Finally a GC video with someone that can actually play the instrument they're demoing. Who ever called this guy- put them in charge of future video content.
This is one of the better demos made during this recent reissue cycle. Kudos to Mason Stoops for actually having a command of this incredibly unique (but approachable!) instrument. 👍🏻👍🏻
Just as Jack Bruce of Cream used his Fender Bass VI as a BASS GUITAR on their Fresh Cream album, I used my 1963 Fender Bass VI as a BASS GUITAR in a band, and it sounded GREAT! Deep and powerful! Nothing wrong with using it as demonstrated here, but know that it CAN be used as a legitimate sounding bass guitar!
jack was in competition with the other two for recognition and saw the bass vi as a way of bringing him forward in the mix, the other two vetoed the bass vi for tonal reasons so he then jumped onto a short scale eb and then finally onto long scales for the remainder of his career ..to use jack to endorse the bass vi as an equivalent of a long scale is a stretch to say the least.
@@zazz63 I've heard of Jack Bruce picking up a Bass VI initially during his stint with the Graham Bond Organisation, as the guitarist left, leaving Bruce to do double-duty. Upon joining Cream, he brought the Bass VI with him. It would make sense, given that it was a power trio, where the ability to perform double-duty could be beneficial. I've also seen Bruce state that his Bass VI's psychedelic paint job from the art collective, The Fool, ended up ruining it's playability (leaving him to pick up a different bass). I've never heard your explanation before. As for the Bass VI being an "equivalent" of a long-scale bass, what exactly are we comparing? It was envisioned by Fender to be a bass guitar, and it can do the job of a bass guitar, yet with a broader range, versatility, and uniqueness about it. Does it have to sound just like the standard Fender-style basses to qualify it as a legitimate bass?
Excellent video. You got some really beautiful sounds out of it. Years ago, I was lead guitarist in a local covers band, playing pub gigs etc. We didn’t have a bass player, but had a very good rhythm guitarist who played strong and full chords and a really solid drummer. As I recall it, we never missed the deeper bass sounds and when an actual (and decent) bassist turned up at one gig, the deep sounds he brought seemed superfluous for the material we were doing.
John Sebastian use to play one of these like a guitar in the early 70s. Jack Bruce had one in Cream and it was painted by The Fool just like Eric's SG. However, Jack's paint never dried so he got rid of it. There is a book on The Band with an early shot of Rick Danko playing a whiter Fender VI. Jet Harris made the Fender VI his main axe once he left The Shadows.
The "tic tac" bass was a Dano 6 string ass used in the 50s. For some reason they would not allow a P-bass on Nashville sessions. Producers were not doubling over a P-bass with the Fender VI. They would use an upright bass, but double with the Dano 6 string because the upright was hard to hear. Fender realized they were losing out by not having their own version. Hence the Fender VI. However, it didn't take long before the P-bass took over and made the Fender VI obsolete. Japanese put out a Fender reissue in the 90s.
Drop C would be a little too high and regular length guitar strings maybe aren’t long enough. You can tune it A to A with baritone guitar Strings for sure (I’ve done it) and play in Drop G
I think this, and many other demos like it do this instrument a disservice. It is a very versatile BASS GUITAR. All the other stuff it can do is icing on the cake, not its main function.
They look like Red Wing heritage boots. It's either the blacksmith or the beckman model because they don't have the toe cap of the iron ranger boots. I have the iron rangers and the chukkas and I love them both and get compliments pretty often.
![10 GUITARISTS SOLO OVER THE SAME TRACK! [2023]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8Bt3RYy6Y-Y/mqdefault.jpg)
What do you think of the Fender Vintera II '60s Bass VI? Let us know in the comments below! 👇
The neck pickup demo was chilling..
insane piece and performance ❤🩹
sold it for me!
Nice to hear someone demo this as it's own instrument instead of trying to just make it be a traditional guitar or bass.
Finally a GC video with someone that can actually play the instrument they're demoing. Who ever called this guy- put them in charge of future video content.
This is one of the better demos made during this recent reissue cycle. Kudos to Mason Stoops for actually having a command of this incredibly unique (but approachable!) instrument. 👍🏻👍🏻
Best demo I've seen of a Bass VI by far. When I win the lottery I'm going to pay this guy to come to my house and just play one of these.
I keep on coming back to this video again and again mostly because of Mason's fantastic playing but also my burning G.A.S. for a Bass VI
Same. I finally gave up today and ordered the CME Exclusive Shell Pink Bass VI
Best demo of this instrument.
Absolutely killed that neck pickup demo. Good lord.
Just as Jack Bruce of Cream used his Fender Bass VI as a BASS GUITAR on their Fresh Cream album, I used my 1963 Fender Bass VI as a BASS GUITAR in a band, and it sounded GREAT! Deep and powerful!
Nothing wrong with using it as demonstrated here, but know that it CAN be used as a legitimate sounding bass guitar!
jack was in competition with the other two for recognition and saw the bass vi as a way of bringing him forward in the mix, the other two vetoed the bass vi for tonal reasons so he then jumped onto a short scale eb and then finally onto long scales for the remainder of his career ..to use jack to endorse the bass vi as an equivalent of a long scale is a stretch to say the least.
