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Post subject: Squire VI 6 string bass controls
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 9:12 am
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I recently obtained mine and the volume control was not working right. I found the solder on the ground wire was not well so I re-heated it and it started working. However, the tone control only decreases the bass when turned down.

Also the 4th switch along with the 3 pickup switches does not seem to make any change in the tone.

Can someone point out what all the controls are SUPPOSED to do? I am not sure if the bass has more electronic issues or if it is working as designed. I thought the switch on the pickups was a bass cut switch.


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Post subject: Re: Squire VI 6 string bass controls
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 11:08 pm
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Location: Albemarle, NC
Hi B Swift, The rotary controls are master volume and master tone. The slide switches from neck toward bridge are neck pickup on and off, middle pickup on and off, bridge pickup on and off and the fourth switch is the "STRANGLE" switch that is in essence a low cut filter making the instrument sound more like an electric Spanish guitar and way more twangy, much less bass like and more chord friendly. This is exactly the same control layout on the original Fender Bass VI made from 1961 till 1975 when CBS pulled the plug on it because it just wasn't selling very well. This Squier version actually is closer to the vintage Fender than the modified to be simpler control layout on the Fender Pawn Shop model.

The Fender Bass VI model was introduced AFTER the Danelectro 6 string baritone guitar was first introduced in 1956. It took it a couple of years before it started making inroads in the studio scene in L.A. and Nashville. Carol Kaye had one of the Danelectros and not only did she use hers some but also Glen Campbell and other studio players of the day borrowed hers frequently for recording sessions. The Danelectro string gauge was slightly smaller and the neck a fraction of an inch shorter. It sounded pretty bright and to make the Fender Bass VI sound brighter like the Danelectro Leo Fender put the "Strangle" switch on it.

These 29.25 and 30 inch 6 string basses were frequently used to "double" the traditional electric bass part on some recordings and a mix of the two then became the bass line. This was a popular practice with some producers in the early 60's who felt the two basses together yielded a better bass line on an AM radio. After it fell out of favor for doubling the bass line by about 1966 you could still hear one frequently in the Hugo Montenegro, Dominic Frontiere and Ennio Morricone soundtracks of spaghetti westerns playing lead by some uncredited player who was pretty good with one. They also were used by some surf music bands.

A factory mint Sea Foam Green vintage Fender Bass VI with original hang tags is featured briefly in one scene of the 1984 movie "THIS IS SPINAL TAP" and it is said that it "has never been played." That brief appearance is often cited for keeping the Fender Bass VI mystique alive through two generations as this is a very popular film with rock music minded people of all ages. (Also that Rob Reiner film is frequently cited for renewing interest in amp control knobs that go to 11. Mr. Reiner has made a lot of films, but this is the one he always gets asked about in every interview.)


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Post subject: Re: Squire VI 6 string bass controls
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 1:05 pm
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Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:07 am
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That is alot of info Brother D, I've always been interested to try one of these, might be useful in a 3 piece band, but I've never seen one in person.


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Post subject: Re: Squire VI 6 string bass controls
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 2:55 pm
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So I went on Netflix and watched This Is Spinal Tap. Funny stuff with some familiar band issues made into a parody. And the VI does look cool, hang tag and all.

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Post subject: Re: Squire VI 6 string bass controls
Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2015 5:59 am
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Jack Bruce of Cream used one, as did Eric Haydock, bass player with the Hollies
Many years after Eric left the Hollies, I was in a music shop in Stockport (near Manchester UK) and he was the owner , he had some really nice guitars in there and I asked him why he chose a bass VI, he said he just liked the feel and sound of it and it suited the usually treble-ish bass line on a lot of Hollies songs

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