They are just starting to get these things! I held off for a long time, not sure why. I think the Pawn Shop one really put me off of wanted a VI. But, I'm super happy to get one. Several people here got one within a week of each other and my good buddy is getting one(gratis... for blogging mine!) this week.

I think there is some really great music to be made with these instruments yet. Just listen to a Cure song or that Cocteau Twins song, where two VIs kind of just gently jam together. Jamming is the wrong word, more creating a cohesive atmosphere.

I'm really excited to get mine into a band context. The great things that could be accomplished with the 'limitation' of two to three VIs... To the lay person, they would have no idea what was going on, that is the beauty of it.

Listening to this video again, found it on an early page in this thread. I have decent monitors hooked up to my desktop computer and this sounds absolutely amazing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNBJ1rBAlN8

I was a fan of both the Cure and Cocteau Twins, even though I couldn't understand a word she sung. I like the guitar-playing and they used off-sets all the time.

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
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Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
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Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

I'm using my Bass VI in the five-piece combo I'm in to play the vocal melody (slow, moody) parts in songs such as Besame Mucho, Shadow of Your Smile, Charade and so on. The sonic range of this guitar, from lowest note to highest, and all the tones available with its' pickup combinations - creamy mellow to deep twang - combined with Reverb or Space Echo, is amazing.

I'm working on using its' vibrato bar to add a shimmering quality to my playing, but for some reason the tone gets slightly tinny when I use it, and the bar clanks when released. I think I will eventually have to upgrade the bridge and vibrato systems if the combo becomes a serious project. For now, I use the Bass VI on these songs with a Joyo Tremolo pedal (thanks for the tip, Noah) and I love the music it makes.

Also, while the switches aren't scratchy, they are noisy when changed, so I may need to do something about them, too. The "click" through the amp really distracts from the music in the quiet sections.

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

LeeVanCleef wrote:

Noel wrote:

I'm working on using its' vibrato bar to add a shimmering quality to my playing, but for some reason the tone gets slightly tinny when I use it, and the bar clanks when released.

Noel, check if the strings touch the back of the bridge when you're using the trem and the bridge is rocking forward. You may have to raise the saddles a little.

Thanks. We did yesterday, during a complete reset, and that's not it. But it does sound like a slight harmonic vibration that never quite becomes a buzz, it just goes "thin", like maybe a saddle slot isn't perfectly parallel? The clank from the slop in the collet, made by releasing the vibrato arm is more annoying.

And, we also noticed the high-E string is a bit too close to the edge of the fretboard. It slightly overlaps the binding, almost as if its' saddle was just a bit too wide. And that's also the string that gets most tinny when using the vibrato.

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

Last edited: Mar 21, 2014 11:53:07

Switches are very tight; they just "click" through the amp when thrown.

Unlike the saddles on my CIJ offsets, these have only a single groove down the middle. If they were like the others, I could just move the high-E string inward one groove and all would be perfect. Maybe I can use some saddles from my Jag on this guitar, as the Jag is currently wearing a StayTrem bridge?

As you can tell, I don't have La Bella flats on it yet. I'm waiting to decide how I really want the guitar ultimately setup, and with what upgraded parts, so I don't waste them on a temporary setup.

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

Last edited: Mar 21, 2014 15:04:23

wfoguy wrote:

Noel, what do use for an amp with this?

I use a 160 WATT Fender Stage 112SE with it. I'd like to try the amp head with a nice 15 sometime.

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

1) The nut was the weakest link for me, replaced it immediately.
2) Yep! Keeping my pickups, unless opportunity for a cheap swap came up.
3) Thinking about replacing the trem eventually too (preferably an AVRI Fender with the StayTrem), but this has to be an opportunity too.
4) I left my pickup heights alone, but I do think the bridge is high, just not enough to worry about.
5) The bridge is probably completely fine, I just had a slightly sturdier one laying around collecting dust.

Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio

Noel, that sounds like a really cool project! Indeed, the VI has this vocal quality to it, perfect for what you do.
If you have an extra bridge or saddles, preferably MIA, do the switch. You have enough good reasons. I didn't think it will change much on mine, but it absolutely did! That, with a change to your LaBella's will cure that thinness thing. Don't over think it, just let her sing!

Nut - I believe needs change - I ask again please, can anyone post a link to the specific Tusq nut that will be right for the Squier VI?
PU's - Still haven't heard them! Not with good strings that is. Can't judge yet, but all the different tones available sound good and distinct, I achieved a satisfactory height setup for now. PU adjustment is mandatory after anything, I would never call this an issue.
Strings - Circle K's I ordered should be here tomorrow. La Bella is also working on the next batch.
I'll shim the neck. Also open the trem, see what's up (and down). I'd love to replace the whole unit, but just try different springs first.

Thanks a lot Mike! That's exactly what confused me.
I measured the current VI nut - it's about 42mm x 5mm x 3.5mm (sorry for speaking decimal). Close enough. How about the XL type?
Is the action low(er) because it's already slotted too deep? I may go with a blank then and cut it myself, since I like the current action, or even higher.

BTW, here's the AVRI bridge installed.

I just realized: A guitar bridge produces ALL notes on the fretboard. The nut directly affects only 6. No question to what's more important.

Last edited: Mar 22, 2014 14:14:14

That's a pretty dead-on assessment, LeeVanCleef. I'd snatch it up if they can't see the potential and spend a little time fixing it up!

DreadInBabylon wrote:

Thanks a lot Mike! That's exactly what confused me.
I measured the current VI nut - it's about 42mm x 5mm x 3.5mm (sorry for speaking decimal). Close enough. How about the XL type?
Is the action low(er) because it's already slotted too deep? I may go with a blank then and cut it myself, since I like the current action, or even higher.

That could work. I did have to do some additional slot work on the low E, A and D, but the curved bottom is what dropped it from the beginning. I was actually a little worried, because I hadn't even filed the slots yet, but it turned out okay. I'd say if you got the flat-bottom pre-slotted TUSQ you might be able to keep more height.

Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio