Fender Bass VI - cool instrument

[lbpesq]

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

[slawie]

Bill,
 
Personally I have never fooled around with a surfing Rabbi.
 
slawie

[hb3]

Does it have the tremolo?

[lembic76450]

The Rabbi?

[David Houck]

ROFL!  Nice one Slawie!

[lbpesq]

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

[afrobeat_fool]

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

[lbpesq]

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

[jacko]

Didn't Jet Harris use one of these in the Shadows?
 
Graeme

[keith_h]

George Harrison and John Lennon used one with the Beatles. You can see George playing one here. Look around 3:50 into it.
 
Keith

[pace]

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

[benson_murrensun]

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.

[edwin]

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.

[hieronymous]

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!

[afrobeat_fool]

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!