Image: Bassv at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 — via Wikimedia Commons
Fender Bass V
| Category | Strings (electric bass guitar) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | USA |
| Classification | guitar |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q3445243 |
Overview
The Fender Bass V was a five-string electric bass guitar produced by Fender between 1965 and 1970. Unlike most modern five-string basses, which add a low B string, the Bass V kept the standard four bass strings (E, A, D, G) and added a high C string above them. This unusual choice gave the player extra range upward instead of downward.
Origin & History
Fender introduced the Bass V during the wave of design experimentation that followed Leo Fender’s sale of the company to CBS in 1965. The aim was to extend the upper range of the and without forcing players to shift far up the neck. Sales were modest, the model was discontinued in 1970, and original units are now rare collector items.
How It’s Played
The Bass V is played like a standard electric bass, finger-style or with a pick. The added high C string sits closest to the floor and gives the player melodic and chordal options that would otherwise require very high left-hand positions. The fingerboard has fewer frets than a typical bass, since the high C extends the upper range without the need for extra positions.
Cultural Significance
Although the Bass V did not catch on at the time, the idea of an extended-range electric bass was vindicated in the 1980s and 1990s when five- and six-string basses became standard tools in jazz, fusion, and progressive music. Modern five-string basses usually choose a low B over a high C, but the Bass V remains an interesting early example of the same impulse.
Related Instruments
- – the standard Fender four-string bass
- – the slimmer-necked four-string sibling
- Fender Telecaster Bass – a contemporary Fender bass model
- Electric upright bass – another Fender experiment in extending bass options
- Bass guitar – the broader instrument category
Frequently Asked Questions
How many strings did the Fender Bass V have?
Five. It added a high C string above the usual E-A-D-G of a standard bass.
Why was the Fender Bass V discontinued?
It sold poorly during its short production run from 1965 to 1970 and was not revived in the original form.
Image: photograph by Bassv (en.wikipedia), CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
