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I've been on the hunt for a nice Fender Bass VI for the past year. I only see Custom Shop models, Squire models, and the new Vintera model. I'd like to get something high quality that I don't have to mod the sh!t out of right out of the box. I also would prefer not to have to spend $5k to get that.

Did Fender ever release an AVRI Bass V!? It seems like they are missing a middle ground in that model. I know it isn't a huge seller, but maybe it would sell better if they released an AVRI Bass VI.

Meriphew wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 24, 2023 6:32 am

They did not, I'm afraid.

Custom Shop, Squier, Fender Japan and the new Vintera model are your options

I'm also surprised at how few of the FCS models have the RSD J bridge on them.

GreenKnee wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 24, 2023 6:56 am

Meriphew wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 24, 2023 6:32 am

They did not, I'm afraid.

Custom Shop, Squier, Fender Japan and the new Vintera model are your options

Don't forget the MIM Pawn Shop model.

Meriphew wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 24, 2023 6:59 am

I'm also surprised at how few of the FCS models have the RSD J bridge on them.

You wouldn't want an RSD bridge on a VI. The intonation would be a nightmare. This is a situation where you really need individual intonation on the saddles.

It's stupid that they have a regular-width JM bridge on them, though. You'd want a Staytrem on there for sure.

Embenny wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 24, 2023 7:04 am

Meriphew wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 24, 2023 6:59 am

I'm also surprised at how few of the FCS models have the RSD J bridge on them.

You wouldn't want an RSD bridge on a VI. The intonation would be a nightmare. This is a situation where you really need individual intonation on the saddles.

It's stupid that they have a regular-width JM bridge on them, though. You'd want a Staytrem on there for sure.

I was under the impression you could do that on the RSD J bridge

Meriphew wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 24, 2023 7:09 am

I was under the impression you could do that on the RSD J bridge

You can adjust the intonation, but not individually. It's a 3-string saddle design. E.g. however you set you E and D strings, the A is halfway in between.

With regular guitar strings, I don't find that to be an issue (my Mastery bridges intonated fine when I had them).

With my Bass VI, which has a heavy E string to even out the tension, I needed to crank that bad boy way back compared to the A and D. The Staytrem was the only bridge available that had enough travel to do that adequately, and a 3-string saddle would have messed up the intonation quite badly.

Embenny wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 24, 2023 7:01 am

Don't forget the MIM Pawn Shop model.

I’d put my 2012 J Craft Fender Japan VI alongside the AVRIs for quality aside from maybe the pickups. Even the tort is hideous like the AVRI ones. It has the proper wide bridge. Heck, it even has a pair of titanium rods channel-routed into the neck beside the truss rod.

Meriphew wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 24, 2023 6:32 am

I've been on the hunt for a nice Fender Bass VI for the past year. I only see Custom Shop models, Squire models, and the new Vintera model. I'd like to get something high quality that I don't have to mod the sh!t out of right out of the box. I also would prefer not to have to spend $5k to get that.

Did Fender ever release an AVRI Bass V!? It seems like they are missing a middle ground in that model. I know it isn't a huge seller, but maybe it would sell better if they released an AVRI Bass VI.

I have a Squire VI and worse than that a 'B Stock' one ...it went out of the box...straight on tour. Strings changed, polished frets. No other mods. Absolutely fine. But I play it they way I think it sounds best as a baritone guitar....high lead lines, doubling etc...as its own instrument..not a bass.

Most problems come from people trying to make them sound like a proper long scale bass but they do not and never will. They are a flawed, freak instrument that sold comparatively(for fender) very little because of it....its funny because the most bass like version is the early 62 with the custom pickups, 3 switches and wider neck...because over time Fender made them less and less like a bass..the final run in the 70's has crazy thin neck widths.

From what I've seen the Vintera is based on the custom shop drawings, mistakes included(see the missing pickguard screws). So i think that would be the best bet for the middle ground option today...though I can see the bridge on these being an issue since they used inferior threaded saddles on them. Todays Squire VI has the mustang style saddles and a wider neck(more bass like) than the Vintera VI.

GreenKnee wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 24, 2023 6:56 am

Meriphew wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 24, 2023 6:32 am

They did not, I'm afraid.

Custom Shop, Squier, Fender Japan and the new Vintera model are your options

Yeah honestly the new Vintera sounds perfect for your preferences

Unless you want a matching headstock. I mean that's a pretty big oversite for a Fender offset. Hard pass. I'll take this:


or this:


or especially this:


over this:


any day, especially at less than half the price for the same sound.

I've had a Pawnshop VI since they came out and gave the Vinteras a look simply because of the specs. The only beef I really ever had with PSVI was that stupid bridge humbucker, which is so dull and compressed. When I saw the Vintera prices I tapped out though, I think I got my PSVI for $800! It wasn't that long ago you could pick up a US-made Fender for what they're asking for the new Vinteras.

I wonder if anyone (Lollar/Novak/Fralin) will build an upgraded pickguard/electronics/pickups drop in replacement for the Vintera bass vi series? I’m guessing Fender will sell quite a few of them, and a lot of people will probably want upgrades.

Meriphew wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 27, 2023 5:58 am

I wonder if anyone (Lollar/Novak/Fralin) will build an upgraded pickguard/electronics/pickups drop in replacement for the Vintera bass vi series? I’m guessing Fender will sell quite a few of them, and a lot of people will probably want upgrades.

What do you mean by "drop in replacement?"

Lollar, Novak and Fralin build nice Jaguar pickups, and Jaguar pickups are post-'62 Bass VI pickups. There's nothing special or unique about Bass VI pickups other than the 1961 style. There's just a third one - choose whatever polarity you want based on whether you want "neck and middle" and "middle and bridge" to be the humcanceling positions or if you want "neck and bridge" to be the only one.

There's no need to replace the pickguard, switches or pots on a MIM Fender, they're already perfectly good quality, and even if they weren't, then those companies would just be buying CTS and Switchcraft parts and marking them up for you.

But Bass VI pickguards aren't even attached to the pickups, switches or pots like they are on a Strat, so nobody can or will make a pre-wired all-in-1 "drop in" pickguard assembly. You usually have to pass some wires through tunnels to get between the various control cavities on a Bass VI, they're a bit compartmentalized: