What's the Deal With The Bass VI?
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- Опубликовано: 31 май 2021
- Yeah, this thing is pretty weird. But I think I'm into it!
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Once you hear what Robert Smith did with the bass vi, it is no longer weird.
I personally don't think it's weird, I think it lives up to the name "bass guitar" perfectly. It is actually my favourite of all the fender "guitar" instruments that I've played/seen, my favorite of all their instruments is the Fender Rhodes, but this is a wickedly versatile instrument that I think should be far more widely used.
Agreed- it’s super unique!
It is super weird though, in a positive way. It's a spaceship from another planet almost.
I agree as it can have a even mix of guitar and bass tonal utilisation or can do e8ther or and can get the fuzzy stoner rock/metal tone which I want aswell as a bit of distortion if the selectors are in the right positions
I know for the 80s the Cure is identified with the Bass VI, but the Cocteau Twins also used it pretty heavily. I like them both.
Yeah, forgot about them! Tons of users over the years.
Solid demo man. Thank you for really taking the time to go through all the pick ups so we can hear all the different tones and explaining all the switching.
You got it- thanks for the kind words!
nice demo..bought one a couple of years ago and it's become my go to instrument when Im doing home demo recording (no need to switch between separate guitars and bass, it's all there for me in one instrument) I put slightly heavier gauge strings on it and it definitely delivers a good solid bottom end. (and yes, the close proximity of the strings did take a little getting used to, but not a major problem)
Thanks for taking the time Riggs! I’m definitely gonna add one to the recording rig. Cool tones! ✊🏽🎧
Thanks man! Hope you dig it!
Thank you for this video! Very informative. Every time this guitar came up in my bass guitar searches, I just figured it was a typo so I ignored it. Now, I really want to add one to my bass arsenal, it sounds amazing! It would also scratch my tremolo itch haha
You’re welcome! It fits well in any guitar or bass collection 🤘🏻
I have one, a Squier Classic Vibe, and it is such a Looping Track Powerhouse to record with, used for everything from country to reggae to metal, plus the old school sound, it is my dream guitar.
They’re so cool. I ended up selling this one, but I’ll get another someday
Riggs
Thank God I found your Bass vi video. You explain and you play EXCELLENT.
Thanks so much Steve - that means a lot!
Great demo ! Great instrument! Thanks ! I'm now convinced
Glad you liked it!
Great demo, what a fun instrument. I remember the Fabs using this and it sort of made sense for the 2 guitar guys to grab it when Paul was otherwise engaged. I love the different tones available, too! - the strangle switch is very handy.
It’s so much fun. I had to sell this one, but hope to get another!
Thanks for the demo and tips. I just ordered one. Definitely different.
Right on! Enjoy it!
Nice demo! I especially appreciate you comparing the pickups and strangle switch. Which model is this?
This is a Squier Bass VI, just the standard one they still make! I’ve heard the new Fender Vintera model is exceptionally good!
That cool! I used mine for some experimentation in deep metal but mainly played a few Obituary and sepultura covers on that open D string
Love that! A really versatile instrument!
It has become my main instrument for a few years now.
That’s awesome! Do you mainly use it as a bass?
@@RiggsTaylor Yeah. In one project I use it mainly as a bass and in some songs I play textures and melodies (usually higher up in the neck) with pedals.
Very nice video. I have one of these and I like it very much. What I like in particular, your speaking voice in the video is very loud and clear and every word is understandable. That's great for us non-native speakers, :) Greetings from Denmark.
Thanks so much! Glad to know it translates well- cheers from the US 🤘🏻
It’s amazing I used to own an old fender one…for post punk Cure sounding music it’s a great recording tool to add some great layer leads and you did a great video explaining what it’s all about 👍🏻
Thanks man! Glad you enjoyed it!
I have the same instrument in black,as yours is.I am a guitarist and this is a GREAT guitar to add to your arsenal.
They’re a total vibe of their own. I sold this one, but I’ll definitely get another someday!
