The Fender Bass VI stands out as a distinctive instrument in the guitar and bass world. Often sparking curiosity and sometimes confusion, especially when compared to baritone guitars, the Bass VI is definitively a six-string bass guitar. Recently re-introduced by Fender in both modern and classic forms, it’s important to understand what sets the Bass VI apart and why it holds its own unique place in musical history. It’s crucial to clarify right from the start: the Bass VI is not simply another name for a baritone guitar.
So, what exactly differentiates the Bass VI from a baritone guitar? If it’s not just a matter of semantics, what are the fundamental differences between these two types of instruments? Let’s delve into the specifics that define each.
Baritone Guitar: Defined by Range and Tuning
Baritone guitars are unequivocally guitars, albeit with an extended lower range. They are strung with guitar strings, but designed for lower tunings. A key characteristic of a baritone guitar is its scale length, typically around 27 inches. This falls between the standard guitar scale (around 25 inches) and a standard bass guitar scale (usually 34 inches, with short-scale models around 30 and medium-scale around 32 inches).
Baritone guitars are rarely tuned to standard guitar tuning (EADGBE). Instead, the most common tuning is a fourth lower (BEADF#B), where the fifth string E matches the low E string of a standard guitar. Other tunings for baritone guitars include a fifth lower (ADGCEA) or even a major third lower (CFBbEbGC) than standard guitar tuning, further emphasizing their lower tonal register compared to standard guitars.
Fender Bass VI: A True Six-String Bass
The Fender and Squier Bass VI models, both vintage and contemporary, are categorized and designed as bass guitars. They utilize bass strings, specifically designed for the instrument’s unique requirements. The scale length of a Bass VI is 30 inches, aligning it with short-scale bass guitars. Critically, the Bass VI is tuned to standard guitar tuning (EADGBE) but one octave lower. This is the defining characteristic that firmly places it in the bass guitar family.
While you could experiment with alternate tunings on a Bass VI, this wouldn’t transform it into a baritone guitar. It would simply be a Bass VI in a different tuning. Conversely, attempting to use bass strings on a baritone guitar is impractical. Bass strings would likely be too loose and floppy on a shorter 27-inch scale to produce a useful tone, and the tuners on a baritone guitar are typically not designed to accommodate the thicker gauge of bass strings.
Therefore, the distinction between a six-string bass guitar and a baritone guitar is far more than just semantics. Fender has consistently positioned the Bass VI as a unique type of bass guitar. The terms “six-string bass guitar” and “baritone guitar” are not interchangeable, representing two distinct instrument categories with different design philosophies and musical applications.
Fender has, on occasion, produced true baritone electric guitars, and these have always been explicitly identified as such. Examples include the Sub-Sonic Baritone Stratocaster (2000-2002), the Jaguar Baritone Special HH (2005-2010), and the Blacktop Telecaster Baritone (2012-present). All of these models feature a 27-inch scale length, reinforcing their baritone guitar classification.
To reiterate, both vintage and modern Bass VI models are, and always have been, considered bass guitars by Fender.
Interestingly, current Bass VI models do not feature “Bass VI” on the headstock. Instead, they are labeled “Fender VI” and “Squier VI,” respectively. This echoes the original instrument, which, while named “Bass VI guitar” and “Bass VI” in Fender catalogs of the 1960s and 70s, also displayed “Fender VI” on its headstock. In the initial 1961 Fender catalog, it was even introduced as a “New Fender bass guitar.”
Want to expand your guitar knowledge? Explore these educational videos from Fender Play. And if you’re ready to learn more, click here for a free Fender Play trial.
Loading…
