• 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.
#982
Hi to all,

I see you have been discussing a little the fact that USA CG does not have a fender style neck/headstock...

I've been working during the last 9 months on a new bass vi built... I cut the body but I bought a usa cg neck...

I used a bass vi original tracing and sanded the headstock to get a true fender headstock shape.

You can get a bass vi headstock shape sanding a usa cg bass vi neck...

It just requires some careful sanding

DSCF0536.jpg
 
#983
D'Addario does makes the XL156 for Guitar/Bass Fender VI in 24-84
Click to expand...

Yeah but why not a 25-95 like the vast majority of VI players that I am aware of use is what I wonder? I have never tried the 24-84 but I always have preferred heavier strings to lighter ones for guitar and bass...so I can't see myself liking those. I have been tempted before by the price but it'd be a hassle re-setting up the guitar and not even knowing if I would like the gauge...

I see you have been discussing a little the fact that USA CG does not have a fender style neck/headstock...

I've been working during the last 9 months on a new bass vi built... I cut the body but I bought a usa cg neck...

I used a bass vi original tracing and sanded the headstock to get a true fender headstock shape.

You can get a bass vi headstock shape sanding a usa cg bass vi neck...

It just requires some careful sanding
Click to expand...

The point was more that USA CG does not sell an exact licensed shape...what they do sell is "inspired" and certainly "sandable" if you desire the actual Fender shape.. Just one manufacturer's way around a lawsuit, just like Rondo Music ducks the situation entirely by not getting nearly as close to the original designs as they used to (I have an SG copy they made several years back that they discontinued because the shape was too similar to an actual SG...now they do an SG that's more like what ESP sells)...as I'm sure Rondo Music cuts into a lot more Fender/Squire/Epiphone/Gibson sales than USA CG, because they sell to an entirely different market (cheapish player guitars versus custom DIY/private luthier).
 
#984
Has anybody else had intonation issues with the .095 E? Even after a pro set-up it is a bit sharp. I found on some other forums that some other people had the same issue and went for the .084 E with the D'Addario XL156 XL which worked well. I have a Hellcat VI. But, some others have had the issue on a MIJ Fender VI reissue as well.

How do the stock Fender VI strings work? Any opinions?

lunarpollen, if you give those LaBella Bass VI rounds steel a try let us know what you think.......
 
#986
Has anybody else had intonation issues with the .095 E? Even after a pro set-up it is a bit sharp. I found on some other forums that some other people had the same issue and went for the .084 E with the D'Addario XL156 XL which worked well. I have a Hellcat VI. But, some others have had the issue on a MIJ Fender VI reissue as well.

How do the stock Fender VI strings work? Any opinions?
Click to expand...

No once I set it up properly all the strings intonate reasonably well on my Hellcat... I think most of the low E intonation issues you might run into are inherent with short scale basses....which are simply affected by your technique as its a relatively loose string (for bass) you can't spank it hard like on a 34" bass. Truthfully though, I really don't use the low E all that much anyway...

The Fender branded VI strings work okay, but if you want bright (which is why I'm assuming you'd want round wounds...) the GHS is better and slightly cheaper...I prefer the GHS though its not exactly a night and day difference...just from my experience.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RodRy
#994
FYI, from the Facebook Schecter Hellcat VI Group:

"Do NOT get the La Bella flats! They're just a little too long for the Hellcat, presumably due to the Bass VI's tremolo. You wouldn't think this would matter so much, but you end up having to wind the "body" of the string onto the tuner post, and long story short, I ended up breaking the low E string up there."
 
#995
I am having a bit of trouble deciding which "Bass VI" type instrument to buy. Although I mostly play fingerstyle, I find the "normal" 6-string basses way to large (length and width) to fret chords.

After looking around a bit, I am leaning towards the Burns Barracuda, but they are quite hard (impossible?) to get. Fender Bass VI is too expensive, and many of the baritone models are too short, (I don't want to go shorter than 30").

Any advice?
 
#996
Richard.S.Smith said:
I am having a bit of trouble deciding which "Bass VI" type instrument to buy. Although I mostly play fingerstyle, I find the "normal" 6-string basses way to large (length and width) to fret chords.

After looking around a bit, I am leaning towards the Burns Barracuda, but they are quite hard (impossible?) to get. Fender Bass VI is too expensive, and many of the baritone models are too short, (I don't want to go shorter than 30").

Any advice?
Click to expand...

Either the Hellcat VI (Offers a lot more flexibility in it's tonal options with three coil-tappable humbuckers and a 5-way switch with a tunamatic style bridge) or a Invalid Link Removed (says baritone but it is a 29.75" scale, close enough to 30" that you don't notice a difference like you would with a 27" or 28" scale, and it has a BIGSBY!!!) - both of these have Grover tuners, the Hellcat VI is made in Korea and the Gretsch is made in China... it really depends on your needs and style, the Gretsch is more classic looking with an LP shape and a sparkle silver finish, whereas the Hellcat VI has more of a metal looking headstock and comes in black with black pickguard, or sunburst with tortoise-shell pickguard. Overall, I think the Hellcat is more of a quality build, the bridge is Tonepros, and it's a Graph Tech Tusq nut... the Pickups are Duncan Designed, not the best, but who knows what the heck is in the Gretsch... is says Gretsch TV Jones humbuckers, but meh??? :D :bassist:
 
#997
Richard.S.Smith said:
I am having a bit of trouble deciding which "Bass VI" type instrument to buy. Although I mostly play fingerstyle, I find the "normal" 6-string basses way to large (length and width) to fret chords.

After looking around a bit, I am leaning towards the Burns Barracuda, but they are quite hard (impossible?) to get. Fender Bass VI is too expensive, and many of the baritone models are too short, (I don't want to go shorter than 30").

Any advice?
Click to expand...

Don't buy Gretsch. Unless you are handy with power tools and can correct all the messed up routing.
 
#999
eboe said:
What are you needing to fix the routing for unless you are upgrading pickups etc?
Click to expand...

The pickup holes need to be routed so the pups can sit flush and neck joint is routed at an odd angle so no matter what you do you can't get rid of buzz pass the 9th fret because the neck stick out creating a lip so the neck isn't straight. Also I read somewhere that the body is actually plywood and from what I can tell it is. I am going to buy a body blank and have a luthier cut and route it. I wonder if the neck would fit into a USACG Bass VI body?

Edit:
Are there any other places that sell Bass VI or 30' scale bass bodies? Would it be possible to scale up a body tracing of a SG or Jaguar to accommodate the 5-6" longer scale of a Bass VI type instrument?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back