Take Your Tone Down an Octave with This Era-accurate Bass VI
Leo Fender’s most idiosyncratic low-end invention of the 1960s returns in era-accurate form with the Fender Vintera III Early ’60s Bass VI. This re-creation of Fender’s first 6-string bass boasts all the hallmarks of the original, from the slinky 30-inch scale length to the traditional E-to-E tuning. Both of these features allow guitarists to effortlessly transfer their favorite licks, riffs, and rhythms to the Vintera III Early ’60s Bass VI, with no learning curve required. The contoured alder body brandishes a trio of Jaguar-style single-coil pickups, unlocking myriad textures that range from mellow old-school bass thump to bright, biting textures that retain perfect clarity even when doused with dirt. Plus, an onboard “strangle” circuit keeps all your favorite guitar-style chord shapes clean and clear by cutting out excess bass. On the other end, you get a traditional 7.25-inch-radius rosewood fingerboard, modernized vintage-tall frets, and an Early ’60s C-shaped maple neck that fosters fleet-fingered finesse. Did we mention that this bass comes loaded with an offset-style tremolo unit and a funky flip-up mute system? It all adds up to a supremely inspiring instrument for both bassists and guitarists alike, channeling all the retro charm and attitude of a treasured 1960s artifact.
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Vintera III: own a piece of Fullerton history
The Vintera III lineup takes you back to Fender’s formative age of guitar innovation, reviving the brand’s most beloved instruments with component-level vintage accuracy. These historic guitars and basses spotlight pivotal eras of Fender production, from the gold-tinged Strats of the late 1950s to the block-bound Jazz Basses of the early 1970s. Each model is crafted with era-accurate pickups, a vintage-spec neck, and traditional Fender hardware — in essence, these are Leo Fender and company’s groundbreaking creations realized exactly as they were first envisioned decades ago. Rest assured that when you pick up a Vintera III instrument, you’re playing the guitars and basses that shaped music history.
Sound straight out of the early 1960s
Crafted with era-accurate components, a trio of Jaguar-style pickups fuels the Vintera III Early ’60s Bass VI with a flexible range of tonal textures. These single-coils sing with all the grit, growl, and thump you could ever ask for, covering everything from mellow bass lines to ripping riffage and everything in between. In addition, the Jaguar-inspired switching setup provides you with a “strangle” switch to cut out excessive bass — a feature that Sweetwater guitarists favor for its ability to keep guitar-style chords and rhythms clean, defined, and free from excessive low-end mud.
Easy-playing Early ’60s C neck
Fender’s Vintera III lineup is all about providing you with the tone, feel, and sound of an original golden-era classic, and nowhere is that mission more evident than in this Bass VI’s neck profile. A premium shaft of maple in an Early ’60s C profile starts with a rounded feel at the nut and then widens out significantly as you extend toward the 12th fret. Next, a round-laminated rosewood fingerboard sports a traditional 7.25-inch radius for comfortable chording, while the vintage-tall frets strike a balance between period-correct precision and modern playability. Finished off with a short (for a bass!) 30-inch scale length, the Vintera III Early ’60s Bass VI supplies guitarists and bassists alike with sleek, slinky playability.
As a musician who primarily plays guitar, I was able to pick up and play the Vintera III Early ’60s Bass VI with almost zero adjustment. It’s like exploring an alternate tuning on your instrument, only every note, chord, and shape is exactly the same as on a guitar — just an octave lower. Frankly, I can imagine few tools better for inspiring a new song or musical direction, and it’s a perfect way to break out of a creative lull. – Cameron Day, Product Research TeamFender Vintera III Early ’60s Bass VI Features:
- A vintage-inspired replication of Fender’s iconic 6-string bass of the 1960s
- Contoured alder body featuring a high-gloss poly finish and 1960s-accurate colors
- Early ’60s C-shaped maple neck starts with a rounded feel at the nut and widens out as you climb toward the 12th fret
- Round-laminated rosewood fingerboard loaded with a vintage-correct 7.25-in. radius and subtly modernized vintage-tall frets
- 3 Jaguar-style single-coils dish out a versatile array of tones to explore, from classic low-end bass thump to ripping guitar-style riffage
- “Strangle” switch cuts out excessive bass to sharpen up your signal’s clarity
- Traditional Bass VI floating tremolo unit grants you access to subtle waves and surfy shimmers
- Flip-up mute system transforms your tone with a funky and percussive flavor
- Vintage-style slot-in tuners make for lightning-fast string changes
