Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Dec 29 2014 09:06 PM
pavlovsdog wrote:
I got mine the other day and it's definitely a fixer upper. Volume knob wasn't put on correctly, nut is absolute shit, the pickups are so high they are touching the strings, etc. Totally unplayable as of right now.
Are the only option for flats the la Bella? $65is a lot for strings?
Elderly has them in stock for under $49.00 with free shipping. They're not necessary but are quiet and will last forever. A .95 low E is necessary to correctly intonate it. A .78 A is good too. Sorry about your other issues. Yuck!!!
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Dec 29 2014 09:06 PM
pavlovsdog wrote:
I got mine the other day and it's definitely a fixer upper. Volume knob wasn't put on correctly, nut is absolute shit, the pickups are so high they are touching the strings, etc. Totally unplayable as of right now.
Are the only option for flats the la Bella? $65is a lot for strings?
Elderly has them in stock for under $49.00 with free shipping. They're not necessary but are quiet and will last forever. A .95 low E is necessary to correctly intonate it. A .78 A is good too. Sorry about your other issues. Yuck!!!
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Dec 29 2014 09:06 PM
pavlovsdog wrote:
I got mine the other day and it's definitely a fixer upper. Volume knob wasn't put on correctly, nut is absolute shit, the pickups are so high they are touching the strings, etc. Totally unplayable as of right now.
Are the only option for flats the la Bella? $65is a lot for strings?
Elderly has them in stock for under $49.00 with free shipping. They're not necessary but are quiet and will last forever. A .95 low E is necessary to correctly intonate it. A .78 A is good too. Sorry about your other issues. Yuck!!!
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Dec 29 2014 09:06 PM
pavlovsdog wrote:
I got mine the other day and it's definitely a fixer upper. Volume knob wasn't put on correctly, nut is absolute shit, the pickups are so high they are touching the strings, etc. Totally unplayable as of right now.
Are the only option for flats the la Bella? $65is a lot for strings?
Elderly has them in stock for under $49.00 with free shipping. They're not necessary but are quiet and will last forever. A .95 low E is necessary to correctly intonate it. A .78 A is good too. Sorry about your other issues. Yuck!!!
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Dec 29 2014 09:07 PM
Brian... Help!
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25530
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Dec 29 2014 09:13 PM
is there an echo pedal in here?
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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Matt22
Joined: Feb 15, 2007
Posts: 2825
Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Posted on Dec 29 2014 10:11 PM
bigtikidude wrote:
is there an echo pedal in here?
That's what I was thinking, BTD. lol
That's what I was thinking, BTD. lol
that's what i was thinking, btd. LOL
— Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
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
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Dec 30 2014 01:53 AM
The Labellas are the best option, I personally think the .95 is too floppy, but they are really great strings!
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4052
Nashville, TN.
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Posted on Dec 30 2014 10:03 AM
Something amusing.........when I got my Squier Bass VI last year I replaced the low E with a .100 and left the rest of the stock strings.
A year later that's what is still on there and it works great for me.
I guess I'm just not that picky and if something works for me I just leave it alone.
Cheers,
Jeff
— http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Dec 30 2014 10:24 AM
When people say bad things about the string, it really is only that E.
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Ariel
Joined: Aug 29, 2009
Posts: 1556
Israel
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Posted on Dec 30 2014 11:09 AM
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Dec 30 2014 12:34 PM
If I wanted heavier strings than the LaBellas, I might consider Rotosound Swing Bass 66 flatwound strings for the deep end. I have these on my Squier VM J-Bass and I like them a lot. They're excellent. You definitely want the 45-105 set, though.
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
Last edited: Dec 30, 2014 12:36:26
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Ariel
Joined: Aug 29, 2009
Posts: 1556
Israel
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Posted on Feb 16 2015 11:58 AM
Giddy up! finally...
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Feb 16 2015 12:30 PM
Yeah!!!
Got a logo picked out?
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andreuthegiant
Joined: May 27, 2007
Posts: 254
Madrid, Spain
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Posted on Feb 21 2015 03:12 AM
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Feb 21 2015 07:22 AM
Very nice, andreuthegiant!
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
Last edited: Feb 21, 2015 09:37:17
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Feb 21 2015 09:41 AM
Just an update on mine. Staytrem tremolo upgrade installed and the loose clankiness of the stock vibrato is gone. Plus, the reshaped, higher arm keeps my fingers from accidently brushing the strings when I play ala Hank Marvin.
