Short scale 6 string bass

[Billyboygretsch]

Was the early sixties short scale bass a Split sound Vista Sonic. Not quite sure of the difference between split sound and Vista Sonic. Is it just the switching otherwise they look the same. How long were they made for seem to see more basses than guitars. Anyone know

[JimN]

Was the early sixties short scale bass a Split sound Vista Sonic. Not quite sure of the difference between split sound and Vista Sonic. Is it just the switching otherwise they look the same. How long were they made for seem to see more basses than guitars. Anyone know

The Vista Sonic was a guitar. There was also a Vista Sonic Bass, with the standard four strings and a medium-scale length.

The Burns (short-scale) six-string bass was similar in appearance to the Vista Sonic, but it was simply called the "Split Sound Bass".

Source: "The Burns Book"; Paul Day [No ISBN; PP Publishing, UK 1979]

Pages 22/23 refer.

Hope this helps,

JN

[Billyboygretsch]

Thanks for clearing that up do you know what the string guages were/are and which ones to recommend. It is difficult to find a tandard set as the scale is only 24.75 inches. I guess not many short scale basse around

[cockroach]

Blimey, that's not even a long scale guitar scale! A Strat is usually 25 1/2 inches, and most Gibson guitars are 24 3/4 in.

Short scale basses were usually 30in (e.g. the Fender Bass VI, Mustang bass, Hofner, Framus etc)

That Burns was not much more than a normal guitar with bass strings, goodness knows what the intonation would have been like even with lightish bass strings, the string tension must have been pretty low and rubbery!

I've put very heavy strings on a regular guitar and tuned them down to C, B and even A, but not as far as low E like a regular bass, as it probably won't work..(that is, it won't intonate correctly up the neck)

You could try a set of baritone strings I suppose, about 65 or 70 or so..?

[Billyboygretsch]

I remember trying one when they first came out. You were right about rubbery strings. They did sound good and were tuned an octave lower. Might think of tuning it up a bit perhaps to an A. I think they made them on the back of Jet Harris using a downtuned guitar for things like diamonds as he was popular at the time. They had supplied the Shadows why not Jet is suppose was the thinking. Anyway thanks for the suggestions.

[Billyboygretsch]

I have a new set of original strings they dont give the guage but have a Burns Bison Plastic cover and string packets have an insert marked Burns Bass o Matic Bass Guitar strings 6 string Bass 243/4 inch scale.Tapewound Manufactured by James How and Company. These are probably rarer than the guitar. Scared to use them but will measure the guages at some stage.

[JimN]

I remember trying one when they first came out. You were right about rubbery strings. They did sound good and were tuned an octave lower. Might think of tuning it up a bit perhaps to an A. I think they made them on the back of Jet Harris using a downtuned guitar for things like diamonds as he was popular at the time. They had supplied the Shadows why not Jet is suppose was the thinking. Anyway thanks for the suggestions.

Actually, the Burns six-string bass came out hard on the heels of the Fender Bass VI and quite some time (c. 18 months) before the official switch to Burns guitars by The Shadows. I'd be fairly sure that Jet was already in possession of his Fender six.

Others may be able to speak more definitively about the period between 1964 and Jet's later comeback, but although I know he used both Fender and Vox guitars in his heyday (OK, the Vox came right at the end of that heyday), as far as I am aware, he had no connection with Burns until Barry Gibson's revival of the name in the early 1990s.

JN

[Billyboygretsch]

Sorry Jim i was trying to say Jim Burns saw the opportunities of launching a six strings solo bass instrument rather than having to de detune a Jaguar or any other guitar. Although the Shadows did not change until 1964 i am sure Jim was in negotiations with them well before that. The two main opportunities at the time were the Shadows and Jet as UK artistes and Burns a UK company. They had to develop an instrumeent to make an offer whether or not anyone took up the offer is a different thing. No evidence just some speculation. Why else would they offer such an instrument ? Looking at the sales of these and other baritone instruments at the time and even now I guess they were optimistic about the bass as lead instrument
Bill

[cockroach]

As far as I know, Danelectro had an early 6 string bass out in the USA in the late '50's, mainly used for 'tic-tac' doubled bass lines with an acoustic standup bass, but of course, Duane used one about 1960 as a lead instrument on some tracks, then Fender brought out the Bass VI in about '61/'62, and by then the European makers had them out too (Hofner, Burns etc) and our Aussie maker Maton, and Japan had them by about 1963/4 or possibly earlier (Teisco)

Then they went out of fashion or whatever, and became defunct....a bit like the mid 1960's trend for electric 12 string guitars from most manufacturers- Rickenbacker in about late 63, and most other makers worldwide, until about 1968-70 or so...

As far as I know (again), most if not all of these 6 string bass models (barring the Burns in question) were the usual short scale bass scale length of 30 inches or so.

[Billyboygretsch]

Checked the guages

105,85,65,50,35,27 The new ones in the case just state 1st 2nd etc.