I play the Fender VI for over 30 years now, and I also own some Danelectro 6s vintage and reissue. The biggest advantage the Fender has, is that you can actually play bass in a band with it, if you have flats on it plus use a bass amp of course. This also sounds fantastic! Try it. Thanks for this inspiring video!
I bought a Fender Squire BassVI a few years ago and use it for composing all the time. It has a fantastic sound. I've used it for some spaghetti-western styled tracks and its awesome for that kind of thing, adding instant retro vibe to anything you record with it.
The Schecter Hellcat VI is a good choice too, with very stable tuning. We used mine on my band's recent recording, to double up a guitar part. I have an older version with mini humbuckers.
"Hi, my name is Michael and I'm addicted to Bass VI/6" LOL I've had a Dano single cut in the '90s( wood saddle), a Fender Subsonic Strat (bari), a Jerry Jones Jupiter longhorn Bass6 in mint condition for $750! Talk about things going up?!?!? . I loved it but had to sell it and then later, picked up a Schecter Hellcat VI (mini humbuckers), but had to sell that, too, and now am hoping to get another Dano longhorn, now that they've reissued them again.... So, I really enjoyed this (and felt bad about not having one! ...sniff sniff). But you've reminded me that the Hodad would work nicely, too. Thanks for the low down on Bass sixes!
Thanks. What really cracked me up was on both guitars you said "I'm going to put both pickups on" and they're both SSSs. It's the Telecaster State of Mind.
I recall Jack Bruce played a Fender 6 in the earlier days of Cream, he also liked the Labella strings, he then settled on the Gibson 'SG' bass, I like the Dano tone wise, it just seems to have a vibe!
“SG Bass” is what Gibson calls them now; in the ‘60s it was called an EB-3. That’s what Jack was playing when I saw Cream at Winterland in San Francisco in 1968.
I like my 62/63 Fender Vl, it has a nice light alder body and a very smooth playing neck. You’ve inspired me to pull it out of the case and use it more.
Nice! This is a really nice drink of water. I once saw a Union studio log for the Lonely Surfer date..both Tommy Tedesco and Glenn Campbell were on the roster..so who knows. Another cool outside of the tic-tac genre is the arpeggiated Dano Bass VI on Richie Valens "La Bamba"..
I discovered you because of your first Bass VI video! I happened to be researching them, and I have the Squier Bass VI now. Thanks for all the great content!
Witchita lineman sounds amazing on that dano, at least to my ear. But then again the fender six so big and round. Both have their charm when you play them. Thanks zac , learned alot
Just did some work on the Fender pawnshop version of the bass 6. It uses a 5 way blade switch and has a humbucker in the bridge position. They were only made for about a year.
@@ZaneDalton they look like a Jazzmaster pickup but they are humbuckers. You can look up the specs from Fender. I thought the same thing when I first saw one.
@@justinrayguitars6024 I thought those jazzmaster style pickups aren’t single coils or humbuckers but they are P90s, which is slightly different than the single coil or the humbucking pickups
@@donnix1192 they are their own thing. They are wound different than a P90 but that's probably the closest thing to them. There's some videos on the subject that explains things better than I can.
The Beatles used it on Helter Skelter..John Lennon played the bass V1..Paul McCartney played lead and rhythm guitar..Ringo played drums and yelled I got blisters on my fingers...George was not even on the track!
Bill Pitman was the guy who got a Dano 6 in a music shop in L.A. And started using it the L.A studio system as a "Wrecking Crew" musician. Lot of Jan & Dean too. Also he uses one on the Wild Wild West Theme...BTW He recently turned 100 or was it 101 ?!
Just pulled the trigger on a Bass VI - astonishing value and great flexibility... Should have bought this ages ago..!!! Really loved the sound character of the Dano too
The current Danelectro baritone (that is, the instruments currently marketed as baritones) are 30" scale (or 29.75", if you prefer. The only real difference between a Danelectro baritone and a Danelectro bass 6 is the strings. And maybe the nut slots. The current Baritone is a 6-string version of the 56 "dolphin bass" 4-string bass. Other baritones and bass-6's since the '90s have been 6-string versions of various other Danelectro 4-string basses. The one on the video is based on the Hodad bass
@@mcgreiveyy thank you what amp would you recommend? This is a unique instrument where a guitar amp might cut out the low frequencies but a bass amp might cut out the high frequencies. And how would you tune it? An octave lower or A to A?
