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

Fender Vintera III Early '60s Bass VI at a Glance:

• Alder Body
• Maple neck with 7.25" Radius Round-Laminated Rosewood Fingerboard and Vintage Tall Frets
• Early '60s "C"-Shaped Neck
• Vintage-Style Early '60s Bass VI Pickups
• Vintage-Style Floating Tremolo with Push-In Tremolo Arm and Bass VI Mute
• Vintage-Style Tuning Machines
• Era-Correct Details

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 Music Experience 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.

What Fender Says...

The Fender® Vintera III series delivers meticulously crafted vintage recreations that capture the authentic look, feel, and tone of iconic Fender guitars from the '50s, '60s, and '70s. The Vintera® III Early '60s Bass VI® features an alder body and a maple neck with rosewood fingerboard for classic Fender tone that's full of punch and clarity. The early '60s "C"-shape, 30" scale maple neck with 7.25" radius rosewood fingerboard and vintage-tall frets provides supreme comfort and outstanding feel. At its heart, you'll find three vintage-style early '60s single-coil pickups that deliver all the deep and growling, rich and articulate tone that made Fender® famous. Other features include a vintage-style floating tremolo for expressive vibrato, individual on/off switches for each pickup, vintage-style Bass VI mute and vintage-style tuning machines for enhanced tuning stability. Embrace the authentic vintage spirit and legendary sound of Vintera® III – where every detail tells the story.

Alder Body

A classic Fender tonewood known for resonance, punch and clarity, alder has a balanced and lively tone with beefy mids and a robust low-end.

Maple Neck with 7.25" Radius Round-Laminated Rosewood Fingerboard and Vintage Tall Frets

Maple neck with round-laminated rosewood fingerboard delivers classic Fender tone with enhanced sustain, and the 7.25" radius fingerboard provides vintage comfort and feel, while vintage-tall frets provide slightly more height than vintage for enhanced playability.

Early ‘60s Soft “C”-Shaped Neck

This classic '60s shape is comfortably rounded and starts off slim at the nut, thickening sharply toward the 12th fret.

Vintage-Style Early ‘60s Bass VI Pickups

These Jaguar-style pickups are dynamic and capable of delivering everything from beefy bass tones to screaming, overdriven guitar-like crunch - especially when used in conjunction with the "strangle switch.".

Vintage-Style Floating Tremolo with Push-In Tremolo Arm and Bass VI Mute

One of our most beloved designs, this "floating" tremolo with Bass VI mute offers the sound and feel of a vintage unit for classic Fender offset warble. Create effects ranging from subtle surf and expressive indie shimmer to radical shoegaze dives and glides, while the integrated mute provides additional tonal control to add a cool personal touch to your music.

Vintage-Style Tuning Machines

These tuning machines offer the look and feel of vintage machines with a finer gear ratio and enhanced tuning stability.