Fender Bass VI Electric 6-String Bass Guitar (1961)
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Item # 9031
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Fender Bass VI Model Electric 6-String Bass Guitar (1961), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 67458, sunburst lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown tolex hard shell case.
This is one of the very earliest pre-CBS Fender Bass VI we have ever seen. It has been well-played with some moderately heavy wear but no major alterations. The neck date penciled on the heel is 10-61 and the pots are dated even earlier, stamped 304-6120, indicating the bass was one of the first of the new model to be assembled from the initial production batch in fall 1961. Further evidence of that is the headstock decal; it simply reads "Fender", as the full "Fender VI Electric Bass Guitar" logo was apparently not ready yet when this neck was needed! The Pre-production samples shown in summer 1961 were logo'd the same way.
The Fender VI (that is its original official name, though it is universally called the "Bass VI" today) was the company's big instrument unveiling at the July 1961 NAMM show, but production as usual did not get underway until the fall of that year; we have never seen a production example dated earlier than October. Besides the prototype-style decal, this VI has the standard features of the earliest version. The three pickups are controlled by a bank of on/off switches on the lower bout, and a master volume and tone. These early Bass VI pickups are unique to the instrument, built much like Stratocaster units but with 4 adjusting screws and small chrome surrounds specific to this model. The offset body features the standard 1961 blended 3-color sunburst, with a clay-dot thick slab rosewood fingerboard and tortoise-celluloid pickguard.
These early Bass VIs are quite rare; later on in 1963, these Stratocaster-styled pickups were replaced with Jaguar units, and a fourth "strangle" switch added to the wiring rig. We feel these earlier models offer a deeper, fuller sound. This one is not only a serious rarity but a great-sounding and playing 6-string bass with an amazingly wide range of tones from its three pickups, and a vibrato arm to play with, if you dare. This is a ringer for the VI Jack Bruce played with the Graham Bond Organization and early Cream, except his was even more worn in than this one by 1966! A supremely cool example of one of our favorite instruments.
Overall length is 44 3/4 in. (113.7 cm.), 14 in. (35.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 in. (762 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
This bass has been well-used and shows a decent amount of general finish wear, but remains a beautifully original instrument. There are small dings and dents all around, most notably to the body edges, some belt buckle wear to the back, and a spot of armwear to the top edge. The back of the neck is fairly well worn as well, especially in the lower positions, and it maintains that classic "played in" Fender feel. There is a thin wood shim added under the heel.
The bass has a new nut but there are no other alterations, and all finish and hardware appears original. It is complete except the snap-on bridge cover is long gone, and a few bridge adjustment screws appear newer. This is a fantastic-sounding instrument with a great feel and really conjures up that "early Cream" vibe in spades. The original brown Tolex HSC is included, with a lot of wear to the ends and a broken latch but still functional. It is a standard Fender bass case from 1961; as the headstock decal was not ready, it seems the cases had not come in either when this one shipped out! Very Good + Condition.
This is one of the very earliest pre-CBS Fender Bass VI we have ever seen. It has been well-played with some moderately heavy wear but no major alterations. The neck date penciled on the heel is 10-61 and the pots are dated even earlier, stamped 304-6120, indicating the bass was one of the first of the new model to be assembled from the initial production batch in fall 1961. Further evidence of that is the headstock decal; it simply reads "Fender", as the full "Fender VI Electric Bass Guitar" logo was apparently not ready yet when this neck was needed! The Pre-production samples shown in summer 1961 were logo'd the same way.
The Fender VI (that is its original official name, though it is universally called the "Bass VI" today) was the company's big instrument unveiling at the July 1961 NAMM show, but production as usual did not get underway until the fall of that year; we have never seen a production example dated earlier than October. Besides the prototype-style decal, this VI has the standard features of the earliest version. The three pickups are controlled by a bank of on/off switches on the lower bout, and a master volume and tone. These early Bass VI pickups are unique to the instrument, built much like Stratocaster units but with 4 adjusting screws and small chrome surrounds specific to this model. The offset body features the standard 1961 blended 3-color sunburst, with a clay-dot thick slab rosewood fingerboard and tortoise-celluloid pickguard.
These early Bass VIs are quite rare; later on in 1963, these Stratocaster-styled pickups were replaced with Jaguar units, and a fourth "strangle" switch added to the wiring rig. We feel these earlier models offer a deeper, fuller sound. This one is not only a serious rarity but a great-sounding and playing 6-string bass with an amazingly wide range of tones from its three pickups, and a vibrato arm to play with, if you dare. This is a ringer for the VI Jack Bruce played with the Graham Bond Organization and early Cream, except his was even more worn in than this one by 1966! A supremely cool example of one of our favorite instruments.
Overall length is 44 3/4 in. (113.7 cm.), 14 in. (35.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 in. (762 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
This bass has been well-used and shows a decent amount of general finish wear, but remains a beautifully original instrument. There are small dings and dents all around, most notably to the body edges, some belt buckle wear to the back, and a spot of armwear to the top edge. The back of the neck is fairly well worn as well, especially in the lower positions, and it maintains that classic "played in" Fender feel. There is a thin wood shim added under the heel.
The bass has a new nut but there are no other alterations, and all finish and hardware appears original. It is complete except the snap-on bridge cover is long gone, and a few bridge adjustment screws appear newer. This is a fantastic-sounding instrument with a great feel and really conjures up that "early Cream" vibe in spades. The original brown Tolex HSC is included, with a lot of wear to the ends and a broken latch but still functional. It is a standard Fender bass case from 1961; as the headstock decal was not ready, it seems the cases had not come in either when this one shipped out! Very Good + Condition.