• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

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

Status
Not open for further replies.
#841
I would like to hear more examples of the VI (and/ or related instruments) on the more bassy side of things, to see how far it can go in that direction.
Click to expand...

IMHO, the amplifier that you choose to play a bass VI through greatly determines the sonic direction... When I was shopping for amps for mine, I found that plugging it into modern bass amps resulted in a tone not unlike what you'd expect from a normal 4-stringer, obviously related to pickup settings chosen as certain settings emphasize/de-emphasize the bottom as well... As that is not the sound I was going for (I use it more as a deep guitar), I moved along to guitar amps and found the sound I associate a bass VI with. Obviously the bottom isn't nearly as full as what you get out of a bass amp (especially since you want to cut the bottom out so as to avoid blowing your speakers...), but in a pinch you can still get a bass sound. I ultimately settled on a Fender 59' Bassman RI as my primary amp for my VI... The only amp that I liked better is a Fender Twin, but I got a great deal on a second-hand Bassman.

dont they sound and play like a guitar??
Click to expand...

See above... Dependent on pickup settings and choice of notes/chords...playing chords on the upper strings in "normal" guitar range results in a distinctly guitar sound... Playing chords in baritone range (using the low A string) results in a deep guitar/baritone sound... Fingerstylin' the bottom 4 strings results in a bass sound... Playing in the upper register results in the sound that I generally associate with a VI...even though its well within guitar-range, its that distinct "deep moody" guitar sound like what Robert Smith plays in.

The feel is very much like a guitar with bass strings on it, maybe not something that is immediately easy to play, but definitely easier to play chords on than a 32" or 34" bass... The spacing is very guitar-like...and if your hands are already strong from playing heavy strings the transition isn't so bad. From what others have said, and I agree...that most people that play a VI as their primary instrument develop their own style to accommodate for the instrument's eccentricities...
 
#843
kslight said:
...playing chords on the upper strings in "normal" guitar range results in a distinctly guitar sound... Playing chords in baritone range (using the low A string) results in a deep guitar/baritone sound... Fingerstylin' the bottom 4 strings results in a bass sound...
Click to expand...

Aha...

Very interesting!! :)

So for playing chords is much better to produce them in the 3 or 4 upper strings..., correct??

kslight said:
...The feel is very much like a guitar with bass strings on it, maybe not something that is immediately easy to play, but definitely easier to play chords on than a 32" or 34" bass... The spacing is very guitar-like...
Click to expand...

It would be very interesting to provide a brief 'tutor' for the Fender VI style playing and covering all its capabilities: chords, fingerstyling bass and arpeggios...

Best!! :)

cbaixo
 
#844
cbaixo said:
Hi again MIJ-VI!! :)

Oh I see...

Which seems clear is that they changed from the 2 Jazzmasters + Les Paul + Precission line to the unknown_guitar + Jazzmaster + 2 Fender VI's somewhere in 1961 or 1962, judging from your clip and my photo..., didn't they??

It's very interesting indeed...

Best!! :)

cbaixo
Click to expand...

Hi cbaixo.

The Tielmans have used many different instruments throughout their career as fine musicians and showmen (Link Removed):

The Timor Rhythm Brothers in Surabaya 1947.jpg

The Timor Rhythm Brothers in Surabaya 1947
l/r: Ponthon, Reggy, Loulou, Jane, Andy Tielman

--------

It's heart-warming when kids discover their musical talent at a young age.

It's also an indication of loving parents who understand the value of investing in their children's future.

Lets hear it for raising kids in a house of harmony! :)

--------

Well, enough with the sentimentality. Now, where were we?

Ah yes...

BOOM! Twang!!:D
 
#845
MIJ-VI said:
Hi L.B.

Fender VI's do have a nice easy-on-the-ears pillowy soft boom, don't they? :)
Click to expand...
They do. :)

MIJ-VI said:
What kind of strings were you using in these videos?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure, since it's the strings that were installed when I bought the VI, but I think that it's simply a set of Fender's roundwound stainless Bass VI strings. That's what I have on the VI now, and they do feel similar to the ones that were on before.
 
#846
Hi MIJ-VI!! :)

MIJ-VI said:
...The Tielmans have used many different instruments throughout their career as fine musicians and showmen (Link Removed):

View attachment 138204

The Timor Rhythm Brothers in Surabaya 1947
l/r: Ponthon, Reggy, Loulou, Jane, Andy Tielman
...
Click to expand...

Yes I know. They changed from that line up (=Double Bass + Hawaiian + 2 acoustics) to the following line up in 1961 (=Precission + 2 Les Paul + Jazzmaster) to the next one in 1962 (=2 Fender VI + Jazzmaster + unknown_guitar at your clip)...

