• 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 Part 3 - for the original six-string basses!

Status
Not open for further replies.
#141
Please include Bill Laswell, one of my favorite VI users. There's also a group of semi obscure Hillbilly music guys, I'll get you some names or add to the Wiki. Surf instrumentalists, noise rawk guys and grrrls...

Another thing ..Nate was the man who started the Bass VI, assuming that a "Bass VI" is a 30" scale bass guitar with six strings tuned e-e. While "Bass VI" is the Fender name, we are going to co-opt this for the general description..thereby eliminating the confusion of baritone, six string bass with low b/high c, and the rest. maybe "bass VI with no caps? But after playing one (actually a lot of different ones, but all the same 30" scale, 6 strings, tuned e-e) and trying to explain what it is..Wiki it up Tim.

next up: Tenor Bass..

tim bucknall said:
belated thanks for this John,
(I've been away a few days)
the turner tenor sounds perfect A->F would cover everything i do these days

i'll crack on w/ wiki
i need to check back with you guys at points to confirm stuff like if peter hook ever used a baritone, i assumed it was a mistake but someone @ the VI forum also posted the same info
the rest seems straightforward re:beatles entwistle, bruce etc
Click to expand...
 
#142
You will be buying this as a collectors piece, though you will be playing it too I assume..but at $3K, you can do better with a fantastic instrument that eliminates the semi rube Goldberg-like devices attached to this ax. $3k gets you a handmade spec'd to you instrument..if you like the sound of pickup X, if you would like the fretboard a bit wider, if you don't want the strange switches, the clunky trem arm..and you want it in a faded Oly white..there are builders around who would make you a dream bass VI..for $3K. probably less..

the originals are nice, I've had a few. But after you are seriously playing one for a while, as opposed to owning one, you'll find yourself thinking..hmm..if this only had.. if only the fingerboard was tad wider, I could...if only it was better..

So, just playing devil's advocate here, but when I hear of a fellow musician even vaguely entertaining the thought of that much money for something as.."specific" might be the word..I hazz to stand up and mention..yo..chief..looka this way.

Now, where's that icon of the guy hiding behind a wall of dano dead on 67 bass vi's...

llamalor2112 said:
Just got to play a real 62 Bass Vi in olympic white (now a classy aged yellow) and can honestly see why those who pony up the moneys for em do so. Dang!! It was one that was refinished/plek'd by Mike Lull and I can honestly say that it was the most perfect instrument that I have ever played! No not the most perfect bass or dare I say most perfect guitar but flat-out the most perfect instrument all together! Problem is that in order to get it atm the moment before someone else snags it, I would have to sell my beloved Les Paul.:crying: The VI costs 3grand and is in immaculate condition. I really don't want to get rid of my Les Paul but figure that I'll come across another one in a few years but when's the next time I'll come across another six like this?! Probably never. I'm sooooooo tempted.
Click to expand...
 
#143
I chose to put money into my Hellcat instead of saving up for a Fender VI for a few reasons:

1. Flatter fretboard radius (it's 12", might be 14") - I rarely if ever use chords, and being able to bend without fretting out is more important to me than easy chording.
2. Slightly wider nut - it's not a huge difference (could stand to be a little wider even, maybe), but I wouldn't want to go any narrower.
3. Smaller body - the body's very comfortable, for me at least, whether standing or sitting. The guitar isn't neck heavy at all and hangs well on a strap and never feels bulky. My hand falls in a natural place on the strings and reaching to the first fret is easy. I don't think I'd like a larger body as much, but I'm not a big guy.
4. Hard tail - I can bend with my fingers, I'd rather have a hardtail on a bass-range instrument, and the intonation is supposedly better on the Hellcat. Sustain is better, too, though it might not sound as "plucky".
5. Faster switching - the Fender VI has a logical control layout (I have the same one on my other Hellcat) that offers a good range of options, but it's not particularly fast. The knife switch allows me to flick quickly between any of 5 positions (with my two most common at either end of the range so I don't have to worry about overshooting). Adding a toggle switch allowed me to access all the Fender settings plus three series options, so I'm not giving up any flexibility, and I still never have to use more than 2 switches.
6. No worries about any modifications (or injuries) damaging its vintage status.
7. Thanks to #6, I have a noiseless pickup at the bridge.

That doesn't mean the Fender is inferior or wouldn't be a better choice for someone else. Other people might prefer a smaller fretboard radius, larger body, vibrato bridge, narrower nut, or just like the looks - or they want something collectible that's a part of history. Nothing wrong with that either.
 
#144
hellboy said:
That doesn't mean the Fender is inferior or wouldn't be a better choice for someone else. Other people might prefer a smaller fretboard radius, larger body, vibrato bridge, narrower nut, or just like the looks - or they want something collectible that's a part of history. Nothing wrong with that either.
Click to expand...

That right there describes me and my and some of the major reasons that I liked it so much.:D For anything else I have my Argus!
 
#146
llamalor2112 said:
Just got to play a real 62 Bass Vi in olympic white (now a classy aged yellow) and can honestly see why those who pony up the moneys for em do so. Dang!! It was one that was refinished/plek'd by Mike Lull and I can honestly say that it was the most perfect instrument that I have ever played! No not the most perfect bass or dare I say most perfect guitar but flat-out the most perfect instrument all together! Problem is that in order to get it atm the moment before someone else snags it, I would have to sell my beloved Les Paul.:crying: The VI costs 3grand and is in immaculate condition. I really don't want to get rid of my Les Paul but figure that I'll come across another one in a few years but when's the next time I'll come across another six like this?! Probably never. I'm sooooooo tempted.
Click to expand...

The '62's are nice but the 1963 model year introduced the flip-up string mute...
 
#147
llamalor2112 said:
Just got to play a real 62 Bass Vi in olympic white (now a classy aged yellow) and can honestly see why those who pony up the moneys for em do so. Dang!! It was one that was refinished/plek'd by Mike Lull and I can honestly say that it was the most perfect instrument that I have ever played! No not the most perfect bass or dare I say most perfect guitar but flat-out the most perfect instrument all together! Problem is that in order to get it atm the moment before someone else snags it, I would have to sell my beloved Les Paul.:crying: The VI costs 3grand and is in immaculate condition. I really don't want to get rid of my Les Paul but figure that I'll come across another one in a few years but when's the next time I'll come across another six like this?! Probably never. I'm sooooooo tempted.
Click to expand...

As some other posters have alluded to, if you can get past the "Fender VI-mystique" there are some other ways to spend the $3k. Probably less.

For example, this might be a very attractive option...The Super VI....

Invalid Link Removed

Check the site for all the options/particulars. Could customize it a million different ways. Probably a wait for one. But, it sure looks worth it.

Hellboy's very creative Hellcat VI customization would be another direction to consider.
 
#148
Any of you guys though of convering a 30" scale bass into a VI? A new nut, dowel and drill the headstock, bridge, electronics... get yourself an SX and the proper parts, could be a cool project.
 
#149
+ 1 on the Super VI.., augmented with...

- a ~1.625" nut width
- a zero fret
- a 9.5" fretboard radius
- a 30.3" scale length
- an ebony 'board + aged white binding & MOP block inlays
- an ash body finished in aged translucent white
- a gold anodized aluminum pick-guard
- a Jaguar bridge and matching flip-up string mute
- 3 Electric XII split coil pickups with aged white covers
- on-off-on pickup selector slide switches
- a parallel/series slide switch
- a pull/push pot-switch tone control/strangle switch
- copper shielding
- a form-fitting hard shell case
- and another whimsical haul off the bong. :D
 
#150
MIJ-VI said:
+ 1 on the Super VI.., augmented with...

- a ~1.625" nut width
- a zero fret
- a 9.5" fretboard radius
- a 30.3" scale length
- an ebony 'board + aged white binding & MOP block inlays
- an ash body finished in aged translucent white
- a gold anodized aluminum pick-guard
- a Jaguar bridge and matching flip-up string mute
- 3 Electric XII split coil pickups with aged white covers
- on-off-on pickup selector slide switches
- a parallel/series slide switch
- a pull/push pot-switch tone control/strangle switch
- copper shielding
- a form-fitting hard shell case
- and another whimsical haul off the bong. :D
Click to expand...

