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New Pawn Shop Bass VI

sigmafloyd

sigmafloyd

May 1, 2011
1,994
675
#1
I know a lot of people have been wanting a bass vi, check this out:

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#12
ggvicviper said:
I just watched the video. The guy playing it is playing it like a guitar. It doesn't really show off what it can do used as a bass.
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"As a bass" isn't really its forte. ;)

That being said, I think modern amps will have no trouble turning one into a quite usable bass. The hot Jazzmaster humbucker at the bridge won't hurt either!
 
#13
ggvicviper said:
I just watched the video. The guy playing it is playing it like a guitar. It doesn't really show off what it can do used as a bass.
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In Bass VI tuning (E to e), it can be played like a bass guitar, same tuning. Beatles, Jack Bruce, several others used it this way. The strings are like an extra-light gauge bass set on the bottom four, so you do get a "bass like" tone. Then you have the extended range and six-string guitar tuning if you want to do guitar chords and melody lines.

Tuned with a thinner gauge and up a couple of steps gets it to baritone range. It's still tuned in fourths and can be played like a low-tuned guitar. Baritone tunings were used back in the early days of recording to bring out the attack of the bass line, since upright basses were still the norm. These days, they are catching on with hardcore and metal bands.

If you know how to use them, they can be versatile, productive instruments.
 
#16
Mr.Fingers said:
Don't say that, the VI is amazing for bass!
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jbiscuti said:
Check out "Helter Skelter" and "Oh Darling" to hear the Bass VI being used as a bass.
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electracoyote said:
In Bass VI tuning (E to e), it can be played like a bass guitar, same tuning. Beatles, Jack Bruce, several others used it this way. The strings are like an extra-light gauge bass set on the bottom four, so you do get a "bass like" tone. Then you have the extended range and six-string guitar tuning if you want to do guitar chords and melody lines.

Tuned with a thinner gauge and up a couple of steps gets it to baritone range. It's still tuned in fourths and can be played like a low-tuned guitar. Baritone tunings were used back in the early days of recording to bring out the attack of the bass line, since upright basses were still the norm. These days, they are catching on with hardcore and metal bands.

If you know how to use them, they can be versatile, productive instruments.
Click to expand...

I think there has been a misunderstanding. I'm well aware of the Beatles and Cream tracks using the Fender VI (I'm not sure Oh! Darling was - I always heard it was Paul on the Jazz Bass). I definitely want the instrument for that reason.

I wasn't saying it could not be used as a bass - but that the video demo of that particular model on Fender's website was not being used that way. The musician demoing it was playing it in a more guitar-styled fashion. I felt it didn't really capture the purpose of the instrument very well, as it was one sided.

On the same note, I felt the Reverse Jag Bass video demo wasn't too good either (well, the first part anyway).
 

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