Update 3.28.18: I had custom wound pickups from Sound Laboratories made for this bass. I wanted a growly 4003 Rickenbackeresque sound. DoooOOoood! What an improvement. The sound is incredible. I would describe the sound as beefy, thick, clear as a bell and totally has a Ric growl. It's insane! Check out Sound Laboratories www.soundlaboratories.us
Let me start with the Squeir name. I would not buy one. They are generally awful and I would not recommend them to beginners. Simply because its a poorly made instrument. Why recommend something that will be uncomfortable to play and keep set up?? Please don't answer that question this is not about that philosophy, keep reading.
I started playing bass in 1980. My first bass was a crazy shaped Hundo I picked up for 220 bucks at Sam Ash in Queens, NY. From there I went all American. At 14 years old (1985) I got a Guild SB202, at 15 a G&L L2000 (still own it and it's my fav!!), then a Ric 4001, then an Ernie Ball Stingray 5, Pedulla 6, American Standard P, 64' Vintage Jazz, another Ric but a 4003, 1984 G&L El Toro (an amazing bass!!) and my most recent purchase a Squier Vintage Vintage Modified Bass VI which I've had for about a week now (Feb 2018).
Why? Well a few months ago I was listening to the Four Seasons, Oh What a Night. I figured out the bass score. Between those basses mentioned I couldn't figure out Don Ciccone's sound. So I dug a little deeper. On the video it looked like Don was playing a guitar. So I dug a little deeper. I discovered it was because he (I believe) used a Fender Bass VI. What the heck is that I thought?! So I dug a little deeper and figured I had to try one. A 6 string bass that isn't a 6 string bass, isn't a baritone and is tuned like a regular guitar, how cool!!!! I play guitar as well.
So I dug and I dug and dug. I wanted to try it...bad. No one in the NYC area had one in stock. Fender sold a custom shop one on it's site for like 4500.00 bucks!!! There was a pawnshop edition but that was Mexican made at 800.00 bucks second hand It was not like the original setup with what looks like a P90. And there was the accessible Sqier...
Musiciandsfriend.com had a sale and I figured this would be my chance to at least check one out.
It came and I set it up. Straightened the neck, set the action to my liking and set the radius. It physically felt sturdy. Something a Squier never felt to me before. I did't have time to plug it in at home so I took it to a Saturday night jam at CatScratch Studio in Chelsea. My friends were like, "dude there are like 9 guitar players tonight." I said. "don't sweat it this thing is actually considered a bass."
I plugged it in and HOLY COW!!! This thing was fun!!! and it sounded GREAT!!!
Since I've been playing guitar for some time I acclimated to the instrument pretty quickly. I play with my fingers and a pick when needed. The folks in the room were literally blown away as was I. That extra 2 higher string is F*&k'in cool! The 2 other bassists in the room wanted to play it and they loved it. They did mention that the string spacing was difficult but they don't play guitar.
After 2 hours of getting down and digging in I noticed the high E and B strings were getting little buzzy. Then I noticed the set screws of the bridge saddles were nearly falling out. The things rattled themselves loose. All 4 of them!! In the morning the neck bowed back to nearly it's original setting. Why won't I recommend these to beginners?? Because they don't know how to fix these things. They eventually say to themselves "these things are too difficult to play."
I can't figure out how these instruments aren't just as popular as 5 string basses and I wish Fender would produce an American made Bass VI at the standard American prices. I still have a little over a month to return the Squier Bass VI to MF however I think I am going to keep it. If I could find an alternative bridge that isn't 130-150 dollars Ill buy it.
Do you have a Bass VI? What do you think of it? I love mine but wish the metals were milled better.
Let me start with the Squeir name. I would not buy one. They are generally awful and I would not recommend them to beginners. Simply because its a poorly made instrument. Why recommend something that will be uncomfortable to play and keep set up?? Please don't answer that question this is not about that philosophy, keep reading.
I started playing bass in 1980. My first bass was a crazy shaped Hundo I picked up for 220 bucks at Sam Ash in Queens, NY. From there I went all American. At 14 years old (1985) I got a Guild SB202, at 15 a G&L L2000 (still own it and it's my fav!!), then a Ric 4001, then an Ernie Ball Stingray 5, Pedulla 6, American Standard P, 64' Vintage Jazz, another Ric but a 4003, 1984 G&L El Toro (an amazing bass!!) and my most recent purchase a Squier Vintage Vintage Modified Bass VI which I've had for about a week now (Feb 2018).
Why? Well a few months ago I was listening to the Four Seasons, Oh What a Night. I figured out the bass score. Between those basses mentioned I couldn't figure out Don Ciccone's sound. So I dug a little deeper. On the video it looked like Don was playing a guitar. So I dug a little deeper. I discovered it was because he (I believe) used a Fender Bass VI. What the heck is that I thought?! So I dug a little deeper and figured I had to try one. A 6 string bass that isn't a 6 string bass, isn't a baritone and is tuned like a regular guitar, how cool!!!! I play guitar as well.
So I dug and I dug and dug. I wanted to try it...bad. No one in the NYC area had one in stock. Fender sold a custom shop one on it's site for like 4500.00 bucks!!! There was a pawnshop edition but that was Mexican made at 800.00 bucks second hand It was not like the original setup with what looks like a P90. And there was the accessible Sqier...
Musiciandsfriend.com had a sale and I figured this would be my chance to at least check one out.
It came and I set it up. Straightened the neck, set the action to my liking and set the radius. It physically felt sturdy. Something a Squier never felt to me before. I did't have time to plug it in at home so I took it to a Saturday night jam at CatScratch Studio in Chelsea. My friends were like, "dude there are like 9 guitar players tonight." I said. "don't sweat it this thing is actually considered a bass."
I plugged it in and HOLY COW!!! This thing was fun!!! and it sounded GREAT!!!
Since I've been playing guitar for some time I acclimated to the instrument pretty quickly. I play with my fingers and a pick when needed. The folks in the room were literally blown away as was I. That extra 2 higher string is F*&k'in cool! The 2 other bassists in the room wanted to play it and they loved it. They did mention that the string spacing was difficult but they don't play guitar.
After 2 hours of getting down and digging in I noticed the high E and B strings were getting little buzzy. Then I noticed the set screws of the bridge saddles were nearly falling out. The things rattled themselves loose. All 4 of them!! In the morning the neck bowed back to nearly it's original setting. Why won't I recommend these to beginners?? Because they don't know how to fix these things. They eventually say to themselves "these things are too difficult to play."
I can't figure out how these instruments aren't just as popular as 5 string basses and I wish Fender would produce an American made Bass VI at the standard American prices. I still have a little over a month to return the Squier Bass VI to MF however I think I am going to keep it. If I could find an alternative bridge that isn't 130-150 dollars Ill buy it.
Do you have a Bass VI? What do you think of it? I love mine but wish the metals were milled better.
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after 4 years it's still working properly, even with a perfect tremolo bridge... 
