Vintage 1962 Fender Bass VI Sunburst With Gig Bag

For the first time ever, up for sale is this amazing vintage 1962 Fender Bass VI that was previously owned by the legendary Alessandro Alessandroni.  Any vintage Bass VI like this is an amazing find, as Fender didn't make many compared to other instruments, but this one in particular has quite the backstory.  This is a long one, so get comfortable!

Alessandro Alessandroni (3/18/25 – 3/26/17) was an expert Italian musician and composer, skilled in playing a variety of instruments such as guitar, mandolin, sitar, accordion and piano. He is known for creating over 40 film scores and numerous library music tracks, and is highly regarded for his exceptional whistling abilities. His significant impact on the world of music, particularly in the scores of Sergio Leone's Italian Western films, is widely recognized and admired.

Alessandroni grew up in the town of Soriano nel Cimino. The family barbershop was a favorite gathering place for local talent. "We had instruments; guitar, mandolin and a mandola. We didn't do much business. But we made a lot of music!".  As a young musician Alessandroni immersed himself in the musical folk tradition of his native Lazio region and with the help of a friend, learned the guitar, eventually forming a band and starting his career.  

Collaborating with his childhood friend Ennio Morricone, Alessandroni contributed to numerous soundtracks for Spaghetti Westerns. Morricone's orchestration showcases a unique blend of instruments, voices, and whistling. In the main theme for The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Alessandroni's twangy guitar riff takes center stage. Morricone was renowned for his use of baritone guitars and the Fender Bass VI to create iconic  sounds.

This vintage Bass VI was owned and used by Alessandroni on many of these recordings.  It provided plenty of thumpy low-end but with a particular articulation that makes its tone stand out in bands.  We just took this in from Alessandro Alessandroni II, who had kept it safely tucked away after his father's passing.  For provenance, the instrument comes with a signed Certificate of Authenticity.

Not only does this instrument have serious pedigree, it's also a rare find, in that it's an early version.  Fender first introduced the Bass VI in 1961, and this one is from 1962, when it still had the original design of three Strat-style single-coil pickups mounted within oblong chrome plated metal surrounds.  Each had a designated slider switch to turn them on and off on a chrome plate near the bottom horn.  In the years that following, Fender switched to Jaguar-style pickups with the saw-tooth surrounds, plus a fourth slider switch was added to the plate.  Vintage aficionados will recognize this one as an early run, which has become quite collectible.

This 1962 Bass VI is all original, other than a single tuner needing to be replaced, which we've done here in house.  Our vintage expert and offset specialist, two of our best luthiers, worked on this Bass VI together, vetting it and setting it up to play perfectly.  The finish is original, as are the pickups.  The original case is long gone, and it came to us from Alessandro Alessandroni II in a gig bag, as a Bass VI case is a hard find.

The condition is very good, especially considering its age.  This Bass VI has withstood the test of time for over 6 decades and is ready to go another 6.  There is a good amount of wear, especially on the sides - this is a "true" relic.  

For any fan of music history, vintage instruments or just anyone looking to get the most classic Bass VI sound, this is a serious score.  We have a feeling this will go fast.

Serial # 84985