Examine individual changes

'{{Short description|Electric bass}} {{Infobox Guitar model |title=Fender Bass VI |image=[[File:Fender Bass VI.jpg|76px]] |manufacturer=[[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender]] |period=1961–1975, 1995–1998, 2006–2008, 2013–present |bodytype=Solid |necktype=Bolt-on |scale=30" |woodbody=[[Alder]] |woodneck=Quartersawn [[Maple]], C-shaped |woodfingerboard=[[Rosewood]] |bridge=Vintage-style "floating" [[Tremolo arm|tremolo]] with tremolo lock button |pickups=3 single coil, originally Strat style, Custom Jaguar from 1963 |colors=3-Tone Sunburst }} The '''Fender Bass VI''', originally known as the '''Fender VI''', is a six-string [[bass guitar|electric bass guitar]] made by [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender]]. ==Design concept and history== The Fender VI was released in 1961 and followed the concept of the [[Danelectro]] six-string bass released in 1956, having six strings tuned E1 to E3, an [[octave]] below the Spanish guitar. The Bass VI was closely related to the [[Fender Jaguar]], with which it shared styling and technical details, notably the [[Fender floating tremolo]]. The VI had an offset body similar but not identical to that of the Jazzmaster/Jaguar. It departed from the concept of the [[Fender Precision Bass]] in having six strings, a shorter scale and thinner strings, and a mechanical vibrato arm. The Bass VI never caught on to the extent that the four-string Precision Bass and its derivatives did. The model was discontinued in 1975. [[File:Fender-VI-Bass.jpg|thumb|323x323px]] ===Reissue=== From 1995 through 1998, [[Fender Japan]] produced a vintage reissue featuring the 1963 model's Jaguar-style pickups and electronics.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fender.com/articles/gear/the-bass-vi-part-guitar-part-bass-all-epic | title=The Bass VI: Part Guitar. Part Bass. All Epic }}</ref> The [[Fender Custom Shop]] reissued a similar model from 2006 through 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fender.com/articles/gear/the-bass-vi-part-guitar-part-bass-all-epic | title=The Bass VI: Part Guitar. Part Bass. All Epic }}</ref> In 2013, Fender released a Bass VI model as part of its Pawn Shop series. In line with the series' purpose to reconfigure classic Fender designs, this version of the Bass VI has a [[Fender Jazzmaster|Jazzmaster]]-type humbucking bridge pickup and a [[Stratocaster]]-style five-position pickup selector, as opposed to separate switches.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fender.com/series/pawn-shop/pawn-shop-bass-vi/ |title=Pawn Shop™ Bass VI |website=Fender.com |access-date=April 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113011820/http://www.fender.com/series/pawn-shop/pawn-shop-bass-vi/ |archive-date=January 13, 2013}}</ref> There are three available colors: brown sunburst with a tortoiseshell pickguard, black with a tortoiseshell pickguard, and candy-apple red with a white pickguard and painted headstock. Also in 2013, [[Squier]] released a Bass VI as part of the Vintage Modified series. This model was similar to the traditional Bass VI design with four switches (on/off for each pickup and a "strangle" (low-cut filter) switch) and a Jaguar-style control plate. It featured a synthetic bone nut, rosewood fingerboard until 2018, medium jumbo frets, chrome hardware, alnico custom single-coil Jaguar pickups with claw, and continued the trend set by the Squier Vintage Modified Jaguars and Jazzmasters of having a non-locking tremolo plate. It was available in three-color sunburst finish with 4-ply tortoiseshell pickguard, Olympic White with a brown tortoiseshell pickguard, and black with a white three-ply pickguard. In 2019, Squier released its Classic Vibe Bass VI, available in three-color sunburst and black, both with tortoiseshell pickguard. It has a slightly wider width at the nut than the Vintage Modified Bass VI (1.685" vs. 1.65"). The nut was upgraded to bone and the Indian laurel fretboard is equipped with narrow, tall frets. The pickup