Is the Fender Bass VI the BASS OF MY DREAMS? - Vintera II unboxing and first impressions. 

Put flat wounds on it. it absolutely transforms it as a bass instrument, and you get the true vintage sound. It's not a cheap option but I really recommend it

Honestly the bass vi is the only one of ny guitars i consistently gravitate to now, it's my favourite instrument

Please do not make it a baritone. Just use a capo if you want that. Keep the Bass VI pure lol. I love my Pawnshop Bass VI so much.

Don’t feel bad about barely playing bass. I’ve watched your videos for quite a while and your guitar playing hasn’t driven me off.

The solo on Wichita Lineman was done with a Bass VI. I wish CME would send me mine.

The Bass VI really _is_ the baritone, or what would become known as the baritone guitar. The original tuning, as designed, was simply a guitar tuned down an octave, and to give guitar players an easier time doubling on bass. BUT the necks were considered too skinny at the nut and the low string flapped out too much. So guitar players started to tune the six string basses up to an A or B to compensate. Which gave birth to the baritone guitar. Just a six string bass tuned up....same instrument. The Danelectro six string bass (baritone) was often the preferred instrument, because of the price and construction difference, meaning a more playable wider neck. ...everyone should have at least one. I'm glad to see Fender going down this road again. Keep it fun!

Such cool instruments, and running into a bass amp vs. a guitar amp really changes the character. I'm somewhat tempted to do the baritone thing myself (largely due my bass player's bruised ego), but I think I'll save the baritone for another project and keep the Bass VI in stock tuning.

That spring reverb actually sounds pretty good on this bass

Squier NEEDS to drop an affinity version that’s sub $300

i got a squire bass vi almost a year ago. i absolutly love it, my favorite instrument now.

Wish I would’ve known about the VI before I attempted to pull a SVR and put gigantic strings on a guitar. All to satisfy my need for a guitar that is a bass but not a 6 string bass.

inspector gadget and planet claire are the best test songs hands down

Ryan: The strings are so-oh bi-ig! Bass VI: I bet you say that to all the guitars. ☺️

Robert Smith of The Cure famously used a Bass VI early on. Love those first few Cure albums.

Keep it a Bass VI it sounds really good that way.

You can order xl baritone guitar strings for it and tune it to low b.

I had a sunburst Squier Vintage Modified one. I sold it for something else as it didn’t really work for what I was playing. The very first year Fender made this is actually different: 3-strat pickups, no bass cut switch and I believe the fretboard was less fancy as well.

I'm having fun thank you; I think it's a great big Goth' Machine...

13:58 Does it doom? Yes. Yes it does doom.

Did you get it directly from fender ? That's amazing !

EADGBE same as guitar same scales octave lower no big deal man. Wish this was a hard tail. Modern hard tail version needed in 2024!

Ryan, you should try some classic Spaghetti Western! And then throw a Fuzz in front and rock Man with a Harmonica.

This is also my dream Bass 🌊🌊

I am honestly surprised You don't have a CBS one hanging up behind You. Recommended albums: Disraeli Gears by Cream Disintegration by The Cure (P.S. I wish I had more D albums by C bands) Sincerely Mike B. B. From Philly, P.A. U.S.A.

Fun song to learn: Hank The Knife & The Jets - Guitar King Extremely cheesy, but it's got one of my favourite Bass VI riffs.

Did Duane Eddy play a 6-string bass?

hey it blends in with your backdrop, lolz. i was always told i play bass like a guitarist (since i am), and should have gotten a bass VI... that band broke up and i'm back to mainly guitar, so im probably not going to. looks and sounds awesome though. learn some Cure songs, i bet that would be rad

We want more 2 princes intro!!

Its Been A While... by Stained... uses baritone but would sound better on a Bass 6. Rebal Rouser.... anything by Duanne Eddy

My bass vi is black

It's kinda like a short scale baritone... Maybe?

God blessed you richly man! Thank HIM! God bless you! SOLI DEO GLORIA (To The Glory Of God Alone) Father, Son & Holy Spirit -Ronnie

is that inspector gadget?

