What bass for a guitarist?

[Mudfuzz]

Ok, just checked out video reviews, and I must admit that I am now almost conquered by the Bass VI concept... Dumb question : is it still sounding like a bass?

It depends on how you use it and what you run it through. Really there is not going to be a "huge" difference sound wise between a Bass VI with just the middle on and a mustang bass… necks are around the same shape.. I have a bass VI project I need to finish where I just added two tuners to a music master neck

[oscillateur]

One of the main differences is string spacing. Basses have more space between strings, which can be really nice I think. Bass VI have the same neck type as other short scale basses but with 6 strings instead of 4, so it's more like a guitar spacing. Really, you should try it at least once yourself to see if you like it or not, talking about it is one thing but playing the thing to see if you like it is going to be much more important I guess...

[Mudfuzz]

One of the main differences is string spacing. Basses have more space between strings, which can be really nice I think. Bass VI have the same neck type as other short scale basses but with 6 strings instead of 4, so it's more like a guitar spacing. Really, you should try it at least once yourself to see if you like it or not, talking about it is one thing but playing the thing to see if you like it is going to be much more important I guess...

very true.. kind of why I own two ibanez six string basses and still have yet to finish my [second] bassvi and don't play my other one very much…

[kosta]

…is it still sounding like a bass?

In my limited experience, it seems like longer, thicker strings sound more bassy. My 34" P Bass will tend to sound more bassy than my 30" Bass VI, and the VI sounds more bassy than my 28.5" Jag Baritone - though they are all tuned with the same low E as their lowest note. I'm sure there's some applicable science words for this.

Really there is not going to be a "huge" difference sound wise between a Bass VI with just the middle on and a mustang bass… necks are around the same shape…

Excellent point. I hadn't thought of it like that before. You may have just killed my Mustang/Musicmaster bass GAS.

[rfurtkamp]

Depends on eq/how the thing is played and individual guitars.

VI sounds like a Jazz if I want it to, no sweat. Won't do some P bass sounds, but not much else will.

[Bon Hoga]

…is it still sounding like a bass?

In my limited experience, it seems like longer, thicker strings sound more bassy. My 34" P Bass will tend to sound more bassy than my 30" Bass VI, and the VI sounds more bassy than my 28.5" Jag Baritone - though they are all tuned with the same low E as their lowest note. I'm sure there's some applicable science words for this.

Really there is not going to be a "huge" difference sound wise between a Bass VI with just the middle on and a mustang bass… necks are around the same shape…

Excellent point. I hadn't thought of it like that before. You may have just killed my Mustang/Musicmaster bass GAS.

You're clearly doing something wrong. My VI has low end in spades, every bit as much as any 34" bass I've ever played. Now, it's true that a full scale bass will sound snappier, probably on account of the higher string tension (longer scale = tauter strings). But bassier? I don't think so.

[Bon Hoga]

Depends on eq/how the thing is played and individual guitars.

VI sounds like a Jazz if I want it to, no sweat. Won't do some P bass sounds, but not much else will.

This. A P Bass sounds like a P Bass because it's a bloody P Bass. You don't hear people complaining that their Telecasters sound nothing like Rics or Les Pauls, why the fuck do people expect a VI to sound like something it is not is beyond me.

[Mudfuzz]

Depends on eq/how the thing is played and individual guitars.

VI sounds like a Jazz if I want it to, no sweat. Won't do some P bass sounds, but not much else will.

This. A P Bass sounds like a P Bass because it's a bloody P Bass. You don't hear people complaining that their Telecasters sound nothing like Rics or Les Pauls, why the fuck do people expect a VI to sound like something it is not is beyond me.

really though… the pickups in a Bass VI and a 51-56/tele bass are pretty much the same thing.. also.. if I could get all my P basses to sound like my Rics.. I would

[repoman]

To me, when I'm playing my VI it feels like I'm playing a big weird guitar more than a 'bass' bass...even tho it's a bass. If that makes any sense....