@@ProfessionalsProfessional A good bass amp won't cut the highs. A bass has highs that have to sound nice. But a bass amp is also meant to put out low notes clearly, without blowing up. If your intention is to use the bass vi as a bass with high notes, use a bass amp. Or if your intention is to play it on the bridge pickup, as a kind of lower baritone, maybe a guitar amp is what you want.
Why didn't you demo the Fender with strangle switch? You can get plenty of "doinky hollow" sounds... The Dano does have a bit more pipe sound. Don't own a Dano but have a Sq 6 and it sounds like a big Jag.
Thanks a lot for this episode Zac - I have a Squier VI (mine’s a 3-color Sunburst), and I’ve been really happy with it. I play it through a Vox AC-15 and a Fender Bassman, and love the different sounds from both. And I’m a strangle switch fan as well - used judiciously. But boy that Dano sounded great - I need to check one out … thanks again Zac for a very enjoyable and informative episode.
Zac, on "La Bamba" by Ritchie Valens, the intro you hear a low sounding guitar. That was session great Rene Hall. It was not a regular six string guitar played by Carol Kaye or anyone else. I've read different things. Some say it's a Danelctro Baritone guitar. Some say it's a Danelctro Bass Six. Zac, what do you think? Dano Baritone or Dano Bass VI? Thanks
I'm very happy with my Squier VI. The tuning stability is much better than on my Danelectro 66BT, which has that horrible Wilkinson floating tremolo. The bass VI is versatile and highly customizable.
I'm a bass player who recently purchased the Squier Bass VII. It sounds great, but the setup from the factory wasn't the best. There's a lot of rattle on the low E string, so I'm taking it to a local luthier. Thanks for making this video, it really shows me the potential the instrument has!
This is exactly what I was looking for, because I had the chance to buy a Hodad baritone and wanted to make sure it was the better choice. I bought it based on this demo (your pointing out which strings to get was the cherry on top); it sounds great with my vintage amp and it’s now being set up for Bass VI and modded in a couple other ways. However, mine is already subject to the notorious “bending bridge” that troubles other Danelectro baritones, and I imagine it’ll get worse with Bass VI strings. Did yours have this problem? How did it get fixed, if so?
I have a late 2010 Jerry Jones 6 string bass that I imagine is very similar to the Dano 6 string bass. This Zac segment has inspired me to get that thing out of the closet.
I picked up a Harley Benton, which is modeled more on a Bass VI. Pretty well built overall. Unfortunately, it only has a Strat style 5 way switch, and a tune o matic rather than a vibrato. The Ernie Ball set does fit the Harley Benton, but just barely, the high E barely long enough to get a good wrap around the peg. Next time I change strings, I'm replacing the tone control with a dual pot that allows normal tone in one direction, and a high pass "strangle" in the other, with a center detente off. I'm also considering a Dusenburg tune o matic vibrato replacement and a roller bridge, but they're kind of hard to find.
Another great A.Z. video. I have what I believe to be a late 90s UB-2 I bought it used in 03 or 04. It's great but now I want the Fender as well. They really are different enough to justify having both.
Another great and very informative video. Thanks again Zac, love this channel tons and I'm happy to have this content to learn from. Genuinely learn more from you and your videos then anything else.
I’m just curious, but since the Squier one is named “Bass” VI, what if these instruments are played through a bass amp? I’ve been watching many videos which are playing Bass VI, but nobody played through a bass amp.
Thanks for the episode. I've always been curious about these Bass VI and there is not much good information available. One random question: do you think that playing these through a guitar amp damage the speaker? Cheers!
Nice. Anything Dano is cool but like the Bass VI.Not only did Jack Bruce use one with Cream (The Fool fail) but Peter Green used one on Rattlesnake Shake.
Ever play a Telecaster Bajo Sexto? I'm a little prejudice, but I think it's got a lot more character than the Bass VI. Also, the story of paying for another guitar player was a humorous thing that Harold Bradley used to throw in as a self-deprecating joke.