Maybe best to start with your last point.......;)
 
#152
hellboy said:
Because the Hellcat strings are made out of unicorn hair and rainbows. Well, maybe only the stainless steel rounds. The Bass VI strings cost more because they actually exist, and solid matter is more expensive than imagination.
Click to expand...

Your wait may be coming to an end. Looks like the Cat VI LaBellas are finally scheduled to come into Elderly later this month as ample supplies of unicorn hair and rainbows have been observed arriving at their factory.

Elderly.com site has an updated ETA of 6/25 for flats and nickle rounds and July 9 for the stainless rounds. Few days ago arrival date was "Unknown."
 
#154
hellboy said:
I chose to put money into my Hellcat instead of saving up for a Fender VI for a few reasons:
....
Click to expand...

I totally agree. I keep thinking about getting a Fender Bass VI but then I start asking myself, "how is it better than a Hellcat?" and realize a modded Hellcat is functionally a better and cheaper option. I already own a Hellcat, but I'm thinking of buying another for experimenting with mods.

I can't really think of any features of a Bass VI that I'd prefer over a Hellcat other than the pickups, which can easily be mod'ed. A trem? Who needs a trem on a bass? And I'm sure the trem only introduces complexity and potential problems. I guess the only thing that gives a Fender Bass VI and edge is it's "cool" and "vintage".

People might wonder about the quality of Hellcat; I've been very impressed by it. Sure, I've done a good setup and some small mods, but now it's a very impressive instrument. And I have some experience in high quality instruments, owning other instruments like a D'Pergo AVC strat (~$7.5k), two Teufels (~$7k each), a Koll (~$4k), several high-end Hamers, etc. Sure, the Hellcat isn't as good as the above mentioned instruments, but it's as good as most American strats I've played.

Mark
 
#155
MarkF786 said:
I totally agree. I keep thinking about getting a Fender Bass VI but then I start asking myself, "how is it better than a Hellcat?" and realize a modded Hellcat is functionally a better and cheaper option. I already own a Hellcat, but I'm thinking of buying another for experimenting with mods.

I can't really think of any features of a Bass VI that I'd prefer over a Hellcat other than the pickups, which can easily be mod'ed. A trem? Who needs a trem on a bass? And I'm sure the trem only introduces complexity and potential problems. I guess the only thing that gives a Fender Bass VI and edge is it's "cool" and "vintage".

People might wonder about the quality of Hellcat; I've been very impressed by it. Sure, I've done a good setup and some small mods, but now it's a very impressive instrument. And I have some experience in high quality instruments, owning other instruments like a D'Pergo AVC strat (~$7.5k), two Teufels (~$7k each), a Koll (~$4k), several high-end Hamers, etc. Sure, the Hellcat isn't as good as the above mentioned instruments, but it's as good as most American strats I've played.

Mark
Click to expand...

Very rational observations and conclusion. Aside from a string mute (which would be great,) the pups/electronics (decent, but could be better and which can be retrofitted) I think all of us basically agree that the Cat VI has just about all the basses covered vs. a Bass VI. Personally, I agree with your observations about the Trem, much prefer the TonePro fixed bridge system/locking tailpiece for it's sustain as well as ability to stay in tune. And at $599 new it is a real bargain. In addition, the availability of hi-quality, Cat VI-specific strings from LaBella in both flats and rounds is a substantial plus. Hellboy did some amazing pups mods on his which he shared a few pages back.
 
#159
That Gibson is awesome, and its surprisingly cheap considering how rare eb6 are. a hollowbody eb-6 is on ebay for 8500.

With that said, it'd be better if it were a double neck version of the original hollow-body eb-6 design with a eb 2 bass.
 
#160
entisgood said:
That Gibson is awesome, and its surprisingly cheap considering how rare eb6 are. a hollowbody eb-6 is on ebay for 8500.

With that said, it'd be better if it were a double neck version of the original hollow-body eb-6 design with a eb 2 bass.
Click to expand...

that's really good..a double neck eb6/eb2..

I played an original eb6 and while it had a wowzer effect going amongst people that it would wow..blehhh..really, for most of the useful tones generated out of it, you'd be better off with any 30" scale single coil 4 string bass.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back