So, this is a nice secondary bass instrument, not just for tic tac bass. Along with my regular jazz bass and synth bass, a Bass VI will be a welcome addition to my collection. I also play the guitar, so Bass VI can bring nice low lead sounds and modern 8 string-ish metal rythm tones. I would like to buy myself one.
They’re very versatile and a ton of fun!
This is done very well.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Mines ordered! Awaiting delivery!😀
Love that! They’re cool!
How is it?😃
These are really fun
Agreed! Really cool instruments
Great review!! I'm a guitar player and l find it really interesting. Do you think it can replace a bass in band?
I think it could! Plenty of bands have done just that.
I’m listening to this on my way home from picking up my own first bass vi
Congrats! Such a fun instrument!
I’ve got to have this thing
They’re really unique! Get one before prices soar due to inflation.
I've been looking at everything I could for a couple of weeks now and am still on the fence. For the most part, I've seen people demoing these with examples of what I think could be done with a baritone guitar. I guess for me the question boils down to whether I want it to also be a bass guitar. The idea that using it as a bass doesn't require any relearning of the neck and doubling could probably sound pretty darn good.
It’s definitely more bass than guitar. I have a telecaster dedicated to C standard because the Bass VI wasn’t giving me as much “guitar” range as I wanted.
From what I've seen it's also possible to have this as a baritone with the right strings, since it has basically the same scale length as the Danelectros (+1/4 inch) and Gretsch baritones
@@ElliotPooley Yeah, you definitely could if desired. I prefer the shorter end of the scale length for a baritone (like 27.5) , but you could make this work as B-B with a setup.
I use this guitar as a bass. I love this thing!
A lot of fun for sure!
I got one and I am drummer/bass guy. Good vid
That’s awesome! Thanks!
So, what type of amp do you use for that guitar? Bass amp or guitar amp?
I guess it depends on primary use. I used it mostly for guitar sounds, so I ran it through a guitar amp. But you could do either!
Hi, can you tell me please, what kind of strings do you use? thanks, cheers from Argentina
Not sure what these are- they were on it when I got it!
@@RiggsTaylor thanks a lot!
cheers!
Fender updated the gauges of their Bass VI Strings & now it's a 24-100 Gauge set.
Wow, that’s stout!
@@RiggsTaylor Fender did a great Job fixing that problematic Low E by bumping up the gauges of the 3 Lowest strings & now the Low E String is a 100 which is common for Bass.
@@ntplworship Yep it has been updated
no one doing these reviews has yet fully understood how the bass srangle swich works. It must be used together with the tone knob, otherwise its effect is practically null. Set the tone knob halfway and see how it works.
Basses are tuned in 4ths, which is why 6-string basses, 4- and 5-string alto and piccolo basses, and even the short-lived "Fender V" use a C instead of B, and an F instead of E. 30" was the standard length for Hofners, Rickenbackers, and Gibsons at the time, but that shorter length requires heavier strings than a P or Jazz bass to get the same tension; that tension would destroy a Fender VI, and if it somehow didn't, the string spacing would be even more cramped. It's a baritone guitar, brought to us from the same people that mixed up "tremolo" and "vibrato".
I agree that it’s closer to a baritone from a practicality standpoint. I wouldn’t buy this as a “bass”, but I think it’s a cool addition for either a bassist or guitarist. Personally, I’d own a standard baritone in B standard before the Bass VI, but a cool instrument nonetheless.
@@RiggsTaylor David Gilmour tuned one to A and used it on "Run Like Hell", because "baritone guitars" still didn't exist 20 years after the VI came out.
The Baritone double has that distinct post rock or slowcore sound with the delay, reverb and a bit of overdrive.
Totally! It takes up so much sonic space that it doesn’t need to move that much, which opens up some cool possibilities.
@@RiggsTaylor I kinda thinking about getting one of those bass iv myself at some stage.
@@gazeunderthesunmusic You should, I got one a few years ago and it is such a unique instrument.
I know someone who has one of these and I sounds great
They’re pretty cool! Really useful and fit in a unique gap.
Has anyone put a Roland Gk system on one of these?
Not to my knowledge, but I’d be interested to hear if someone has!
