The Short-Scale Six-String Club Part 4 - for the original six-string basses! - Page 11

saltymonkey · #**201** 01-08-2013, 12:52 PM

Thanks for posting that kenstee. The humbucker is indeed an odd choice. Why mess with a tried and true iconic instrument and still call it a Fender VI? The lighter gauge strings is a bad idea too. The difference between an .084 and .095 E string is huge in terms of bass response. That, in my opinion, is where the Jerry Jones VI I owned mostly suffered. It felt and sounded closer to a Baritone than a VI. Still cool that they are putting an affordable version of the instrument out there though.

Basstovsky · #**202** 01-08-2013, 03:10 PM

It looks nice, depends on price really, maybe if it's cheaper or the same price as a Hellcat, I'd be getting labella strings to put on it anyways, I've never played stock strings on any bass that I liked.

scotch · #**203** 01-08-2013, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltymonkey

Thanks for posting that kenstee. The humbucker is indeed an odd choice. Why mess with a tried and true iconic instrument and still call it a Fender VI? The lighter gauge strings is a bad idea too. The difference between an .084 and .095 E string is huge in terms of bass response. That, in my opinion, is where the Jerry Jones VI I owned mostly suffered. It felt and sounded closer to a Baritone than a VI. Still cool that they are putting an affordable version of the instrument out there though.

Agreed big-time about the bigger gauges! A .095 really brings it to "real bass" land!

Habilis · #**204** 01-08-2013, 03:25 PM

Well, now I am officially going to hold off on making any purchases until I find out more about THESE things... Definitely excited by the possibility of a Candy Red one...

change-jug · #**205** 01-08-2013, 05:27 PM

I`m pretty excited after hearing about this new fender pawn shop bass vi. Especially in candy apple red! But I`ll have to wait on a price(and maybe a first hand review or 2). It would be super awesome if the price was just right.

**kenstee** · #**206** 01-09-2013, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basstovsky

It looks nice, depends on price really, maybe if it's cheaper or the same price as a Hellcat, I'd be getting labella strings to put on it anyways, I've never played stock strings on any bass that I liked.

Too bad the LaBellas for the Fender Bass VI are so bloody expensive. Maybe with more Fender VIs out there the prices might come down to the level of that for the Schecter Hellcat VI strings they make....High quality/Low price.

**kenstee** · #**207** 01-09-2013, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotch

Agreed big-time about the bigger gauges! A .095 really brings it to "real bass" land!

Will be interesting to see if it can handle larger strings like that straight away OR if alterations/mods are needed. Also, hope it can structurally handle those larger strings on a constant basis.

**kenstee** · #**208** 01-09-2013, 05:55 AM

More discussions about the new MIM Pawn Shop Fender Bass VI can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/34542190945/

Schecter VI discussions can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Sche...group_activity

And you need not have one to participate or join.

Habilis · #**209** 01-09-2013, 11:31 AM

Cool, I'll join up when I actually get one; right now I'll just lurk creepily in the background. Looks like a lot of the same folks as here...

**kenstee** · #**210** 01-09-2013, 11:32 AM

OK..a Swedish member of the Facebook Bass VI group just had a look and test of the new MIM Pawn Shop Fender Bass VI at his local store which already has it in stock http://www.jam.se/wordpress/?p=4227

His take on it...

"So yeah, tried the new Bass VI with a friend. I'll edit a pretty crappy video later.

My/our verdict: Meh. Sure, it's not a bad instrument. But at that price? Nah. Also, I think my Hellcat VI 2012 sounds more like a original Bass VI and have a overall better feel.

We liked the neck and the body, and the tone was pretty nice. But the five-way switch felt flimsy, the tremolo felt pretty cheap and flimsy too. and the overall feel was not what I expected in that price range.
My friend said that the strings felt a little wobbly, but I guess that's a matter of taste.

In our opinion, if any of us would buy one, we would change the switch and adjust the action (Higher.)

I would maybe buy this instrument used, because It's not worth the money new. I'd say that there are better VI for the money,

Disclaimer: We have NOT played any "real" Fender Bass VI before."

So, there you have one opinion by someone who owns and plays a VI, in this case the much improved 2012 version of the Schecter Hellcat VI.

