Bass 6 project?
- Thread starter Clint 55
- Start date
Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Re: Bass 6 project?
Cool, so you think you'd use it? I could see myself coming up with different things and enjoying the ergonomics of a guitar more. Yeah, the Squier looks too cheap. Just a baritone warmoth should work fine for me. A .019" - .085" string set in my tuning would be around 15lbs of tension like my guitar sets. Or I could possibly go a little heavier.
Cool, so you think you'd use it? I could see myself coming up with different things and enjoying the ergonomics of a guitar more. Yeah, the Squier looks too cheap. Just a baritone warmoth should work fine for me. A .019" - .085" string set in my tuning would be around 15lbs of tension like my guitar sets. Or I could possibly go a little heavier.
Re: Bass 6 project?
A well designed Bass VI (that stays and plays in tune) would always get use from me. I've played a Schecter Hellcat that was tuned EADGBE and octave lower than guitar, and it was wonderful. It sounded so deep that you could use it as your only bass, and chords sounded wonderful on it.
A well designed Bass VI (that stays and plays in tune) would always get use from me. I've played a Schecter Hellcat that was tuned EADGBE and octave lower than guitar, and it was wonderful. It sounded so deep that you could use it as your only bass, and chords sounded wonderful on it.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Bass 6 project?
With that tuning, I'd go for the normal 30" Bass VI scale. The extra 1 inch plus in scale length will help quite a bit maintaining good string tension. A regular Bass VI has pretty loose strings, even tuned in E with a 30" scale. Shorten the scale AND lower the tuning, and it'll be a flop fest, with the indistinct notes and poor intonation to go along with it.
You can get 30" scale six string basses at Warmoth too.
The Bass VI is really a sub-octave guitar, FWIW. It's just a guitar an octave down. The four low strings cover the same range as a bass guitar, but the strings across the board are tuned in the same relationships as a guitar's. They have a general feel closer to the looser, skinnier feel of guitar strings than to the tighter, fatter feel of bass strings. Their tight string spacing makes typical bass guitar finger plucking technique hard to use. Not to mention the more guitar-like electronics and vibrato that Fender used.
With that tuning, I'd go for the normal 30" Bass VI scale. The extra 1 inch plus in scale length will help quite a bit maintaining good string tension. A regular Bass VI has pretty loose strings, even tuned in E with a 30" scale. Shorten the scale AND lower the tuning, and it'll be a flop fest, with the indistinct notes and poor intonation to go along with it.
You can get 30" scale six string basses at Warmoth too.
The Bass VI is really a sub-octave guitar, FWIW. It's just a guitar an octave down. The four low strings cover the same range as a bass guitar, but the strings across the board are tuned in the same relationships as a guitar's. They have a general feel closer to the looser, skinnier feel of guitar strings than to the tighter, fatter feel of bass strings. Their tight string spacing makes typical bass guitar finger plucking technique hard to use. Not to mention the more guitar-like electronics and vibrato that Fender used.
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Chris Pile
Well-known member
Re: Bass 6 project?
Ibanez makes some great baritone guitars and long scale stuff.... but about 8 years they brought out one that was dynamite and made for only 2 years. I can't remember what they called it, it was only available in brown and it was priced quite affordably. Anyone recall it? I saw videos on YT....
Ibanez makes some great baritone guitars and long scale stuff.... but about 8 years they brought out one that was dynamite and made for only 2 years. I can't remember what they called it, it was only available in brown and it was priced quite affordably. Anyone recall it? I saw videos on YT....
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Bass 6 project?
Agree on at least 30”. You’re talking D like drop D on a bass? On my 27.5” 8 string, F# (2nd fret on a bass low E) was floppy with a .064” but sounded good. With an .080 it felt good but sounded awful. 15 lbs on that long of a string sucks.
Agree on at least 30”. You’re talking D like drop D on a bass? On my 27.5” 8 string, F# (2nd fret on a bass low E) was floppy with a .064” but sounded good. With an .080 it felt good but sounded awful. 15 lbs on that long of a string sucks.
Chris Pile
Well-known member
Re: Bass 6 project?
Here's the Ibanez I was talking about - the SRC6....
https://www.ibanez.com/usa/products/detail/src6_1p_04.html
Lots of videos if you search.
Here's the Ibanez I was talking about - the SRC6....
https://www.ibanez.com/usa/products/detail/src6_1p_04.html
Lots of videos if you search.
Re: Bass 6 project?
This is the Ernie Ball I was talking about...expensive, but it sounds great. This is the OLP version.
This is the Ernie Ball I was talking about...expensive, but it sounds great. This is the OLP version.
