Incoming NGD: Squier Vintage Modified Bass VI

[Petie]

I've always wanted a Fender Bass VI - ever since Nigel Tufnel so fiercely protected his in This Is Spinal Tap - but unless the value of Jazz III picks goes through the roof and I can make a killing selling my stockpile to a rich investor, this is the closest I'll get any time soon: the Squier Vintage Modified Bass VI. I've ordered the sunburst one and it'll be here at the end of April. (I could have had a black one sooner but I like the sunburst more - although the black one would have been an easier sell if it had a black pickguard like Robert Smith's).

Not even sure how I'm going to incorporate this into my music yet but I've always wanted one due to a variety of influences - Robert Smith, Placebo, Van Halen on 'Spanked,' etc (although the latter was a Danelectro). If you haven't heard of this instrument, it's got six strings tuned an octave below a guitar. It's great for basslines but it's also capable of some beautiful, haunting chords too. I'm looking forward to adding some low-end growl to my recordings and seeing what happens when I use it to cover rhythm guitar and bass stuff at the same time underneath Satriani-esque lead guitar melodies.

Anyone else already have one of these or a similar octave-down baritone?

 

[BTMN]

Re: Incoming NGD: Squier Vintage Modified Bass VI

Enjoy it well. Joe Perry uses one for Back In The Saddle. He had a sweet old Gibber SG 6 string bass in the late 70s but plays a Black Music Man model now.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Incoming NGD: Squier Vintage Modified Bass VI

A friend of mine bought a Squier VM Bass VI. Then, another one. Then, he wigged out and bought a Burns Barracuda.



Check out this Captain and Chappers video. They reach some surprising conclusions.

 

[Hairmail]

Re: Incoming NGD: Squier Vintage Modified Bass VI

^
It'd be fun if someone got one and stuck 3 hotrails or fast track 2s to them, I'm sure it will sound.....interesting.

 

[jtougas]

Re: Incoming NGD: Squier Vintage Modified Bass VI

A friend of mine bought one of the Squiers, and other than the nut being made out of something only slightly harder than room temperature butter, he's quite happy with it.


Sent from my iPad using a bunch of electrons, copper, and probably some fiber optical cable

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Incoming NGD: Squier Vintage Modified Bass VI

A friend of mine bought one of the Squiers, and other than the nut being made out of something only slightly harder than room temperature butter, he's quite happy with it.


Sent from my iPad using a bunch of electrons, copper, and probably some fiber optical cable

I bought a squier guitar back in 96 and the nut crumbled in short order. Dealer replaced it with a bone nut under warranty!! Saweet!!

Petie, Congrats! look forward to your review! i have a vintage modified tele and love it..

 

[Wattage]

Re: Incoming NGD: Squier Vintage Modified Bass VI

My buddy Chris has onein sunburst too, he loves the heck out of it, good luck!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Incoming NGD: Squier Vintage Modified Bass VI

Cool score, I want one myself but just before they came out with that one I bought a 30 inch Hodad Bari from Billy Sheehans personal collection. No need to 2 30 inch baritones so I've passed on the Bass VI but I do still think about it!

 

[jtougas]

Re: Incoming NGD: Squier Vintage Modified Bass VI

Petie - which songs did Placebo use a VI on?

 

[Zombiwoof]

Re: Incoming NGD: Squier Vintage Modified Bass VI

Jack Bruce used an original Bass VI in the early days of Cream, but soon switched to the Gibson EB-3. Many players used to string them as Baritone guitars, tuned to A or B instead of all the way down to the normal Bass E tuning. Fender also made a Bass V five-string, which had an added "C" high string. Neither of these were too successful for Fender when first introduced (other than strung as Baritones), so they didn't make them for too long back then. Later, when 5 and 6 string basses made a comeback, they generally added a lower string (or strings), instead of adding higher-pitched strings to a standard 4 string bass. I've had a couple of bass player friends who do something similar with a 4 string bass, throwing away the high G string and adding a heavy gauge low B string (so tuned BEAD), one of them explained to me that he never played up in the higher ranges on his bass anyway, so he didn't miss the high string.

Al