Your Bajo Sextos are hard to find, Fred. Jorgenson has one that I saw him play, but I have never gotten to actually play one. Honored that you would chime in!!!!!
Excellent comparison. As I've often said, the Danelectro sounds much better than the Fender, although the latter's flat-wounds won't have helped it. I've had 2 Bass VIs (original & Japanese - no difference in sound but they got rid of that dreadful rubber mute). Did anyone hear a difference using the 'strangle switch' ? - albeit in practise it just robs some bass. The floating tremolo system is horrible to use. I'm surprised that Zac wasn't more critical of the Fender bridge - there are so many articles on this in respect to intonation, not to mention the 6th string's tendency to roll off it - thankfully StayTrem are far better at making bridges than are Fender! If I were in a position to design my own, I would want the slightly wider string spacing, Danelectro pick-ups (2 is sufficient), a StayTrem bridge or some form of modified Strat bridge/temolo system (although arguable if a trem is needed) but the Jaguar style body shape is nicest (even if it can be a nightmare unless using a proper strand).
To this day, no one got a six string bass to growl, snarl and roar like Duane Eddy. He had a couple of Dano's. Check out his The Twang's the Thang album....recorded in 1959 !! Still sounds great all these decades later.
That Dan has the sound I love. I have 3 amp in case Silverstone units. I'm thinking I'll go with the fender first and a Dan down the road. Thanks for the comp!
I've played a Jerry Jones bari and recorded with it, but for live playing, I think I'll get the Squier V1 so that I don't have to do all the rethinking and transposing. I don't want to capo halfway up the neck - would be defeating the purpose! Can't believe I've just discovered you! OMG! Can you post a link to the Spotify Fender V1 playlist you mentioned? Can't find it. Just watched the Glen Campbell RU-vid video with the red Fender V1 from The Smothers Brothers Hour! Thanks!
@@AskZac very distinctive and a nice counterpoint to the classic country tic-toc bass sound you highlight in this vid. PS - I never knew there was a Danelectro predating the Fender.
My first thought was are a Bass 6 guitar and a baritone guitar the same thing. Thanks for clearing that up right away! That Danelectro just has a thing that sounds great to me. Thanks for sharing this one Zac.
There's just something special about the dano sound, I think that low e staccato part on Rebel Walk, which is frustrating because they're so rare. I wonder if fitting lipsticks to the squier would get there.
Being a big fan of both Baritones and Bass 6s, I've got to say that I much prefer the 'scooped/hollow' EQ of the Dano; but a whammy bar seems a must-have on these instruments. SO, which is better? NEITHER... I ended up making a Frankenstein-Fender-bodied version (for the whammy-bridge), but I used an original 60s Dano lipstick pickup, and also an original 60s Teisco Goldfoil pickup (neck). (The Goldfoils are well known for their scooped EQ.) So my choice is a bit of a one-of-a-kind, but I think it has the best of both worlds; Dano tone with Fender playability and better bridge construction, plus the ubiquitous whammy bar... (I ultimately used a Bigsby!) I also opted on one of my iterations to make an 8 string version, with the two middle strings set up with octaves. Very eclectic; it sounds out of this world... I call it my Bronco-Bari-8. It lives in various tunings, but most often is in G, so in between true Baritone (A or B) and the Bass 6 (E); but it is mostly used to support Keef-Cooder-style open G tuned (5 string?) or even "Bajo-Quinto" guitars... *I use a system of post-it notes stuck to the back of each headstock* noting the String Brand and type - (flats, rounds, ground/half-wound, scale-length, Metal type, Zebras, etc): the date installed: string gauge info: and tuning range for each of my untraditionally strung/tuned instruments. Also sometimes noted is the length of time actually used to track or play which sessions. Often after each session, these instruments will have the tension slacked-off (by a minor third or so) in order to alleviate the uneven stresses placed upon the neck (and tops/bracing for acoustics) for these non-traditional excursions into tuning no-man's-land... As long as you keep track of your intended tuning range and the string gauges you've installed (via the post-it-notes), there is no issue with using these instruments in other dispositions or configurations from which they were originally intended. A string tension calculator such as tension.stringjoy.com/ is useful if not essential! Another interesting and informative source of history on this topic: check out the recent Get Back movie for both John and George's extensive use of a Bass 6 on songs where Paul is necessarily off the bass and playing piano. For some odd reason guitar players John and George seemed to have to be able to access those two additional strings (B and E) in order to play bass credibly. It's a testament to George Martin's production ability that he was able to salvage usable bass tones out the Bass 6 for those songs... And truth be told John's non-traditional and unfettered approach to 'bass-playing' did actually produce some very interesting and creative bass lines!
