A few years ago, I fulfilled a lifelong dream of buying a Bass VI, ending up with a MIJ VI imported in 2013. The instrument is fine, but the pickups are far too bright. (I went through the same thing with a MIJ ‘66 Jaguar RI a few years back.) I want to replace the pickups, but I’m going to ask for suggestions before reaching for the olde Visa card.

On my MIJ Jaguar, I ended up using the slightly hotter than stock Seymour Duncan pickup set. This was a huge improvement, but it was still pretty bright. I want the VI to end up mellow, but not dark. I definitely want it to sound like a Surf era instrument, but hope that it has enough sonic range to be capable of doing a bass part credibly.

Let the suggestions fly.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

Last edited: Nov 26, 2017 20:48:17

Great to see you, MJ.

In the case of this VI, it takes all tree pickups and a deep tone cut to get it into J Bass territory. The Custom Shop VI I used to have had a better bass sound than this, but was still capable of being bright enough to use as a baritone guitar in a Surf setting.

As a bass, my current VI actually sounds sort of like a funk bass, which is cool enough (and surprising for a short scale) but not what I’m lookimg for. I may even consider leaving the bridge pickup as is and simply replacing the neck and middle pickups for greater midrange.

I’m curious about Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders, but I’d like to hear from some Surf players to get their input. I want to attenuate the brightness, but I’m not interested in making this into an overdrive monster.

We Bass VI players are a rare breed and we gotta stick together.

P.S.

I used this VI to double-track the Guitar part on an instrumental of Secret Agent Man, a while back. It really added. IIRC, the lead Guitar was a Guild Starfire III and it was plenty twangy. The VI, an octave lower, just added authority to the overall sound.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

Thanks Jake, that’s just the sort of info I’m lookimg for. Do you happen to know, on a VI, is the middle pickup the same as the neck pickup or the bridge pickup?

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

Also, my VI is a Squier it is worth noting. Your MIJ is a bit nicer. My VI has been completely overhauled in the wiring department/nut/bridge.

JakeDobner wrote:

Also, my VI is a Squier it is worth noting. Your MIJ is a bit nicer. My VI has been completely overhauled in the wiring department/nut/bridge.

Once you replace the wiring, there isn’t all that much real-World difference.

I really lucked out in finding this VI. I bought it sight unseen from Music Zoo. One Saturday, I went out for breakfast with no idea of buying more than bacon and eggs. Just for the heck of it, I looked to see if there were any VIs on eBay and ran into this one from Music Zoo. I bought it that instant and finished breakfast in shock.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

It’s a unique instrument, a step beyond the Dano VI. I saw a picture of one in the ‘67 Fender catalog and have wanted one ever since. At the time, my motivation was simply that it was a bass which would be very easy for a guitar-player to transition to. At the time, I didn’t even begin to understand all of the ramifications. Besides that, it was unique and I’m always a sucker for unique.

A while back, I got a call to play bass at an open stage event. Knowing that almost anything could happen and not knowing what to expect from the other players there, I took my VI and played, mostly straight-ahead bass, but added some upper register things as well.

About 15 years ago, I played in a duo, using a Fender Baritone Custom to hold down the bass part, play some lead work and even play some simple chords in the upper register. It worked quite well, lbeing the 28.5” scale made for a floppy low E string.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

I just wish the squier pickups were hotter. Mind you, I am not chasing any particular sound, but they’re pretty weak as is. I may invest in a set (neck and bridge to start) qp’s just for that reason, and I’m intrigued what the wider poles might do as MJ hinted at above.

I have a mid 90s MIJ Bass VI reissue. In many ways, the Squier is much better than the MIJ. The MIJ has weak floppy switches. Cheap looking red tort pickguard. Poor wiring. It was the only instrument I have had a pickup fail, the neck pickup. The pickups had soft rubbery insulation, they weren't even potted and the covers are loose. I replaced it with a Fender 62 Jaguar Neck.

I ended up getting a pair of Fender Vintage ‘65s for the neck and middle position and a vintage ‘62 in the bridge which should give me hum resistance anytime the center pickup and one of the end pickups are on at the same time. Unfortunately, the covers don’t match perfectly, so I may be shopping covers before it’s all over.

Nonetheless, I feel like I made a good overall choice. The stock pots are 250k miniatures, but they are quiet and work just fine, so I left them in place.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

JakeDobner wrote:

Would recommend eventually replacing the pots with full-sized 1M pots. 1M pots can be 250K when you turn them down, so putting in 1M causes no harm and brings the VI to its intended and original spec. 1M is really handy for doing things in the baritone register.

Ive thought of that, but would need to either get a new control plate with the proper sized holes or drill mine out to size for CTS pots with the attendant risk of losing the plating. Does anyone know; with a MIA control plate fit a 2013 CIJ Bass VI?

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.