If an electric bass is a type of bass, and an electric guitar is a type of guitar, then what is a Bass VI? A 'guibass? A 'basstar'? We must settle this matter once and for all. 🙂

I'm having trouble coming up with a reason not to get one

The intro for twin peaks+ joy division/new order+ early the cure records are peak Bass VI for me, i think the soul of the instrument real sits there in that style

As you say, stick a compressor, chorus and delay pedal on it and play all of Disintegration by The Cure. I reckon only Lovesong doesn't have a Bass VI part.. 😅 And as always, you come for the thumbnail and stay for Ryan's disharming honesty.

I’m not sure what I was expecting it to sound like but I was really impressed when I heard it. Looks cool too.

The Cure Carnage Visors is probably the longest ever recorded with a Bass VI. Got some nice parts in that. But here are some cool Bass VI songs: New Order - Dreams Never End Red Hot Chili Peppers - Happiness Loves Company The Church - Aura The Church - Ripple The Byrds - Mr Tamborine man Cream - Strange Brew Placebo - Slave to the wage Dandy Warhols - Goddless The Beatles - Back in the USSR And some more Cure: The Cure - Pictures of You, High, Just one kiss, Letter to Elise, Faith

Uhhhh, why baritone a Bass VI? You're already dealing with one of rhe coolest instruments ever but you'd monkey with it? Oy Vey!!!!

I'm glad you've reviewed this one. From my limited experience, they sound amazing with fuzz.

You should play with the tone knob in conjunction with the strangle switch. The strangle switch actually inverts the tone knob. I like to leave the tone knob around 75% in both positions. It sounds more bassy with the strangle switch off, and more baritone guitary with the strangle switch on.

You play the cure.... that is what you play. Chorus and delay with strangle on and neck pickup.

I absolutely love the sound of chords on Bass VI's. Take the time to dial in the intonation as good as you can get it. The Vintera II Bass VI is really hard to find right now. I hope Fender brings it to the AVRI II line, they're really popular right now.

Last year I sold my motorbike to get a telecaster. This year I'll be selling the tele to get one of these. It's always been a dream bass of mine but I've shyed away from the Squier ones because of the well reported issues. My main bass is a fender dimension with flatwounds so I like things that are a bit different. Brilliant vid.

Why not run it into real bass amps? The 4 lower strings are in exactly the same tonal area as a 4 string bass.. It will sound so much better when using large bass cabinets, and you will not ruin the princes speakers …

The Squier version is awesome; I can't fathom how cool this one is When you listen to Robert Smith, or Joe Perry's rip on Back in the Saddle, bear in mind studio limiting is involved. In the room it sounds downright feral. Enjoy

I play surf guitar in the Chihuahuan Desert!

Play it like a BASS it’s a bass with two higher strings on there.Check out HELTER SKELTER by that Liverpool band. It can sound awesome!

Glen campbell- witchita lineman- best bass six song of all time- solo kills, but whole song is great example.

Give it 6 months they’ll be overstocked then on sale!

It's already a Baritone! Tuned E-E!!! No real need to tune it up. It covers a lower Baritone range this way! Your Demo was just FINE!!!

I bet you'd like the Danelectro 6-string bass too, especially since Duane Eddy used one extensively.

I wanna try this one so bad! Thanks for sharing

So two things,1) I feel like the universe is telling me to get a bass vi, I've been seeing them pop up in the most random places the last few months so I think I know what's at the top of my Christmas list this year 😂 2) my Squier classic vibe Jazzmaster has some of that same flamed maple on the back of the neck and it's never ceases to catch my eye whenever i pick it up.

Just throw a capo on one of the lower frets & ya have your Baritone!

As for Cure songs, you should learn “Pictures of You” or “High”. I just ordered a Squier one in Shell Pink with block inlays! I love that 60’s Pink Cadillac-looking Fender vibe, like with ‘66 Jazzmasters (I believe it’s ‘66), so as soon as I saw they sold Squier one’s with that look, I immediately tried one out in a store then ordered it. I’m so excited!

Suggest songs? Rock lobster.

At first I was thinking about the red one but this lake Placid Blue rocks the house!!