Is there neck dive on the Danelectro? As well, it's hard to see in the video and pictures, but does this have a nut that could easily be replaced? I want to get a guitar in this scale length range and actually convert it to a baritone. I think it's relatively common to do with Bass VIs, but I'm not sure what's going to be the better option, especially if I want to put a trem on it.
WOW!!!!!!! THANK YOU ZAC, FOR REVIEWING, AND DEMONSTRATING/COMPARING THESE TO AWESOME "BARITONE)/BASS GUITARS!!! WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR SOME SUITABLE AMPLIFIERS, AND EFFECTS,??!!!
I always go with what sounds good to me Zac, that's the point of it all, right. In this case, I have to say the Danelectro, I thought it was clearer sounding by far, that pains me to say as I've always been a big Fender guy, but I thought the example of Wichita Lineman sounded awesome on the Danelectro, and a little too flubby on the Fender, nice job on that BTW
I believe that a Dano was used on the recording of Wichita Lineman. I remember hearing that Glen Campbell borrowed Carol Kaye’s Dano for the session. If Zac or somebody could confirm that, I’d greatly appreciate it.
Because the Squier VI needs even longer strings than most baritones. That's due to the required extra string length between the bridge and tremolo. Most strings (like Ernie Ball or D'Addario) barely reach the uppermost tuning pegs. A hardtail conversion plate will solve that "problem".
@@danielleinad6019 interesting, I’d rather keep the string length and tremolo system. To me the squier needs 95 on the low E. At least I think it helps the sound with the strangle switch off.
What you played was that the first song that a fuzz type sound (caused by bad amplifier) was heard, in Marty Robbins' "Don't Worry About Me"? This song inspired the first fuzz pedal to be created and the start of guitar pedals.
Grady Martin played a Dano Bass 6 with fuzz effect on Martin Robbin's Don't Worry record, correct? I think you mentioned that awhile back in one of your videos.
It’s called a bass and it covers the same frequencies but bass players rarely use them. I know some guys used them briefly but no bassists stuck with them. They have a thin sound. It works better as a deep sounding guitar.
I am a guitarist and put some flat wound strings on a Squier Bass VI. I use it with my hx stomp and track bass lines like that. Makes it easier on me because it feels more familiar but, you are indeed correct. Most people use it as a lower or extended range sounding guitar. Really cool instrument I would recommend to any guitar player looking for more sounds or to track simple bass stuff.
Nice video Zac. I'd like to ask a question. My Danelectro 56 RI Baritone has a 29-3/4" scale and came with 13-62 D'Addario strings tuned to B and it has the same bridge as your Dano Bass 6. How do you think it would work out If I put a set of those Ernie Ball strings for Bass 6 on it and tuned it to E? Would it become a true Bass 6 instead of a Baritone sound and work just as good?
Hey Zac, question for you: what is the length of the neck on the Hodad, from nut to where the neck meets the body? I have a Danelectro Innuendo from that same era as the Hodad, with the same Mosrite-esque body. I am wondering if I could shift the bridge farther away on the Innuendo and get the 29.5" scale length, to create a Hodad-like Bass VI sound. I am wondering if the Hodad and the Innuendo have basically the same necks and fret spacing, and I just need to adjust the bridge. Any thoughts?
@@AskZac thank you so much! I am now realizing that the neck would ideally have to have the 12th fret positioned at exactly half the scale length, so a neck for a 25.5" scale would have it's 12th fret 12.75" from the nut, and a 29.5" would have the 12th positioned at 14.75" from the nut. Soooo, I'm probably going to have to try a different approach!