specs were changed to Fender-designed alnico single-coil pickups while retaining classic Jaguar claw shielding rings and the hardware was switched to nickel. The logo was also changed, from black to gold with black outline. Most of the other remaining features are similar to the Vintage Modified model. In 2023, Fender released a Bass VI model under the Vintera II series. Unlike the Pawn Shop version, the Vintera II 60s Bass VI is built to resemble the traditional 60s Bass VI with Alder body, Maple neck with Rosewood fretboard. The Vintera II 60s Bass VI is available in Fiesta Red & Lake Placid Blue. ==Specifications== [[File:Bass VI string pack.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Fender Bass VI string set.]] Like other Fenders of the time, the Fender VI had a 7.25-inch fingerboard radius. The Fender VI, along with the [[Fender Jaguar|Jaguar]], the [[Fender Jazzmaster|Jazzmaster]] and the [[Fender Electric XII|Electric XII]], was given a cream/white-bound fretboard with rectangular pearloid block inlays in 1967, followed by a thicker black CBS-style headstock decal and polyester finishes instead of nitrocellulose lacquer in 1968. In 1970, as with the other Fender basses in production at the time (excluding the [[Precision Bass]]), the Bass VI was also offered with a black-bound Maple neck with black rectangular block inlays. * Solid body (alder) fretted electric bass guitar, six strings in six courses tuned E-A-D-G-B-E an octave below the standard guitar tuning. * Scale length 30" / 762&nbsp;mm (''as opposed to 34" / 864&nbsp;mm for the Jazz and Precision basses'') for the U.S. versions, 30.3" for the Japanese versions. * Curved fingerboard (rosewood), radius 7.25" / 184&nbsp;mm, 21 frets * Standard strings .095 .075 .055 .045 .035 .025&nbsp;inches, Fender stainless steel, P/N 073–5350–000. * Fender floating bridge and [[Fender Jaguar]]/[[Jazzmaster]]-style [[tremolo arm]]. * (1961–1975 and in select reissues) Fender Mute [[File:Fender-VI-Bass-Kopfplatte.jpg|thumb|Bass VI Headstock]] ===Electronics=== The original-issue Bass VI had three Jaguar-style single coil pickups (with the Magnetic Field Accumulators used on the Jaguar guitar-pickups), controlled by a panel of four slider switches (rather than the conventional three-position switch): three individual pickup on/off switches, plus the Jaguar-type 'low-frequency-attenuating' (high-pass) filter. When the [[Fender Jaguar]] was released in 1962, it used the Jazzmaster body with its unusual lead/rhythm electrics and the floating tremolo, but with a short scale-length neck, the Bass VI switch panel and two unique "toothed" pickups. Having only two pickups to control, the Jaguar's third slider switch served as a bass cut (also known as "strangle") switch. [[File:Fleetwood mac peter green 5.jpg|thumb|[[Peter Green (musician)|Peter Green]] using the Bass VI while in [[Fleetwood Mac]]]] In 1963, the Bass VI electronics were revised to incorporate some features from the Jaguar, with the adoption of toothed pickups and the addition of a fourth slider switch to provide bass-cut. This remained the setup of the Bass VI throughout its remaining 12 years of continuous production.<ref name=mr>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicradar.com/news/bass/the-history-of-the-fender-bass-vi-541018 |title=The history of the Fender Bass VI |last=Newell |first=Roger |date=April 24, 2012 |website=[[MusicRadar]] |access-date=November 14, 2013}}</ref> Electronics mentioned above were all passive electronics. * Three pickup on/off slider switches. * Tone control slider switch (bass cut-off, or "strangle") (not on very early models). * Volume control [[potentiometer]]. * Tone control (treble cut-off) potentiometer. ==Reviews== [[Brian Molko]] and [[Stefan Olsdal]] of [[Placebo (band)|Placebo]] play Fender Bass VIs, with Molko saying, "Playing the Fender VI is like playing two instruments in one, it can be treated as a guitar and as a bass."