Which 6-string bass guitar offers the best value for money under £500?

A lightweight, ergonomic 6-string bass with a gloss paulownia body, satin maple neck, poplar laminate fretboard, dual soapbar humbucking pickups and 24 frets; includes a gig bag and offers versatile tone suitable for rock and jazz. Its bolt-on construction and simple control layout make it easy to play and maintain. Priced for budget-conscious players seeking extended-range capability.

A six-string long-scale bass with a carved JP-style alder body, Canadian maple bolt-on neck and 24-fret black walnut or jatoba fingerboard, fitted with two humbuckers and an active preamp; offers versatile active/passive tone controls and solid build for the price. Suits players seeking extended-range playability and a full, punchy tone on a budget.

The BZ-6000 II NT is a 6-string neck-through bass with a mahogany/ash layered body, AAA flame maple veneer, 5-piece Canadian maple/nyatoh neck, 24-fret ebony fingerboard and dual Tesla soapbar pickups with a 3-band active EQ and push/pull passive option. Its long 35 in scale and robust hardware offer strong low-end clarity, sustain and tonal versatility for modern styles. It comes as a premium-featuring value option aimed at players who want extended-range performance without boutique prices.

The Ibanez GSR186-PW is a 6-string entry-level Soundgear bass with an okoume body, bolt-on maple neck, purpleheart fretboard and two Dynamix H humbucking pickups. It has a 34 in scale, 22 frets and a B16 fixed bridge, offering stable tuning and clear tone suited to beginners and gigging players seeking extended-range playability. The passive electronics and lightweight body make it easy to handle for long sessions.

The SR306EB is a lightweight six-string Soundgear bass with a mahogany double-cutaway body, fast 5-piece maple/jatoba neck and 24-fret jatoba fingerboard. It uses dual PowerSpan humbucking pickups with a 3-band EQ and Power Tap switch for versatile tones, and an Accu-cast fixed bridge for solid intonation and sustain. Suited to players who want a modern, playable six-string with tonal flexibility.

The Sire Marcus Miller M6 6-string headless is a lightweight, ergonomic bass with a 5-piece maple/mahogany neck, 24 stainless medium-jumbo frets, and dual Marcus Pure-H Revolution pickups with an active Marcus Heritage-3 preamp. Its headless design and individual headless bridge offer balanced playability and tuning stability, suited for modern players across genres.