Should I buy a cheap Bass VI?

[selowitch]

Trying to decide if I want to try get a Fender VI, or a PRS Baritone.

I have owned both and ultimately found the PRS SE 277 to be of greater practical use so that's what I ended up keeping.

 

[pbass2]

Could be cool. They call it a "baritone guitar" in the English language ad copy, but it seems more of a bass based on scale length (30"). The strings seem guitar-like, though (D'addario 0.14 - 0.68).

I’m not digging the ceramic pickups spec - for me, they’d almost surely have to go, so before buying I’d want to know about the string spacing over the pickups and whether a set of guitar pickups (or whatever) would be appropriate as replacement pickups. Also specs-wise, I see the radius at 13.7" would be the flattest of any instrument I’ve owned, though i imagine it would not be all that much different than a Gibson. I like the fretboard inlays and the Fender-y look...

Why have you "wanted to try a Bass VI for a long time"? What kinda stuff have you imagined doing with it/what would it give you? Do you have any song examples in mind? (‘cuz maybe I need one of these things too! )

A baritone guitar is usually tuned A-A. The Bass VI is IMO, simply a six string bass!

 

[jnewmark]

I have yet to play one that didn't buzz or go out of tune if it has a whammy bar. The best of the lot that I have played was an Eastwood.

 

[Mosfed]

Any particular reason why you would go for that one instead?

thomann stands behind their products

 

[Dabndug]

Given the return policy and price, it sounds like a low risk gig.

If you have any expetience playing guitar, the transition to bass vi will be simple.

 

[pappabass]

Buy cheap !! I recently Bought a new Sterling sub ray 4 for fun. After restringing, adjusting the p/u, it actually sounds good! It has turned into my main player!

 

[Diamond_Dave]

I don't know, but if "Nøkkelfunksjoner" isn't a dirty word, it ought to be.

 

[Steven Ayres]

I play both baritone and Bass VI, and they have quite different voices and uses. I would recommend exploring the Official Squier Vintage Modified Bass VI Club for a lot of info on getting one set up. Most people agree that what you get out of the box needs work to be playable.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Makes sense. I’m the same way.

That said I’ve owned a Bass VI twice. And each time I did I really wanted to like it. And both times I got rid of it again. To me it was one of those things that sounded great as a concept, but ended up being of extremely limited use. Or for me at least.

Maybe somebody more creative or clever than me could have found a bigger role for it to fill in their compositions. But I can’t say that the ones I had (Fender) were particularly fun to play nor did they sound all that great. So for me they were more a novelty instrument than anything else. And I’m guessing I’m not alone in that opinion considering how rarely they show up in a band setting.

But that’s all me. Your mileage (and success with it) may vary. Luck!

Same experience here!

 

[Rambazamba]

I'd say go for it but keep in mind: a bass VI is neither a bass nor a guitar. I had three of them and got rid of all of them sooner or later because they never fit in my role as a guitarist or a bassist in my bands. It took me actually four bands to end up in a musical setting were my fourth VI fits in: a project were I play the VI exclusively as the "bassguitar player". No traditional bass, no traditional guitar, no traditional rig. I use a guitar head and a bass cab. It's a ton of fun but if you want to bring a VI in an established band setting it might just end up in a corner because it's never really the right thing.

 

[Neon Scribe]

I've never tried one, but my impression is that guitar players take to it better than bass players do. The two players that seem to have done the most with it are Robert Smith of The Cure and Glen Campbell.

 

[gh0st42]

I'd say go for it but keep in mind: a bass VI is neither a bass nor a guitar. I had three of them and got rid of all of them sooner or later because they never fit in my role as a guitarist or a bassist in my bands. It took me actually four bands to end up in a musical setting were my fourth VI fits in: a project were I play the VI exclusively as the "bassguitar player". No traditional bass, no traditional guitar, no traditional rig. I use a guitar head and a bass cab. It's a ton of fun but if you want to bring a VI in an established band setting it might just end up in a corner because it's never really the right thing.

This. It’s a curious instrument that lives between worlds.

It is really good for getting the creativity jump started, which sounds like a good fit for the OP. Being able to bounce back and forth between playing something as a bass line, or more chordal guitar style on the same instrument can take you unexpected places.

 

[Tommy V]

here's my favorite bass vi variant..



TB64 6-String Bass

 

[jnewmark]

I play both baritone and Bass VI, and they have quite different voices and uses. I would recommend exploring the Official Squier Vintage Modified Bass VI Club for a lot of info on getting one set up. Most people agree that what you get out of the box needs work to be playable.

Especially the bridge.

 

[vvvmmm]

FWIW, and I've no affiliation, but the Revelation Bass VI is a great, fairly-priced VI what I love.

Robert Smith, yeah, but Steve Kilbey ...

 

[klejst]

One of my rules: Don't buy just to buy, make there be a reason and a good one at that.

 

[okcrum]

The squier bass vi is awesome and actually more correct to an original than the fender offerings. I owned a bass VI for a while and it was very nice. Some people have gripes about the tailpiece being a pain to mess with, mine never showed the issues others were having with them, but you can buy a replacement upgraded one that drops right in. The dude from Deftones has all the money in the world for basses but he plays the squier!

A used Squier VI might not cost much more than the one in the OP. The tailpiece fix is simple and cheap, if you need it.

 

[okcrum]

I'd say go for it but keep in mind: a bass VI is neither a bass nor a guitar. I had three of them and got rid of all of them sooner or later because they never fit in my role as a guitarist or a bassist in my bands. It took me actually four bands to end up in a musical setting were my fourth VI fits in: a project were I play the VI exclusively as the "bassguitar player". No traditional bass, no traditional guitar, no traditional rig. I use a guitar head and a bass cab. It's a ton of fun but if you want to bring a VI in an established band setting it might just end up in a corner because it's never really the right thing.

...except for maybe here:

 

[marqueemoon]

Eastwood just announced this:

Link Removed

Love the look and the wider string spacing. Not cheap at $1300 though. I certainly don't dislike Peter Hook, but the signature aspect isn't a particular selling point for me.

 

[bobba66]

You should buy a Panzer VI.