Talk me into or out of a Bass VI

https://www.tdpri.com/threads/just-ordered-my-first.1055095/#post-10249847

Worth a look?

 

You should definitely try one before you buy. I had one of the older MIJ baritone Jags. It wasn't my favorite guitar--fine as a baritone B to B, but a little floppy as a bass. I did record with it once or twice, and for that sound, it was pretty great. The MIJ (I think it actually said Crafted in Japan) was well made, I just didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would and eventually traded it toward a Jazzmaster.

I tried a CV when they first came out and it was super heavy. I was all set to get one, but after playing it, I decided I liked my regular bass better (I later got a Hofner Beatle Bass and like that even more.)

 

They are neat, and I’ve been tempted, but in the end.. they aren’t all that cheap for what ends up being a niche or novelty instrument, for most people that buy them.

basically, a regular bass or downtuning with thicker strings can do the majority of what the bass VI has to offer. I can definitely do B or C with thick enough strings on a Tele or Strat.

that’s my attempt at talking you out of it.

 

I have a Schecter Hellcat VI. It's the same concept as a Bass VI but with a tune-o-matic bridge and 3 mini-humbuckers.

It has flats on it at the moment. They are coming off as soon as I get some free time. I like flats on a normal bass but they kill everything cool about the Bass VI, in my opinion. The clarity is all gone but they don't add back any of the low-end thump lost with a short scale.

I have used it as a substitute bass accompanying piano and acoustic guitar. In that setting, chest-punching low-end isn't missed. The higher strings let me add some simple embellishments that make sparse instrumentation more interesting.

It doesn't replace a real bass. If the song calls for a punchy P-Bass sound, better grab a Precision.

It excels at riff-writing and getting me out of my guitar ruts.

Some effects work well with it.

 

I’ve got a longhorn 6 strung up as a baritone A-a. It was kind of unwieldy as that old school 6 string bass, and really not very applicable to much. As a baritone its gotten a crap ton of use. I’d say get one and string it up as a baritone guitar. That 30 inch scale is really key I think, and makes a much better baritone than bass.

 

Wait until the Bass VII comes out.

 

The problem with baritones, 12 strings and the like is that you need a regular musical reason to break them out, as regular guitars and basses do a better job of all the regular things we do every day. If you have some kind of music you play that requires a bass VI, I guess you know it already, and if you don't - do you need it? If you want it and can afford it, then who am I to talk you out of it. But not that many guys really need a bass 6, baritone ukelele, resonator mandolin and so forth.

 

I have one of these too and im glad i do, its alot of fun. I have a set of flats to put on it, now im hesitant. Its actually real nice to play slide on.

 

I have all those things
Yes, they sit in cases mostly but when i need a Banjolin by golly, I've got one.

 

I tend to think of my Longhorn as a big guitar, and so I play it through my guitar amps. I end up capoing very very often. My favorite is at the 3 fret, and playing in key of C or F. Its awesome. The Danelectro-ness of the thing really lends itself to big stringy, piano-like tones. Thats whats fun about the baritone tuning, is that its really very much in guitar world. I think even really that old school 6 string bass is also more in guitar world than bass world. It sounds like your leaning more towards piano-like textures and less “heavy” music? I think you’re right most people are using them wrong.

 

I hear you, yes exactly.....There is a place for this “thing” though, I really think. Again, in my experience, its been the baritone tuning that allowed for lots of usage and many different stylistic applications.

 

A lot of Bass VI in The Cure.

 

For - Best guitar body shape Fender has ever done... I really, really, REALLY want a regular 6 string in this shape.
Against - Strings will be expensive.

 

Its 1 5/8" nut width is narrow,
but doable: And up the neck, the strings are right on the fret edges.

- If tuned E-E, a fatter E helps, close or above .100"
Palm muting that string helps.

- Shimming the neck up helps some "tightening" things up on the low strings.

- They're fun!! They can easily work w another bassist, etc. Fingerstyle w bass, chord, melody is epic.

- Ideally a scale length of 30.25" or so would be nice, and nut width > 1 11/16"


.TRY in person!

 

bought one thinking well its just a 6 string guitar with fat strings..well ya need fat fingers and fat arms for it too..if your physique fits the requirements it might suit you. if you got arms like olive oyl might want to get a workout video instead.

 

I really wanted my band to do Back in the Saddle by Aerosmith , so I worked to learn up all the 6 string bass parts , but it just lacked the umph played on a regular 6 string guitar. I than watched a guy on YouTube who suggested using a Moer octave pedal if you didn’t have the Bass VI. It worked for all of $29 used. Wife got home and I shared how I saved her so much money that day......
POG would work also