Fender Bass VI 1963

Discussion of vintage Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Bass VIs, Electric XIIs and any other offset-waist instruments.
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Kristian
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Fender Bass VI 1963

Post by Kristian » Sun May 10, 2015 1:43 pm

My first post here, so hello everyone.

I got a worn 1963 Fender Bass VI, Sunburst. However I think the tuners might be unoriginal. Shouldnt they say "Kluson" on the back, like the kluson tuners on my 1960 Jazzmaster?

Thanks a million! :)

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Re: Fender Bass VI 1963

Post by eggwheat » Sun May 10, 2015 2:09 pm

Show me the front of the tuners.. I'll soon be able to tell you if they are original or not.

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Re: Fender Bass VI 1963

Post by Kristian » Mon May 11, 2015 9:58 am

Here you go

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Thanks!

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Re: Fender Bass VI 1963

Post by Kristian » Mon May 11, 2015 10:02 am

Here is a pic together with my 1960 jazzmaster (in front)
They say "kluson deluxe" wich as far as I can find out was used on VI's 62-64...

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Re: Fender Bass VI 1963

Post by Kristian » Mon May 11, 2015 10:11 am

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Close up, no "kluson deluxe" writing...

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Re: Fender Bass VI 1963

Post by eggwheat » Mon May 11, 2015 12:00 pm

Hi no...they are definitely not original.

Forgetting whether of not they are made by kluson...(which I'm 90% sure they are not)...they are 100% not Fender VI tuners, they are copies of Fender guitars ones...Fender Bass VI tuners have a different post, the post is straight without a tapered 'waist' like you see on Fender guitars. The slot on VI specific ones are also cut wider to accept bass strings better... the reason they have the straight waist rather than the tapered waist is to strengthen the post for bass strings and also decrease the bend radius applied to the strings.

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Re: Fender Bass VI 1963

Post by eggwheat » Mon May 11, 2015 12:05 pm

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Re: Fender Bass VI 1963

Post by eggwheat » Mon May 11, 2015 12:18 pm

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Re: Fender Bass VI 1963

Post by hornz » Mon May 11, 2015 12:21 pm

Good info eggwheat, didn't know about those differences.
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Re: Fender Bass VI 1963

Post by Kristian » Mon May 11, 2015 1:16 pm

Aha... Thank for the superb info, eggwheat! :)

So, anyone got a set of 60's Bass VI tuners laying around? :D

Not easy to find I can imagine...

Let me know if you see or hear anything about selling 60's fender bass VI tuners :)

Heres a pic of my two offsets, 63 Bass VI, 60 Jazzer

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Re: Fender Bass VI 1963

Post by eggwheat » Tue May 12, 2015 1:26 am

Hey, no prob. looks like a lovely VI...

I've never seen a set of original VI tuners for sale..ever. You're only hope is someone parting a VI out or you happen to stumble on some mis-labled ones on eBay...

The annoying thing is I bet there was nothing really wrong with the originals..and they got chucked in the bin or are sitting in a draw somewhere..

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Re: Fender Bass VI 1963

Post by JoeySlush » Tue May 12, 2015 1:23 pm

I can't imagine someone replacing good working tuners with ones that are probably not better at all.nice pair of guitars btw.

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Re: Fender Bass VI 1963

Post by Larry Mal » Tue May 12, 2015 1:36 pm

Regardless, great instrument there!
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.

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Re: Fender Bass VI 1963

Post by eggwheat » Wed May 13, 2015 1:17 am

JoeySlush wrote:I can't imagine someone replacing good working tuners with ones that are probably not better at all.
Happens all the time. Hence the horrific 'improved' examples we constantly see on eBay etc

I even did it myself when I was a teen and didn't know any better..took some nasty old rusty klusons off and replaced them..I was pleased with myself 'fixing' it up. :fp:

Admittedly you do sometimes see more wear on the 'gears' inside Fender VI klusons that can cause a bit of slippage...which the over excitable repair man might then think he's doing good by replacing them..never come across a set that have been unusable though.

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Re: Fender Bass VI 1963

Post by Kristian » Wed May 13, 2015 3:33 am

Yes, its a strange one.

Here is a pic of the original owner with the VI

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Here is a pic a year or so later, it now looks to have only four strings. The nut looks to be original and looking on this pic it looks like he just put four strings on it :fp: :D

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