Bass VI ?

TTBZ

I'm primarily a guitarist in a riff-driven stoner rock band, playing in Eb and Drop C#. We've been struggling to find a reliable bassist so at the minute we're looking into octave pedals etc to split the signal into a bass amp. 

I've just come across the Squier Bass VI and was wondering if this might work for us instead? Neither me or the other guitarist are too keen on taking up bass full time so was wondering if this would make a fun halfway house? It's mostly the string spacing and huge neck I can't deal with on a real bass, the VI seems to solve that?

To be honest I'm mostly just interested because the VI is cool and unique, could give us a bit of a different sound and be a bit of fun. My idea was to split the signal into my guitar amp (via EQ pedal to tame some low end) and into a fuzz and bass amp. I know I'd have to change up my playing style and chords a bit but that's not the end of the world. A lot of our stuff is single string riffing where the bass follows the guitar anyway.

In reality I expect it'd be more convenient to just get an OC3, but Bass VI seems like so much fun!  Shame the Harley Benton one is discontinued. What's the FB opinion on these - is it a "guitarists bass" or just a big compromise?

Funkfingers

It is usually best to regard the Fender/Squier Bass VI as a baritone instrument. The string spacing is pretty tight with such heavy string gauges. 

In my opinion, it would be wiser to invest in either a medium scale four string bass guitar or a full scale six string bass. 

Octave up tracking tends to work more reliably than octave down. 

The forum village bicycle HB Mosrite-alike baritone guitar is currently in the possession of @jamesoliver1234 ;

fretmeister

I have no idea why you don't want to swap to bass. It's by far the most important instrument.

paganskins

TTBZ said:

In reality I expect it'd be more convenient to just get an OC3

@TTBZ if you need a OC3 I've one going spare, I was going to put it up for sale after Christmas

ICBM

It's a big compromise, and quite limiting in my opinion - they sound great, but for quite a narrow range of sounds and styles... it suits that stereotypical baritone 'Twin Peaks' type of sound, but for me it fell between the two in terms of being able to play normal bass or guitar parts on. But I play both guitar and bass in a quite conventional way, so I may not be the best person to judge that.

If you're interested in doing something different and interesting it might be the very thing you need - you probably need to try it. They're not too expensive and seem to sell well second hand, so not much risk.

MattBanshee

Placebo used one on their first album - there should be some good reading about it on the web somewhere.

TTBZ

fretmeister said:

I have no idea why you don't want to swap to bass. It's by far the most important instrument.

I know...just find it really boring for some reason. I just have more fun on guitar and that's what it's all about isn't it?

Bridgehouse

TTBZ said:

fretmeister said:

I have no idea why you don't want to swap to bass. It's by far the most important instrument.

I know...just find it really boring for some reason. I just have more fun on guitar and that's what it's all about isn't it?

It absolutely is! Funnily enough I do sort of agree with you that guitar can be much more interesting - certainly at home noodling about.

But for me I find gigging bass to be so much more fun. Horses, courses etc etc 

fretmeister

TTBZ said:

fretmeister said:

I have no idea why you don't want to swap to bass. It's by far the most important instrument.

I know...just find it really boring for some reason. I just have more fun on guitar and that's what it's all about isn't it?

True enough.

But boring is all about the composition. Upgrade your bass lines!

paul_backskin

I've been back and forth on guitar and bass over the years and now I prefer playing bass I think.

Barely touch it at home, and play/write on guitar still, but for your style of music - find a decent 4 string bass and a good fat drive pedal and bass is just as much fun to play.

Freebird

The Cure were big on the Bass VI, but they didn't use it for bass!

fretmeister

I think OLP did a cheaper version of the Ernie Ball Silhouette bass.

They were supposed to be pretty good - could be tuned A-A or E-E with EB's own strings for it.

The problem with going lower is whether you will be able to intonate for it.

earwighoney

TTBZ said:

I'm primarily a guitarist in a riff-driven stoner rock band, playing in Eb and Drop C#. We've been struggling to find a reliable bassist so at the minute we're looking into octave pedals etc to split the signal into a bass amp. 

