Jack White produces a "fake" bass tone by playing his Kay Hollowbody and JB Hutto Montgomery Airline guitars through a Whammy IV set to one octave down for a very thick, low, rumbling sound.
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Fender bass vi sound with guitar
- Thread starter LeoJB
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I have a 30" Bass VI (E-e from .023-.102 strings) as well as a Strat body that I converted to 27" baritone (B-b via .013-.064 strings) with a Sub Sonic neck.
Both of these have a snap to the tone from the longer scale giving more tension to the strings. They can sound guitar-like, but they have that longer scale tonality.
My 25.5" Ibanez 7 string tuned B-e via .011-.066 strings isn't as snappy as either of the above instruments. It just sounds like a guitar with a lower tuned option.
Both of these have a snap to the tone from the longer scale giving more tension to the strings. They can sound guitar-like, but they have that longer scale tonality.
My 25.5" Ibanez 7 string tuned B-e via .011-.066 strings isn't as snappy as either of the above instruments. It just sounds like a guitar with a lower tuned option.
Ah geeze, a used Squier VI would be cheaper than a replacement neck. Is this one legit? $100???
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Guitar shifted down an octave makes a useable Bass VI kind of sound. Put reverb before the shift and it sounds monstrous.
I would stay away from that site, looks really fishy overall. All they advertise are clothes and fashion accessories, yet they randomly have a Squier Bass VI for 1/5 the price of anywhere else.
Except, obviously, your own
I'm bored, so I'll respond to you.
The discussion was re Bass VI, the other guy, attention-seeking, passive-aggressively led into discussing his homemade 6-string.
I courteously pointed out his response to me was at best unclear ...
I give what get, and I reckon he got it, even if he now acts aggrieved.
Maybe I should have just discussed my 8-string bass?
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You said "Anyone ever try stringing a 4 string bass with the bottom 4 strings of a Bass VI set?"
He said "i string my 6 string bass with the bottom 4 strings of a 4 string bass set." in response.
Don't see how that's attention-seeking or passive-aggressively leading the discussion into talking about his bass. But okay, I can see how his use of "6 string bass" instead of "Bass VI" might be confusing, so sure a followup question isn't an issue. But your reply of "You do know a 6-string bass is not the same as a Bass VI?" sounded a bit condescending, (though to be fair tone also doesn't always translate well over text). I certainly wouldn't say it sounded "courteous".
Been playing Bass VI style instruments for a long time (started on a Schecter Hellcat and now on a Fender Pawnshop I'll take to me grave) and it seems the struggle to understand what they are never dies! Still bugs me when I see them called baritones, 'cause they ain't.
And if this helps, no, I don't think using a pitch shifter, analog or delay, will get you a Bass VI sound.
And if this helps, no, I don't think using a pitch shifter, analog or delay, will get you a Bass VI sound.
Yes you can do it. I play guitar and also have a Bass VI if you're interested in clips. You want a clean digital polyphonic octave for the best results. The best options currently available:
- DigiTech Drop (Designed to do exactly what you want to do)
- DigiTech Bass Whammy (Same bass algorithm of the Drop but tweaked for bass guitars. I use it on guitar and it works great.)
- EHX Pitch Fork (Slightly different tone but pretty much the same feel)
- BOSS OC-5 (Octave only so no other tuning changes but it has individual controls for octave up and down. It also has an OC-2 mode that sounds GREAT on bass.)
The tone of a Bass VI type instrument comes not just from the range, but from the fact that it is a "slack key" tuning. The strings are very loose, and have a certain sustain that kinda goes "whap" up front and then dies off. They give you fret slap with anything but light plucks, and they provide different overtone character than a normally tuned instrument.
To get close to the sound you are after, you are better off with a 4-string short scale bass strung with extra light strings and low action, than you are with a guitar and an octave pedal. Spend your octave pedal money on a used Squier Bronco instead. You'll get closer to what you want. Most of the range played by the most famous of Bass VI (or similar instrument) songs is accessible with a standard short scale bass. And you'll get close to the attack by using extra light strings, set low. The strings that come on Broncos are probably light enough, but you can go about .010" lighter, if you want, by using the bottom four strings from a light gauge Bass VI set (.086" E string, IIRC).
To get close to the sound you are after, you are better off with a 4-string short scale bass strung with extra light strings and low action, than you are with a guitar and an octave pedal. Spend your octave pedal money on a used Squier Bronco instead. You'll get closer to what you want. Most of the range played by the most famous of Bass VI (or similar instrument) songs is accessible with a standard short scale bass. And you'll get close to the attack by using extra light strings, set low. The strings that come on Broncos are probably light enough, but you can go about .010" lighter, if you want, by using the bottom four strings from a light gauge Bass VI set (.086" E string, IIRC).
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Your primary school teacher just had a heart attack and died. Punctuation is our friend!
What make?
Is it fine for Jeremy's intro or would you rather use a BassXII?
I have an ESP LTD B208, a lovely piece of kit that I bought to get a kinda Tom Petersson sound on some originals.
I bought the Bass VI for Cure/New Order and The Church sounds but have been loving it as a guitar in the Glen Campbell style also - it's cool for lead guitar (which I also play).
"Jeremy" is the Pearl Jam tune? I actually saw PJ on their first tour opening for Soul Asylum, where they weren't even given a drum riser and they seemingly had only half the P.A. They were amazing (as was SA), but I don't do many covers and even then only to jam, so I'm afraid I have no opinion.
No experience with a Bass XII but they appear to be 3 courses of 4? Per here, anywhat.
But I bet a six string bass would not be the best choice there, either ...
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