Is the Fender Bass VI really a bass?! 🤔

A contentious topic for sure... What's your take...
Fender Bass VI... Bass 👍🏻 or Guitar 👎🏻?
👀
#bassguitar #basslove #basslife #bassplayersunited #bassplayer #bassline #scottsbasslessons #sbl

[@daviddesmond2143]

Brilliant they used the bass 6 for the lead with vibrato and reverb in Wichita Lineman in the 1960's that just melts people's hearts. Singer Glen Campbell was an accomplished guitarist and bassist as well as part of the Wrecking Crew and bassist for the Beach Boys as well as a TV star of his own variety show long ago. Bass 6 was used to play a lead and not hold down the groove in this song.

[@seanmccafferty2296]

Wasn't it Carole Kaye that player bass on that song?

[@AnitaMeitner]

​@@seanmccafferty2296they had two basses on the song, Carol Kaye on 4 string bass and Glenn Campbell on a 6 string danelectro bass.

[@swingonthespiral]

Dude THANK YOU for that awesome bit of trivia. I love that song and always just thought it was an old strat with a tremolo pedal.

[@masterragebaiter]

Wow! Great info. I always assumed it was a baritone guitar!

[@masterragebaiter]

@@swingonthespiralexactly but I thought it was a baritone guitar. That fender almost acts like a baritone guitar

[@Aaron-zh4kj]

Something criminal is no one talks about the two pieces of awesome circuitry in it. First it has a bass cut switch, so that it will hit the front a bass amp like a bass (so it sounds like a bass) or will hit the front of a guitar amp like a guitar by cutting the bass (so the bass doesn't make a guitar amp sound wooly and overdriven in a bad way). As well, when you engage the bass cut switch, the tone switches from a regular tone control to a bass contour control (you can dial back the bass). That's an amazing feature I wish would appear in more instruments. Leo Fender was truly cooking as an inventor. And what's wild most of all people known about it just what came from the 50's and 60's. His work with music man and g&l produced some truly amazing new instrument designs and features

[@H0kram]

Thanks for the input. Btw most channels seems determined not to review G&L basses. I guess they don't do sponsorship, for the better or worse, because I have a hard time finding in depth videos that cover the G&L basses.

[@skateify31]

bass cut switch is something I've been clamoring for in guitars (ever since I started playing SGs...)

[@Aaron-zh4kj]

@@H0kram I keep coming back to looking at G&L's online. For made in America instruments, they're crazy cheap, and you can get a customized Made in America instrument from them for crazy, last I remember. I can't stop looking up their Jazzmaster equivalent (Doheny); looks so cool and updated, between the modern tremolo and pickups and it still has the classic look (Jazzmasters' and jaquars' bridges/tremolo and design are not very modern or optimal). I definitely have seen even LESS about the basses.

[@Aaron-zh4kj]

@@skateify31 If you know simple basics with electronics, there are a number of schematics online you can use to change one of your tone pots into a bass control (for an SG, you could turn the two tone controls into a master tone and master bass cut). G&L has their variety of a bass cut that you can look up and copy, Reverend Guitars puts a "bass contour knob" in all their guitars that you can also find online and copy, and you can actually just buy from Fender a Fender TBX control with all the components together as one item off the shelf (one knob control that uses two stacked pots, a resister, and a capacitor; middle position on the knob is unaffected signal, turning to one side turns down bass, turning to the other side turns down treble like a regular tone control).

[@skateify31]

@@Aaron-zh4kj I have been meaning to try this! so many projects so little time... thanks for the info

[@levigoodwin3522]

The Wichita Lineman solo is 100% what I would play first if I ever picked up a bass 6!

[@eyeball226]

Not only is it a bass guitar, it's more of a bass guitar than the precision and jazz, which are arguably a hybrid of guitar and upright bass. The P bass originated as a "guitarified" double bass that would be familiar to upright players of the day. The Bass VI is a literal bass register guitar.

[@victorlinge92]

Explain please

[@kpbassy]

That is silly. No way is it more of a bass guitar than a P or a J. No one plays a V6 with their fingers also. They all have bass frequencies but none are better than the other.

