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the terms are used somewhat interchangably. but technically a bass six or six string bass (old type) is tuned E thru E w/ the lowest string the same as a standard electric bass four string. these are also usually a 30 inch scale. the most notable examples of this instrument are the fender Bass VI and the danelectro although Gibson, and Hagstrom, and numerous other made this type as well. To muddy the water even more recently companies are making true baritones which are generally 27 or 28 inch scale and tuned A-thru-A or B-thru-B w/ the low B the same as the B on a 7 string guitar, not the low B on a 5-string bass (it's one octave higher than the Low be on a 5-string bass).
And yes both are UNBELIEVABLY cool sounding. In my opinion the best vintage tic-tac style tone is obtained w/ a bass 6 played thru a fender reverb amp with the reverb up, and the bass knob on the amp turned down all the way. and played with a pick very near the bridge.
I generally prefer the vintage bass six over the baritone simply because you do not have to transpose keys in your head. although the useful range of tones in both is very similar.
johnny atomic
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