Have you tried to attain a Bass VI sound with a stratocaster type guitar ?

C

crgl

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Have you tried to obtain a Bass VI sound with a stratocaster type guitar ?

I love the sound of the Bass VI guitar used by The Cure and other bands.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_VI

Specifications:

Solid body (alder) fretted electric bass guitar, 6 strings in 6 courses tuned E-A-D-G-B-E an octave below the normal guitar tuning.
Scale length 30” / 762 mm (as opposed to 34” / 864 mm for the Jazz and Precision basses)
Curved fingerboard (rosewood), radius 7.25” / 184 mm, 21 frets
Standard strings .095 .075 .055 .045 .035 .025 inches, Fender stainless steel,
Fender floating tremolo arm.


It is expensive for me and similar guitars are not so cheap.
Have anybody here tried to obtain a similar sound modifying
a guitar, like putting heavier strings ?
Has anybody had any success in this ?

I would be happy to have a guitar that could at least produce the sound of the first three strings ( gauges: .045 - .035 - .025 ).

What suggestions do you have ?

Thanks
 
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For owning a Bass VI and 2 Strats (MIM Standard & So Cal Speed Shop), I don't think you'll be very happy with the results, trying to string a Strat that heavy and tuning it down in the bass range, one octave below guitar, which is where the Bass VI is tuned. I've heard of folks tuning a Strat down to baritone tuning (B, E, A, D, F#, B) without any trouble, but I've heard of more folks ultimately giving up and buying a baritone guitar, with scale lengths ranging from 27" (Fender Baritone Special HH) to 29 3/4" (Gretsch Electromatic Jet Baritone). When you're getting down to baritone range on a 25 1/2" scale neck (Stratocaster), it's highly likely your strings are going to feel like rubber bands.

Essentially, the Bass VI is a short scale (30" as you noted) 6-string bass, but it was designed for and marketed to the baritone playing market. Fender's own Jaguar Baritone Custom had a 28 1/2" scale, and was tuned B - B (B, E, A, D, F#, B), in between standard guitar and bass tunings. There are some Jaguar Baritone Custom owners that will string with Bass VI strings, and tune E - E like a Bass VI. An essential "ingredient" to lower tunings, without the "rubber band" problem is a longer neck

I don't know what your budget is, but the Gretsch I mentioned above is the cheapest at Musician's Friend, priced at $448.00. Used Danelectro baritones can be found for around that price, and I think they had fairly long scale necks (29", if I'm not mistaken), which would be suitable for tuning E - E one octave below guitar. Otherwise, the only thing I can suggest would be to find a Strat as cheap as you can (even a Squier), then replacing the neck with a baritone replacement neck, such as is available through Warmoth Direct (28 5/8" scale).

Baritone guitars, prices low - high at Musician's Friend: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navi...s=P_Price|0&Ntk=All&Ntt=baritone&Nty=1&page=1

Warmoth Direct baritone Strat neck: http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/necks/necks.cfm?fuseaction=strat_baritone

Eastwood Guitars (2 Sidejack models, both with 28" scale necks): http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/

I hope this helps. I'm not trying to burst your bubble, but short of a baritone guitar or a Bass VI, you'll likely end up pretty frustrated trying to tune a Strat/Strat-style guitar a whole octave down...even with the heavier gauge strings. Lastly, if it would happen that you might luck into the money enough, and a potential good deal on a used Bass VI (such as was my case), if it has 3 pickups and a Jazzmaster/Jaguar tremolo it's a Bass VI, but if it has 2 pickups and a fixed bridge it's a Jaguar Baritone Custom.

Matt
 
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