Carvin vs. Ibanez 6-string bass?

[ballstix]

I'm gonna get myself a 6 stringer pretty soon here. Don't have too much cash to blow on a bass, but here are my options:

1990s Carvin LB76 w/ 2 stacked humbuckers: http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/msg/1411274757.html ($400)

Used Ibanez SR506: http://www.ibanez.com/BassGuitars/model-SR506 ($450)

Now, I'm not terribly verse with single-coils on a bass and I'm gonna mostly be playing metal. I suppose I'm mostly concerned with playability and durability. Any opinions?

 

[motomoto]

Never heard that Carvin bass, but that Ibanez=win

 

[IronApe]

My bassist had an Ibanez soundgear 596, replaced the pickups with some EMGs, then sold all of that and bought a Carvin BB76... now I almost enjoy hearing him play...
Seriously, his Carvin plays way better than the Ibanez could ever have played.

 

[Harry Hughes]

The SR series are pretty good, never played a Carvin though.

 

[StefTD]

I would vote for the Carvin, really diggin Carvin basses and I am not a big fan of Ibanez basses.

 

[Airborne]

Carvins are great.

I have an Ibanez EDB. - The bass is o.k. (but the tuners, bridge and knobs are bad quality components).

I'd get the Carvin and replace the pickups.

 

[ballstix]

Does anyone have any idea how the pickups in the Carvin are? I don't know what model they are, unfortunately. I've played the Ibanez and I really do like it. The neck's really comfortable. But I can't be sure that I won't like the Carvin more, so maybe I'll go to the guy's house and give it a spin.

 

[Airborne]

Have no clue about those bass pickups.

I don't like their guitar pickups. That's for sure. (Sound way too weak/muddy for me).

 

[ballstix]

K I just played the Carvin.

Action is way too high, and the bridge is about as low as it'll get. It's up to string tension and truss rod I guess. How likely is it that I'll be able to get it nice and low (about to the level of a new SR506)? It's a really nice bass otherwise.

It's a hard choice since I can't return the Carvin if I can't set it up well enough.