[@eyeball226]

@@victorlinge92 Which bit didn't you understand?

[@eyeball226]

@@kpbassy My point is that the VI is literally a bass guitar. It is a guitar in the bass register. The four string bass, e.g. the original P and J basses were derived from the upright bass, hence the string spacing. I'm not disparaging them, I'm just saying they're a hybrid getting their frets and playing position from the guitar and their tuning and string spacing from the double bass. p.s. I play my VI with my fingers because I also play fingerstyle guitar so the string spacing isn't an issue for me.

[@kpbassy]

@@eyeball226okay I will agree you can play the V6 with your fingers but I will stick with they all are equal.

[@joshuavincentparrella6853]

The secret weapon on many Beatles tracks…

[@inferiorpatty]

Helter skelter…

[@jbognap]

Especially when John or George had to play bass. Although George played a Jazz bass on Abbey Road.

[@franksmith6871]

Jack Bruce played a Fender Bass VI at Creams early gigs and used it on their first album "Fresh Cream". Pretty good endorsement!

[@bepitan]

not really, jack was frustrated because he wanted to be as upfront in the mix as eric which pissed off the other two no end .. his bass vi career somehow came to an abrupt halt.

[@franksmith6871]

@@bepitan Disagree. They were a 3-piece band. Plenty of room for them all to be "up front", and they all were. He was just as up front with his Gibson EB-3.

[@bepitan]

@@franksmith6871 .. it's not my opinion, i just read a lot of biographies.

[@anandobharti2717]

@@bepitan he stopped playing the VI because it was painted by The Fool at the same time as they painted Clapton's SG. after the painting the neck was sticky and unplayable, that's when he switched to the Gibson EB3

[@bepitan]

@@anandobharti2717 ..yeah i saw that, so many conflicting stories ..why he didn't just paper down the finish on the neck baffles me.

[@Dartania]

Love this instrument. Some say it’s second string, but I say it’s versatile with a unique sound. Oh, and, wrong channel but viola > violin to my ears.

[@Simbosan]

You cost me $1000!!! I saw one of these on a 2nd hand auction site and won the bidding. Should arrive this week!

[@silverrain99205]

How do you like your bass?

[@H0kram]

What do you think about it after a few months?

[@Simbosan]

@@H0kram Struggling to find a use for it, very niche. Difficult to play well but does some things beautifully

[@H0kram]

@@Simbosan I see, thank you for your honest feedback :)

[@Simbosan]

@@H0kram My latest discovery is finger picking like it was an acoustic. Very pretty

[@maxmarkowski7641]

THE CURE GUITAR

[@lesterunwin]

fell in love with the bass VI after watching the cure in orange.

[@vic5594]

The sound of Disintegration

[@akwilson1676]

Buy it just for Picture Of You. Refuse to elaborate.

[@fjahnhogler]

The Hollies’s bassis Eric Haydock played a Bass VI for most of the early Hollies songs, 1963-1964 or so. Quite interesting that such a young lad from Manchester chose that over Höfners, P-basses and Epiphone Rivolis!

[@adamwalcott_official]

Ian, as a Bass VI lover, give the album "TNT," by Tortoise a listen. "Standards" and "Millions Now Living Will Never Die" also have some Bass VI used, but the vibe on "TNT" is right up your alley.

[@SiberianScalper]

The pure Cure sound of Faith, Disintegration and Wish

[@Farewelltokingz]

Which they nicked from Peter Hook’s shergold vi playing on Joy Division’s “closer”

[@timatkins8163]

The Cure is the amazing!! Robert’s lines on “Pictures of you” and “Push” rule!! 2nd best Brit band behind the Beatles (who also used the bass 6) JoyD/New Order can suck my balls

[@EllissDee4you4me]

One of the music stores down the road has had one of these for a while it’s Olympic white with a red pickguard and an upgraded bridge/trem system. And every time I go there I just end up playing it. One of these days I’m gonna be in a good mood or a really bad mood and make a pretty irresponsible purchase. I don’t need one of these but it is a lot of fun and I have a twin reverb. I know it would sound great as a baritone guitar tuned A to A after changing the nut. And some fatter sounding pickups. I don’t know it’s not like I’ve given this hours and hours of thought or anything.

