EssentialTension

[quote name='Cameronj279' timestamp='1438159413' post='2832079'] ... I should also say that I don't/can't use a plectrum on bass so that's going to be a big thing I need to practice! [/quote] I'm not saying don't learn to use a plectrum but it is not essential. Two of the guitarists I regularly play with never use a plectrum - fingerstyle all the way.

[quote name='Ruiner' timestamp='1438165558' post='2832156'] The Squier jazzmaster baritone (antigua) is 30" scale length (same necks as the Squier VI's) and that comes tuned A-A as standard. [/quote]

[quote name='uk_lefty' timestamp='1438163587' post='2832136'] thanks - backbow was the wording i was looking for!! I can loosen the truss rod to its max and it doesnt seem to be doing much... Don't know if there's any "help" the neck needs to settle. I would guess string tension, so can put an old set of strings on once the bass bridge arrives! [/quote] You need to stop adjusting the truss rod until you've got some strings on.

[quote name='EliasMooseblaster' timestamp='1438113011' post='2831806'] At the risk of derailing the thread with a potentially stupid question: could one string these with lighter strings and turn it into one of these elusive baritone guitars one occasionally hears about? I.e., stringing it BEADF#B (or even ADGCEA, I guess), but with the longer scale length giving better tension that one might get by doing the same to a normal six-string guitar? [/quote] If you chose the right gauges then A-A or B-B tuning are both possible. A-A would roughly mean moving all strings over one and finding an appropriate high A string

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1438104914' post='2831709'] ... how to get the best out of the thing? [/quote] Here's Ed Friedland showing what the Eastwood version of a VI can do .... [media]http://youtu.be/mqaotuJ9ZiQ[/media]

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1438104914' post='2831709'] Totally agree, mine just hangs on the wall whilst I try and work out exactly what I can use it for, I did a recording with it recently and it sat in the mix ok but it was more a case of getting use out of it rather than the track really needing it...so anyone want to enlighten us as to how to get the best out of the thing? [/quote] If you're interested in whether a Bass VI can do normal bass duties ... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/252406-fendersquier-bass-vi-instead-of-a-regular-bass"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/252406-fendersquier-bass-vi-instead-of-a-regular-bass[/url] ... but it's just another instrument in its own right too. Good for melodic soloing, surf type sounds, tictac bass, etc etc; works well with tremolo, reverb, chorus, and other similar effects.

Stringbusters Lord of the Strings Thomann

[quote name='Jimryan' timestamp='1438085450' post='2831479'] Wow! That's nice. Don't know that about the stay-trem/mute sizes, so thank you. Where did you get your locking trem and scratchplate from? [/quote] Pickguard from this guy ... [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Squier-VM-Bass-VI-Pickguard-3-ply-Black-/221832352253?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33a63d11fd"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item33a63d11fd[/url] The locking trem is ordinary Jaguar reissue, fits fine. This thread at Offset Guitars is a mine of information ... [url="http://offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=71490&sid=ad14bdcaa49b0ecbc80a54673fa1a154"]http://offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=71490&sid=ad14bdcaa49b0ecbc80a54673fa1a154[/url]

[quote name='Jimryan' timestamp='1438031495' post='2831116'] ... the stay-trem bridges which I'd like to get hold of and I also really like the idea of the Jaguar bridge mute assembly ... [/quote] If you want to fit a Jaguar mute then you will need the narrower Jaguar Staytrem. I believe the Jaguar mute will not work with the wider BassVI Staytrem. [quote name='Jimryan' timestamp='1438031495' post='2831116'] ... What interests me is changing the tuners, adding a de tuner (if I can find out which one will fit, if one does) ... [/quote] I don't know about that. [quote name='Jimryan' timestamp='1438031495' post='2831116'] ... and possibly swapping out the pickups (was thinking either Seymour Duncan Quarter pounders or the vintage jag ones). [/quote] If I was going to change the pickups it would probably be Curtis Novak.

[quote name='Jimryan' timestamp='1438031495' post='2831116'] ... thinking as to whether any other bass vi owners have modded theirs ... [/quote] On my black Squier VI, I have modded: Fender locking tremolo Staytrem bridge Black pearl pickguard Black pickup covers Black tip for tremolo arm New headstock string guides Black and chrome Q-Parts knobs Schaller straplocks and of course La Bella flatwound strings. Also, the neck almost certainly will need a shim in order to get a reasonable break angle at the bridge.

[quote name='urbanx' timestamp='1438081514' post='2831417'] What's the most common tuning people use on these then? E-E? or something silly starting in B? [/quote] Bass VI common tuning is EADGBE one octave below normal guitar tuning.

Curtis Novak EB-Bridge ... [url="http://curtisnovak.com/pickups/EB-Bridge.shtml"]http://curtisnovak.com/pickups/EB-Bridge.shtml[/url]

[quote name='bornagainbass65' timestamp='1437249467' post='2824685'] Does this qualify for this thread? Sort of a snot-burst with a fire-glo pick guard... What were Fender thinking in 1969? [/quote] That looks like a three colour sunburst where the red has faded away - it's not as it left the factory.

[quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1437759924' post='2828900'] One of the local punk bands did Kelly Marie's " Feels like I'm in love",went down a storm. Mind you it was changed to " Feels like I'm on Drugs " [/quote] I saw Kelly Marie on the telly only last night and I did feel like I was on drugs.

Doing both of those in one of my bands, as well as Leroy Taylor and the Four Kays [i]song Takin' My Time[/i]: [media]http://youtu.be/1skJH4cQ8rs[/media]

Or Otis Clay's [i]Trying to Live My Life Without You[/i] by Brinsley Schwartz: [media]http://youtu.be/n0DQxDLd7oI[/media]

Seventies pub rock style bands often covered soul material. This song is B-side of Wilson Pickett's [i]Mustang Sally[/i]: [media]http://youtu.be/hXASG25df20[/media]

Very good.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/259565-neck-dots"]basschat.co.uk/topic/259565-neck-dots[/url]

Thanks for that.

I couldn't remember this and thought some people might like it - including Brian Wilson on the tugbar: [media]http://youtu.be/bGp1a4O29oI[/media]