I'm thinking about getting one these or one of the squier 60s mustangs. I really want a bass VI, but the nightmare stories about the quality of these vs the other classic vibe lines is kind of offputting. I can only order online since I live in a rural small town and don't have any stores close with these in stock, so, it's a pretty big risk to take. Still, there's so much cool stuff I could do with a bass VI and it'd allow me to play bass lines as rhythm guitar without having to transpose rhythm to bass in songs without a bass track (or bass tabs)
As for the fret buzz you may have heard in this demo, that’s my fault. I’m still learning how to properly set up guitars (so I don’t have to keep paying people to set them up for me). I still need some measuring tools to set the string action and neck relief. The bridge and Trem systems work fine, but have some quirks (low E is still slightly sharp when you play up the neck - but only slightly). The whammy bar doesn’t screw in, but I’ve seen replacement parts that aren’t expensive for that. That all being said, I frickin’ love my Bass VI. It’s such a fun axe to play and hard to put down. You can absolutely play it like a bass. As for rhythm guitar, it would be very specific kinds of parts (more of a baritone guitar kind of vibe). However, if you add some gain and play it up the neck (or even with a capo), you may find some cool rhythm tones (skies the limit as far as your creativity). I’d recommend finding a used one on Guitar Center’s page (not that I’m shilling for GC, they just currently have the most used gear and more importantly for you, a return policy if you end up not liking it). I really hope all of that helps you in your decision. I wish I knew more about the 60s Mustangs, but I’ve never tried one.
@@OneRayMusic I play bass as more of a lead than a rhythm (lots of RHCP, Geddy Lee, Entwistle, 90s and 2000s punk kind of stuff), so having a guitar tuned e to e down an octave would be a good middle ground for a lot of things. And offer options for sound layering. The buzz honestly doesn't sound that bad here, I've heard much worse from budget instruments. But I'm not worried about setting up, I've heard stories of unsettable issues, crooked bridges, badly cut nuts, tuners slipping - stuff like this. I want to add a six string bass and a piccolo bass to my instrument lineup for diversity. I was going to either convert the mustang to piccolo or one of my existing basses. I think I'll get the most mileage out of a Bass VI in comparison, since it can fill a lot of holes in a soundstage, especially with the inbuilt choke switch.
That’s super rad! I really dig your influences - love those players, too! If that’s the case, the VI would be a perfect axe for you. It definitely is a settable instrument (the truss rod, tuners, and saddle intonation all work). And for layering and effects, you have lots of options with the pick-up selectors and bass kill switch for sure. I don’t think the VI would be a good platform for a piccolo bass, but I’m not sure. I think the shorter scale length of the Mustang might work better for that. You might have to get the Bass VI and the Mustang if that’s in the cards. You know, check out the Squier Paranormal Series Cyclone. It has a Mustang body but has three single coils and a whammy bar. It also uses the same sort of pick-up selectors that the Bass VI has. It’s a cool, relatively unknown guitar. I actually hope to get one at some point. Thanks again for watching, and good luck! 🍻
Are you using the lighter Fender 24-84 stringset that these come with? It sounds it from the amount of string buzz. Some Bass VI players seem to be going with the newer Fender strings set that has a less floppy 100 for the low E but you really embrace that sloppy buzzy sound that the Bass VI is capable of in a cool way sort of like Lennon on Helter Skelter, although that was flatwounds. As to the trem bar falling out, I've seen that Fender has a little spring accessory that you just drop in and it gives some grab so the bar doesn't move so easily or fall out. Bass VI is such a great instrument not just the Fender but the Danelectro and other oddballs that are out there too.
I’m using the Fender .024 - .100 set. I still need to finish setting it up to get rid of some of that string buzz. I didn’t know Fender had that accessory for the trem. I’ll have to check that out. I agree. The Bass VI is such a rad instrument. I’d love to try the Danelectros, too! Thanks so much for watching and for the information! 🍻
@@OneRayMusiccould also check out the hard tail plate (obscura mfg) and delete the tremolo. I put one on mine cuz im not a tremolo guy. Also upped the string gauge. Fixed the buzzing and holds intonation well. The bridge is still super floaty and needs to be worked on but solved alot of the problems/quirks.
That could definitely work if I decided to get rid of the Trem. I’ve seen some 3rd party manufactured trems that look pretty legit. I guess I just have to decide if I really need a Trem on a bass. 🤣 Thanks again!
@@OneRayMusic i debated for a while but ultimately decided staying in tune and cutting buzz was more important than an occasional whammy 😂 but to each thier own….If the whammy is your thing keep it. There are other ways to tighten up the bridge and tremolo
You are awesome !Thank you Sir for posting.
That means everything! Thank you so very much! 🍻
Also, Robert Smith of the Cure has used this on several songs. The bands New Order and Joy Division have used Bass VI's from Eastwood
Very cool! I didn’t know that. Thanks!
