Fender Pawnshop Bass VI ~ heaviest guage Low E that will work?

quadrogong · #1 03-06-2013, 02:01 PM

I am VERY curious about the new fender pawnshop bass VI, with an added humbucker in the bridge position and a whammy bar, and a lower price tag than going vintage, it is very tempting.
Even vintage recreations are going for top dollar, this new version looked unique
I am very interested in trying a bass tuned from:
the standard low E to high E,
(like a 4 string bass with two added high strings)
My question is this, how thick gauge can we go on the lower strings on this?
I would like the low E and A strings to feel thicker than their usual gauge, I know I can't expect to get the same gauge E and A as a 4 or 5 string bass, the spacing is tighter.. I realize that.

how much thicker would the string spacing and nut slots allow?
and. if we widened the slots in the nut and saddles, could we take it a bit heavier?
(without compromising string spacing)
anyone have experience w this?

hover · #2 03-06-2013, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quadrogong

I am VERY curious about the new fender pawnshop bass VI, with an added humbucker in the bridge position and a whammy bar,

I just wanted to clarify that is a Jazzmaster singlecoil at the bridge. No experience with the strings though.

254 stringer · #3 03-06-2013, 02:07 PM

You can put bigger gauges than come on it. I know people have been putting .095 on it and I think I read somewhere that someone was going to try a .100 can't remember if it was here or offset guitar forums.

RickenBoogie · #4 03-06-2013, 02:11 PM

I think it's a .085 that comes equipped. I bet you could go .100 no problem, but may need a good set up.

quadrogong · #5 03-06-2013, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hover

I just wanted to clarify that is a Jazzmaster singlecoil at the bridge. No experience with the strings though.

I was wondering about that too, it looks just like one!

perhaps JZHB stands for "jazzmaster humbucker"
maybe they used the vintage looking pu cover for the vintage vibe, but modernized it under the hood..
so although it looks like an old jazzmaster pu,
u may be mistaken there...

the Fender website says,"a powerful JZHB humbucking bridge pickup"
http://www.fender.com/series/pawn-sh...-shop-bass-vi/

the new BP Magazine has a mini review and they mention a "humbucker in the bridge position"

Musician's Friend used the same copy, they say two singles and a humbucker,
they sell for about $800.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/...aritone-guitar

thank you, i guess the "pawnshop" thing, it's supposed to seem modified..
it wouldn't dissuade me from purchasing one,either way..
I'd probably wind up putting hum-cancelling pu's in all 3 positions & an active EQ, it's just what I prefer.

as far as the strings, a .95 or slightly more is fine, just a little something to dig into on the "money' strings..

I had a Bass VI once,it was borrowed, so I couldn't change the strings..
I dealt with the ancient stock strings that it had, they worked reasonably well in the traditional pop/rock bass role, with some thicker strings,upgraded pu's and a preamp, i think I would like it a bit more.

I was thinking of tossing these in there
http://www.voodoopickups.com/JBReplacement.shtml
My buddy had them in his jaguar and they just killed, with the pre or without..

also hearing all these things about a new Lakland decade VI, not sure how it stacks up on the specs, but it sure sounds interesting, I think it's was at NAMM, but not around yet..?

hover · #6 03-07-2013, 04:38 AM

Ah. perhaps it's a stacked humbucker...apologies, I hadn't read the ad copy on that one....

grisezd · #7 03-07-2013, 06:02 AM

Mine's not a Fender (30in Dano neck on an old Japanese Burns Bison copy body) but I swapped the .085 for a .105 recently with good results. The .085 was floppy in standard tuning, almost useless dropped a half step to match my band. It's still not balanced as I'd like, but then the .105 I put on was an older takeoff string. I think next time around I'll just install standard light gauge bass strings and add two singles.

juan kubiertas · #8 03-16-2013, 12:43 AM

Put .100 and .080 on the E and A of my pawnshop bass vi. Didn't have to do anyrhing to the neck, but did flip the bridge to be able te intonate the low E. And had to widen the nut slots... Just stript down some windings from two old regular light gauge strings I had laying around!