A lot of the surf melodies you're so into would sound great simply doubled with the bass VI underneath

Greatings from 1:12 Carlsbad New Mexico.

It Rocks & Fender 24-100 Gauge strings really help.

Cover "Dreams Never End" by New Order.

Hey

I am not even checking the due date any more because it makes me sad 😿 I ordered a custom Purple VI from C.M.E. on Reverb, but a paint problem allegedly delayed the production. I plan to shift gauge so that I can tune it up to B Standard like a mondo 30" Baritone without actually getting at the truss rod. I did that originally with my Rick 325, it came with about .11s but I put on slinkys and tuned it up to A Standard, I think that I was afraid to tangle with dual truss rods or something. I called it the Frank Zappa Unit -as if I was going to hit those wailing circular motion style riffs or something. 🎸 Didn't Dick Dale run one of those things? Seems like it would force you to write at least a couple new songs or something. I am really looking forward to getting mine. My friend Art Najera told me more than thirty years ago that I should get a Baritone, and he has always been right about everything else..

That's an interesting bridge, it looks like its much wider. For about 40 years ALL fender & squier Bass VI's were impossible to intonate as there wasn't enough adjustment room at the bridge. I'm startled they seem to have had ago at fixing it after so many decades of ignoring everyone. Public service announcement Ernieball strings are not long enough to fit these by at least 3 inches, there's money I'll never get back. I don't know which bass VI their strings are for but it doesn't appear to be one that exists outside of the USA. As an experienced user of Bass VI and Baritones; Baritones are better at being baritones, the Bass VI is better at being a bass VI and those people who convert Bass Vi's to Baritones are really weird.

Incidentally I have a baritone I converted to a bass VI with just a string swap, so it can go both ways.

It's not quite a bass guitar, unless you put decent gauge flatwounds on it. It's not a guitar because of it's pitch though it can do guitar chords. It's not exactly a baritone guitar because of the usual standard tuning..... BUT, it's useful for tik taking at the higher pitch for bass guitar & under a guitar melody line. I reckon it's a good studio tool. Octavia pedals tend to have a synthesized sound for the altered pitch & can be noticeable, so this can be played an octave up or down and sound natural. Also it's helpful for creating guitar like lines outside of the pitch of the usual guitar. Glenn Campbell used one for Witchita Linesman and I think he also played one in some Beach Boys' tracks. Robert Smith of The Cure uses this type of guitar for some Cure songs too... I will also add that Fender have hit the target with these Vintera II series guitars & basses. Very attractive models, Fender - Mexico should make a decent profit out of this.

Po! you had the noodle dream! but with Bass VI

Pretty funny, actually, I'm Steve's friend, saw your post on IG when you got this, bit, was just talking to my friend about them today. And what does YT suggest to me? 🤣

I would love to see Ryan do a surf cover of "Two Way Mirror" by LOATHE. :)

What to play … punk rawk on 12

“White room” by Cream. And would love to hear your thoughts vs the Gretsch, as that’s basically a BVI that they are calling a baritone…

Amazing tones. I love the attack and definition followed by the low thump. You should never have a low-end definition problem again. I like it more as a bass than a guitar.

Fun departure, glad to see you have that kid in the candystore vibe. Solid 8 outta 10 on the spaghetti western meter. I'm sure it surfs and psychedelics real strong also. Glad they are still making them !

oh this is perfect, as a guitar player who needs lower notes and thicker tone... I am buying this; I got turned onto six string bass after listening to 'I don't want nobody' by eddie harris...

Los Straightjackets' bassist used a Bass VI for a while. Doesn't get more SURF than that! I expect you to play Don't Worry by Marty Robbins on your next video...

I have a 1972 Fender Bass VI for a good 30 years now and it still excites me! I also have the Squier Bass VI, which I love too! Flats are a must in my opinion.

How do clean triads sound on it? I wonder how it would do in a trio for the bassist to add some chord "stabs" around the bassline. What string gauges does it use?

welcome to the bass vi obsession. i’m on my… 3rd and 4th. my fifth will be a baritone conversion? anyway. i suggest you learn jet harris’s version of besamé mucho. fantastic use of the fender vi there. (great call on the nitzsche track…)

I had one and converted to baritone. The problem you will run into is finding a high E string that is long enough to wrap. It’ll work but you might need to look at string lengths first.

