ShortScale.org

I nabbed a couple instruments in 2024 that I never posted about (partly because I lost how to access the uploader, and messing with imagur to get images here is a PITA)... let's change that.
I March, I pulled the trigger on a 20-year dream instrument and finally got myself a Fender VI, with a bit of a sale on a Vintera II in LPB. With mostly vintage specs, at just sub $2000Cdn I went for it. I've been playing primarily Schecter Bass VIs since 2009 as my main instrument, but I've aways wanted the classic design, vibrato, and I was like 90% sure the bass-cut switch would be a tool I would use in my playing.

I've been loving it. It weighs a fair bit more than either Schecter I have, but the sounds are more different than I was expecting, especially compared against the Hellcat VI, which has Duncan S-JAG1 pickups. I use different pickup combos for the same songs between the basses; the Fender is a little less hot, and probably a bit more articulate... but can get almost-PBass tones with certain settings too. As anticipated, the bass-cut sees regular use in two of my bands for a couple songs; it really clears up some of the chording mush I'd dealt with over the past 15 years of other VIs.






I figured I'd sell off the Hellcat VI, as it's the most similar to the Fender of my Shecters, to help pay for the Fender, but, to date I haven't posted it anywhere for sale... I haven't really played it much since I got the Fender though, and I really should move it on.

When it arrived, the trem arm wasn't with it, so I had to contact the shop I got it from in Quebec. While I did get a replacement, it did take 4 months, and a fair bit of back and forth to get the right arm sent to me. The steel is a smaller diameter than the arm on my Japanese Jaguar, and the locking mechanism is different... first I got an AVRI Strat arm that just didn't work at all, then the right arm got to me, but it's sold without the tip... then it took a couple attempts to get a tip that would fit the arm... but in the end, I've got it, and it's adding some nice bass shimmer.

link to Imagur post if the images don't load - http://imgur.com/gallery/fenders-2024-pLbriJm

FWIW you can load pictures directly from Shortscale now.

I loved the Bass VI I used to have, though mine was a Squier, I bet the Vintera is another level.

I could get with a VI.

Looks great!

I love my Squier one but I'm sure the Vinteras are a big step up in terms of quality.

I know what you mean about the variety in tones you can get out of them. They're really versatile and the bass cut's great for cleaning out the low end mush if you're not trying to play it like a traditional bass.

I keep thinking about picking up a second one to use as a baritone (A-A or B-B) but wonder whether I'd be better off with something with a slightly shorter scale (28" / 27"?)

It is nicer than the Squiers... is it $1200 nicer? Maybe? The stupid psychology about it being "Fender" has some level of value, but I also had a luthier friend who cautioned me against the Squiers, as from his experience, their necks weren't as stable... but we'll see how it goes. The Squiers I'd played in stores felt fairly decent.

On the baritone front, there are plenty of *designed to be baritone* guitars at 30", and I have strung up my Schecters with light and medium d'Addario baritone strings and tuned them up to B (considering doing that again, honestly), and they're perfectly playable, and sounded pretty good (the minihumbuckers in the Ultra VI sound better at baritone tunings even)... but yeah, I think overall I prefer a 28-ish" scale for Baritone feel. B tuning at 30" does have a bit of extra bite, or snap, though, which is kinda neat.