The Fender Bass VI: What Is It?

[nocontrols]

I am confused about the Fender Bass VI (also, Schecter Hellcat).

1) Is this instrument considered a guitar or a bass? Are the strings strummed for chords or plucked for single note lines?

2) I've heard of a "baritone guitar" especially when referring to Danelectros... is that what this is? Where does it fit in musically? Is it playing music on the treble or bass clef?

3) What kinds of strings does it use? Do most string manufacturers produce strings of this gauge and length?

4) How is it used in the context of popular music? What note-worthy recordings does it appear on?

Thanks for any and all info. This instrument is such an oddity to me.

[JxBass]

Originally Posted by nocontrols

I am confused about the Fender Bass VI (also, Schecter Hellcat).

1) Is this instrument considered a guitar or a bass? Are the strings strummed for chords or plucked for single note lines?

2) I've heard of a "baritone guitar" especially when referring to Danelectros... is that what this is? Where does it fit in musically? Is it playing music on the treble or bass clef?

3) What kinds of strings does it use? Do most string manufacturers produce strings of this gauge and length?

4) How is it used in the context of popular music? What note-worthy recordings does it appear on?

Thanks for any and all info. This instrument is such an oddity to me.

It's a bass. It was tuned an octave below a standard guitar, E-A-D-G-B-E, unlike today's 5 and 6 string basses, and used lighter gauge .095 .075 .055 .045 .035 .025 strings on a 30" scale neck.

The first person I saw play one was Rick Huxley of the Dave Clark Five on the Ed Sullivan Show. I thought he had switched from bass to guitar (he was originally a guitar player).

[nocontrols]

It's clearly not a 6 string bass guitar if you're going by the Anthony Jackson definition of "6 string bass guitar" because the strings are much, much smaller. Therefore, I'm assuming it's used to play chords? That harmonize with the rhythm guitar? It's also low enough that you could play some bass lines, too, right? And it's playing music that's written on the bass clef? I can see why you'd think that about Rick Huxley because it does look like a guitar from a distance, until you check the scale length and realize it's 30 inches.

[Jeesus777]

1) Fender bass VI is a bass as the name says. Mostly they are played single note at a time and not chords but you can use on for chord playing.

2) Its a little bigger (30") than most modern baritone guitars (27") and more on the bass side. It is still a predecessor to the baritone guitar.

4) Jack Bruce used on in the Fresh Cream album and John Lennon used one to make the low ends when Paul Mcartney was singin`and playing piano in songs like Let It Be and stuff.

[nocontrols]

Hmm... interesting. I wonder if they sound better through a bass amp or a guitar amp... would they blow the speakers out of the latter? Also, does anyone here on TB play one regularly?

[jasper383]

Originally Posted by nocontrols

Hmm... interesting. I wonder if they sound better through a bass amp or a guitar amp... would they blow the speakers out of the latter? Also, does anyone here on TB play one regularly?

It will sound better through a bass amp. It's a bass guitar, albeit one with very light gauge strings.

[JxBass]

Originally Posted by nocontrols

It's clearly not a 6 string bass guitar if you're going by the Anthony Jackson definition of "6 string bass guitar" because the strings are much, much smaller.

Those are the same gauge (E-A-D-G) strings I use on all my 4 string basses, they go low enough for me.

[Drucocu]

Hi Guys,

it's a Bass, Strumming does not work, doesn't sound right.
I don't own a Fender VI, but a Jerry Jones 6-String Bass, which is the same.
I use it in my Outlaw Country Band, switching with my Double Bass for different songs.
It has a very trebly voice, which is suited for Spaghetti Western Stuff, but can go as low as any 4-stringer. I use it mainly in the Bass Register, but also to play harmonies with the guitar, sound very cool...we play Buck Owens Buckaroo with this Bass and Guitar. check out my Page Deathrope - OUTLAW COUNTRY under Music you can find our last gig as youtube links.
Played through Bass-Amps with a Sansamp and an Hint of Spring Reverb Sim.

