The Fender Bass VI, which was first called the Fender VI, is a six-string electric bass guitar produced by Fender. The instrument is tuned one octave lower than a standard electric guitar.

Design concept and history

The Fender VI was introduced in 1961. It was inspired by the Danelectro six-string bass, which came out in 1956. The Fender VI had six strings tuned to E1 through E3, an octave lower than the Spanish guitar. The Bass VI shared design and technical features with the Fender Jaguar, including the Fender floating tremolo. Its body shape was similar but not the same as the Jazzmaster and Jaguar.

Unlike the Fender Precision Bass, the Bass VI had six strings, a shorter scale length, thinner strings, and a mechanical vibrato arm. It was not as popular as the four-string Precision Bass and its similar models. The Bass VI was no longer produced after 1975.

From 1995 to 1998, Fender Japan made a vintage version of the 1963 model. It included Jaguar-style pickups and electronics.

The Fender Custom Shop produced a similar model from 2006 to 2008.

In 2013, Fender released a new Bass VI as part of its Pawn Shop series. This version had a Jazzmaster-style humbucking bridge pickup and a Stratocaster-style five-position pickup selector instead of separate switches. It came in three colors: brown sunburst with a tortoiseshell pickguard, black with a tortoiseshell pickguard, and candy-apple red with a white pickguard and painted headstock.

Also in 2013, Squier made a Bass VI for its Vintage Modified series. This model had four switches (on/off for each pickup and a "strangle" low-cut filter switch) and a Jaguar-style control plate. It included a synthetic bone nut, rosewood fingerboard (until 2018), medium jumbo frets, chrome hardware, alnico custom single-coil Jaguar pickups with claw shielding, and a non-locking tremolo plate. It was available in three-color sunburst with a 4-ply tortoiseshell pickguard, Olympic White with a brown tortoiseshell pickguard, and black with a white three-ply pickguard.

In 2019, Squier released the Classic Vibe Bass VI. It came in three-color sunburst and black, both with tortoiseshell pickguards. The nut was upgraded to bone, and the Indian laurel fretboard had narrow, tall frets. The pickups were changed to Fender-designed alnico single-coil pickups, while keeping classic Jaguar claw shielding rings. The hardware was switched to nickel, and the logo was changed to gold with a black outline. Most other features were similar to the Vintage Modified model.

In 2023, Fender released a Bass VI under its Vintera II series. This model was designed to look like the original 1960s Bass VI, with an Alder body, Maple neck, and Rosewood fretboard. It was available in Fiesta Red and Lake Placid Blue.

Specifications

The Fender VI had a 7.25-inch fingerboard radius, similar to other Fenders from that time. In 1967, the Fender VI, along with the Jaguar, Jazzmaster, and Electric XII, was given a cream/white-bound fretboard with rectangular pearloid block inlays. In 1968, these models received a thicker black CBS-style headstock decal and polyester finishes instead of nitrocellulose lacquer. In 1970, the Bass VI, like other Fender basses (except the Precision Bass), was also offered with a black-bound maple neck and black rectangular block inlays.

• Solid body (alder) fretted electric bass guitar with six strings in six courses tuned E-A-D-G-B-E, one octave below standard guitar tuning. The Bass VI uses the treble clef, but the music sounds two octaves lower than written.
• Scale length: 30 inches (762 mm) for U.S. versions, 30.3 inches for Japanese versions (compared to 34 inches for the Jazz and Precision basses).
• Curved fingerboard (rosewood) with a 7.25-inch (184 mm) radius and 21 frets.
• Standard strings: .100 .080 .065 .044 .034 .024 inches, Fender Nickel Wound, P/N 073–5350–000.
• Fender floating bridge and Fender Jaguar/Jazzmaster-style tremolo arm.
• (1961–1975 and in select reissues) Fender Mute.

The original Bass VI had three Jaguar-style single coil pickups (with Magnetic Field Accumulators, like those on the Jaguar guitar pickups). These were controlled by a panel of three (later four) slider switches: three individual pickup on/off switches, plus (from late 1962) a Jaguar-style 'low-frequency-attenuating' (high-pass) filter.

When the Fender Jaguar was released in 1962, it used the Jazzmaster body, its unique lead/rhythm electrics, and the floating tremolo, but with a short-scale neck, the Bass VI switch panel, and two special "toothed" pickups. The Jaguar’s third slider switch acted as a bass cut (or "strangle") switch.

In 1963, the Bass VI’s electronics were updated to include features from the Jaguar, such as toothed pickups and a fourth slider switch for bass-cut. This design remained unchanged for the Bass VI’s remaining 12 years of production.

All electronics described above were passive.

• Three pickup on/off slider switches.
• Tone control slider switch (bass cut-off, or "strangle") (not on very early models).
• Volume control potentiometer.
• Tone control (treble cut-off) potentiometer.

Reviews

Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal of the band Placebo play Fender Bass VI instruments. Molko explained, "The Fender VI can be used as a guitar and as a bass, making it feel like two instruments in one."

Notable users and appearances

• Roy Babbington was a member of the band Soft Machine.
• George Harrison and John Lennon of The Beatles played on songs where Paul McCartney, the bassist, played piano or guitar on The White Album, Abbey Road, and Let It Be.
• Jack Bruce was a member of the band Cream.
• Henk Bruysten was a member of the bands Hank the Knife and the Jets.
• Glen Campbell was a musician.
• Rick Danko was a member of the bands The Hawks and The Band.
• John Entwistle was a member of The Who.
• John Frusciante was a member of the band Red Hot Chili Peppers.
• Graham Gouldman was a member of the band 10cc.
• Josh Klinghoffer was a member of the band Red Hot Chili Peppers.
• Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac played the live version of "The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)" on Live In Boston.
• Robin Guthrie was a member of the band Cocteau Twins.
• Jet Harris was likely the first musician in Great Britain and Europe to own a Bass VI.
• Eric Haydock was a member of The Hollies.
• John Paul Jones was a musician.
• Steve Kilbey was a member of the band The Church.
• Doug McCombs was a member of the bands Tortoise and Brokeback.
• Joe Perry of Aerosmith famously used a Bass VI to record the song "Back in the Saddle" on the album Rocks.
• Stefan Olsdal and Brian Molko of Placebo were musicians.
• Noel Redding was a member of The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
• Gustavo Santaolalla composed the music for the 2013 video game The Last of Us. He used the Bass VI to create the themes for the main character, Joel.
• Robert Smith was a member of The Cure.
• Reggy Tielman and Robby Latuperisa of The Tielman Brothers were likely the first band in Europe to use the instrument.
• Nigel Tufnel, played by Christopher Guest in the film This Is Spinal Tap, owns a Fender Bass VI. He refuses to play it or even let others look at it.
• Ted Nugent was a musician.
• Roy Wood was a member of The Move.