Bass VI options?

[HelpImaRock]

Anyone ever compare a baritone with a bass vi?

Almost seems like you could modify a strat into a baritone tuned to A for a poor man’s version. You give up low E but I mean it’s already a centaur of an instrument to begin with.

Always wanted a bass vi. Been giving hard look at the Squire. Kinda glad there is no MIA. I bet you might be able to build one for less than the Vintera. Maybe.

Most of my experience is with my Danelectro Baritone. I bought it to tune E-E like a Bass VI, but over the years strings became a problem. At the time, LaBella made strings specifically for the Hellcat. You could string it E to E and be very happy. They stopped making them during COVID lockdown, because me and like 4 other people buy them very infrequently. So once those strings were no longer an option, I switched back to B-B with LaBella's Baritone Jazz Flats set.

Why is this a problem? Like with short scale basses, you need to know the speaking length of the string so the lower strings fit into the tuners. A Fender/Squier Bass VI needs 35.5" of speaking length, and they are readily available everywhere. Danelectro, Schecter, and other 29.75" and 30" scale hardtails can only accept up to about 34" of speaking length. D'Addario and Ernie Ball make sets these baritones can accommodate, but the bass strings are floppy when tuned to E.

So if you want E to E, I suggest going with a Squier/Fender Bass VI, or something else that has either a Bigsby or Jazzmaster vibrato. That will give you the extra length behind the saddles to use standard Bass VI strings that tune up to usable tensions and fit into the tuners.

The exception to the rule here is that Stringjoy will let you make a custom roundwound baritone set that goes down to .95 on the E. Since I like flats, I haven't taken the plunge. Though I'm coming back around to roundwound strings (pun intended) and that eventuality could be closer than I suspect.

 

[2groggy]

Where are you located? I've made a few.

 

[monsterthompson]

So if you want E to E, I suggest going with a Squier/Fender Bass VI, or something else that has either a Bigsby or Jazzmaster vibrato. That will give you the extra length behind the saddles to use standard Bass VI strings that tune up to usable tensions and fit into the tuners.

So the space behind the bridge does become a factor. I've been looking at Dunable Bass VI options. I've been considering this first pic design because the bridge is farther back which makes for an easier reach to the first fret (I have shoulder/reach issues). But something like the second pic will be easier to source strings for, if I'm understanding you.

 

[HelpImaRock]

So the space behind the bridge does become a factor. I've been looking at Dunable Bass VI options. I've been considering this first pic design because the bridge is farther back which makes for an easier reach to the first fret (I have shoulder/reach issues). But something like the second pic will be easier to source strings for, if I'm understanding you.

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The first one may not have an issue. You should definitely check with them to see what strings they recommend. Especially if you're spending Dunable kinda money. The second one would use standard Bass VI strings.

 

[2groggy]

.... D'Addario and Ernie Ball make sets these baritones can accommodate, but the bass strings are floppy when tuned to E.

I've removed most of the post to comment only on the 30" scale bass VI string sets... Ernie Ball P/N 2837 is a six string set from 0.090" to 0.020, with sufficient length for 30" scale. D'Addario has a similar set, but I don't have the part number handy. I believe that the lowest string is gauged at 0.085".

Bass VIs with those string sets do need to be played more like guitars than basses. They do need a lighter touch.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Fender Pawnshop Bass VI. Worth noting (at least for me) that Fenders have Trem Lok bridges. Squiers do not. I found it be very useful and not having it would be a deal breaker for me.

BBB

 

[monsterthompson]

You should definitely check with them to see what strings they recommend. Especially if you're spending Dunable kinda money.

I certainly plan to.
Yeah, they aren’t cheap. I had a shot at one a few years ago when they had a storefront in LA, and the prices have only gone up.

I was originally leaning that direction for the humbucker options vs most other brands having single coils of some variety. Then I started to think - maybe there’s a reason nobody else is making double or triple humbuckers bass vi designs. Maybe they sound better with single coils. I think a single/single/humbucker might be the way to go (humbucker in the bridge).

 

[2groggy]

So the space behind the bridge does become a factor. I've been looking at Dunable Bass VI options. I've been considering this first pic design because the bridge is farther back which makes for an easier reach to the first fret (I have shoulder/reach issues). But something like the second pic will be easier to source strings for, if I'm understanding you.

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Love the first picture. Here's my take on a bass VI Mosrite. I used the Ernie Ball string set from my previous post.

 

[monsterthompson]

Love the first picture. Here's my take on a bass VI Mosrite. I used the Ernie Ball string set from my previous post.
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Looking good!
When I tell my friends what I’m considering and show them pictures, the Mosrite shape gets the most reactions, though most are negative. I think that makes me want it even more

 

[HelpImaRock]

I certainly plan to.
Yeah, they aren’t cheap. I had a shot at one a few years ago when they had a storefront in LA, and the prices have only gone up.

I was originally leaning that direction for the humbucker options vs most other brands having single coils of some variety. Then I started to think - maybe there’s a reason nobody else is making double or triple humbuckers bass vi designs. Maybe they sound better with single coils. I think a single/single/humbucker might be the way to go (humbucker in the bridge).

I think it depends on what your goals for a Bass VI are. If you're playing something like Kurt Rosenwinkel's "Berlin Baritone" or Pat Metheny's "One Quiet Night" then you probably want single coils (Pat's guitars are acoustic). "Wichita Lineman" is single coils, as are most of the classic rock tracks you can think of.

If you want to play metal, maybe you do need humbuckers. But I go into it with this caveat. There are a bunch of Metallica tracks starting with "Sad But True" that have a Jerry Jones Baritone in the mix. And one of the heaviest bands I've ever heard, Kowloon Walled City, tunes to A and plays standard scale Strats and Teles.