[nocontrols]

Originally Posted by jasper383

It will sound better through a bass amp. It's a bass guitar, albeit one with very light gauge strings.

Originally Posted by JxBass

Those are the same gauge (E-A-D-G) strings I use on all my 4 string basses, they go low enough for me.

Good point... some people use the 45-55-75-95 gauge on their "normal" bass anyway. I guess it's due to the string spacing that my eyes told me you'd want to strum chords on it but maybe not... I'm just guessing, never having played one myself.

[nocontrols]

Originally Posted by Drucocu

Hi Guys,

it's a Bass, Strumming does not work, doesn't sound right.
I don't own a Fender VI, but a Jerry Jones 6-String Bass, which is the same.
I use it in my Outlaw Country Band, switching with my Double Bass for different songs.
It has a very trebly voice, which is suited for Spaghetti Western Stuff, but can go as low as any 4-stringer. I use it mainly in the Bass Register, but also to play harmonies with the guitar, sound very cool...we play Buck Owens Buckaroo with this Bass and Guitar. check out my Page Deathrope - OUTLAW COUNTRY under Music you can find our last gig as youtube links.
Played through Bass-Amps with a Sansamp and an Hint of Spring Reverb Sim.

That's cool. I think I'd be interested in trying one out just to see the potential it has with harmonizing with the guitars. Thanks for that link.

[s_mcsleazy]

most bass players consider the bass vi and the hellcat vi to be basses not guitars because there 30" scale like a short scale bass. however there not barretones since they have a 28" scale lenth wich works better for the low b tuning. a bass vi is spost to be tuned the same as a guitar only one octave lower

[Fender32]

You know that awfully stiff, tortured 'guitar solo' in the middle of studio version of Glen Campbell's "Witchita Lineman" ? That was a Fender Bass VI.

The proof ...

Cured me from ever wanting to play one !

[Leialoha]

Originally Posted by Fender32

You know that awfully stiff, tortured 'guitar solo' in the middle of studio version of Glen Campbell's "Witchita Lineman" ? That was a Fender Bass VI.

The proof ...

Cured me from ever wanting to play one !

Still, you've gotta admit, it sounds pretty good for an instrument that's not plugged in...

[cdef]

I had a 1963 Bass VI for many years and used it extensively in the studio. It is a bass, but the string spacing is tight, the tuners are small, and it's kind of awkward in that role. However, it worked amazingly well tuned A to A and played with a pick through a Roland JC-120 guitar amp, with just a touch of stereo chorus and reverb. Arpeggios sounded like a giant Strat.

[MisterFabulous]

That's John Lennon playing a Fender Bass VI on "Helter Skelter" too.

[Fender32]

Originally Posted by Leialoha

Still, you've gotta admit, it sounds pretty good for an instrument that's not plugged in...

Yeah, I take your point. Still, the vocals and the bass on that version of the song are different to those on the record (I believe), so I assume that he recorded those parts for the show and then mimed to them. You can see Glen forlornly strumming along to the acoustic guitar parts as well, no doubt wishing that he had his trusty Ovation bowl-back in his grasp .

Anyway, the use of that instrument on that track is well documented elsewhere and so I don't doubt that it's the Fender Bass VI that we're hearing there.

As a foot note; I love that song !

[P. Aaron]

If I recall correctly, the credits on Aerosmith's Rocks album has Tom Hamilton playing a Fender VI on Back in the Saddle.

[RickC]

Check out Roy Babbington getting down on Fender VI with Soft Machine

YouTube - ‪Soft Machine trailer NDR Jazz Workshop Hamburg, Germany, May 17, 1973 Cuneiform Records‬‏

Sounds like a bass to me

Jack Bruce used one in the early days of Cream as well

/rick

[mccartneyman]

Originally Posted by MisterFabulous

That's John Lennon playing a Fender Bass VI on "Helter Skelter" too.

And also on "Back in the USSR."

[Yerf Dog]

Here's my 1995 re-issue...



I run it through a typical bass amp. Mostly single notes. Some chords sound good, some not so much.