First production six string?

[iamlowsound]

I was just thinking, I have a washburn MB-6 six string bass that was made in 1993. It has to be one of the oldest production six string basses out there. I was wondering, what was the first production six string and what year did it come out?

lowsound

 

[Blackbird]

In 1993, Peavey already had the TL-Six and Carvin the LB76. Earlier even.

I'm pretty sure the first production sixers were Ken Smiths. Mass marked priced sixers, well, that's different.

 

[Scheater5]

If you include the "bass guitars" tuned exactly one octave below standard guitar tuning, they've been around since the 60's - Danelectro came out with one in 59, and Fender soon followed suit.
The "contrabass guitar" as we know it, BEADGc, was invented by Anthony Jackson and madeby Ken Smith in 1981.
I'm not sure if you consider either of those an answer to your question, but the earliest indication I have of a mass produced six string was played by Steve Bailey when he was on tour with Dizzy Gilespe. Sry I don't have a date or a production model on that one.

 

[Drake Kennedy]

I always thought that Carl Thompson made the first 6er, then Anthony, displeased with the extra wide neck, went to Ken Smith, and eventually wound up with Fodera.
Was Steve playing Aria by the time he toured with Dizzy?

 

[Scheater5]

I'm not 100% certain with what went about with Anthony Jackson - all I know is the invention of the "contrabass guitar" is attributed to him in every source I've ever seen.
And Bailey played alot of brands before he got to Aria, including 6's. I'm pretty sure he was playing another brand when he was with Dizzy, and like I said, I know he had 6's before he was with Aria, so that's not what we're talking about here.

 

[Drake Kennedy]

Yeah, I read that on Carl's website.

Don't know about Steve, but I'm sure he mentions it on his website.

 

[iamlowsound]

I ment mass produced production bass. Avalable to a wide range of people, not just pros with connections and money.

lowsound

 

[Ste_m3]

a little off topic, but theres a washburn 6'er going for 150gbp in my local... very tempted though ive only ever played fours!

 

[iamlowsound]

a little off topic, but theres a washburn 6'er going for 150gbp in my local... very tempted though ive only ever played fours!

I have never played a washburn that I do not like. Very fast necks, if you like it buy it.

lowsound

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

I always thought that Carl Thompson made the first 6er, then Anthony, displeased with the extra wide neck, went to Ken Smith, and eventually wound up with Fodera.

He was actually displeased at the extra narrow neck- Jackson wanted it wider (his Fodera signature has a 19mm or 20mm spacing). Thompson made him two others, one that had a 40" or 41" scale, but none that Jackson really enjoyed.

Fender's Heartfield series were production basses, weren't they? Bailey was playing those in the late eighties/early nineties IIRC.

 

[Christopher]

The Peavey TL-6 and the Yamaha TRB6P were the earliest production sixes I can recall - they showed up in the late 80s, early 90s.

Dunno when the Aria Steve Bailey came out, but it might have been close to the same time. I think Bailey had a fretted Heartfield sixer as well.

 

[Mark Wilson]

They used those stupid Fender VI's in the 60's. But those don't really count I guess.

-mark