@@zazz63 I've heard of Jack Bruce picking up a Bass VI initially during his stint with the Graham Bond Organisation, as the guitarist left, leaving Bruce to do double-duty. Upon joining Cream, he brought the Bass VI with him. It would make sense, given that it was a power trio, where the ability to perform double-duty could be beneficial. I've also seen Bruce state that his Bass VI's psychedelic paint job from the art collective, The Fool, ended up ruining it's playability (leaving him to pick up a different bass). I've never heard your explanation before.
As for the Bass VI being an "equivalent" of a long-scale bass, what exactly are we comparing? It was envisioned by Fender to be a bass guitar, and it can do the job of a bass guitar, yet with a broader range, versatility, and uniqueness about it. Does it have to sound just like the standard Fender-style basses to qualify it as a legitimate bass?
Best VI demo ever! Ordered one! :))
Excellent video. You got some really beautiful sounds out of it.
Years ago, I was lead guitarist in a local covers band, playing pub gigs etc. We didn’t have a bass player, but had a very good rhythm guitarist who played strong and full chords and a really solid drummer.
As I recall it, we never missed the deeper bass sounds and when an actual (and decent) bassist turned up at one gig, the deep sounds he brought seemed superfluous for the material we were doing.
This guy is amazing. Great description of this iconic instrument. Makes me really want to pick one up
Great demo. Nice to see someone that knows what a Bass VI really is!
Man, what a fun little groove at 3:25! Awesome tone and great playing.
Just here to say that Mason is the man
John Sebastian use to play one of these like a guitar in the early 70s. Jack Bruce had one in Cream and it was painted by The Fool just like Eric's SG. However, Jack's paint never dried so he got rid of it. There is a book on The Band with an early shot of Rick Danko playing a whiter Fender VI. Jet Harris made the Fender VI his main axe once he left The Shadows.
Bought this blue one last week. Absolutely gorgeous instrument
Excellent demo, great playing. I love mine and you made yours sing. Keep rockin
Dude can definitely play.
top session musician.
In the Tielman Brothers's video for "Bossa Nova Baby" they are using two Bass VIs!
Exactly what I need! ❤
Fantastic playing 👍👍👍
The Cure is who I think of with the Bass VI. It was all over Disintegration and Wish.
wow really? that's really cool!
Really need to get one of these VI joys ❤❤❤❤
Amazing demo
Wow that is yhe best sounding thing ever
What is that haunting chord progression he plays on the neck demo passage?
Chord progressioni seems like I Cant help falling in love...
Amazing playing. ❤
Need!!
Great Review
Great video, thank you!
The "tic tac" bass was a Dano 6 string ass used in the 50s. For some reason they would not allow a P-bass on Nashville sessions. Producers were not doubling over a P-bass with the Fender VI. They would use an upright bass, but double with the Dano 6 string because the upright was hard to hear. Fender realized they were losing out by not having their own version. Hence the Fender VI. However, it didn't take long before the P-bass took over and made the Fender VI obsolete. Japanese put out a Fender reissue in the 90s.
6 string ass😭
This dude was well spoken and on point in what he said instead of lots off uhhhs and aaahhss and trying to remember what to say
I just had a thought (after having watched dozens of Bass Six demos). Could Rick Vito have played one on the Fleetwood Mac song “No Questions Asked”?
Hello, what kind of strings does this use?
Didn't Peter Hook use the bass VI with The Light and while he was in New Order?
Shergold six-string bass
Sounds great! Is it difficult to mute the strings you aren’t playing?
They won't answer. They don't care.
Does this come with 24 Jumbo Frets, and is this suitable to play in Drop C as a guitar with distortion? Thank you!
Drop C would be a little too high and regular length guitar strings maybe aren’t long enough. You can tune it A to A with baritone guitar Strings for sure (I’ve done it) and play in Drop G
You can do double drop C lol
The Stoops bass
with a name like mason stoops you just have to be playing a bass vi.
Isn't this the same bass that Slash used on the slow parts during Welcome to the Jungle? Still curious about this.
Are the pickups the same as the Jaguar guitar pickups?
been to two guitar centers in LA, they aint got these.
Yup haven’t seen too much vintera ii’s there in general
I bought mine on the fender Website
@@ZARATUSTRA8511 yeah I got one through Reverb, just giving Guitar Center a hard time since they posted this, and have none anywhere that I could see
I think this, and many other demos like it do this instrument a disservice. It is a very versatile BASS GUITAR. All the other stuff it can do is icing on the cake, not its main function.
"boop!"
perhaps this is the guitar intended for the orange thunderverb heads...
Completely off topic but a great player usually looks stylish aswel! Could anyone help ID his boots 😅
They look like Red Wing heritage boots. It's either the blacksmith or the beckman model because they don't have the toe cap of the iron ranger boots. I have the iron rangers and the chukkas and I love them both and get compliments pretty often.
Die haette ich gerne aber als armer Rentner kann ich sie mir nicht leisten 😫
That’s not a bass
You are right, it's a bass vi
@sam Definitely a bass and more.
If you plug into a bass amp and stick to the lower strings you would think it was a standard four string bass.