Fender Bass VI Electric 6-String Bass Guitar , c. 1968
LOADING IMAGES
This item has been sold.
Item # 9101
Prices subject to change without notice.
Fender Bass VI Model Electric 6-String Bass Guitar, c. 1968, made in Fullerton, California, serial # 218075, sunburst polyester finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This instrument is a relative rarity -- a late 1960s Fender Bass VI -- and also another classic "Beatle" instrument. CBS/Fender, through their UK distributor Arbiter, provided the Beatles with a large pile of gear in 1968, after the band's endorsement deal with JMI-Vox lapsed. While George's rosewood Telecaster may be the most well-known, a Bass VI identical to this one was part of the lot which saw extensive use by both George and John over the course of 1968-70.
Although moderately popular in the early 1960s, by later in the decade the Bass VI was built in miniscule numbers. It was still featured in the Fender catalogs but built only when ordered, headed for discontinuation a few years later. The Fender VI (that is its original official name, though it is universally called the "Bass VI" today) had been the company's big instrument unveiling at the July 1961 NAMM show, but it never caught on in a major way despite being a very well-engineered and useful instrument -- as six-string basses go! This CBS-era example is much rarer than the early-'60s models.
The serial number of this bass is from the 1967-68 period; the bound, block-marker neck bears no date markings which is not unusual on later Bass VIs. The pots are stamped pots 304-6350 and all solder joints appear original, indicating the wiring assembly had likely sat in stock for 4-5 years before it was assembled to this bass! The finish on the neck is still the older style Fender lacquer and the decal is the early '60s style; the body is finished in a typical "transitional" sunburst seen around 1968-9 before the heavier Polyester finishes were applied in 1969-70.
The pickups and electronics are the type used since 1963, Jaguar style with the magnetic "claw" fitting underneath and simple and effective on/off switching for each. The fourth "strangle" switch cuts lows to allow for a more guitar-like tonality in any pickup setting. The 3-layer tortoise plastic pickguard is the material used from 1965 up into the '70s. The bridge and trem system are the same as early '60s models.
Later-production Bass VIs like this one are quite rare; especially one that exactly matches the Beatles' instrument as this one does. As Paul was often playing piano on later tracking sessions, both George and John played bass on a number of occasions, and both can be seen and heard on the guitar-like Bass VI up through the end of the band. George played the instrument on the famous David Frost Show performance of "Hey Jude" and John used it on several "Let it Be" tracks where the band played live.
Despite this exposure and also use in this period with acts as diverse as Glen Campbell, Brian Auger's Trinity, Fleetwood Mac, and the Soft Machine, the instrument was generally considered a relic of the twangy early '60s and became increasingly unfashionable. This 1968-era VI is not only a Beatle-approved rarity but a great-sounding and playing six-string bass with an amazingly wide range of tones from its three pickups. A cool and unusual 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 is a very clean and all original instrument showing some typical play wear but no major finish loss or damage. There are dings and dents to the finish, with some larger worn-away spots on the top/back edge areas as is typical in old Fenders. All hardware is original and quite well-preserved. The trem arm and bridge cover have gone missing but the mute is still intact, though the foam has hardened into the consistency of ancient chewing gum. The original frets have been crowned down just a bit and the bass plays fine.
This one has a great growly sound strung in E-E tuning with roundwound strings, and when we saw it we just couldn't "Let It Be" and had to bring it into the shop. It is housed in a 1970s Fender Jazz Bass case where it looks to have been living for a long time. Excellent Condition.
This instrument is a relative rarity -- a late 1960s Fender Bass VI -- and also another classic "Beatle" instrument. CBS/Fender, through their UK distributor Arbiter, provided the Beatles with a large pile of gear in 1968, after the band's endorsement deal with JMI-Vox lapsed. While George's rosewood Telecaster may be the most well-known, a Bass VI identical to this one was part of the lot which saw extensive use by both George and John over the course of 1968-70.
Although moderately popular in the early 1960s, by later in the decade the Bass VI was built in miniscule numbers. It was still featured in the Fender catalogs but built only when ordered, headed for discontinuation a few years later. The Fender VI (that is its original official name, though it is universally called the "Bass VI" today) had been the company's big instrument unveiling at the July 1961 NAMM show, but it never caught on in a major way despite being a very well-engineered and useful instrument -- as six-string basses go! This CBS-era example is much rarer than the early-'60s models.
The serial number of this bass is from the 1967-68 period; the bound, block-marker neck bears no date markings which is not unusual on later Bass VIs. The pots are stamped pots 304-6350 and all solder joints appear original, indicating the wiring assembly had likely sat in stock for 4-5 years before it was assembled to this bass! The finish on the neck is still the older style Fender lacquer and the decal is the early '60s style; the body is finished in a typical "transitional" sunburst seen around 1968-9 before the heavier Polyester finishes were applied in 1969-70.
The pickups and electronics are the type used since 1963, Jaguar style with the magnetic "claw" fitting underneath and simple and effective on/off switching for each. The fourth "strangle" switch cuts lows to allow for a more guitar-like tonality in any pickup setting. The 3-layer tortoise plastic pickguard is the material used from 1965 up into the '70s. The bridge and trem system are the same as early '60s models.
Later-production Bass VIs like this one are quite rare; especially one that exactly matches the Beatles' instrument as this one does. As Paul was often playing piano on later tracking sessions, both George and John played bass on a number of occasions, and both can be seen and heard on the guitar-like Bass VI up through the end of the band. George played the instrument on the famous David Frost Show performance of "Hey Jude" and John used it on several "Let it Be" tracks where the band played live.
Despite this exposure and also use in this period with acts as diverse as Glen Campbell, Brian Auger's Trinity, Fleetwood Mac, and the Soft Machine, the instrument was generally considered a relic of the twangy early '60s and became increasingly unfashionable. This 1968-era VI is not only a Beatle-approved rarity but a great-sounding and playing six-string bass with an amazingly wide range of tones from its three pickups. A cool and unusual 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 is a very clean and all original instrument showing some typical play wear but no major finish loss or damage. There are dings and dents to the finish, with some larger worn-away spots on the top/back edge areas as is typical in old Fenders. All hardware is original and quite well-preserved. The trem arm and bridge cover have gone missing but the mute is still intact, though the foam has hardened into the consistency of ancient chewing gum. The original frets have been crowned down just a bit and the bass plays fine.
This one has a great growly sound strung in E-E tuning with roundwound strings, and when we saw it we just couldn't "Let It Be" and had to bring it into the shop. It is housed in a 1970s Fender Jazz Bass case where it looks to have been living for a long time. Excellent Condition.