Pricing and availability
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Price
Average Price: $1,766
High-end/Boutique
$400
$1001+
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Budget
Standard
High-end
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Description
Experience the sonic versatility of the Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI, a unique blend of bass and guitar that takes your music to a different level. With its short-scale neck, it's designed to be comfortable for all players while delivering bass range and beyond. The resonating depth of this instrument is one octave below a standard guitar, setting a distinctive tone. Complementing its profound bass, the P90 pickup at the bridge adds a sharp bark, providing a balanced musical output. Discover the rich, innovative sounds that this hybrid instrument offers.
Key Features:
- Versatile instrument capable of covering bass range and beyond
- Short scale neck designed for comfortable play
- P90 pickup at the bridge for a balanced, distinctive tone
- Delivers sound one octave below standard guitar tuning for unique musical depth
Product specs
| Brand | Fender |
| Model | Pawn Shop Bass VI |
| Finish | 3-Color Sunburst, Black, Candy Apple Red |
| Year | 2013 - 2014 |
| Made In | Mexico |
| Categories | 5- and 6-String Basses, Short Scale Basses |
| Active / Passive Pickups | Passive Pickups |
| Active Preamp | No Preamp |
| Body Shape | Double Cutaway |
| Color Family | Black, Brown, Red |
| Finish Pattern | Sunburst |
| Finish Style | Gloss, Metallic |
| Fretboard Material | Rosewood |
| Model Family | Fender Bass VI |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Number of Frets | 19 |
| Number of Strings | 6-String |
| Offset Body | Offset Body |
| Pickup Configuration | SSS |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Series | Fender Pawn Shop |
FAQs
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What tuning is used for the Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI?
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The Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI is typically tuned an octave below a standard electric guitar, with the tuning E-A-D-G-B-E, similar to a guitar but in the bass register.
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Is the Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI suitable for both bass and baritone guitar roles?
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Yes, the Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI can function as both a bass and a baritone guitar, providing versatility in sound and range for different musical applications.
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What is the pickup configuration on the Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI?
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The Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI features a single-coil SSS (three single-coil pickups) configuration, offering a wide range of tonal possibilities.
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Does the Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI have active electronics?
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No, the Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI uses passive pickups and does not have an active preamp, contributing to its classic tone.
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What materials are used for the neck and fretboard of the Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI?
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The neck of the Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI is made from maple, while the fretboard is crafted from rosewood, providing a smooth playing experience.
Videos
Rob Chapman
Bass VI Shootout - Squier Vintage Modified v Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI
Reviews
PROS
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Unique six-string configuration is ideal for guitarists transitioning to bass lines
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Versatile sound with Strat-style 5-way switch for pickup combinations
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Jazzmaster-style P-90 pickup provides a hefty, fat treble tone
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High-output Jaguar pickups for neck and middle positions
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Ideal for recording with its distinctive tone and versatility
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Fun and easy to play, making it a great second bass
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Good alternative for guitar players exploring bass options
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Solid, affordable alternative to more expensive models
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Can be easily modded for enhanced performance
CONS
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Stock bridge has intonation issues and may require replacement
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Thin-sounding bridge pickup; may need aftermarket replacement
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5-way switch limits pickup combination options
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Narrow string spacing may be difficult for traditional bass players
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Supplied string gauge results in thin bass tones
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI.
Mods and upgrades
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Adding a push-pull volume knob for a seven-way mod that includes the neck pickup is a popular modification to expand tonal options.
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A common upgrade for the Pawn Shop Bass VI is replacing the factory bridge with a Staytrem for better intonation and tuning stability.
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Installing Labella flatwounds is favored for reducing string noise and providing a smoother feel, especially beneficial when using reverb-heavy setups.
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Some owners recommend replacing the tone circuit with a strangle circuit and upgrading the bridge to a Staytrem for improved performance.
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Comparisons
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Users note that the Vintera II offers a brighter and clearer tone, making it more suitable for cutting through a mix compared to the muddier Pawn Shop model.
