Squier CV Bass VI

[HaphAsSard]

My favourite demoes of a VI-type instrument (quotecoded for a more compact post):

(Stevie jam ends at 2:43 mark.)

This one doesn't suck either:

Among other observations, a little library of famous parts originally recorded with one:

One more for good measure:

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[A]ll guitar riffs and chords a guitarist knows can be played(albeit an octave lower) and that's works well for some scenarios. While the notes are the same as a bass, there's a reason most gigging bassists don't use one as their main instrument. Also string spacing too tight to be played in the normal way we think of with fingers. Of course it could be played fingerstyle like guitar.

Experience says that, in the lowest register of a VI, you cannot do exactly anything you do on a standard-tuned guitar, the same way as a pianist can't simply move chord voicings that are normal up top indefinitely downward: any given interval, even a consonant one, starts sounding bad past a certain point (look up "critical bands").
In practice, if the lowest voice is below C2 you need to put increasing distance between it and the second lowest. Even more in practice, if the lowest note of the chord you're playing is between frets 0 and 4 you'll have to leave the A string unplayed.
Oh, and no, yes, you can play 2-finger, bass-style pizzicato on a VI.
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P Bass freq response when plucking and open E string (34" scale, .105 gauge string) - plugged straight into the interface, no amp/mic/pedal in between. Tone controls set flat.

View attachment 4486522 :

Bass VI freq response when plucking an open E (30" scale, .095 gauge string) - plugged straight into the interface, no amp/mic/pedal in between. Tone controls set flat.

View attachment 4486529

Ah, hard facts for a change. Thank you.
However, what you've conclusively proven is that a/one P-bass, with a specific string complement, doesn't sound like one specific pickup setting (which, by the way?) of a/one bass-VI, also with its own typical-ish (if not set in stone per se) string set.
I would expect a similar amount of variation between any two 4-string bass models.

 

[7dollarbologna]

Don’t forget Warmoth - you have the “war head” headstock though.


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[DirtDog]

Ah, hard facts for a change. Thank you.
However, what you've conclusively proven is that a/one P-bass, with a specific string complement, doesn't sound like one specific pickup setting (which, by the way?) of a/one bass-VI, also with its own typical-ish (if not set in stone per se) string set.
I would expect a similar amount of variation between any two 4-string bass models.

Which was kind of my point, albeit not perfectly scientific in its execution.

Even though a Bass VI and P Bass share the same fundamental freq, each emphasized different parts of the spectrum due to differing scale length, strings, pickups and electronics. The P can't do what the Bass VI can do and vice versa. Two different tools for two different jobs.

 

[7dollarbologna]

Fender now makes a Bass VI set with .100 for the E string . It makes a difference .

I’m digging these-

 

[DirtDog]

If you’re hoping for a B-B get a baritone guitar. A bari is a great instrument, I play mine all the time. But it’s not the same as a bass VI. There are people who string/tune a bari to Bass VI, etc. but a true bari has a guitar neck that’s 27-30” scale. It will feel like a Strat only longer, not wider.
If you want to try a Bass VI the Squier is a fabulous deal. There’s a real 63 VI locally that I’d love to be able to score but it’s a lot more than the Squier.

Like $20K more than the Squier from the ads I've seen!

Some baritones are 30" and some are shorter. I had the Gretsch Jet Baritone (G5260T) - and tried to make it E-e but had issues (lots of years ago, I can't recall - probably couldn't find an E set that worked...) so got it back to B-b. Unfortunately, I tossed the original strings and it took a couple of tries to find a long enough set to fit the 30" scale AND the Bigsby trem. I seem to recall I needed to special order some Jerry Jones something somethings to get it back. Then sold it as it wasn't what I was looking for.

 

[DirtDog]

Here's a nice intro to Bass VI and the Eastwood version of one.

Eastwood Sidejack VI - YouTube

That was my first choice after a proper Fender VI (and kind of unobtainium, see above post....$20K price tag).

But the Eastwood version still clocks in at over $1300 CAD. Still a bit much for a fringe instrument...for my needs, anyways. I managed to find my Squier VI for less than half of that (CAD, new).

 

[Killing Floor]

Some baritones are 30" and some are shorter. I had the Gretsch Jet Baritone (G5260T) - and tried to make it E-e but had issues (lots of years ago, I can't recall - probably couldn't find an E set that worked...) so got it back to B-b. Unfortunately, I tossed the original strings and it took a couple of tries to find a long enough set to fit the 30" scale AND the Bigsby trem. I seem to recall I needed to special order some Jerry Jones something somethings to get it back. Then sold it as it wasn't what I was looking for.

For sure. My Tele bari is 27”. I would like a Bass VI too. They’re different instruments.

 

[jnewmark]

That was my first choice after a proper Fender VI (and kind of unobtainium, see above post....$20K price tag).

But the Eastwood version still clocks in at over $1300 CAD. Still a bit much for a fringe instrument...for my needs, anyways. I managed to find my Squier VI for less than half of that (CAD, new).

If you wanted a really basic one, Danelectro re-issued their BassVI about 10 years ago, along with a baritone model. They originally came out with one in the '50's; Duane Eddy used it quite alot on some of his recordings back then, along with the Wrecking Crew of LA studio fame. You can find them every once in awhile on Ebay and other sites.

 

[HelpImaRock]

I play a Danelectro Baritone strung E-E, effectively making it a Bass VI. Like the Fender/Squier, it's a 30" scale instrument.

When I bought it, it was strung B-B from the factory. The difference between the Baritone and the "Danelectro Six String Bass" is the tuners. They put larger tuners on the "bass" version and regular guitar tuners on the Baritone version. Mine is a "63 reissue", which means it looks like a Silvertone 1449, but isn't actually a reissue of anything.

I've owned this instrument since it was first produced in 2008. For a while I got along with the B-B tuning and then I couldn't stand it. So I strung it E-E with LaBella Hellcat strings. But I always hated the string spacing. This past summer, I bought a Jeff Senn bridge, which uses Telecaster barrel saddles. That fixed the spacing. I also (finally) replaced the original tuners with non-locking Hipshot guitar tuners.

While I'm sure some incredibly talented person will be able to slap it, I just don't think that's the Bass Six's bag. I do like it for chording and octaves, or when I just want a brighter sound than my regular bass offers. I bring it as a backup, or to rehearsals when I just can't figure out what the guitarist is doing. Then I can play what he's playing an octave lower and transpose back to a 4 string later.

They're certainly not for everyone, as this thread's comments prove. Mine is indispensable.