The Short-Scale Six-String Club—for the original six-string basses!

[lousybassist]

Thanks! We hope to actually properly record an album soon...

Swell! Please keep me updated.

I have had people come up to me during a break after a set and ask "How do you get that bass sound from that guitar?".

That sounds familiar...

 

[iamthebassman]

I have had people come up to me during a break after a set and ask "How do you get that bass sound from that guitar?".

Back in the early 90s when BassVI was all I played I used to get soundmen asking me "Where's your bass player?" even tho' I had my bass on and was standing next to my bass amp.

 

[Tony In Philly]

Back in the early 90s when BassVI was all I played I used to get soundmen asking me "Where's your bass player?" even tho' I had my bass on and was standing next to my bass amp.

I think in the early 90's Robert Smith had probably convinced everybody that it was a guitar....

 

[MIJ-VI]

It would appear that the Fender VI has been discontinued--once again...

But, I expect that a number of these instruments can still be found at various retailers.

However, there is the alternative of having a 'VI custom-made with options that Fender never offered: Invalid Link Removed

 

[Bassman62]

There you are me playing my 1962 Burns guitar scale (really short) 6 string Bass in 1964.
What a lineup of gear
Guitarist on a Gretsch Double Anniversary, me playing through a Vox AC30, the drummer on a 62 Rogers Kit and the other bands Fender Amp at the back.
Still have a 62 Burns 6 string Bass BTW, it's for sale.

 

[MIJ-VI]

Here's an e-mail I just sent:

Hi Kurt. [email protected]

Does Rondo Music plan to offer a 30" scale six-string bass guitar like this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Bass_VI

If Rondo does start making SX-branded versions of these, please use Strat-style/sized pickups (with level pole pieces for even string response/lower manufacturing costs) instead of the Jaguar pickups which Fender used on its now-discontinued Bass VI. (Doing so would make finding & fitting replacement pickups a LOT easier.)

Also, please make sure the center pickup is RWRP for hum-canceling when used with either the bridge or neck pickups. (If practical, wax or lacquer-potting the pickups for squeal-free rock 'n' roll would be a bonus.)

As well, replacing the four slide switches with a standard 5-way Strat switch would be good. (Anyone wanting to add the high-pass filter function could do so via a push-pull pot/switch.)

I imagine that quite a few Cure fans would LEAP at the chance to buy an affordably-priced, SX-branded Bass VI copy--starting with myself!

Link Removed
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=385745

 

[kurtzentmaier]

So what about it - is there any demand for a 6 string 30 Scale model of this

http://www.rondomusic.net/photos/electric/sjm62stoppbu1.jpg

or this ?

Link Removed

or this

http://www.rondomusic.net/photos/bass/sjmbt3ts1.jpg

With humbuckers, 30" scale, maple fretboard ?

Kurt

 

[iamthebassman]

Kurt, I've got 5 SX and 1 Brice bass from you and would love to get a Bass VI version of the sjmbt3ts, in LEFTY of course!

 

[kurtzentmaier]

Kurt, I've got 5 SX and 1 Brice bass from you and would love to get a Bass VI version of the sjmbt3ts, in LEFTY of course!

SX would never agree to build this, I would have Agile do it, which means the price would be more like $500 depending on the final specs.

Kurt

 

[Jjango]

So what about it - is there any demand for a 6 string 30 Scale model of this

With humbuckers, 30" scale, maple fretboard ?

Kurt

Hi Kurt, two-time Essex buyer here (Jazz and short scale Jazz).

If you made such an item, you could not stop me from buying it!

I'm serious, the choice for such instruments is extremely limited – the Fenders are waaaay too expensive (3 grand for a reissue, more for a vintage model), the Burns Barracuda is not exactly cheap and difficult to find, and while the Gretsch is around $500, it weighs a ton (plywood), and doesn't appeal that much to me on a visual basis. I don't care for the looks of the Schecter, either.

My want list for an Essex Bass VI would have to include these features:

1. 30" Scale. I'm not interested in anything less, I don't want floppy strings. Which brings us to #2:
2. It must have the style of tailpiece as seen in the photos above. This is necessary to give the proper string length to use the Fender brand Bass VI strings, which are (IMO) the best out there. In other words, no stop tailpiece. A stop tailpiece would absolutely be a deal-breaker to me.
3. I'd prefer single coil pickups, just like the guitar above.

Those P-90s look great, and I'd much prefer them to any humbuckers. To me, the Bass VI sound is the sound of twangy single coil pickups.

If the instrument in the instrument above were available in a 30" scale, and otherwise identical to the photo, I would buy it in a heartbeat. Put a 30" neck on that baby, and I'm buying it!

 

[kurtzentmaier]

Sounds like the Gretch is the only competition - at least in our price range. I am a bit concerned about the trem. It's a very old design and I have not seen too many around that work all that well. Getting the string length correct should really not be a problem and that along should not dictate why kind of trem, if any is on the guitar I think ?

kurt

 

[Bassman62]

So what about it - is there any demand for a 6 string 30 Scale model of this

http://www.rondomusic.net/photos/electric/sjm62stoppbu1.jpg

or this ?

Link Removed

or this

http://www.rondomusic.net/photos/bass/sjmbt3ts1.jpg

With humbuckers, 30" scale, maple fretboard ?

Kurt

What is the guage of the E string on the 6 string; they look very thin for Bass strings

 

[GobBass]

I'd love to see a new version of the now defunct OLP MM5.



