Squier Classic Vibe Bass VI, Indian Laurel, 3-Color Sunburst

The Bass VI is one of the most interesting instruments Fender ever made, and this Classic Vibe version does the original justice. Tuned an octave below a standard guitar with six strings, it sits in a tonal space all its own -- somewhere between a bass and a baritone guitar. It's the secret weapon that producers and arrangers keep reaching for when they need something that fills the low end differently than a conventional bass.

Three Fender-Designed single-coil pickups with individual on/off switches and a bass-cut control give you a surprising range of tones, from thick, thumpy bass lines to twangy, surfy textures with the vibrato arm. The short 30-inch scale makes it feel familiar if you're coming from guitar. Whether you're layering in the studio or looking for an unconventional live instrument, the Bass VI opens creative doors that most instruments can't.