That kind of thing could put you into the Charlie Hunter ballpark.
Definitely could! It’s super cool, really unique instrument.
Is the Squire version anywhere near as good as this ?
This is the Squier version!
@@RiggsTaylor It does sound fantastic. A bass, that I could actually play comfortably.
@@hoffy1003 yeah, they’re really cool instruments! I mean if it was good enough for the Beatles, it’s good enough for me 😎
@@RiggsTaylor Exactly right. It's been the sound in my head to go to, because of the Beatles.
Mmm it appears that you still miss part of the functionality of what you call “ the strangle switch” : this switch changes the function of the “ tone control pot” effectively , so try what happens when adjusting the tone control with the switch engaged and dis-engaged results in and you will catch my drift …
Makes sense! From what I understand it’s introducing another capacitor in the mix, so obviously that affects the frequency sweep of the pot. I call it the “strangle switch” because that’s the name it has assumed over the years.
@@RiggsTaylor i know.. this switch was first on the 1962 Jaguar, where it was mend to “ strangle low harmonics” it was then copied on the 1964 ( i believe) bass VI and named “ tone control slider” but most ppl kept calling it the “ Strangle Switch” ..
I bought one.
They’re sweet!
This instrument was made to play post punk/goth
It’s super useful in a lot of styles for sure!
So it's basically a bass (sort of) for guitar players. It definitely lacks the deep, resonant tone of a normal bass guitar
Correct! It’s bass scale length, so if you put some thicker strings on it I think you could get there. A lot of people will get custom sets for these to make it feel a bit more balanced.
Mainly I've heard youtube videos with it going through guitar amps (that's where it lacks the deep resonant bass tone) but I'm pretty sure if you run just the neck pickup (with strangle switch off) through a bass amp it sounds like a bass is supposed to. There is a bass guy on youtube, "Davie" something that has a nice short video and it sounds like a killer bass guitar.
@@jmacc9876 Yep, sounds great as a bass! In the video I do some examples through an SVT emulation. Best to listen with good headphones or monitors to hear the low end though.
You strum some full chords on mine and it reverberates through my whole body, down my feet and to the floor and is louder than the stereo and amp I'm jamming with!
The Beatles played it as a short scale bass. Getting the right strings, the right amp/speakers & modding the nut & bridge as needed.
I'm thinking of switch to Bass VI from my regular guitar. Would it be a shoot my leg transition if my religion restricts me from owning more than one guitar at exact time?
Man, I couldn’t do it as a guitarist. It’s a cool secondary, but you’d be limited.
People tend to call the instrument that Leo Fender created in 1951, bass guitar for some reason, but fender named it the electric bass.
There is no guitar in the bass family and no bass in the guitar family.
So why the world started calling it bass guitar? This particular instrument that you are reviewing is probably closer to being a bass/guitar than the original electric bass
invented in 1951. It is very versatile though .
Good point!
As a bass player, I find a Bass VI awkward to play, as the strings are much closer together than on a standard bass guitar, more like what a guitarist would find familiar. It's easier with a pick but I prefer to play finger-style most of the time.
Good thoughts! Yeah, I agree that it plays a bit more like a guitar, and sounds more like a bass.
Here’s an example of myself attempting to get (the Squier Vintage Modified version of) this model kind of like a regular bass with a “tenor augmentation”. I was interested in getting it for the 3 pickups with the individual switching and the extra strings. It gives me the opportunity to play similar voicings to Victor Wooten, even though Victor hasn’t (to my knowledge) played this kind of bass.
ruclips.net/video/slezdUB7yiI/видео.htmlsi=lwdvc6h9bG04pBnZ
Super versatile instrument! I’ll check out your video!
Thank you, Taylor (or is it Riggs).
@@Shred_The_Weapon Riggs is my first name! Weird, I know 😂
I’m not complaining, @@RiggsTaylor.
As soon as you said it was going thru a bunch of effects, I knew I would not get to hear the guitar at all.
You mean except for the majority of the video where I played it direct and into an amp with no effects?
Pay attention.
Dont like his video style - goodbye
No worries! Hope you find some you dig.