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Post subject: Re: Bass VI (30"scale) petition
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 11:43 am
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Yes! It will be mine! 8) Thanks for pointing that out. I was browsing this site, but I missed seeing this. Then again, I wasn't expecting this surprise.


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Post subject: Re: Bass VI (30"scale) petition
Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 7:59 am
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This new Fender Bass VI (if you can even call it that) is a total disappointment. It's features have been rather dramatically reduced/downgraded from the real thing. Gone are the separate on/off switches for each pup - instead a cheap, less customizable blade assembly has been used. Gone is the strangle switch. Gone are the 3 single coil Jag pups which gave it that amazing sound. Gone are the great .095>.026 strings which gave it that classic bass response and tone. Instead, it comes with significantly lighter gauge strings - which greatly impacts tone. Not even sure it can accommodate the proper gauge strings as an option. The truss rod is not the stronger reinforced one found on other VIs. So, structurally may be an issue with thicker strings. And they might not fit in the stock tuning pegs/nut or bridge. Some of the first players to try one out have said it feels a bit flimsy (especially the floating trem) and the bass response was poor - particularly on the E string.

You might be much better off getting the 2012 Schecter Hellcat VI which is more true - IMO - to the classic Bass VI and is very reasonably priced for what you get (uses 3 Seymour Duncan SJAG-1 pups - which sound great btw) except it does not have a trem- which for me is kind of useless with thick strings anyway OR get the UltraCure Robert Smith VI also from Schecter OR get the new MIJ version of the Fender Bass VI - which is MUCH closer to the specs of the classic Bass VI - available from Japanese retailers and some US ones OR get a Burns Barracuda. Why couldn't they just do this right and produce a "real" Bass VI like the current MIJ model and made this stripped-down version the cheaper Squire version? What a missed opportunity. I'll pass.....YMMV

Some early user reviews and comments can be found here...https://www.facebook.com/groups/34542190945/


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Post subject: Re: Bass VI (30"scale) petition
Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 12:09 pm
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It only took 4 years since I started this thread!

Anyway, I ordered the black one. It's not perfect, but I like the new ideas. I just wish it had a wider nut. Beggers can't be choosers, so I will make it work.

Thanks Fender


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Post subject: Re: Bass VI (30"scale) petition
Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 3:08 pm
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Who's to say they won't reissue an original design Bass VI after this? Besides, I don't think that this was meant to be a reissue, exactly. Thus, the Pawn Shop designation. I'm just glad they're finally putting out something in this format, again. I'm not too big fan of Schecters. I feel that aesthetically, that they look a little too "metal head" for my taste. But, to each their own with that.

I still have to pay off that Fender PA before I can get my hands on one. Hopefully, they'll keep them in production for another year and this isn't some short-time, limited edition thing. That would be a bummer.


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Post subject: Re: Bass VI (30"scale) petition
Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 9:53 pm
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kenstee wrote:
This new Fender Bass VI (if you can even call it that) is a total disappointment. It's features have been rather dramatically reduced/downgraded from the real thing. Gone are the separate on/off switches for each pup - instead a cheap, less customizable blade assembly has been used. Gone is the strangle switch. Gone are the 3 single coil Jag pups which gave it that amazing sound. Gone are the great .095>.026 strings which gave it that classic bass response and tone. Instead, it comes with significantly lighter gauge strings - which greatly impacts tone. Not even sure it can accommodate the proper gauge strings as an option. The truss rod is not the stronger reinforced one found on other VIs. So, structurally may be an issue with thicker strings. And they might not fit in the stock tuning pegs/nut or bridge. Some of the first players to try one out have said it feels a bit flimsy (especially the floating trem) and the bass response was poor - particularly on the E string.

You might be much better off getting the 2012 Schecter Hellcat VI which is more true - IMO - to the classic Bass VI and is very reasonably priced for what you get (uses 3 Seymour Duncan SJAG-1 pups - which sound great btw) except it does not have a trem- which for me is kind of useless with thick strings anyway OR get the UltraCure Robert Smith VI also from Schecter OR get the new MIJ version of the Fender Bass VI - which is MUCH closer to the specs of the classic Bass VI - available from Japanese retailers and some US ones OR get a Burns Barracuda. Why couldn't they just do this right and produce a "real" Bass VI like the current MIJ model and made this stripped-down version the cheaper Squire version? What a missed opportunity. I'll pass.....YMMV

Some early user reviews and comments can be found here...https://www.facebook.com/groups/34542190945/


If you want the original VI order one from the CS or find a used VI on eBay! :twisted:


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Post subject: Re: Bass VI (30"scale) petition
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 5:50 pm
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I was just at Long & McQuade here in Toronto and saw a Fender VI that was NOT the new Pawn Shop model - that one was there too. I asked the salesman about it and he said that it had been around since last summer and that it had "slipped under everyone's radar." I didn't actually look at the country of manufacture but he seemed to think it was made in mexico or indonesia ( I guessed mexico). It was $1399 CAD which is on par with US prices at the time of this writing. I took a photo of it. I've googled this a lot and cannot find any reference to it anywhere. This guitar was brand new (plastic on it still) and was not a baritone model. It said Fender VI on the headstock. Can any one shed some light on this. I'll be going back this week, so I can get a better look at it then and take a few more pics.

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Post subject: Re: Bass VI (30"scale) petition
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 1:11 pm
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This may be a Japanese import from what I've been reading. I'll check it out and report back.


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Post subject: Re: Bass VI (30"scale) petition
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 3:18 pm
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sculley wrote:
This may be a Japanese import from what I've been reading. I'll check it out and report back.

Yeah - maybe so - they've been dribbling over here little by little...

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Post subject: Re: Bass VI (30"scale) petition
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:05 pm
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I'm planning a trip back to the store Friday night, so I can confirm it then.


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Post subject: Re: Bass VI (30"scale) petition
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 10:18 am
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I was back at LM yesterday. It is indeed a MIJ Bass VI for $1399. I didn't take any pictures, but there you have it. I'd totally buy one if I wasn't in the market for a zillion other things. Priorities... :?


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Post subject: Re: Bass VI (30"scale) petition
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 11:07 pm
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I was just playing my '96 MIJ Bass VI - learning some new tunes, nice to have the extra range to help with chords and (potential) leads. Gonna try and use it at the next practice too! It actually has a nice, clear sound - I'm using it as a regular bass guitar, playing with both fingers and pick.

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Post subject: Re: New Bass VI strings.....no good
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 10:54 pm
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I have one of the new PSVIs as well as a '96 MIJ VI. I like the PS as it sounds a bit more hi-fi than my MIJ one but the issue is those horrible lighter gauge strings. I can understand just using the D'Addarios temporarily and I thought for sure Fender would reissue the original Bass VI strings (which were plentifully available even when there was no production model Bass VI...smh). But alas, the new Fender Bass VI strings are out and they're the lighter gauge strings.

I don't know why the change was made. So far, I haven't seen anyone who likes the new strings. I'm hoping Fender will read these forums as well as the Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/34542190945/) and see that this was a bad decision. For now, all of us who hate these strings have to order custom sets from Just Strings or elsewhere. What a pain!

Come on Fender...if it ain't broke...don't fix it.


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