I've just come across the Squier Bass VI and was wondering if this might work for us instead? Neither me or the other guitarist are too keen on taking up bass full time so was wondering if this would make a fun halfway house? It's mostly the string spacing and huge neck I can't deal with on a real bass, the VI seems to solve that?

To be honest I'm mostly just interested because the VI is cool and unique, could give us a bit of a different sound and be a bit of fun. My idea was to split the signal into my guitar amp (via EQ pedal to tame some low end) and into a fuzz and bass amp. I know I'd have to change up my playing style and chords a bit but that's not the end of the world. A lot of our stuff is single string riffing where the bass follows the guitar anyway.

In reality I expect it'd be more convenient to just get an OC3, but Bass VI seems like so much fun!  Shame the Harley Benton one is discontinued. What's the FB opinion on these - is it a "guitarists bass" or just a big compromise?

Have you come across Tweak Bird? 

Stoner band, 2 piece. Drums and a Bass VI



So to answer your question, I'm sure a Bass VI can be used. 

TTBZ

fretmeister said:

TTBZ said:

fretmeister said:

I have no idea why you don't want to swap to bass. It's by far the most important instrument.

I know...just find it really boring for some reason. I just have more fun on guitar and that's what it's all about isn't it?

True enough.

But boring is all about the composition. Upgrade your bass lines!

Yep very good point. When I'm on a bass I'm very much a guitarist playing bass rather than a particularly inventive bass player. Although I always thought I should have been a bass player as I hate being the show off centre of attention on stage - prefer sticking to rhythm guitar at the minute. But then band is also a good excuse to go crank my amp up for a few hours - no such fun just playing bass

I'm gonna try and find a Bass VI or Silhouette to have a play on and see what I think. In the meantime I'll settle for trying an octave pedal.

Bridgehouse

TTBZ said:

fretmeister said:

TTBZ said:

fretmeister said:

I have no idea why you don't want to swap to bass. It's by far the most important instrument.

I know...just find it really boring for some reason. I just have more fun on guitar and that's what it's all about isn't it?

True enough.

But boring is all about the composition. Upgrade your bass lines!

Yep very good point. When I'm on a bass I'm very much a guitarist playing bass rather than a particularly inventive bass player. Although I always thought I should have been a bass player as I hate being the show off centre of attention on stage - prefer sticking to rhythm guitar at the minute. But then band is also a good excuse to go crank my amp up for a few hours - no such fun just playing bass

No fun in cranking a bass amp??! Get outta here!

You haven’t cranked an amp till you’ve maxed an Ampeg SVT with 8x10 and watched people have involuntary bowel movements at your discretion..

TTBZ

The one time I got to crank a VBA head through matching cab was pretty special. The same can't be said for rehearsal room bass amps though

Creed_Clicks

Yo La Tengo play a Bass VI live sometimes, and it's great, but I noticed their bass player was playing power chords mainly.
No reason why you couldn't use one, and then get a decent capo for some tunes. This would open things up creatively, or use capos on 4 string basses.
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion have no bass player and sound great.

ToneControl

Some people use Bass pedals

I've tried various Bass VI type instruments
as people have advised, they are more of a baritone

4 string bass is the easiest option I think
Realistically, that has been the most popular choice since day one

TTBZ

Well the OC3 arrived today, not sure if it's going to work just yet as through amplitube it's very synth sounding - to be fair some reviews did say that so I should have expected it. We'll see how it sounds at rehearsal through my fuzz and a proper bass amp. Nice and easy implementation though, with the built in split function (which mutes the bass when bypassed) and my LPB1 at the end of my guitar chain turned all the way down, I can choose to mute either path independently.

dogload

The Fender Bass VI is really an instrument in it's own right.

I have a Squier one which I use to add a different 'flavour' to the sound. I can't imagine using it as my only bass (I know Jack Bruce did, but he was Jack Bruce!).

It has a particular sound which (for me) doesn't quite nail the bass sound I want. Great fun though and very useful for recording, but just not a proper bass guitar.

Sporky

There's that mid-scale 6-er that @fretwired (I think) has. An Ibanez. It'll go to proper bass frequencies, but is tuned like a guitar.