Also, I had a new slot cut for the high-E string, to move it in from the edge of the frets, so now the high-E string doesn't fall off the frets like before. This will do until I get a better nut.
After these improvements, I may want to upgrade the bridge later. But it plays a lot better already.
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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novamax
Joined: Jan 23, 2015
Posts: 105
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Posted on Feb 21 2015 11:50 AM
Hi guys,
having gone through 30 pages and testing it in a guitar shop, I still am unsure, so I need some help here.
I'm mainly home-recording, and I need a bass for it, but I can buy only one since I already have too many guitars (JM, Jag, Strat, Nighthawk, some Accoustics). I am completely on GAS with the Bass IV because of its unique sound and its dual use as a bass and barritone (I currently play mostly surf). BUT, I play some other stuff, so I would need it to accommodate standard bass lines, as well.
I read here that someone used it instead of a bass in a band, but most seem to go for the barritone sound... The sound seemed to lack, naturally, quite some low end (even with the neck and middle PU on), and sustain for a low end sound carpet (due to the low angle bridge).
But then, I'm more a guitar player who has little experience in setting up a bass amp properly. So: Can this be overcome by EQ and settings when needed?
In other words: Is the Bass VI worth a serious main bass substitute? Is there anyone who uses it as an actual bass? Or is it rather a specific barri-tone effect in addition to a band's main bass? Should I rather let go of the barritone idea and buy a jazz bass instead?
Last edited: Feb 21, 2015 11:52:37
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Feb 21 2015 12:50 PM
I read here that someone used it instead of a bass in a band, but most seem to go for the barritone sound... The sound seemed to lack, naturally, quite some low end (even with the neck and middle PU on), and sustain for a low end sound carpet (due to the low angle bridge).
The instrument is 100% a bass, in my opinion. With a string change, it can be tuned A-A, like a Baritone. Most people keep it E-E, bass tuning. However, people fully make use of all six strings so it isn't always traditional bass lines.
As for the break angle, that is all on the quality of your setup. The Squier does need some help to make it an everyday usable instrument. The bridge is an abomination and the stock string gauge is too light.
I compared a Staytrem VI bridge versus the stock bridge(both with Labella strings) and the Staytrem VI bridge has FAR superior low end response.
But then, I'm more a guitar player who has little experience in setting up a bass amp properly. So: Can this be overcome by EQ and settings when needed?
Musicians tend to be oblivious to the wonders of EQ/Tone controls. You can do big things with those knobs.
In other words: Is the Bass VI worth a serious main bass substitute? Is there anyone who uses it as an actual bass? Or is it rather a specific barri-tone effect in addition to a band's main bass? Should I rather let go of the barritone idea and buy a jazz bass instead?
Yes, it is a serious bass. And I will repeat it needs a little work to be an everyday workhorse bass. I'm not aware of anybody in surf using one, we used a VI on our first album on several tracks in place of our bassist regular Jazz bass, or Stone Gossard's amazing Lake Placid P-bass we found in the basement.
Outside of surf music, you have Jack Bruce of Cream, the Beatles, Placebo, Tielman Brothers, Jet Harris... The Cure used a couple heavily, really as a bass even thought it was higher voiced in addition to a lower bass guitar. Cocteau Twins have a track only featuring VIs.
John Entwistle used one in the early Who days. He used to prefer short scale basses. I've seen the Dead Kennedys with one, a band called Blonde Redhead uses a VI.
Until two years ago, it was extremely hard and expensive to get your hands on one of these guitars!
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montereyjack66
Joined: Jul 23, 2014
Posts: 637
LA -ish
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Posted on Feb 21 2015 01:09 PM
I am presently working in a budding three piece, playing a mix of classic surf and other stuff that colors outside the lines a bit- covers and originals. As the bass player, I mainly use the trad 4 string but we are finding uses for the VI on three or four tunes. Sometimes, it's just for a semi-nostalgic effect and other times it allows us melodic/coloration options while still providing some low end. The VI can certainly function as a traditional bass or a regular guitar with deep voice, but I also find that is kind of it's own animal too(!)and consequently, we're exploring the best ways to use it. Stay tuned!
mj
— mj
bent playing for benter results
Do not attempt to adjust your TV set.
https://www.facebook.com/Bass-VI-Explorers-Club-179437279151035/
https://www.facebook.com/Lost-Planet-Shamen-366987463657230/
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