[@William.Driscoll]

I hope you make a decision you can live with, including making some moves some evenings or weekends, or making a sacrifice that may be a 'yes', but isn't a 'hell-yes'.

[@chancellor9000]

Just do it! Life is short.

[@MarkoLaurentOnline]

Aerosmith - Back in the saddle 🤘🏻

[@dandaddeadbeat8788]

Saw one listed at a local guitar shop's website under bass guitars. Thanks for informing me before I said anything and embarrassed myself.

[@keroroclaptrappikachuanimation]

It was used in Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys

[@Fooma777]

I just finished up a studio session last week and as a fun little treat tried doubling my part with a bass 6 and it sounds Interesting

[@ZorinZato]

I ALMOST bought one. Went with a Yamaha BB434 and couldn’t be happier, but I’m still going to get one some day

[@landmo6481]

Bro, love the Minnesota rep

[@dawsonabel6068]

Love the hat!!! MN represent!!!

[@leevipennanen7094]

I would only play Twin Peaks theme om repeat

[@pellabandgeek]

I had really bad GAS for one of these all month and this video isn't helping

[@toddhatfield5329]

Get it. You won't regret it

[@VijemaVati]

If you got the money to spare for it, I say go for it brev.

[@Codyrandallmusic]

This is what they used when recording Frankie Vallies “Who Loves You”. I always thought it was a guitar in the video but after seeing this and taking a closer look, it’s absolutely a bass 6!

[@LudoReaper]

Omg imagine that with a royal blood type tone! You can get a full guitar with the bass!

[@alienated8113]

First thing I'd try would be seven nation army

[@BassPlayerNcl]

Bass VI is great! I had a Gretsch Duane Eddy and it actually had more bottom end than my Fender four stringers. It was totally possible to play ‘normal’ bass on it. Although, the string spacing did take a while to get used to for picking/ plucking.

[@jimillwilliams]

I love how small the spacing and width of the neck is. No need to stretch a thing lol

[@livebassngames]

that might be my next bass haha Always loved it

[@alisterfolson]

Dude played it in Cream in a video for Strange Brew

[@davidlewis8814]

Got one for Christmas! So, so happy!!

[@floridamankyle5461]

I have a Classic Vibe Bass VI, and with a looper, octave pedal and some reverb, it is a one instrument music making machine, I WILL NEVER PLAY BASS THE SAME WAY EVER AGAIN

[@claudevieaul1465]

Yes, a VI is (also!) a bass. I've restrung mine with far better strings than the flimsy Fender ones it came with (LaBella set) and thát made a huge difference! Playing with my fingers I can certainly get a very useful bass sound from it, even if the string spacing takes some getting used to. And using a pick it's so easy to play chords or licks too... I love my VI, very versatile!

[@adammassacre4715]

I was waiting for some de-tuned Mick Gordon Doomstyle riffage. These things are insane for that genre I was very surprised by those single coils.

[@prince00thieves60]

Simon Gallup used this before has it in a music video forgot which song but when I saw it. I was like uhhhhhh Simon is a bass player lol

[@tomjulian7226]

Joe Perry played one on the song Back in the Saddle by Aerosmith.

[@BlackLabelMark]

Was looking for this comment.

[@vexedpixels]

I’d argue they make a better 30” Baritone than a bass, but they’re great at both

[@DarthCiliatus]

Used to have the squier version of this. Sold it because I could not get it to intonate right.

[@gumbly4174]

I’m a lead bassist, I will definitely have to buy one of these 😱.

[@joshuadelaughter]

Wtf is a lead bassist? Lol.

[@gumbly4174]

@@joshuadelaughter some bands have a lead guitar player. We don’t. It’s me, drummer and a guitar player, solos are done primarily by me on the bass while he maintains the chords and rhythm. Tho sometimes we flip it and have me play some chords and open string to maintain rhythm while he solos.