A 'natural' and exciting improvement... :)

Thanks again!! :)

cbaixo
 
#849
Wow...43 pages and not one picture of a Dano six string bass...that ends NOW

These are exactly the Dano Baritones except for two differences - the tuners are upgraded to Gotohs that accommodate larger string gauges, as does the bridge, and the bridge has adjustable saddles, not the single wood piece. The 6 string bass can be strung and tuned either A-A (like the Baritone) or E-E, so it can do double duty. The Baritones can't accommodate the larger string gauge, so it's a bit more of a challenge to go E-E with the stock Baritone hardware. It can be done, as previous posters have done it with success, but the Six String Bass was designed to go lower than the Bari. This is a 90's issue Danelectro Six String Bass.

dano_bass_6_side-front.gif


dano_bass_6_head_front.gif


dano_bass_6_full.gif
 
#851
lousybassist said:
Perhaps, but then I'd probably want another VI (or similar 30" six string), so that I could string one with rounds and one with flats. :) At the moment, though, rounds suit my needs and playing style better than flats.
Click to expand...

Well, if the Agile VI turns out as good as the Link Removed series (due for Jan. 2010 release) appears to be, you may wish to snap up some fret-preserving flats for you Fender [Invalid or Expired Link Removed].
 
#853
What is the string spacing like? Any wider than the Hellcat VI or Fender VI? Also: SOUND CLIPS?

flyin_samoan said:
Wow...43 pages and not one picture of a Dano six string bass...that ends NOW

These are exactly the Dano Baritones except for two differences - the tuners are upgraded to Gotohs that accommodate larger string gauges, as does the bridge, and the bridge has adjustable saddles, not the single wood piece. The 6 string bass can be strung and tuned either A-A (like the Baritone) or E-E, so it can do double duty. The Baritones can't accommodate the larger string gauge, so it's a bit more of a challenge to go E-E with the stock Baritone hardware. It can be done, as previous posters have done it with success, but the Six String Bass was designed to go lower than the Bari. This is a 90's issue Danelectro Six String Bass. ]
Click to expand...
 
#854
Well, if the Agile VI turns out as good as the Interceptor 8 series (due for Jan. 2010 release) appears to be, you may wish to snap up some fret-preserving flats for you Fender while they're still cheap.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'd totally buy flats if I had a second VI. Rondo Music seems to be in the midst of carving out a new niche of sorts...a budget producer of quality instruments with a lot of custom options...I can't recall the last manufacturer in their price range that lets you tell them what finish/fretboard wood/handed-ness/scale length/et cetera you want your guitar to be... Granted, they only offer that on the Interceptor and Intrepid range (me personally, I prefer the look of the Intrepid range, if I wasn't buying a house in two weeks I would totally preorder a 30" scale Intrepid with dual Cepheus pickups, Ghostburst finish, and ebony fretboard), but I wouldn't be surprised if he eventually offers those options for other unique projects that he chooses to undertake (such as the Agile VI). And as far as I can tell, Agile makes the best production 8-string guitar out of everyone... I'm not an expert in those matters, but they seem to have really gone out of their way to satisfy the board members of Sevenstring.org who originally confronted Kurt with the project, and seem to have really improved on the design over Schecter, Ibanez...et cetera (to my knowledge there isn't a manufacturer out there right now that is making 28.625" or 30" scale 8 string guitars...only 25.5" and 26.5", which seems completely ******** considering that they tune all the way down to a low F# on comparitively light strings to what we use on our VIs).

Wow...43 pages and not one picture of a Dano six string bass...that ends NOW

These are exactly the Dano Baritones except for two differences - the tuners are upgraded to Gotohs that accommodate larger string gauges, as does the bridge, and the bridge has adjustable saddles, not the single wood piece. The 6 string bass can be strung and tuned either A-A (like the Baritone) or E-E, so it can do double duty. The Baritones can't accommodate the larger string gauge, so it's a bit more of a challenge to go E-E with the stock Baritone hardware. It can be done, as previous posters have done it with success, but the Six String Bass was designed to go lower than the Bari. This is a 90's issue Danelectro Six String Bass.
Click to expand...

I would love a Dano VI if they released it with the "Dead On" body styles they currently have... Still considering a Dead On Baritone, but that is definitely low on my priority of guitar-related expenses at the moment (1. Agile VI 2. Agile Intrepid 3. Dano Bari?).
 
#859
MIJ-VI: Not sure what the Dano is a reissue of. I'm not up on the historical accuracy of the 90s Dano reissues vs. the originals, but it's a cool instrument(!)

savinggrace: String spacing is tight,as I'm used to Fender spacing on a bass. I'd play it with a pick, definitely. I haven't tried out any other six string basses - I was surprised that there were so many available! I play a lot of guitar, so playing with a pick is no problem. It's funny - this instrument feels more like a guitar to me than a bass, even though it it a a bass range instrument. That probably has a lot to do with the string spacing. Sound clips can be found Invalid Link Removed. Not my guitar, these clips are from a Dano page.

kslight: I've been searching specifically for a Dano 6 string bass on the SF Bay Area Craigs List. It took about two years - it's really nice when the right instrument/good deal combo show up. Looks like the "Dead On" series may have brought the prices down on these reissues (geez, the current state of the economy may have something to do with it, too...) They were going for as much as $500 on ebay a couple of years ago. I picked mine up for $300 with a nice gig bag and 2 sets of strings, got to check it out first, etc. I'm pretty satisfied that I got a fair deal. I like the U2 look, even if it isn't historically accurate.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back