2013 Fender "Pawnshop" Bass VI
 

A few years back, I had an opportunity to play an original Fender Bass VI at Chicago Music Exchange. It was in great condition and I had more than a few minutes of fun playing it. They wanted $6,500 for it, but, with one exception at a guitar show, have never seen another of a re-issue.

Now, I see that Fender has released a 2013 "pawnshop" edition, this one with the tremlo that I understand the re-issues did not have (???).

I do believe that I am going to start saving up my change for one. Looks like GC is listing then at $800. I do hope that when I have the scratch, I will still be able to find one.

Anyone else come across one of these "pawnshop editions" yet? http://www.fender.com/basses/bass_gu...-shop-bass-vi/.

I don't understand what the deal is with baritone basses. Are they just thicker stringed guitars that are tuned differently? And if so, how are they tuned.

Same EADG as a bass, with a B and E above them. Basically, it's a 30" scale length 6-string bass guitar, in the sense that it is a guitar in the bass register.

So I can play stairway to heaven on it. Yay!

Hmm. Maybe...

The official demo released by Fender is **** so I decided to take the intiative and make a demo video myself. Feel free to ask any questions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOORX...hTVn6Q&index=1

I do not like "Pawn Shop", "Reissues", "Vintage" , "Custom Shop", etc. Buy the real thing or buy something else. My guitar player worked in a "high end" music store. He told me that all manufacturers do is come up with a clever name that sounds expensive because they know people will spend money to give the illusion of playing and old bass. Many of the components are the same as "stock basses"

...but I'm poor. :(

...because "Pawn Shop" sounds real expensive :p

Well I can pick up a "pawn shop" for $800 and an original which is not made anymore is thousands. I'll stick with the pawn shop on this one.

So, which parts of the Bass VI are the same as "stock basses"?

Maybe with an octave pedal, that would kick some ass, and really stand to annoy our guitarists...

I have had little experience with an original bass VI but the pawn shop models for less than a grand really are a great solution to these expensive and hard to find basses. I had no complaints with the humbucker pickup (I'd probably use mainly the neck or neck+middle pickup anyways) though I preferred the original switch plate instead of the strat switch. If anyone's interested I can pull up some quick research I did on modding the pawn shop to be more like the original; cost is around $120.

I do not like green eggs and ham.

Even though it is more guitar oriented, I kind of liked the demo vid. It made me take out my MIJ Bassvi and do some chording.... it's all in the ear of the beholder I guess...Even though I am happy with my MIJ reissue bassvi, I am glad Fender reissued it.... even in this model.. I would not knock it until I tried it..

It wouldn't take much to mod the PS VI more like the original. A new pickguard, bridge pickup, and jag switch plate would be enough. If you wanted to go all out, you'd need the 1" bridge, control plate, and 4 switch plate. I've been putting one together. There are more sources out there for these parts now than when I first started gathering parts for mine. I did a test run on mine, and the bass tones are there. Especially with the neck and mid pickup. I can't comment on the new bridge pickup yet. I recorded myself playing along to a couple of songs, and it sounded better than I expected. Well the VI did, not so much my playing. ;)

I played one earlier today. It is probably the best, albeit of two, VI basses I have ever played. Plugged into an Ampeg SVT and 8x10 with the bridge pickup soloed, both knobs on the bass domed, the bass, mids, and treble at 6, 10, and 10 respectively, I was able to get a pretty cool grindy sound that reminded me of the VI tones on Beatles songs. Adding the middle pup created a really cool sound that is difficult to describe. All I can say is that it would be great for slap, if you could slap any string on it but the low E. I would really like to try it with some heavier strings for some more tension, the one thing that I found lacking.

I would probably buy one, but not for $800. The first one I see for $500 is mine.

I would also like to see one with a maple or ebony fretboard, but that will never happen...

Let's be honest here. Fender didn't release the bass vi for us bassists. Over the decades it was the guitarists that really used the bass VI so it doesn't surprise me that the official demo was marketed to guitarists. But they could have at least shown why it's called the bass vi.

I'm with you here. Even though I already have one in the works, I know there will be some used ones for sale shortly. Not everybody will love it, and I'll probably pick one up.

USACG could build you a neck. A nice figured neck would be cool. Pricey though.

So, about the production numbers on these "pawnshop" reissues.

Do they only build a certain number of an instrument for a year?

I assume that they have been doing this "pawnshop" thing for at least a couple of years.

Based on similar example, how long will it be until these instruments have all been bought, or are no longer available?

You just ruined my chances of getting any sleep tonight.