That might some of the best tone you've ever had. That thing sounds beastly and the chords on it are gorgeou

I grabbed a fiesta red one!

I prefer B-B baritone tuning on my Squier Bass VI, but I use D’Addario strings for it. I usually use Ernie Ball, but their baritone set isn’t long enough on the low strings for the 30” scale!

I wasn't happy at all with this "Made of Mexico". Soundwise ok, but I had a huge gap in the neck pocket and an issue with the nut. Have a look here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Uk5V2Iofl2Q.html The string spacing wasn't easy to set properly due to the riffled string saddles. I recommend to buy an Squier CV Bass VI and do an upgrade with the strings (La Bella), bridge (Staytrem) and tremolo block (Fender). It's still cheaper than the Mexico Vintera, but looks more classic.

Time to order a Mastery bridge.

I look forward to the baritone conversion video!!!

I had a look at one of these (same colour!) in a store in the UK. It was a *banana*. The setup was abominable in every regard, even ignoring the truss rod. By contrast, while the set-up on my CV had the bridge decked and has a little more buzz on the low E than I'd like - it was playable in every regard, and the neck was straight. I have a bigger problem with the Vintera - even after flattening the strings at the bridge so that they were flattish to some parts of the headstock - I really didn't get on with the tighter 7.25" radius. But, that's personal - I also don't like 12" on Fender necks either. I was certainly impressed with the fit-out of this guitar, it's a nice colour (not Tort on Spark or Tort on Purple nice, but still, nice) well finished and having a proper width bridge is HUGE. If Fender doesn't re-release the Mute VI for all the Vintera II and StayTrem players it will be a CRIME. Side note - I'm surprised at how many people I see playing these through guitar combos. I've certainly played mine through guitar amps - a Fender Vaporizer, and both Blackface Super and Tweed Bassman models on my Vox VT100 - but only through an external Ashdown 4x10 bass cab, in both cases. Isn't this really bad for your speakers? Edit: I'm obviously talking stock setups above. I plan to fix the Squier's setup properly, but I'm waiting for my Staytrem arm and bridge to come - then it's a weekend project with flats, shimming, Staytrem kit, the works. Edit2 at end of video: I slap my Bass VI constantly. I also use a Shamisen Bachi with it. Why not? GO LEARN SLAP, RYAN!

Great video! Bass VIs are very cool.. and I always thought the strangle switch was so you could play it through a guitar amp without the risk of damaging it?

Free Bird. That arrangement has too much empty mix spectral frequency gapp where the drum can't fill enough to cushion the throbbing impacts at the same moments of every phrase as the deeply underhanging bassline.

That thing...in your hands...casts a dark shadow. Perfect for the soundtrack of a new horror film where Charlie Manson comes "back" with his new guitar to take revenge on....beach boys...deputies....surfers and the CIA!

Robert Smith from The Cure made famous this Bass VI but ironically he is now using the crappy Schecter hellcat VI but sound is thin and far from the Fender sound. I hope Robert Smith change his mind and return to the Fender Bass VI.

I totally love your reaction to opening up this magical instrument. I have the same experience - I’ve played a couple in store, but when I played them I couldn’t put em down. I haven’t picked one up because I can’t decide on one of these or a Hofner which is also super fun to play.

i wish my squire bass vi was bright blue like that even though they are both technically lake placid blue

I’ve got one coming in next Friday. I could only find one in the US through Guitar Center. Really excited before your video but now I’m really excited.

I want Ibanez's take on this, I have OCD, so it's gotta be Ibanez for me. This thing sounds awesome, though!

I need a 6-string with lob and the one you're playing and I'm done oh and a six string fretless I'm sorry and then I'm done that would make it 9 total

Tuning to baritone B to b is really fun tuning to play in.

Gotta learn the Wichita Lineman solo on it. Essential methinks

Just ordered one through your link.