Bass6-string

GSR206SM

Name: Ibanez GSR206SM — Natural Grey Burst
Brand: Ibanez
SKU: B00MFNYWQ8
Rating: 4.5 (272 reviews)

Natural Grey Burst

Six strings for the price most brands charge for four

7.5

Fretline score

Amazon rating

4.5 (272)

Price band

$300 - $500

See it on Amazon

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The short version

A six-string bass under five hundred dollars is close to unheard of, and that alone explains why this model has stayed in the catalogue for over a decade. The reality is that Ibanez achieves it by keeping the construction simple — poplar body, one-piece maple neck, basic hardware — and putting the visible money into a spalted maple top that looks far more expensive than the instrument is. The neck is the important part: at 16.5 mm spacing it is tight even by six-string standards, which is what makes the reach manageable for someone stepping up from four. Two Dynamix humbuckers and a Phat II bass boost cover the ground without pretending to be a boutique preamp.

Score profile

Six axes, scored 1-10. These are editorial judgements about what this instrument delivers for the money — not measurements, and not anyone else’s ratings.

Build: 7.0
Tone: 7.0
Versatility: 8.0
Comfort: 7.0
Electronics: 7.0
Value: 9.0

7.5overall / 10

Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.

Full specifications

Full specifications for the Ibanez GSR206SM
Body
Brand	Ibanez
Model	GSR206SMNatural Grey Burst
Body	GSR solidbody
Body wood	Poplar
Top	Spalted maple
Neck & fingerboard
Neck joint	Bolt-on
Neck wood	Maple (GSR6)
Scale length	34" (864 mm)
Fingerboard	Jatoba with white dot inlays
Frets	24
Fret size	Medium
Hardware
Bridge	B16, 16.5 mm string spacing
Hardware finish	Black
Electronics
Neck pickup	Dynamix H humbucker (passive)
Bridge pickup	Dynamix H humbucker (passive)
Configuration	HH
Electronics	Phat II active bass boost
Controls	Neck pickup volume, bridge pickup volume, tone, Phat II EQ
General
Type	Electric bass
Strings	Nickel-plated steel
Finish	Natural Grey Burst
Orientation	Right-handed

22 verified fields. Specifications come from the manufacturer first, then the Amazon listing, then authorised dealers — sources are listed at the foot of this page. Fields the manufacturer does not publish are omitted rather than estimated.

The good and the bad

What we like

Genuine six-string range at a price where most brands offer four strings
Narrow 16.5 mm spacing keeps the reach manageable
Spalted maple top looks considerably more expensive than the instrument is
24 frets and active bass boost included

What we do not

Heavy, and prone to neck dive without a wide strap
Pickups lack clarity on the high C, which is the main reason to own a six
Basic hardware and a chunky neck profile

Who it is for

Skill level

BeginnerIntermediateAdvancedProfessional

Styles it suits

RockMetalFunkJazzPop

What owners and reviewers report

Patterns we found across published reviews and owner feedback. These are summaries of recurring themes — we do not reproduce or invent individual testimonials.

What comes up most

Value for money dominates owner feedback, with the six-string range at this price seen as the main draw
The spalted maple top is frequently praised as looking far above the price
Many owners report it as a satisfying introduction to extended-range playing

Frequent complaints

Weight and neck dive are the most common physical criticisms
Pickup clarity, particularly on the high C string, is the usual tonal complaint
Factory setup often needs work before the instrument plays well

Recognised strengths

Widely regarded as the most accessible route into six-string bass
Neck spacing and fret access are reported as better than expected

Recognised weaknesses

Electronics are the component owners most often replace
Build consistency varies between examples

The verdict

Buy this to find out whether you want a six-string, not because you already know you do. As an entry point into extended range it is remarkable value and the narrow spacing genuinely helps, but the compromises are real: the neck is chunky, the instrument is heavy and neck-dives on a thin strap, and the pickups lack the clarity that makes the top C string worth having in the first place. Owners who stay with it almost always upgrade the pickups. As a first six, though, nothing else at this money gets you playing.

See it on Amazon Compare with another instrument

Sources

Amazon rating captured 2026-08-26. ASIN B00MFNYWQ8.

Strings for this guitar

All strings

The manufacturer does not publish the gauge this instrument ships with, so these are ordered by our editorial score rather than by fit. Measure the set on the guitar before changing to something noticeably lighter or heavier.

D'Addario · Strings
EXL170 XL Nickel Wound Bass
The four-string bass set every other set gets compared to
7.8/10

What else you need

All accessories

The highest-scoring option in each category that suits this instrument. If you have never owned a guitar before, the starter guide explains what each of these is for and what you can safely skip.

New Bee · Cables
Instrument Cable
The cable an electric guitar needs on day one, at the price of a coffee
6.6/10
Fender · Tuners
FCT-2 Professional Clip-On Tuner
The tuner to buy first, before strings, before a strap, before anything
7.8/10
Dunlop · Picks
Tortex Standard
The Delrin pick that replaced tortoiseshell, in the gauge most people settle on
8.2/10
GLEAM · Stands
Adjustable Guitar Stand
The accessory that decides whether the guitar gets played at all
7.4/10