• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Explain the Fender Bass VI

I think it's because us bass players are more likely to 'go with the flow.'

Come to think of it, how did E-e become the 'standard' for guitars and not fourths?
Has to do with one being spanish guitar based and the other being an adaptation from the double bass
 
  • Like
Reactions: lizardking837
I saw The Church back in the 90s and Steve Kilbey did a good portion of the set on a VI. Not sure why he did. Every other time I've seen them he's played a traditional 4 string.

As a bass player they are impractical for playing the bass. As an extra instrument like The Cure uses it, it's an excellent choice. I'm a bass player not a second or third guitarist. Mine hit the bricks after it sat in its case for four years of owning it. The low E is hideous.

I saw the Church last week (4/24/19); Steve played the VI for one song and then went back to his P bass. Good show by the way.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RedVee
Gotcha, alternatively a 6 string with BEADGC could be pretty interesting. It would be like an odd hybrid-bartione
That's the typical tuning of long scale 6-string basses. Useful, but really an entirely different approach.

And if we're speculating: F-C-G-D-A-E. The F one semitone higher that the low E on a bass, and the E the high E on a guitar. Do that on a guitar scale or an multiscale :D
 
That's the typical tuning of long scale 6-string basses. Useful, but really an entirely different approach.

And if we're speculating: F-C-G-D-A-E. The F one semitone higher that the low E on a bass, and the E the high E on a guitar. Do that on a guitar scale or an multiscale :D
This is fifths instead of fourths
upload_2019-5-2_18-26-34.png
 
Last edited:
Has to do with one being spanish guitar based and the other being an adaptation from the double bass

Why do they have to be opposed to one another? It's like you've got something against the guitar. I'm a bassist who sees a connection both to the bass viol and also to the guitar. I like to partake of the various aspects of the "bass" - be it upright based, bass guitar, bass pedals - it's a register, it's a variety of instruments, it's a variety of approaches, it's a variety of playing techniques - heck, I even play it with a pick! The horror! Banish me because I dare step away from the role as someone else defines it!

Maybe that's what bugs people about the Bass VI, they can't wrap their heads around it, in which case it'll be an instrument beyond their comprehension. I prefer to approach it from a variety of perspectives. It's a journey. It's music. You don't set the boundaries.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: rholler and Dabndug
Here's where I can't get my head around this. Why would a bassist who plays E,A,D,G or B,E,A,D,G or E,A,D,G,C or B,E,A,D,G,C on a four, five or six string want to play in the fashion of guitar E,A,D,G,B,E unless they were a guitar player.
It just doesn't go with the circle of 4ths
1200px-Chromatic_circle_fourths.svg.png

Yes, I know there are alternate tunings, but they still usually follow this pattern.

And why limit yourself to the cycle of 4ths? Heaven forbid you tune your bass like a cello - you might end up making music like Magma!
 
  • Like
Reactions: lizardking837
Does anyone have any recommendations/history with modding their Bass VI. I have one inbound and I'm going to ponder a few things after I get some time with it. Aside from the obvious E string issue here's what I thinking...

1) I'm hoping against hope that they changed the bridge to make it less of a nightmare to intonate and if not I will either replace it or use copper tubing like a Youtuber I saw recently
2) Locking Tailpieces are available for $45, but I'm not sure the pros and cons of leaving stock of dropping a new one
3) Because I'm nuts, I've been curious as to how a humbucker would sound in the bridge and/or neck position. I'd love to go with Seymour Duncan 'Hot Rails' because they seem like they would require no routing or cutting of the pickguard. This is something that I'm thinking about doing, but probably won't actually do for at least 6 months if I feel as though the bridge p/up is lacking.

If you guys have any experience with
 
Does anyone have any recommendations/history with modding their Bass VI. I have one inbound and I'm going to ponder a few things after I get some time with it. Aside from the obvious E string issue here's what I thinking...
If you guys have any experience with

Best mod ever. Since '75 on a '62 VI - big, fat, 3-bucker in series!
 

Attachments