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The Candy Apple Red finish with a matching headstock is considered more visually appealing than the plain headstock of the Vintera II by some owners.
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The Pawn Shop Bass VI might be preferable to some due to its unique pickup configuration compared to the Vintera II, which can be modified later if desired.
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Use cases and applications
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Owners report the Pawn Shop Bass VI's humbucker can result in a muddy tone, making it less suitable for clean playing but potentially better for high gain settings.
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For achieving a shoegaze sound, using Walrus Audio Fathom through a modified Blues Driver is suggested for a big, shimmery tone.
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It's noted for suitability in post-rock styles with extensive effects, although heavier guitar sounds may require mods.
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Setup and maintenance
Features and functionality
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The Pawn Shop Bass VI includes a "special" Jazzmaster-sized humbucker at the bridge, known for achieving a spaghetti western/surf twang without the strangle switch.
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The Boss CE-5 chorus pedal is recommended for its EQ controls that help retain bass while enhancing the post-punk and darkwave sound.
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The lack of a strangle switch can be compensated by installing a push-pull knob with a small value capacitor in series.
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User experience
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One owner mentions that after purchasing used from Guitar Center, the instrument had minor knicks but was praised for its exceptional sound quality.
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Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 2 Reviews and 8 Ratings
This thing sounds amazing.
Maybe the tremolo isn't for everyone, but this bass has a unique and thumpy sound. It's better with flats and with a Staytrem bridge than with the stock Fender bridge, but it can be modded into a real beast.
Artist usage
Add artist
2015 Conan O'Brien Show Incubus playing "Dance Like You're Dumb", Mike playing a Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI
In the YouTube video titled "FKJ MELT 2019 FRENCH KIWI JUICE" by Ramon T, FKJ is seen using a Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI during the live performance.
"Following in the quirky footsteps of the Pawn Shop range, the Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI is a modded version of the original. However, the Squier Vintage Modified Bass VI is a much closer reproduction in terms of looks & features."
Rob can be seen playing this at 18:15 during this #product-demo.
Directly at the beginning of this live performance of "Electric Feel" by MGMT, VanWyngarden can be seen playing a Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI.
During this stripped-down set recorded by Feet First Productions, we can see Ned using a Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI as opposed to his usual Precision Bass. I have yet to see any other videos/sets/examples of him using it, so it may be a bass he owns and doesn't use much, keeps as a backup, or may've borrowed from someone else.
In this Fender interview with The Cribs, brothers Ryan and Gary Jarman talk about some of the Fender guitars the use and love:
Gary: “Bass VI was like something of a legend for us, the guitar that we sort of fetishized for years. It was one of those things, we were always looking for those offset Fenders that hey used to make year ago that you never saw. We were really fascinated with it, when we found out what it did, we found out it was like a 6-string bass it was kind of like a guitar, it became the instrument that me and Ryan argue over all time, because Johnny had one - when we started playing with Johnny Marr, we would just jam on it at his house, and we wrote a bunch of songs on the 4th record on the baritone.”
Ryan: “We’ve actually just got one of the Pawn Shop ones as well now, so we’ve got one each.”
Gary: “I actually prefer this [Pawn Shop model of the Bass VI] to the 90s reissue, I think this one is more of a refined and updated version. The addition of the Jazzmaster pickup is cool too.”
Ryan: “Personally I like the Pawn Shop series of Fender guitars more than I’ve liked a lot of Fenders that have come out in recent years. It’s definitely my favorite period for Fender for quite a long time.”
Gary: “They’re almost in the same vein as those Mavericks and Swingers, where they would take guitars that already existed and modify them so it became a new thing. To us, that’s what we’re into, we’re not purists, we’re not into the conventional models, we like the weird stuff.”
Ryan: “Plus we’ve always taken our guitars and modded them ourselves anyway. Whether it’s like switching pickups out and stuff like that, making weird hybrids. It just seems cool to me… it just seems cool.”
Via Chuck's Instagram. His Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI in Candy Apple Red is seen in the background.
Album Usage
The Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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