<ref name="Guitar Player (04/99)">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/archive/guitarcandy.htm |title=Ear Candy |last=Swenson |first=Kyle |date=April 1999 |magazine=[[Guitar Player]] |via=PlaceboWorld |access-date=April 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031210133646/http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/archive/guitarcandy.htm |archive-date=December 10, 2003}}</ref> ==Notable users and appearances== * [[Aerosmith]]: [[Joe Perry (musician)|Joe Perry]], recorded version of "Back In the Saddle" * [[The Beatles]]: [[George Harrison]] and [[John Lennon]], on tracks where bassist [[Paul McCartney]] plays either piano or guitar on ''[[The Beatles (album)|The White Album]]'', ''[[Abbey Road]]'' and ''[[Let It Be (Beatles album)|Let It Be]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/gear/the-beatles-let-it-be-gear |title=The Gear Behind the Beatles' 'Let It Be' |last=Scapelliti |first=Christopher |date=2021 |website=[[Guitar Player]] |publisher=[[Future US]] |access-date=8 May 2023 |quote=1960s Fender VI bass}}</ref> * [[Glen Campbell]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/gear/watch-glen-campbell-take-a-rare-fender-vi-solo-in-this-1968-tv-appearance |title=Watch Glen Campbell Take a Rare Fender VI Solo... |last=Brakes |first=Rod |date=2022 |website=[[Guitar Player]] |publisher=[[Future US]] |access-date=8 May 2023 |quote=}}</ref> * [[The Cure (band)|The Cure]]: [[Robert Smith (musician)|Robert Smith]], [[Porl Thompson]], [[Perry Bamonte]], [[Reeves Gabrels]] and [[Simon Gallup]] have all played six-string bass throughout The Cure history<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fender.com/articles/fender-performances/12-incredible-bass-vi-performances | title=12 Incredible Bass VI Performances }}</ref> * [[Guns N' Roses]]: [[Slash (musician)|Slash]], "Use Your Illusion 1 & 2", on the tracks "Right Next Door To Hell" and "Yesterdays" * [[Peter Green (musician)|Peter Green]] ([[Fleetwood Mac]]) - for example, live version of "[[Green Manalishi]]" on ''[[Live in Boston (Fleetwood Mac album)|Live In Boston]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://guitar.com/guides/essential-guide/peter-green-best-guitar-solos-songs-moments/ |title=Peter Green's 20 greatest guitar moments |last=Bailey |first=Owen |date=2020 |website=guitar.com |publisher=[[NME]] |access-date=8 May 2023 |quote=The Green Manalishi ... featured Green on a Fender VI six-string bass}}</ref> * [[Jet Harris]] (through his career with [[Tony Meehan]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/jet-harris-was-britains-first-bass-guitar-player-the-first-to-own-a-fender-precision-and-its-first-rocknroll-hellraiser-too |title=Jet Harris was Britain's first bass guitar player... |last=Poak |first=Tom |date=2023 |website=[[Guitar World]] |publisher=[[Future US]] |access-date=8 May 2023 |quote=1960s Fender VI bass}}</ref> * [[Robbie Robertson]] ([[Ronnie Hawkins#Hawks lineups|The Hawks]])<ref>{{Cite book |title=Testimony |first=Robbie |last=Robertson |year=2016 |at=Chapter One |location=London |publisher=William Heinemann |isbn=978-1-78515-106-4}}</ref> * [[Nigel Tufnel]] (played by [[Christopher Guest]]), in the film ''[[This Is Spinal Tap]]'', owns a Fender Bass VI which he refuses to play, or even allow others to look at<ref>{{cite web |title=Excerpt from Guitar World April 1992 issue |url=http://www.spinaltap.com/articles/guitarworld3.html |website=SpinalTap.com |access-date=February 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530204834/http://www.spinaltap.com/articles/guitarworld3.html |archive-date=May 30, 2014}}</ref> * [[Quicksand (American band)|Quicksand]]: [[Sergio Vega (bassist)|Sergio Vega]], ==Literature== * {{Cite book |first=Peter |last=Bertges |title=The Fender Reference |publisher=Bomots |location=Saarbrücken |year=2007 |isbn=978-3-939316-38-1}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.fender.com/ Fender] – Manufacturer's official site. {{Fender guitars}} [[Category:Fender electric bass guitars|Bass VI]] [[Category:1961 musical instruments]] [[Category:Musical instruments invented in the 1960s]]'