This Fender Custom Shop Bass VI in NOS is a recreation of one of Fender’s more unique instruments, first introduced in 1961. The Fender VI adopts a six-string bass idea inspired by the 1956 Danelectro six-string bass, with strings tuned from E1 to E3, an octave below a typical guitar, and a scale on the shorter side for a bass.
Sharing many design elements and technical features with the Fender Jaguar, most notably the Fender floating tremolo, the Bass VI features an offset body that resembles the iconic Jazzmaster/Jaguar design, with a few variations, but the same belly contour that has made this style of body known to be remarkably comfortable.
A 5/4 Sawn Maple neck with a ’60s-style oval “C” profile, offers a comfortable grip for both vintage enthusiasts and modern players. This neck profile is on the thinner side, with less shoulder, allowing accessibility to the fretboard with less hand strain. The neck is host to a rosewood fingerboard, boasting a short 30″ scale length and Vintage Upgrade 45085 frets, and Micarta White dots are inlayed in the rosewood.
One of the biggest factors setting this Bass VI apart from being either a bass or guitar, is its set of three single coil ’62 Jaguar pickups – a ’62 Jaguar Bridge, ’62 Jaguar Middle, and ’62 Jaguar Neck. This instrument delivers a distinctive, ferocious tone that has left a mark on music history, notably being used by both the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green. The three single-coil pickups are known for their hot output and are simply controlled with master tone and volume controls. The addition of three individual pickup ON/OFF toggle switches, as well as a low end cut toggle switch offer a versatility that makes this instrument worth its salt.
Fender Custom Shop’s NOS (New Old Stock) is the treatment of choice here, with this guitar presenting as one that was born in the height of its production and never leaving its case. This Bass VI features a Chocolate 3-tone Sunburst color, coated in nitrocellulose lacquer. This classic finish ages gracefully over time, enhancing the instrument’s aesthetic appeal as it’s played more and more.
This Custom Shop beauty also comes with its own custom FCD black hard shell case, with a plush interior.
- Fender Floating Tremolo and Styling from Jaguar
- Octave Below Guitar Tuning (E1 to E3)
- Offset Body Design Similar to Jazzmaster/Jaguar
- Short Scale
- Unique Alternative to Four-String Precision Bass
- Chocolate 3-color Sunburst Finish
- 3 Single-Coil ’62 Jag Pickups with Individual On/Off Switches
- Low-End Cut Switch
