Pedalboards for Bass VI

[Rambazamba]

I wonder if anyone is playing a bass vi or other shortscale 6 string bass exclusively and what kind of pedals/amps/rigs are used. These are quite different beasts and require and enable you to use rather different gear than a "normal" bass. Let's share some knowledge.

 

[gh0st42]

I have a Danelectro Baritone that I play occasionally through my normal bass rig.

Might need to adjust EQ a bit, but otherwise does fine through a Mesa Carbine M6 into a Subway 112, and a slew of bass oriented pedals.

The Boneshaker is a particularly good distortion for both. Adjustable parametric tone section, and built tailored for double duty between bass and baritones like the Fender Bass VI. Darkglass, Fuzzrocious, Source Audio, etc all work great. If it can handle a bass, it will handle the baritone.

If I only played a Baritone, I might split signal (maybe with a cross over) into a guitar amp for more guitar sounding mids and highs.

Much would depend on the role of the Bass IV in the band or project.
Double duty covering bass and guitar roles? Full blown double amp rig, one bass rig, and a guitar rig, with separate effect chains.
Filling in more bass type in addition to a loud guitar? Bass rig with some extra octave and pitch shift pedals.
Covering guitar type arrangements? Guitar head with good low end, and a nice thick sounding 4x12 guitar cab or two.

Also curious to hear from more exclusively baritone players though.

 

[catcauphonic]

Our lead guitarist uses a BassVI, and to my knowledge hasn't swapped any pedals out on his modest board since he ditched the strat.

 

[GvsGabe]

Hi there, first time posting in any kind of forum like this, so here goes.

I’ve started playing mostly baritone and bass vi in a variety of lower tunings in my 2 piece band, and after a couple years of tinkering with different crossovers and hi/low pass filters, am now tri-amping with 2 effect chains. The high pass signal chain is in stereo, hence the 3 amps. If anyone is curious about what this entails and/or allows you to do, let me know. Happy to share.

 

[stambroker]

Hi there, first time posting in any kind of forum like this, so here goes.

I’ve started playing mostly baritone and bass vi in a variety of lower tunings in my 2 piece band, and after a couple years of tinkering with different crossovers and hi/low pass filters, am now tri-amping with 2 effect chains. The high pass signal chain is in stereo, hence the 3 amps. If anyone is curious about what this entails and/or allows you to do, let me know. Happy to share.

I'm thinking of doing something like this when my Eastwood arrives - I love the sound of my Clone Theory affecting highs and some light OD on the lows.

 

[GvsGabe]

Not sure which model you bought, but I didn’t have luck with the Senn One I bought a few years back. Let me know what you think of the Eastwood build quality when you get it. Hopefully it’s improved. Since then, I’ve picked up a Fender Jag Bari HH and a Squier Jazzmaster VM Bari.

 

[stambroker]

Not sure which model you bought, but I didn’t have luck with the Senn One I bought a few years back. Let me know what you think of the Eastwood build quality when you get it. Hopefully it’s improved. Since then, I’ve picked up a Fender Jag Bari HH and a Squier Jazzmaster VM Bari.

I preordered the custom Hooky Pro Bass 6, modeled after Peter Hook's Shergold Marathon 6 string! It's supposed to ship out pretty soon.

 

[DosiYanarchy]

I actually did a couple of videos about bass vi and effects. I'm using my Squier alot, often in place of a regular bass

 

[GvsGabe]

I preordered the custom Hooky Pro Bass 6, modeled after Peter Hook's Shergold Marathon 6 string! It's supposed to ship out pretty soon.

That’s a cool bass vi. Thanks for hipping me to another offering out there. The neck looks a little wide for me and not my favorite shape for the headstock, but am still curious, all the same, about the build quality and appointments (knobs, switches, pups). Hopefully it’s a killer instrument.

my complaints with the senn one were the paint job (I realized I don’t like painted necks, period. Also, the quality of the paint seemed cheap) and the toy plastic pup switch. Also, the output between the 6 strings was laughably inconsistent. I really want to support Eastwood and anyone building quirky instruments, so I was bummed to return it. Keep us posted!