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Bass 6 project?
Schecter Ultra and Hellcat VIs are great. I have an MIJ Fender Jaguar bass VI and a Schecter Ultra VI and I keep the Schecter out on a stand by my amp next to my favorite guitar.
Schecter Ultra and Hellcat VIs are great. I have an MIJ Fender Jaguar bass VI and a Schecter Ultra VI and I keep the Schecter out on a stand by my amp next to my favorite guitar.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Bass 6 project?
I also tried .070, .072, and .074. Wasn't happy with any of them, including when I'd drop the .080" down to F or E. The best compromise was to go too light, and play with a really light attack, but the ultimate solution for me was to sell the guitar.
I also tried .070, .072, and .074. Wasn't happy with any of them, including when I'd drop the .080" down to F or E. The best compromise was to go too light, and play with a really light attack, but the ultimate solution for me was to sell the guitar.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Bass 6 project?
Using higher strings is the solution for many "floppiness" and apparent tension issues. IMO, the average person has become accustomed, to running their strings very low. This doesn't work as well with thicker, looser strings on a shorter scale instrument. Raise your strings, and your setup becomes easier in a couple of ways, IME. The lighter the strings are, the higher I set them, in general.
Using higher strings is the solution for many "floppiness" and apparent tension issues. IMO, the average person has become accustomed, to running their strings very low. This doesn't work as well with thicker, looser strings on a shorter scale instrument. Raise your strings, and your setup becomes easier in a couple of ways, IME. The lighter the strings are, the higher I set them, in general.
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Bass 6 project?
19-85 is way too small for a bass VI. I use 26-95s on mine in E standard.
https://www.guitarcenter.com/LaBell...MIiujPr9LV6AIVGf_jBx2ySwRSEAAYASAAEgLvVvD_BwE
19-85 is way too small for a bass VI. I use 26-95s on mine in E standard.
https://www.guitarcenter.com/LaBell...MIiujPr9LV6AIVGf_jBx2ySwRSEAAYASAAEgLvVvD_BwE
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Bass 6 project?
There are Bass VI strings available in .084", .095", and .100" for the low string. If tuning to D, I recommend going as high tension as possible. That said, even a .095" (which I consider a very skinny E string even on a long scale bass) makes the Bass VI feel cramped to me.
You can always put together your own set, if you are willing to spend a bunch of money and time experimenting.
There are Bass VI strings available in .084", .095", and .100" for the low string. If tuning to D, I recommend going as high tension as possible. That said, even a .095" (which I consider a very skinny E string even on a long scale bass) makes the Bass VI feel cramped to me.
You can always put together your own set, if you are willing to spend a bunch of money and time experimenting.
Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Re: Bass 6 project?
^ Why would I need as high of tension as possible? I have about 15lbs of tension per string in my sets on my strats which is low according to most people. And they're easy to play but still by no means loose, still kind of tight, and don't flap at all. I was thinking of shooting for this tension or maybe a little higher in case there's more flap from a longer scale. I don't need to slam with my right hand. I always build my own sets and I've already put in the years discovering what works for me. It would only take 1 or 2 tries with this new ax.
I don't understand. 64 sounded good but was floppy, 80 sounded bad but played well, and everything in between sounded bad?? That makes so sense! Why would that be? I'm sure there's a tension that wouldn't flap but would sound good too.
I don't like the treble strings way higher in tension than the bass strings. I like them slightly lower than the bass strings and the set balanced overall.
^ Why would I need as high of tension as possible? I have about 15lbs of tension per string in my sets on my strats which is low according to most people. And they're easy to play but still by no means loose, still kind of tight, and don't flap at all. I was thinking of shooting for this tension or maybe a little higher in case there's more flap from a longer scale. I don't need to slam with my right hand. I always build my own sets and I've already put in the years discovering what works for me. It would only take 1 or 2 tries with this new ax.
I don't understand. 64 sounded good but was floppy, 80 sounded bad but played well, and everything in between sounded bad?? That makes so sense! Why would that be? I'm sure there's a tension that wouldn't flap but would sound good too.
I don't like the treble strings way higher in tension than the bass strings. I like them slightly lower than the bass strings and the set balanced overall.
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CapoFirstFret
New member
Re: Bass 6 project?
I just picked up a Danelectro Baritone (will be here next week) mostly because it's a 29.75" scale. Could be a baritone or a bass vi. I'm gonna try it both ways at some point.
I just picked up a Danelectro Baritone (will be here next week) mostly because it's a 29.75" scale. Could be a baritone or a bass vi. I'm gonna try it both ways at some point.