I'm thinking about getting one these or one of the squier 60s mustangs. I really want a bass VI, but the nightmare stories about the quality of these vs the other classic vibe lines is kind of offputting. I can only order online since I live in a rural small town and don't have any stores close with these in stock, so, it's a pretty big risk to take.
Still, there's so much cool stuff I could do with a bass VI and it'd allow me to play bass lines as rhythm guitar without having to transpose rhythm to bass in songs without a bass track (or bass tabs)
As for the fret buzz you may have heard in this demo, that’s my fault. I’m still learning how to properly set up guitars (so I don’t have to keep paying people to set them up for me). I still need some measuring tools to set the string action and neck relief. The bridge and Trem systems work fine, but have some quirks (low E is still slightly sharp when you play up the neck - but only slightly). The whammy bar doesn’t screw in, but I’ve seen replacement parts that aren’t expensive for that. That all being said, I frickin’ love my Bass VI. It’s such a fun axe to play and hard to put down. You can absolutely play it like a bass. As for rhythm guitar, it would be very specific kinds of parts (more of a baritone guitar kind of vibe). However, if you add some gain and play it up the neck (or even with a capo), you may find some cool rhythm tones (skies the limit as far as your creativity). I’d recommend finding a used one on Guitar Center’s page (not that I’m shilling for GC, they just currently have the most used gear and more importantly for you, a return policy if you end up not liking it). I really hope all of that helps you in your decision. I wish I knew more about the 60s Mustangs, but I’ve never tried one.
@@OneRayMusic I play bass as more of a lead than a rhythm (lots of RHCP, Geddy Lee, Entwistle, 90s and 2000s punk kind of stuff), so having a guitar tuned e to e down an octave would be a good middle ground for a lot of things. And offer options for sound layering.
The buzz honestly doesn't sound that bad here, I've heard much worse from budget instruments. But I'm not worried about setting up, I've heard stories of unsettable issues, crooked bridges, badly cut nuts, tuners slipping - stuff like this.
I want to add a six string bass and a piccolo bass to my instrument lineup for diversity. I was going to either convert the mustang to piccolo or one of my existing basses. I think I'll get the most mileage out of a Bass VI in comparison, since it can fill a lot of holes in a soundstage, especially with the inbuilt choke switch.
That’s super rad! I really dig your influences - love those players, too! If that’s the case, the VI would be a perfect axe for you. It definitely is a settable instrument (the truss rod, tuners, and saddle intonation all work). And for layering and effects, you have lots of options with the pick-up selectors and bass kill switch for sure. I don’t think the VI would be a good platform for a piccolo bass, but I’m not sure. I think the shorter scale length of the Mustang might work better for that. You might have to get the Bass VI and the Mustang if that’s in the cards. You know, check out the Squier Paranormal Series Cyclone. It has a Mustang body but has three single coils and a whammy bar. It also uses the same sort of pick-up selectors that the Bass VI has. It’s a cool, relatively unknown guitar. I actually hope to get one at some point. Thanks again for watching, and good luck! 🍻
cool, mark hoppus used one of these to record I miss you
Nice. I didn’t know that. Thanks so much for watching! I appreciate it! 🍻
Are you using the lighter Fender 24-84 stringset that these come with? It sounds it from the amount of string buzz. Some Bass VI players seem to be going with the newer Fender strings set that has a less floppy 100 for the low E but you really embrace that sloppy buzzy sound that the Bass VI is capable of in a cool way sort of like Lennon on Helter Skelter, although that was flatwounds.
As to the trem bar falling out, I've seen that Fender has a little spring accessory that you just drop in and it gives some grab so the bar doesn't move so easily or fall out.
Bass VI is such a great instrument not just the Fender but the Danelectro and other oddballs that are out there too.
I’m using the Fender .024 - .100 set. I still need to finish setting it up to get rid of some of that string buzz. I didn’t know Fender had that accessory for the trem. I’ll have to check that out. I agree. The Bass VI is such a rad instrument. I’d love to try the Danelectros, too! Thanks so much for watching and for the information! 🍻
@@OneRayMusiccould also check out the hard tail plate (obscura mfg) and delete the tremolo. I put one on mine cuz im not a tremolo guy. Also upped the string gauge. Fixed the buzzing and holds intonation well. The bridge is still super floaty and needs to be worked on but solved alot of the problems/quirks.
That could definitely work if I decided to get rid of the Trem. I’ve seen some 3rd party manufactured trems that look pretty legit. I guess I just have to decide if I really need a Trem on a bass. 🤣 Thanks again!
@@OneRayMusic i debated for a while but ultimately decided staying in tune and cutting buzz was more important than an occasional whammy 😂 but to each thier own….If the whammy is your thing keep it. There are other ways to tighten up the bridge and tremolo
100% fair! I might have to do an update video of what I decided.
Terrible fret buzz, bad roundwound strings.
Yeah. I actually had to add some relief back into the neck to get rid of the fret buzz. I may try flat wounds on the VI at some point though.