So it's really about you and what you connect with. If I were buying today, I might get the Squier, if only because I know I can always order a custom pickguard and put whatever pickups I want into it.

 

[2groggy]

Looking good!
When I tell my friends what I’m considering and show them pictures, the Mosrite shape gets the most reactions, though most are negative. I think that makes me want it even more

Love 'em or hate 'em...oddly enough, the reverse body shapes balance the best when seated, but look coolest when standing.

 

[monsterthompson]

Love 'em or hate 'em...oddly enough, the reverse body shapes balance the best when seated, but look coolest when standing.

Ooh. Thats good feedback. I only play seated these days. Thanks!

Any thoughts on the reach to the first fret on the two designs I posted? It seems pretty straightforward, but if I’m missing something I’d rather know before I buy. I’m looking for the shortest reach to the first fret and the Mosrite has the bridge farther back, which is probably why the last few frets are past where the body joins. Both are 30” 21 fret designs, so all else equal I’m assuming the Mosrite style brings the first fret closer to the player.

 

[monsterthompson]

I think it depends on what your goals for a Bass VI are. If you're playing something like Kurt Rosenwinkel's "Berlin Baritone" or Pat Metheny's "One Quiet Night" then you probably want single coils (Pat's guitars are acoustic). "Wichita Lineman" is single coils, as are most of the classic rock tracks you can think of.

If you want to play metal, maybe you do need humbuckers. But I go into it with this caveat. There are a bunch of Metallica tracks starting with "Sad But True" that have a Jerry Jones Baritone in the mix. And one of the heaviest bands I've ever heard, Kowloon Walled City, tunes to A and plays standard scale Strats and Teles.

So it's really about you and what you connect with. If I were buying today, I might get the Squier, if only because I know I can always order a custom pickguard and put whatever pickups I want into it.

I do like heavy tones, but I also like single coils. I’m likely to do a fair bit of ambient noodling and the humbucker silence is a big advantage through layers of delay and reverb. That said, the snap of a single is pretty addictive. So I’m thinking get both

 

[2groggy]

Ooh. Thats good feedback. I only play seated these days. Thanks!

Any thoughts on the reach to the first fret on the two designs I posted? It seems pretty straightforward, but if I’m missing something I’d rather know before I buy. I’m looking for the shortest reach to the first fret and the Mosrite has the bridge farther back, which is probably why the last few frets are past where the body joins. Both are 30” 21 fret designs, so all else equal I’m assuming the Mosrite style brings the first fret closer to the player.

Most of my bass VI builds have used "replacement necks", meaning that a 30" scale neck could drop into a telecaster or strat neck pocket without moving the bridge. The instrument's neck would become two frets longer at the headstock end and the string gauge would be increased to make the voicing one octave lower. For example, my Mossy has a 24 fret neck, where your pictures have 21. The replacement neck concept can tend towards being a longer reach and neck heavy.

If your goal is to have the shortest reach, then you need a shorter neck and longer body. However, the scale length would be the same,so the string set would be the same too.

I already had the neck and then positioned the bridge to match. It sounds like you want to do the math from the other direction.

 

[HelpImaRock]

I do like heavy tones, but I also like single coils. I’m likely to do a fair bit of ambient noodling and the humbucker silence is a big advantage through layers of delay and reverb. That said, the snap of a single is pretty addictive. So I’m thinking get both

One reason I like the Danelectro so much is because the pickups are wired in series in the middle position. So I would look into series wiring on whatever you get.

 

[Snakeman1066]

I've got a hankerin for a BassVI style instrument and trying to figure out all of my options. This will be 6-string, guitar tuned, with ~30" scale.
So far I've got (ir order of approx cost)

• Invalid Link Removed ~$6500
• Lakland USA Series Decade 6 $4000 <updated>
• BilT Relevator Bass VI - $2500-$4000
• Invalid Link Removed $1399
• Schecter Hellcat VI $999
• Ibanez SRC6MS (Multiscale) $800 <updated>
• Danelectro 56 (Baritone) $569
• Invalid Link RemovedI $479
• Harley Benton Guitar-Bass VS ~$200

Anything I'm missing I should add to the list?

Gretsch G5260 $550.00​

 

[Iristone]

I'd go with the Squier, Vintera, or Bilt. I don't see the need of spending $3000 on a non-main instrument, and I'd like the whammy to complete the Bass VI experience.

 

[BarfanyShart]

I played a few recently, and I was surprised how I didn't get on with most, especially because I play guitar and my style of playing bass is very chordal. The Ibanez was the only one that clicked with me - probaby because my main bass is a EHB1005SMS. I just wish the Ibby (and all other string instruments, everywhere) was headless.

 

[meisi]

I played a few recently, and I was surprised how I didn't get on with most, especially because I play guitar and my style of playing bass is very chordal. The Ibanez was the only one that clicked with me - probaby because my main bass is a EHB1005SMS. I just wish the Ibby (and all other string instruments, everywhere) was headless.

Curious to know more about what you didn’t like.

I’ve never played one but always imagined if you play guitar the right hand finger picking could be transferable.

I find any bass, banjo or uke I pick up I may inadvertently adjust my right hand finger picking like a guitar if it’s comfortable enough for the riff or tune.

My interests lie in home looping and not having to switch between guitar and bass guitars and just use an ABY for the respective signal path.

 

[Meriphew]

I'm really hoping Fender will do an AVRI Bass VI this year. I think it would be a good move on their part. The FCS Bass VI's don't seem to be selling very well. I'm not surprised as that's a pretty niche instrument for $5k. There are a decent amount of people that want a really nice guitar (meaning not a Squire or a Vintera) who would spend ~$2k on a high quality American made Fender Bass VI (I know I would).