So, Danelectro is usefull more if tuned from B to B fourth lower than guitar, while Fender VI is good from E to E an octave bellow the guitar. Somehow, I find both instruments to be interesting to have around.
As a lefty one of the frustrating things about finding guitars that are awesome is some aren’t made for left handed people. Is there any chance either of these two are left handed?
Would you say the Fender can do a Beach Boys sound? I want the Fender (or Squier) because the Beatles used one, but I also love that Wrecking Crew sound.
Zac I have a Danelectro just like the one in your video. I found it in a pawn shop a few years ago. Do you know what year it is. And Model. I can't find any info about it.
Thank you for a great video on the bass VI's. I was going to buy a Fender VI, but couldn't find one, so bought the Duane Eddy VI which was way more expensive, but a beautiful instrument. Duane makes it sound phonomenal in some RU-vid videos. Cheers and thanks again. Burch
Great video. BUT... I purchased the Dano Hodad 'Baritone' just like yours and I purchased the EB 2837 string set on your recommendation. Problem is.... a low E .090 won't even begin to go through the tuning post hole. You must have drilled your post holes out larger. Wondering about this. Thanks.
@@AskZac Yes it does. Same exact model. And it has stock Gotoh tuners. They don't appear to have been changed. The strings it came with measured15 thru 68 tuned B-B. What's the deal ?
Being sold as a baritone and modifying to thicker strings takes some work. I left mine as a baritone as Dano apparently intended. This is the first time i have seen someone tuning to and labeling a Hodad as a bass VI. I never knew I had a Bass VI in disguise. I love it in its stock form. To each their own I guess.
Thanks for this, Zac. I understand "needing" both of these; the Dano has a lot more character, but sort of falls down on features compared to the Fender. Question: You keep mentioning using "both" pickups, but these are both 3-pickup instruments. Do you mean "both the neck and the bridge pickups, but not the middle one"?
I have a Danelectro Innuendo baritone from 2000. And it IS a baritone, not a Bass VI-it has a 29-1/2” scale. I have it in A-A baritone tuning, but I suppose I could use those Ernie Ball Bass VI strings, if they’d work with the tuners and the Strat-style vibrato bridge-which came locked down and I’ve never unlocked it. Three Strat-style single-coil pickups and built-in battery-powered effects-tremolo, analog delay (which sounds awful), and fuzz (which isn’t too bad.) Dano made these in 6-string guitar, 12-string guitar, and baritone versions, and I’ve seen various models in blueburst, redburst, and (like mine) three-tone sunburst, all with white pearloid pickguards. They had the same quasi-Mosrite shape as the Hodad, but no mother-of-diving-board tape on the sides. It’s pretty heavy so it must be a solidbody-don’t know what kind of wood. These were even cheaper than regular Danos-I think I paid $250 new with a bass case. The whole Innuendo series didn’t last very long-they came out around 2000 and lasted maybe four years. I wonder if I really could string it up as a Bass VI without too much trouble!
Hello Zac, thank you for this great video. I love Danelectro guitars. And I have always loved the sound of the six bass on Glen`s recordings.After watching your video I tried to find where I can order the Hodad Bass 6 but couldn't find any, used or new. Could you tell me please what you know about how and where to get one? Greetings from Germany and a big THANK YOU. Joe
Nice demo. I wish you had used a Fender amp for this. I've been using a 60s Teisco (Fender VI) copy. The vibrato and slight reverb setting on my silver-faced Princeton Reverb gives a more authentic sound on the Glen Campbell solos. My buddy's Dano baritone definitely has the old George Jones sound (White Lightnin') in spades.
@@AskZac Check out the Staytrem bridge (wider for intonation) and vibrato arm/collet (for arm stability). Both reduce rattle too. Shielded my cavities, got a custom Pickguardian guard, bone nut, & LaBella flats.
Great stuff , as I'd mentioned in an earlier video feedback , I was smart enough to buy a Jerry Jones six string bass and a J.J. baritone . Love them both , because it's a sickness I am always looking for something different . My wife just doesn't understand , but then does any of them ? 🤔