 

[BrentSimons]

I actually did a couple of videos about bass vi and effects. I'm using my Squier alot, often in place of a regular bass

I was wondering when you would chime in.
Cheers,
Brent

 

[smo]

I've run a regular 6-string guitar & bass thru the same pedalboard for about 15 years. You won't need a vastly different board between bass & a Bass VI.
My experience;
Use a pre-amp at the end of the chain/board. Makes it very easy to adjust your EQ before it gets to FOH/amp. So if you want to boost (or tighten up) your low end or add a bit of treble, it's relatively easy without having to change the EQ on all of your pedals.

 

[DosiYanarchy]

I was wondering when you would chime in.
Cheers,
Brent

Heh, I'm like a hawk. Ready to swoop in and drop a video at any point, as long as its relevant.

 

[GvsGabe]

I've run a regular 6-string guitar & bass thru the same pedalboard for about 15 years. You won't need a vastly different board between bass & a Bass VI.
My experience;
Use a pre-amp at the end of the chain/board. Makes it very easy to adjust your EQ before it gets to FOH/amp. So if you want to boost (or tighten up) your low end or add a bit of treble, it's relatively easy without having to change the EQ on all of your pedals.

I agree most full spectrum pedals that don’t attenuate bass signals will work for a Bass VI. However , I think the more pressing issue is how to amp the signal chain. Has anyone found an amp that can handle the low bass AND the guitar-like mids/highs of the upper strings?

In my multi year quest to build a rig that could handle a full spectrum wall of sound produced by a low tuned guitar, baritone, or bass VI, I’ve landed on 2 amps and 2 signal chains: one for the highs, one for the lows. I use a ‘72 Fender Twin primarily for my ‘guitar’ signal chain and a SWR 350 into a 2x10 EDEN for the bass side of things. I’ll post some pictures this week. Wonder if anyone else here is doing something similar?

 

[smo]

I agree most full spectrum pedals that don’t attenuate bass signals will work for a Bass VI. However , I think the more pressing issue is how to amp the signal chain. Has anyone found an amp that can handle the low bass AND the guitar-like mids/highs of the upper strings?

All depends on how loud we're talking. My old Ampeg V4 does a pretty good job of both.

 

[DosiYanarchy]

Personally, I take the amp out of the equation. Mainly because the amps I play through at rehearsal and shows are whatever backline is provided.

So, with the Bass VI, I will lean towards a preamp/amp and cab sim that works well on guitar and bass, so the Benson Preamp, Tech21 Leeds and Joyo American Sound (Tech21 Blonde clone) I have all work well for this and I also have a Mooer Radar which can really help tailor the overall sound as it has a great EQ and obviously cab sims built in. This way, what goes front of house or into the effects return of an amp should be somewhat consistent

 

[GvsGabe]

Interesting. So you always use the effect return on a backline amp to avoid the preamp? Never thought of that. Thanks!

 

[Rambazamba]

After some time of flipping pedals and trying out a bunch of stuff, here's what I ended up with:

 

[DosiYanarchy]

Interesting. So you always use the effect return on a backline amp to avoid the preamp? Never thought of that. Thanks!

Not always, but alot of the time, if I use the amp input I just use the actual amp eq for subtle tweaking

 

[DosiYanarchy]

After some time of flipping pedals and trying out a bunch of stuff, here's what I ended up with:
View attachment 3889187

Holy cow I love your VI. Squier respray? I just sold my Gretsch VI, thinking about getting another Squier and making it all sexified.

 

[GvsGabe]

After some time of flipping pedals and trying out a bunch of stuff, here's what I ended up with:
View attachment 3889187

Wow. Ditto on the question. Squier overspray? What about the headstock? Did you match it? Very very nice.