(ESPECIALLY with the maple fretboard)

 

[Jjango]

Sounds like the Gretch is the only competition - at least in our price range. I am a bit concerned about the trem. It's a very old design and I have not seen too many around that work all that well. Getting the string length correct should really not be a problem and that along should not dictate why kind of trem, if any is on the guitar I think ?

kurt

A trem would be nice, but not an absolute necessity, not as far as I'm concerned.

As far as I know, the tremolos on the Fender Bass VI are no great shakes themselves. If I'm not mistaken, Fender used the exact same tailpiece unit that they used on the Jaguar guitar.

I do like the looks of that kind of tailpiece, though. It really captures the vintage vibe on that body style in the photo above.

 

[MIJ-VI]

SX would never agree to build this, I would have Agile do it, which means the price would be more like $500 depending on the final specs.

Kurt

A $500 Agile 'VI would be in competition with the 3 humbucking pickup, and stop tailpiece equipped, 30" scale Schecter Hellcat VI (an instrument which won't win any beauty contests, but does sport a good design) whose average price hovers just above $500: http://www.shopwiki.com/detail/?q=S...6656045&d=Schecter+Hellcat+VI+Electric+Guitar

To beat the Hellcat VI design, some observations & suggestions for a Rondo VI.
​

TAILPIECE: I've got an MIJ Fender VI. The 'floating tremolo' tail-piece has no chance of working properly without a rocking bridge assembly. The one redeeming aspect of said tail-piece is that it gives the Fender VI the longest/best overall string length/tension of any 30" - 30.3" 6-sting bass guitar. Loosing the trem in favor of a stop tail-piece (positioned to provide a reasonably long string length) would provide similar string tension, stabilize tuning, and lower production costs.

TUNERS: Most Bass VI-ers use guitar tuners which forces one to choose from a very narrow selection of strings which will fit the instrument. THIS is the Achilles heel of every 6-string 30" BG except for the old 30.5" scale Gibson EB-6 (the SG version) which used actual bass tuners on an instrument strung with actual bass strings--what a concept..!

Any entirely new 'VI from Rondo should employ the smallest bass tuners (in a 4 + 2, or 3 + 3 layout), and a scale length of 30.5" and a stop tailpiece positioned so as to achieve a slightly-better-than-a Fender-VI (or Schecter Hellcat VI) string tension/allow the use of any short-scale bass strings--including piecing together custom sets from existing short-scale + piccolo singles.

PICKUPS: Single coil pickups are too noisy for playing live or home recording without being used in RWRP pairs. If a Rondo VI is going to use SC pups, then please use Strat pickups mounted in routs large enough to accommodate any Strat-sized replacement pups so that I can swap them out for hum-canceling units.

A $500 Rondo VI which can out-perform its price competitors should =​

- compact & light-weight bass tuners,

- a 30.5" scale,

- either a stop tailpiece, or a fixed Strat-style bridge with string-thru body anchoring like this: Invalid Link Removed

- three Strat pickups

- a 5-way Strat switch positioned & angled to conform with strumming hand sweep

- a maple fingerboard

- a body shape with a top horn long enough to combat neck-dive

- left-hand versions

- surf guitar color options

Thoughts..?

 

[thobbinghotrod]

Hi kurt , You have an admirable company

Making a baritone out of one of Rondo's short scale basses would not be so hard. If you were to cut a new nut and install rail type pickups you would be there.

 

[hellboy]

I like the Hellcat body shape a lot, it's very comfortable. The headstock is ugly and I wish they'd put single coils in it.

I'd use the body from this:

http://www.rondomusic.net/photos/bass/sjmbt3ts1.jpg

...since the rear "horn" on the other body style with 30" neck and a long string length behind the bridge would probably make for a large, unweildy bass vi. Plus I like the rounder body a lot better.

I'd use a 30" neck; a bit longer would be okay I guess but shorter would not. It should have 22 frets, though.

I'd prefer a rosewood fretboard, not that interested in maple.

Definitely 3 single-coil pickups; humbuckers are too dark and not twangy enough, and P-90's won't sound the same as the Strat/Jag type used in the Fender VI. People record and play live with single coils every day and have for over 50 years; there are plenty of noiseless Strat pickups for anyone who's really bothered by hum.

Pickup switching needs to allow for neck+bridge and all-3 options, so a 5-way isn't enough.

Putting bass tuners on the lower 3 or 4 strings is an interesting idea.

I agree that the tremelo is potentially problematic (I'd put a Mastery Bridge on, first off), but I definitely would NOT want a Strat-style bridge. A stoptail is fine, you can move it back if string length is an issue. Trem fans could put on a Les Trem if they really need it.

And make it available in BLACK.

 

[BenderR]

I haven't read the entire thread yet but I wanted to stop in and say hello. I ordered a CS Bass VI last year and am anxiously awaiting (and awaiting and awaiting) its arrival. I'm sure it'll be worth the wait. It's going to be made of ash with a natural finish.

Here's a conceptual image.

Link Removed

 

[hellboy]

Hi kurt , You have an admirable company

Making a baritone out of one of Rondo's short scale basses would not be so hard. If you were to cut a new nut and install rail type pickups you would be there.

...plus swapping the bridge and drilling holes for 2 more tuners, of course.

 

[lousybassist]

I haven't read the entire thread yet but I wanted to stop in and say hello. I ordered a CS Bass VI last year and am anxiously awaiting (and awaiting and awaiting) its arrival. I'm sure it'll be worth the wait. It's going to be made of ash with a natural finish.

Here's a conceptual image.

Link Removed

Looks cool! (and offsetguitars-forums-dressing-room-y ) It would probably look very nice with a black pickguard too.

When's the estimated delivery date?