[Tristan]

I dunno, for me the Bass VI style guitars that I played all didn't have that solid sustain on the lower notes, I'd go for a short scale bass over a Bass VI anytime.

[waltdogg]

Depends on eq/how the thing is played and individual guitars.

VI sounds like a Jazz if I want it to, no sweat. Won't do some P bass sounds, but not much else will.

This. A P Bass sounds like a P Bass because it's a bloody P Bass. You don't hear people complaining that their Telecasters sound nothing like Rics or Les Pauls, why the fuck do people expect a VI to sound like something it is not is beyond me.

really though… the pickups in a Bass VI and a 51-56/tele bass are pretty much the same thing.. also.. if I could get all my P basses to sound like my Rics.. I would

'51 P-Bass with a non split single coil is verrrrrry Ric sounding and I have compared them side by side through the same amp. A Telecaster Bass sounds more like a Gibson EB in the mudbucker position.

[WayToHip]

I would recommend a Squier SS jag bass, 30" scale, and has P/J pickups. It can sound like a P bass, which is very common on records. Also has a jazz pickup in the bridge, for more treble in sounds.

[kosta]

Following up on my earlier post, I've played all three of those instruments through the same two amps a bunch, and I swear that the P sounds way more bass-heavy. There are definitely some non-isolated variables in my impressions though. You all have got me curious now...

P Bass : Lollar vintage spec split coil pickup, 250k pots, old PIO huge ass .047µ cap, fingerstyle, heavy body and neck
VI : 90's CIJ, stock pickups & electronics, picked
Jag Baritone Custom Bottom Master : 00's CIJ, stock humbuckers & electronics, picked

Amps were set relatively similarly each time. Why does the P bring the boom in a way that the others do not?

Depends on eq/how the thing is played and individual guitars.

Maybe this is the long and short of it.

[rfurtkamp]

Some of it for me is just how I play it versus the others.

Also I have the jazz set up with ancient (18-20 years now) stainless flats, I don't dare change them. I love it as it is, for what it is.

The P has standard factory wounds, is a recentish (2011 I think, NOS that I got last year in a giveaway) MIM Standard.

VI is a stock, nothing changed Squier VI. It, however, is magical. In a stupid, stupid way.

P's difference if I balance out the ones I've used over the last couple decades I think the thing is the split PU and the position of the same - sort of how a Mustang sounds like a Mustang to me only with both the trem bridge *and* the angled neck PU.

[Mudfuzz]

Depends on eq/how the thing is played and individual guitars.

VI sounds like a Jazz if I want it to, no sweat. Won't do some P bass sounds, but not much else will.

This. A P Bass sounds like a P Bass because it's a bloody P Bass. You don't hear people complaining that their Telecasters sound nothing like Rics or Les Pauls, why the fuck do people expect a VI to sound like something it is not is beyond me.

really though… the pickups in a Bass VI and a 51-56/tele bass are pretty much the same thing.. also.. if I could get all my P basses to sound like my Rics.. I would

'51 P-Bass with a non split single coil is verrrrrry Ric sounding and I have compared them side by side through the same amp. A Telecaster Bass sounds more like a Gibson EB in the mudbucker position.

own 3 RICs they do not sound like any kind of fender I own maybe 7 fender types and have built 4 so 11..], you could put fender pickups in a RIC it will still sound like it does just like if I put RIC pickups in a fender the fender will still sound like a fender.. there is a lot more to the sound of things than pickups… construction.. pickup placement [hugh important thing here] scale length… yeah sure you would get it to sound different BUT all you would do is get that bass to should like it does with whatever pickups you put in it…

also the mud bucker version of the tele bass was the second version of the tele bass, the first one that was put out in around about 69 which was basically a reissues of the original version of the pbass was the better known version of the tele bass until recently and you did not see many of them [although I do like them better]