Hellcat VI or Bass VI isntrument owners?

i don't see why you couldn't use it as a bass...the barijag that i tried out in the store sounded just like a bass to me, although i can't speak for the hellcat, as it was co-designed by robert smith, who is a guitar player.
But since both the baritone jaguar and the hellcat were both designed to be a bassVI copy, i bet you could use both as a bass guitar, although i would advise the jag over the hellcat only because i was able to play the fender in a store, and never tried the hellcat...
but i can definately tell you that the jag can be used as a bass.
btw, i think the reason picks are used is because the string spacing is a bit tight. If you want wider string spacing, i'd look to a 6 string bass, and you can still tune it eadgbe if you really want. I've done it before and it works just fine

 

I have the Danelectro version and use it as a bass. The strings are lighter guage, but it basically sounds like any bass with extra-light strings on it would. I've played it with my fingers, but it is very tight, like a guitar, so it takes some concentration. A pick is much better. There is a Hellcat VI at a local store that I've checked out. Very nice.

 

Haven't tried a Hellcat VI, but I owned a ´63 Bass VI for many years, and must say I found it pretty much useless for what I play. But again, it's a question of style. It might be just the ticket for somebody in a retro or surf band, say, and I've seen Bill Laswell wield one to great effect in a free-form setting, with killer distortion.

The main problems I had were with the narrow string spacing, lack of tension on the low E, and the less than stable bridge/vibrato assembly. Intonation was approximate, especially on the E. Using a pick was practically necessary, but a strong attack would cause the string to shift on the bridge, and the thing would go out of tune.

However (and this is why I kept it for so long)... it worked amazingly well as a "baritone" guitar, tuned ADGCEA. Add a touch of stereo reverb, maybe a whiff of chorusing, and you got the magical, deep, twangy tone that David Lindley developed back in the ´80s with El Rayo-X. Muy fresco - see http://www.davidlindley.com/cgi-bin/pgallery.cgi?pd=inst&rf=instruments.html&pi=g4.gif . - As far as 6-string bass playing, though, I'd say you want a bigger neck and more substantial hardware.

 

Had a Fender for years but now I play a Gretsch SynchroBass VI and a Jerry Jones Longhorn bassVI. No problem playing as a bass, it IS a bass. I always play with a pick, so not a problem. They do lend themselves to certain music styles more than others tho'. They record very well, a very punchy sound on tape.

Ronn

 

I saw a Genesis cover band called The Musical Box the other night. The bassist was using a double-neck 12 string guitar/bass VI. It sounded great, just like on the album (which is the point I suppose...the album is the lamb lies down on broadway, by the way). It looked like a Danelectro, but I'm not sure.

 

This is the one we own in our band, made for us by a luthier:

 

I have the Fender Baritone Jaguar Custom (tuned EADGBE) and I dig it. I think these instruments are especially fun if you know how to play a bit of guitar. I haven't played the Schecter or Bass VI, but I have tried the Danelectro reissue 6 and I feel like the BariJag is a lot more solid. I'm very glad the BariJag has a fixed bridge rather than a tremolo.

These sorts of instruments probably don't make a whole lot of sense to extended range bassists who like the "contrabass" ideal and go for hifi sound, extra-long scale lengths, and super-wide string spacing. I love playing with a pick so the narrow spacing is an asset, though I feel it's quite playable with the fingers, especially if you've done fingerpicking on guitar.

I've always felt that strings above G on standard/extended-scale basses sound kind of like a guitar with a bad head cold, so I actually like the sound of the short scale (~ 29") on the BariJag.

Hey Imoh--can you point me to any recordings of Bill Laswell playing the Bass VI? I know he played it a bit on Basslines but most of the other stuff I've heard with him on bass (and we're talking maybe 30 recordings...I'm a Laswell FREAK) features his enormous dubby fretless P-Bass.

I'd also suggest that people check out Tortoise if they want to hear some groovy Bass VI action.

 

Saw him tearing it up live with Last Exit (Sharrock/Brötzmann/Jackson) sometime in 1986. So I guess this would be the one: http://www.silent-watcher.net/billlaswell/discography/lalz/lastexit.html . I haven't heard it myself, but it says "6 string bass" and the recording dates from the same European tour.

EDIT: In fact, almost all of the Last Exit material listed at http://www.silent-watcher.net/billlaswell/ (discography section) seems to feature Laswell on Fender Bass VI only.

 

the bassist from a band called the blood brother uses one live and i think it sounded great. it was drenched in effects and everything but it sounded really cool.

 

yes