[@joshuadelaughter]

@@gumbly4174 Huh, interesting.

[@gumbly4174]

@@joshuadelaughter thanks 🙏

[@dankcommand7286]

Thats super dope dude, your band sounds sick!!

[@Fl4ppers]

Jet's bass from The Shadows!!!

[@ChrisMiles94]

I bought one to mess around with. I'm a guitarist but wanted to have low end for recording. The Bass VI is perfect.

[@Flo-qw4jr]

This thing was used on The Long and Winding Road by the Beatles so that should tell you something

[@johnvrabec9747]

I believe it was used on Helter Skelter, too. It was John or George playing it.

[@jamesmcghee3440]

I was thrilled to but a used Squier Bass IV … I’ve played it live, especially to play chords on it (but as the bass player) and if course to play Wichita Lineman… fun fact I heard was Glenn played that solo on a Danelectro six string longhorn bass… fact or fiction?

[@thetruthexperiment]

You should have played a cure song since almost all cure songs feature a bassvi

[@erikavery1105]

I NEEEEEEEED A Bass VI to go with my Gretsch Baritone. 😁🤘🏾

[@LxE9799]

They got roughly the same scale length, you can tune that Gretsch to Bass VI register with no problem

[@altdelet3778]

I knew something like this existed on some of those old tracks

[@junbu8958]

Man Ian you play that Glen Campbell riff sounds right on

[@kevinadams4390]

we all think of pickups as the magic part of our basses/guitars... but what switches what it is in a moment may actually be... the switches??!! Yes, the bass VI lives in both worlds...it has the switches to switch

[@RedDed228]

I love it and want one so bad. Like it's a damn bass/guitar it's literally both at the same time! It's so damn cool, I'm a guitarist and i want one so damn bad !

[@Tomijee]

Would love to own one

[@DeffoZappo]

I played a baritone one time and it was amazing. It's totally different from just a down tuned guitar for some reason. Has it's own vibe

[@guilhermeirineu420]

For me it has a great sound for hard rock or heavy metal, I first heard it on Helter Skelter by the Beatles and the sound of it totally fits the atmosphere of the song

[@lmfap79]

The squier one has a bridge design issue which makes the octave tuning impossibile. Otherwise is a great instrument to play

[@evenseb7574]

What do you mean by "octave tuning"... Octave down, as it shoul be? What issue?

[@lmfap79]

@@evenseb7574 at the 12 fret is always it of tune, the bridge saddles have not enough space to adjust the intonation

[@evenseb7574]

Anybody tried to change the 4,5,6 sting to guitar strings (octave up)? That must be the ultimate hybrid 🤔

[@stephencarlson7297]

Ian being a minnesota boy makes me happy

[@420Bassist]

I wanna say the Mine Forever by Lord Huron uses a bass vi

[@EATADICK02]

“Hey listen. It sound like a bass” “……………”

[@Matthew_Klepadlo]

Is there really a difference between guitar and bass? Anything that’s not a quantitive difference? Maybe the pickups, but… all sorts of guitars have different pickups. This guitar just blurs the lines between regular and bass guitar. Djentars do this as well ok the metal side.

[@beatlesrcool13]

Is that strung with flats?

[@MontyRoyal963]

Id like to own one✌️😉👍

[@insertlogohere2643]

Playing Polyphia stuff on a bass VI was the coolest thing ive done in a while

[@benjiesau1497]

Impossible to use fingers with the string spacing. The only thing i can think for this thing ks thay jt might be useful to use a plectrum and put piccolo strings on it tuned an octave up ...

[@blaurobe]

Brad Bobo was/is THE Man on the Fender VI!!! Check Eddie Harris - It Feels So Good

[@littledweeb8308]

What’s the tuning? Is it standard guitar tuning or is it 6 string bass tuning?

[@devinebass]

Guitar tuning an octave lower!

[@scottkidwell3601]

The Bass VI is on my list...

[@attentiondeficitsquirrel7660]

Is this what was used on the Elvis track “Little Sister”?