Personally, I'm not at all surprised. From the specs it sounded like a stripped-down, feature-reduced Fender Bass VI. Of course...YMMV.......

Basstovsky · #**211** 01-09-2013, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenstee

Too bad the LaBellas for the Fender Bass VI are so bloody expensive. Maybe with more Fender VIs out there the prices might come down to the level of that for the Schecter Hellcat VI strings they make....High quality/Low price.

Yeah I completely forgot about the longer length, the last short-scale 6 I had fit the Hellcat flats and it was great. Completely forgot that the labella Fender Bass VI strings are like $50...

Looks like the Hellcat's still the way to go, I just wish I liked the look of it

Habilis · #**212** 01-09-2013, 11:36 PM

Agreed... the headstock looks like it has acromegaly. But at this point, it's down to the 2012 Hellcat or the Sidejack VI. I emailed a guy at Burns of London to ask who sells Barracudas in the US, and he said (In essence) "Damned if I know... But I'll sell you one for $1200!" To which I replied "Ouch."

Habilis · #**213** 01-10-2013, 02:15 PM

Well, I checked the Fender site just now and the Pawn Shop VI announcement has gone "live" or whatever. MSRP is $1079, and I'll be interested to see how that translates into real-world pricing.

**kenstee** · #**214** 01-10-2013, 04:44 PM

Well, here she is...OFFICIALLY...The 2013 Pawn Shop Fender Bass VI!!

Web: http://www.fender.com/en-GB/series/p...-shop-bass-vi/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=jqnCNwcvYSs

**kenstee** · #**215** 01-10-2013, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Habilis

Agreed... the headstock looks like it has acromegaly. But at this point, it's down to the 2012 Hellcat or the Sidejack VI. I emailed a guy at Burns of London to ask who sells Barracudas in the US, and he said (In essence) "Damned if I know... But I'll sell you one for $1200!" To which I replied "Ouch."

A few people in the Facebook VI groups got a great new deluxe Burns Barracuda in White with Trem and case for about US$1,100 shipped from England. It's really, really nice!

See this: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BurnsBarracuda/ There are a few posts about it so scroll down to see them all. I don't think it is sold here in the US.

And here's one review of the Sidejack VI: http://www.justinoscarcary.com/gear-...ck-bassvi.html

Personally, I prefer the flexibility of the 3 pup configuration of the 2012 HCVI with the Seymour Duncan SJAG-1s. The Sidejack has two P90s. YMMV....No right and wrong.

**kenstee** · #**216** 01-10-2013, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basstovsky

Yeah I completely forgot about the longer length, the last short-scale 6 I had fit the Hellcat flats and it was great. Completely forgot that the labella Fender Bass VI strings are like $50...

Looks like the Hellcat's still the way to go, I just wish I liked the look of it

OTOH, how many times are you really going to be doing a string change. And if you go the flats route you'll be changing them even less. The look of the Cat doesn't bother me at all. In fact, the new black one IMO looks great. I'm after tone.

Habilis · #**217** 01-10-2013, 05:41 PM

I have read and watched "Scotch's" (aka Justin Oscar Cary's) review and video of the Sidejack many times, thanks. The only videos I have found of the Hellcat are of the older one, so I can't really compare tone. I'm sure the Barracuda is nice but it might as well be a $9000 vintage Fender VI because $1100 is out of my price range for one of these things.

scotch · #**218** 01-10-2013, 05:44 PM

Scotch is my dogs name!

Habilis · #**219** 01-10-2013, 06:35 PM

He is a surprisingly eloquent canine and a keen assessor of musical paraphernalia. I congratulate you, sir.

capnjagg · #**220** 01-10-2013, 10:53 PM

Hey guys! I don't have a Bass VI yet, but I am gassing for one bad, and I figured this would be the perfect place to ask questions. There are other pieces of gear I intend to buy first, but a VI has been and will remain on my list for a while.

I do love the looks of both the Agile Harm 1 EB and the Argus 630 (3-pickup), and I absolutely love surf green, but I'm also considering waiting for a used Hellcat VI to pop up. there's also the option of saving up for a new Hellcat, or even one of those new Pawn Shop VIs posted above. How's the quality of the Agiles, and how does the sound compare between the two? And most importantly, which option would many of you suggest? Thanks in advance!