Two new Fenders. A Mustang and a Bass VI!!!

[Pilgrim]

Fender seems to have quite the hard-on for making nice new instruments and then ruining their finish. I'd rather they save cost the labor on 'relic-ing' and charge less. I've NEVER met a single musician who wanted a new bass that looked old, so I'm halfway convinced these are being marketed as wall decorations and first-instruments for aging Gen-Xer's with disposable income. Let the guitar players worry about being fashionable; just give me an instrument that sounds good and plays well.

I agree with this, except I suspect the target market is 18 year olds who lack the patience to buy an instrument and wear it in.  I think they're trying to buy whatever "mojo" is and they're poseurs.  Some of these kids are really good players, but I don't like fake wear and I don't agree that buying a reliced instrument adds cool. YMMV.

[drbassman]

Yeah, I tried one reliced Fender bass and it was OK.  I have to say, it sounded really good, but the finish was a bit silly IMHO.  I jut figured one J bass was enough for this guy!

[ilan]

[patman]

I always figure the "reliced" ones were the ones where they accidentally buffed through the finish, rather than shooting on another coat and trying again, they called it "reliced".

[Pilgrim]

Am I mistaken or is that a baritone tuning?  (I have little knowledge of that...)

[drbassman]

I can't tell what the tuning is, but mine will be E to E using LaBella Bass VI flats.  Sounds great in the video!

[godofthunder]

 Damnit damnit damnit. I wasn't the slightest bit interested till I saw the video.

I can't tell what the tuning is, but mine will be E to E using LaBella Bass VI flats.  Sounds great in the video!

[saltymonkey]

The Mustang demo isn't helping either. I can't figure out how to post the actual video but here's the link.

[drbassman]

Damnit damnit damnit. I wasn't the slightest bit interested till I saw the video.

I have always been intrigued by the VI.  Even if I didn't use it a lot, I love the sound of them and the six strings are cool!

[saltymonkey]

I've always loved them. I've owned four but never a Fender. I had a Jerry Jones, Burns Barracuda, Eastwood Sidejack VI and now a Lakland. The Lakland is amazing but pricey. But it's still cheaper than a new Fender CS Vi. Fender Japan is making an accurate Fender VI I think they're around $1100-$1200. I don't know what the pawn shop model is retailing at but I'd hope it is cheaper than that.

[nofi]

where is the bass in bass 6 ?

[Dave W]

... I also noticed that the Bass VI does not appear to be a reliced instrument.  No mention of that on the Fender web site. ...

AFAIK none of the Pawn Shop instruments are reliced. Haven't seen one in person, though. You'll find out soon enough.

[drbassman]

where is the bass in bass 6 ?

It's in the string gauges.  The low E, for instance, is typically 83 to 90.  Depending on brand.

[drbassman]

AFAIK none of the Pawn Shop instruments are reliced. Haven't seen one in person, though. You'll find out soon enough.

I agree.  I saw a couple of the first PawnShop basses at the HOG and they weren't reliced.  The web site pics don't show relicing either.

[hieronymous]

where is the bass in bass 6 ?

Roy Babbington uses a Bass VI in a purely "bass" role. Isn't the first Cream album also Bass VI? Imagine if Jack Bruce had stuck with that - the Last Bass Outpost might not exist!