Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: lbpesq on August 29, 2010, 02:59:38 PM

Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: lbpesq on August 29, 2010, 02:59:38 PM: I just traded for a Fender Custom Shop re-issue 1964 Bass VI. It's kind of like a Fender Jaguar with thick strings tuned an octave lower than normal with a 30 scale. The guy I got it from used it to play lead in a surf band where they dress as Rabbis and play traditional Jewish songs (think Hava Nagila if played by Dick Dale)! Anyone around here ever fooled around with one of these?

Bill, tgo
Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: slawie on August 29, 2010, 03:21:44 PM: Bill,

Personally I have never fooled around with a surfing Rabbi.

slawie
Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: hb3 on August 29, 2010, 03:31:19 PM: Does it have the tremolo?
Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: lembic76450 on August 29, 2010, 03:56:33 PM: The Rabbi?
Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: David Houck on August 29, 2010, 05:45:59 PM: ROFL! Nice one Slawie!
Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: lbpesq on August 29, 2010, 07:05:14 PM: The bass does, indeed, have the tremolo. The Rabbi doesn't. I'm just glad it wasn't a Moyel, he might have sharpened up the whammy bar and ...... it hurts to even think about it!

hehehehe

Bill, tgo
Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: afrobeat_fool on August 30, 2010, 03:36:35 PM: Bill, how's the warm Cali sun treating you? I have a lot of experience with these. The guitar player I've been kicking around with for 16yrs played one for 12 of those years. I have taken it apart and put it back together Many,many times on the road. Terrence, kept heavy Dr guitar strings on it and played it as a Tenor guitar. We switched out the bridge to do so. The biggest problems we had with the guitar were the switches. It was a 64-65 so the use and abuse thru the years made it a little fragile. My friend sold it a few years back due to the fact he pretty much destroyed the fingerboard from playing. He has somewhat asidic sweat. I loved playing this guitar. If I was to buy another guitar it would be a tenor. The size is more bass-like, than anything else I have played. The tone was Excellent too. I hope this helps.
P.S. If you want to talk to him about these guitars I can send you his Phone# via e-mail.

Nick
Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: lbpesq on August 30, 2010, 08:58:25 PM: Nick:

What tuning did your friend use? By the way, my custom Further, Woody, and I will be in Portland for the annual NORML conference next week. As for the Cali sun which has finally made an appearance this summer, I've been thoroughly enjoying it in my new (to me) convertible.

Bill, tgo
Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: jacko on August 31, 2010, 05:31:17 AM: Didn't Jet Harris use one of these in the Shadows?

Graeme
Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: keith_h on August 31, 2010, 06:34:37 AM: George Harrison and John Lennon used one with the Beatles. You can see George playing one here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDbHBuqJsTs). Look around 3:50 into it.

Keith
Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: pace on August 31, 2010, 09:56:49 AM: It's a cool instrument, but the fingerboard radius was a little too much for me... I had a Jerry Jones/Dano reissue which was more flat and served me very well.... I always kept mine tuned E-E, Bill. D'addario makes sets for both the Fender & Dano versions, check juststrings.com
Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: benson_murrensun on August 31, 2010, 11:13:55 AM: Those are very cool instruments; I have been thinking about acquiring one for years now. Schecter makes a similar thing, called Hellcat VI. It has no whammy.

Surfing rabbis? Hasidic sweat? Oy vey.
Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: edwin on August 31, 2010, 12:39:25 PM: I saw Bill Laswell play one of these in Massacre, a trio with Fred Frith and Anton Fier. Some great music! The bass tone was somewhat indistinct, though. Probably due to the sheer volume.
Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: hieronymous on August 31, 2010, 12:47:53 PM: I've got one of the Fender Japan reissues from the late '90s. Have never really come to grips with it. Pickups are meh, bridge/tailpiece has issues. Someday!
Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: afrobeat_fool on August 31, 2010, 02:43:22 PM: Hi, Bill. Terrence tuned his E-E. I look forward to seeing you next week. I will give you a shout out at the show. Good luck!
Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: afrobeat_fool on August 31, 2010, 03:24:31 PM: Sorry, double post

(Message edited by afrobeat_fool on August 31, 2010)
Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: lbpesq on August 31, 2010, 08:13:21 PM: Nick:

Are you planning to attend the NORML conference?

Bill, tgo
Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: afrobeat_fool on August 31, 2010, 09:22:48 PM: I am. The problem is I can't go to all of it and haven't bought any tickets yet. Are you speaking at the luncheon?Playing the benefit? etc...It would help me with any decisions.
Title: Fender Bass VI - cool instrument
Post by: lbpesq on August 31, 2010, 09:58:49 PM: Nick:

I'm on a panel on Saturday, Medical Cannabis Day, from 2:30-4:00: The Future of Medical Cannabis Distribution. We arrive in town on Wednesday.

Bill, tgo