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musical instrument details
1997 Fender Bass VI Six String Electric Bass Guitar Baritone Sunburst Japan MIJ
Estimated price for orientation: 1 299 $
Category: Fender VI Electr
Class:
Description Condition: Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition Brand: Fender Body Type: Solid Model: Bass VI MPN: Does Not Apply String Configuration: 6 String Country/Region of Manufacture: Japan Dexterity: Right-Handed UPC: Does not apply
Up for sale, a 1997 Fender Bass VI in excellent condition and in perfect working order. This limited release instrument has once again been discontinued, and this Bass VI is from the very first run of reissues offered in the late 1990s. With this Bass VI release, Fender stuck closely to the features introduced on this model in '63, with a four switch control plate and three Jaguar-esque single coil pickups, along with a three-tone sunburst finish!Tuned E to E (an octave down from a standard guitar), the Bass VI can cover an incredible amount of tonal range, working as both a bass and a lead instrument, depending on the situation. Originally designed for studio players looking to nail the Nashville "tic-tac" bass tones, the Bass VI has a present and clear low end, with a sinewy snap that cuts through a mix yet still retains plenty of warmth. For low, surfy twang the Bass VI is ideal, and when drenched in Fender reverb, the tones can be haunting and ethereal. Of course the range of the instrument allows you to also strum full chords and augment bass lines with leads and complex chord shifts not possible on a conventional bass. Used on Ennio Morricone's "Spaghetti Western" film scores, Beatles tunes, a good chunk of the Cream catalog, and much of the Cure's output in the past 30+ years, the Bass VI is an indispensable tool for a wide range of musical styles.This particular Bass VI weighs in at only 8lbs 10oz (quite light for this model), balances well on a strap, and has a solid attack and surprising amount of sustain. Professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar, this Bass VI is strung with flatwound strings and dialed in with solid intonation and low, comfortable action.The one-piece maple neck has a well rounded C profile that fills the palm and boasts a thick slab rosewood fretboard. The 1 9/16" nut width is consistent with vintage spec, as is the 30" scale length, and 7 1/4" fretboard radius. The frets are in excellent shape, with their full original height and only the faintest wear on a few of the crowns between frets 6-10. On the headstock, the original Kluson-style Gotoh tuning machines turn smoothly and work as they should. The entire neck profile (minus the original date stamp on the heel and headstock face) has been professionally refinished in smooth gloss nitro lacquer, which has a much silkier and more elegant feel than the original poly. The neck plate is also a reproduction with a serial number that would be appropriate for an instrument from '60.All of the electronics work as they should, with three individual pickup on/off switches as well as a low cut "strangle" switch for when even more top end presence is needed. Master Volume and Tone controls round out the basic and intuitive layout. The bridge design is faithful to the original in terms of the correct 1" width, with Mustang-style saddles that are more reliable than the knurled saddles seen on other reissues of the VI. Fender's classic offset vibrato unit tops things off, and the guttural growls and twangy warbles that the vibrato can coax out of the Bass VI are truly unique and appropriate to much of the music for which a Bass VI has been utilized over the decades. The vibrato jumps back into tune with relative ease, and the spring tension is more than adequate.Cosmetically, this instrument is in excellent overall condition, with a few stray marks and light finish scratches, but no serious wear of any kind. There is one fairly prominent ding on the bass side waist of the body on the edge of the top, and a second minor mark just south of the chrome control plate, along with a few faint scratches in the pick path on the tortoise guard. The pickguard has also been modified right at the truss rod access point at the heel of the neck, making it easier to adjust the truss rod without removing the neck.This early reissue of the classic and rare Fender Bass VI has been professionally setup, strung with flatwound Bass VI strings, and subtly upgraded with a gloss nitro lacquer finish on the neck and vintage-style neck plate.A gigbag is included.
Description
| Condition: | Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition | Brand: | Fender |
| Body Type: | Solid | Model: | Bass VI |
| MPN: | Does Not Apply | String Configuration: | 6 String |
| Country/Region of Manufacture: | Japan | Dexterity: | Right-Handed |
| UPC: | Does not apply |
Up for sale, a 1997 Fender Bass VI in excellent condition and in perfect working order. This limited release instrument has once again been discontinued, and this Bass VI is from the very first run of reissues offered in the late 1990s. With this Bass VI release, Fender stuck closely to the features introduced on this model in '63, with a four switch control plate and three Jaguar-esque single coil pickups, along with a three-tone sunburst finish!Tuned E to E (an octave down from a standard guitar), the Bass VI can cover an incredible amount of tonal range, working as both a bass and a lead instrument, depending on the situation. Originally designed for studio players looking to nail the Nashville "tic-tac" bass tones, the Bass VI has a present and clear low end, with a sinewy snap that cuts through a mix yet still retains plenty of warmth. For low, surfy twang the Bass VI is ideal, and when drenched in Fender reverb, the tones can be haunting and ethereal. Of course the range of the instrument allows you to also strum full chords and augment bass lines with leads and complex chord shifts not possible on a conventional bass. Used on Ennio Morricone's "Spaghetti Western" film scores, Beatles tunes, a good chunk of the Cream catalog, and much of the Cure's output in the past 30+ years, the Bass VI is an indispensable tool for a wide range of musical styles.This particular Bass VI weighs in at only 8lbs 10oz (quite light for this model), balances well on a strap, and has a solid attack and surprising amount of sustain. Professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar, this Bass VI is strung with flatwound strings and dialed in with solid intonation and low, comfortable action.The one-piece maple neck has a well rounded C profile that fills the palm and boasts a thick slab rosewood fretboard. The 1 9/16" nut width is consistent with vintage spec, as is the 30" scale length, and 7 1/4" fretboard radius. The frets are in excellent shape, with their full original height and only the faintest wear on a few of the crowns between frets 6-10. On the headstock, the original Kluson-style Gotoh tuning machines turn smoothly and work as they should. The entire neck profile (minus the original date stamp on the heel and headstock face) has been professionally refinished in smooth gloss nitro lacquer, which has a much silkier and more elegant feel than the original poly. The neck plate is also a reproduction with a serial number that would be appropriate for an instrument from '60.All of the electronics work as they should, with three individual pickup on/off switches as well as a low cut "strangle" switch for when even more top end presence is needed. Master Volume and Tone controls round out the basic and intuitive layout. The bridge design is faithful to the original in terms of the correct 1" width, with Mustang-style saddles that are more reliable than the knurled saddles seen on other reissues of the VI. Fender's classic offset vibrato unit tops things off, and the guttural growls and twangy warbles that the vibrato can coax out of the Bass VI are truly unique and appropriate to much of the music for which a Bass VI has been utilized over the decades. The vibrato jumps back into tune with relative ease, and the spring tension is more than adequate.Cosmetically, this instrument is in excellent overall condition, with a few stray marks and light finish scratches, but no serious wear of any kind. There is one fairly prominent ding on the bass side waist of the body on the edge of the top, and a second minor mark just south of the chrome control plate, along with a few faint scratches in the pick path on the tortoise guard. The pickguard has also been modified right at the truss rod access point at the heel of the neck, making it easier to adjust the truss rod without removing the neck.
This early reissue of the classic and rare Fender Bass VI has been professionally setup, strung with flatwound Bass VI strings, and subtly upgraded with a gloss nitro lacquer finish on the neck and vintage-style neck plate.A gigbag is included.