are genuinely wide — try one in person if at all possible before buying, since this is the single biggest adjustment factor and not every player's hands adapt equally comfortably.

Chordal and Solo Playing

The extended range genuinely opens up chord voicings and solo melodic lines beyond typical bass playing — this is the real payoff for players interested in that expanded musical vocabulary, not just a numbers game.

Weight Considerations

More strings and typically a larger body add real weight compared to a 4-string — factor this into comfort for long playing sessions, especially if you already have any back or shoulder sensitivity.

Bass Guitars & Amplification FAQs

Is 6-string bass worth learning as an experienced 4-string player? +

If you're interested in chordal playing, extended solo work, or simply want new musical possibilities, yes — if you mainly play straightforward bass lines, the extra range and adjustment may not pay off proportionally.

How long does the neck adjustment take? +

Most experienced bassists report a real but manageable adjustment period, often a few weeks of regular practice to feel natural with the wider spacing and additional strings.

What should I check on a used 6-string bass? +

Neck straightness (wider necks can be more prone to certain warping patterns), consistent string height and intonation across all six strings, and overall electronics function.

Do I need different technique for 6-string versus 4-string? +

The fundamentals transfer directly, but muting extra strings and navigating the wider neck for chordal work does require some genuinely new technique development beyond straightforward 4-string playing.

Top Sellers Rank

Rank Seller Price vs. average Rating
#1 music_and_arts -55% vs. avg ★ 5
#2 dorunlimited -87% vs. avg ★ 5
#3 musicgearstation -89% vs. avg ★ 5

Why Should You Trust Us?

Every bass here is cross-checked against live eBay listings, with construction quality confirmed from the listing description before inclusion.

Vincent Vandegans

Written by Vincent Vandegans

Vincent has spent years buying, selling, and researching gear across live marketplaces. He personally tests a portion of the products featured on this site — hands-on with the exact model, checking build quality, sound, and feel for himself. For the rest of the lineup, each pick goes through the same in-depth research process rather than being taken at face value from a listing photo.

How this guide was researched

Hands-on testing, when possible

Whenever Vincent owns or can source the exact model, he tests it directly — evaluating build quality, sound, playability, and how it holds up against the manufacturer claims.

Technical spec sheets, compared side by side

For every other pick, the manufacturer datasheets, manuals, and published specifications are read in full and compared against competing models in the same price range — not just skimmed from a listing summary.

Real owner reviews, mined from blogs and forums

Vincent digs through long-running gear forums, owner blogs, and marketplace review threads to find recurring, repeated feedback from real buyers after months of actual use — not just the top review snippet or a manufacturer-friendly quote.

Live marketplace data, checked at publish time

Price, seller reputation, condition, and availability shown on this site are cross-checked directly against live eBay and Amazon listings, so the ranking reflects what is actually being sold, not a historical average.

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