[@andrewmccombs7347]

Does it doom?

[@leonrios2447]

Cream bassist also used a six string bass

[@zoeherriot]

The Church’s best album Priest=Aura used only the Bass VI for all the bass on the album.

[@diegovillaverde8010]

That’s the one that Lennon played in let it be live and video recorded version, right?

[@mcarp555]

Yes. The Beatles had one so John or George could play bass while Paul was usually playing piano. You hear it a lot in the white album or _Let It Be._ By the time of _Abbey Road_ the band had a right-handed Fender Jazz.

[@fredrikhogkvist8093]

I'd be playing Manowar all day on that bass!

[@N0die]

You’ll notice that there’s no garbage P-bass staggered pickup configuration on this bass You’re welcome

[@user-ph9wt3ue7c]

The Wichita Lineman solo was played on a Danelectro 6 string.

[@Antonio-kp7ue]

Los Beatles lo usaron en Let it be

[@Connorharding180]

I was expecting some BRUTAL DJENT but then got some 007 instead lmao.

[@rasm0225]

Cure and Cocteau Twins

[@bigbri7519]

apparently Maggie May was recorded with this. Its a secret bass weapon.

[@calebcarney1933]

How’d they get the splashy tone at the beginning?

[@BlackLabelMark]

Back in the Saddle

[@DK_9035SB]

miss my bass vi

[@mosephhh]

minnesota hat 🔥

[@WastedLight]

Or...you can do what loathe did and use it for modern metal/ shoegaze

[@brandondavidson2200]

It's definitely a bass. Lol. People who say it's not don't use picks and either.

[@jasondorsey7110]

P-bass strung with flatwounds played fingerstyle...so overdone and such a closed-minded way to be an "artist"

[@evenseb7574]

​@@jasondorsey7110Who?

[@jasondorsey7110]

@@evenseb7574 The "p-bass mafia" lol

[@allendean9807]

I wish they made a left handed version

[@riogrande163]

The only thing close I've found is the eastwood tb-64

[@Dollarkat]

You are a lineman for the countyyyyy…

[@jhsams1977]

What's the tuning?

[@devinebass]

EADGBE

[@christopher-xi2ey]

Play it through a bass amp?

[@Yoinky4116]

Bro said so I can play this and plays the softest thing known to man. Dawg im cranking the gain and only using the top 3 strings

[@somedude5414]

Had one once, but hated that TicTac sound and sold it.

[@EdenGardenia]

its also an absolute djent MACHINE if you like it that way. one of the most versatile instruments

[@matthewotremba9230]

Pretty sure If I had one It would involve a Router A Block of wood to fill the original bridge route A new bridge Hardtail Or Evertune, or ANYTHING BUT THAT SHIT JAGUAR/JAZZMASYER ? ONE

[@xavierandradev]

It's a "bass guitar", a guitar in the bass register. The same as a "baritone guitar" is a guitar in the baritone register.

[@danielbrannon9513]

It's a baritone guitar. Bass is typically a monotonic instrument. If there's 6 strings, you can play chords like a guitar, it's a guitar. I know that when people say "bass" they usually mean bass guitar, which you could play chords on. But to call a baritone guitar a "bass", that is inaccurate at best.

[@timothyzetzsche3517]

I love your hat with the new Minnesota State Flag on it.

[@hailholyqueen]

What's the tuning on that Thang?

[@devinebass]

E-A-D-G-B-E, an octave lower than a guitar!

[@invisiblecurious856]

ahh yess cure thing

[@kingsecho3351]

What hat is Ian wearing? He always has cool clothes I want to buy.

[@Progrocksnob]

We still have these, it's called 7 string baritone multi scale 😂😂

[@dfctamerelapoule1287]

Love Ur short

[@claudeimanuel]

the click sound at the beginning was ouch

[@markpr73]

George Harrison and John Lennon used that bass to great effect on some classic Beatles songs. Don’t recall McCartney playing the VI very much if at all. Was there even a left-handed VI?

[@Desertwalker45]

I thought they used baritone necks