LeftyBassist.com

Not sure if the Bass VI counts as a bass.

Anyways, as a guitar player turned bassist, I sometimes feel the need to play some melody lines high up! What options do we have in terms of baritone guitars and six-string basses? I know there was the Schecter Hellcat, but it has been discontinued and I haven't seen one on Ebay. I don't think there was a Bass VI reissue as a lefty, and even if so, the rightys go for too much money anyways.

USA Custom lists a barritone 6 in their bass offerings. Most all of their models are available lefty/righty



their pricing is the same as a top routed P-bass body and 4-string bass neck

all the best,

R

Yes, I know about USA Custom Guitars, but there is no way I am building my own guitar! I barely have time to play, let alone build something.

This interesting (but ugly!) instrument that's currently listed on eBay in France.

I've considered doing a Bass VI build but the one thing I'm unclear on is what pickups to use.

I recall Southpaw Guitars in Houston had a left handed Fender Custom Shop Bass VI (Candy Apple Red?) "available" for really crazazay $$.

Meanwhile back here on earth:
Danelectro Baritone 6 neck which I believe is spec'd for a ~ 30" scale. No problem for lefty configuration: 3+3 headstock. Sometimes on eBay or always through Allparts: http://www.allparts.com/store/necks-gui ... tegory.asp

Dano Neck bolted to lefty body with lipstick tube pickups... it could happen.

Baritone guitars are not quite the same as a "six-string bass". The scale length is 27.75" instead of 30" and are usually tuned to A/B instead of E, and I believe the Danelectro is a baritone, not 30#. I would also be interested in baritone guitars, but I would love a Bass VI.

Besides, I don't think a Danelectro neck could fit on a Fender body. I had a lefty U2 before, and the heel/bolt configuration is way different from your standard 4-bolt setup.

I think the custom Bass VI at SP was around $5600.

Here's another option, albeit not an obvious one.

I just bought a lefty Line 6 Variax guitar off ebay for use in my cover band. These are getting rare and prices are going up, but there are 2 other lefties on ebay now that you can probably grab for under $500. In addition to the onboard default guitar sounds built in, with the Workbench software you can build a baritone guitar from scratch, in addition to dozens of other guitars. There's also a website that hosts patches that other people have created:

http://www.instituteofnoise.com/L6/home.asp?pid=5.

I just started playing with mine, but I did download the Dano baritone patch that someone posted there and it sounds very cool.

No, these guitar modelers are not going to sound 100% accurate, but ask yourself: how often will I be using a baritone, 12 string, sitar, or banjo sound? For my needs, the Variax has been totally worth it when I need a variety of sounds at gigs without hauling a dozen instruments on stage.

But as said above, the Bass VI is not a baritone but a real bass guitar tuned EADGBe, an octave below a regular guitar. The low E is a .095 gauge string.

Well, a Variax can do any tuning you throw at it, and store the tuning in a setting on your control knob.

I have never used a Variax, but wouldn't the sound be similar to a regular guitar with an octave down pedal? I don't like "processed" sounds unless I am looking for something weird on purpose. However, the Variax does sound interesting and I might have to pick one up!

I have been using my Hamer Slammer 30” bass with D’Addario XL156 Guitar/Bass Fender VI 24-84 strings tuned D-G-B-E. Works for me so far on a non-existant budget. Eventually I will either modify the headstock for a set of six machine heads or get a 30” 6 string neck.


Apparently OLP Guitars is no more but they had a licensed copy production MusicMan Silhouette 30” 6 string model.

But Wait – There’s More!!
Found this live clip of the Cure with Perry Bamonte playing a lefthanded Aria 6 string bass (along with Robert Smith on Bass VI):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi7lG2hnW80

So far I have not found the sounds to be "processed". They're not dead on perfect, but they do sound organic and respond to your playing as well as adjustments to the tone and volume knobs. Having the Workbench software, however, I've already improved upon some of the stock sounds, especially the Tele and the 12 string Rick. You can basically pick any variety of pickups and position them wherever you want, as well as set up customized tunings, strings, etc. As I mentioned, the Dano Baritone 6 that someone created sounds great to my ears.

Keep your eyes on e-bay for a Schecter Hellcat VI. They made them lefty but don't anymore.

They are 30" scale.

I have been for the past few months. None have ever showed up.

Yeah, I was going to say Schecter Hellcat , but some one already beat me to it. Those things sound AWESOME.

I've been playing 6-string basses since 1990, Jerry Jones Longhorns, a Fender VI, and a Gretsch Synchromatic VI.
Here's my Gretsch, single cutaway righty modded to lefty.

And one of my Longhorn VIs.

Yes, not only did someone beat you to it, but I mentioned it in my original post.

AustinLeftyBass, are any of your baritone/six-string basses are true lefty? Did you mod the longhorns? I see right-handed stringing on them. Same goes for the Gretsch.

I play strung righty, with the big E string on bottom, so the Longhorns are not modded, I had the Gretsch modded to double cutaway as it was originally single cut like a Les Paul. The switch and pickguard were moved as well.

Keep a close eye on this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/SCHECTER-HELLCAT-GU ... dZViewItem