Club F-Bass!!!!

[Dave Hill]

Check this one out:

http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~KSB/stoc...R/DSCN3570.JPG

F basses have an awesome slap tone, the BEST. I have no issues slapping and popping the BN5. BNF5 is a different story, as there is no room between the end of the fretboard and the pickup.

[Vic]

Originally Posted by Dave Hill

Check this one out:

http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~KSB/stoc...R/DSCN3570.JPG

F basses have an awesome slap tone, the BEST. I have no issues slapping and popping the BN5. BNF5 is a different story, as there is no room between the end of the fretboard and the pickup.

Wow, NICE redwood! BTW, redwood is a great wood to have as a top on ash for a fretless... a very great topwood.

[NickyBass]

Has anyone played the sunburst one at Bass Specialties? I was there a few weeks ago, and didn't plug it in. I'm thinking about making the short trek to check it out.

[Dave Hill]

Just read Tom Bowlus' review of the BN5 in the new Bass Guitar Mag. I thought it was right-on emphasizing the aspects of the BN5 that I love: the tried and true ash/maple "recipe" that George has stuck to, the versatile preamp, the vintage vibe, the fundamental tone, and hand-craftmanship. Fbass delivers folks! Great job Tom! That particular buckeye top is possibly the only one I've ever liked on any bass. Not enough to pay for, though.

[MuthaFunk]

Forgive me, I didn't mean the finish was stripped bare but rather the strings, pickups, pre-amp? (if it had one) and bridge were removed. The finish is still in tact. I'm sure your going to love it!! I think it is the right bass for your style. Oh, one more question? Does it have the active preamp in it? If not, you should have George put one in while it's in the shop, It'll take the sound to the ultimate level.

Originally Posted by Dennis Kong

Really? I just asked George to do some touch up on flakey & stripped
off sections of bass..... Did not expect him to refinish the whole bass
again.

Yes- you' right...It sounded great despite the shape it was in. The bridge
was coming up, the bass was tuned downed a 1/2 step when I bought it and did not realize it until I got home and retuned it. So when It was in pitch :it was pretty hard to play with high action. But it has such a nice sound!! I used for one gig before I sent it and it wowed the audience! ( for looks & sound).

My fusion teacher loved it too- Kai Eckhardt.
And my other instructor (for Latin bass) -- David Belove wants to try it too when I get it back.

[GRoberts]

Originally Posted by Dave Hill

Just read Tom Bowlus' review of the BN5 in the new Bass Guitar Mag. I thought it was right-on emphasizing the aspects of the BN5 that I love: the tried and true ash/maple "recipe" that George has stuck to, the versatile preamp, the vintage vibe, the fundamental tone, and hand-craftmanship. Fbass delivers folks! Great job Tom! That particular buckeye top is possibly the only one I've ever liked on any bass. Not enough to pay for, though.

+1! Great review Tom. I read it too. Too bad the price of the tops went through the roof. But hey ... a Standard F Bass BN5continues to blow my mind, gig after gig. Personally, I even prefer the understated elegance of a nice Ash grain with a trans-finish compared to a topped F Bass. I've had both. (at the same time) to be honest, the non-topped F Bass BN5 growled and punched better to my ears. It was perhaps subtle, but undeniable. I'll take a standard BN5 any day without blinking an eye. Gary

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by ursus

Hi folks, my sweet blue jean

Wow, that is really pretty!

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by Dave Hill

Just read Tom Bowlus' review of the BN5 in the new Bass Guitar Mag. I thought it was right-on emphasizing the aspects of the BN5 that I love: the tried and true ash/maple "recipe" that George has stuck to, the versatile preamp, the vintage vibe, the fundamental tone, and hand-craftmanship. Fbass delivers folks! Great job Tom! That particular buckeye top is possibly the only one I've ever liked on any bass. Not enough to pay for, though.

Thanks!

[Dennis Kong]

Originally Posted by MuthaFunk

Forgive me, I didn't mean the finish was stripped bare but rather the strings, pickups, pre-amp? (if it had one) and bridge were removed. The finish is still in tact. I'm sure your going to love it!! I think it is the right bass for your style. Oh, one more question? Does it have the active preamp in it? If not, you should have George put one in while it's in the shop, It'll take the sound to the ultimate level.

Great! you scared me for a moment. I was going email George about the finish. As I like the "vintage" look with slight flakey-ness & the crumbliness of the gold.

The bass' originally had passive pickups (no preamp). Unfortunately they were not compatiable with George's new preamp. As I wanted just add a preamp to bass for more
flexiability & headroom. For the some of the situtions I have
to play in.

SOOOO:
Yes-- I ordered new pick-ups & preamp for the bass.

+++ Plus taking advantage of the bass being in the shop..
-shipping from Calif is not cheap either....
-or run risk of the bass being damaged in transit,
-or getting stuck in Canadian or US customs,
-etc

My style- actually I 'm just Blues & jazz player. not a fusion
player like Kai. I also play upright bass in piano trio.

[jim nolte]

Originally Posted by ThumbyAche

Here are my two. Both get equal amounts of attention but the Black BN5 is the fingertone monster and the Sunburst GFC L-5 is the slapping machine...sounds KILLER! The GFC is heavier Ash and pickup placement is a little different plus it's easier to slap on.

You are the first player I've seen with a GFC. How does the body feel on a strap compared to a BN5 which I have? Thanks, Jim

[Dave Hill]

Hey Tom,

What did that buckeye top BN5 you tested weigh?

[gkbass13]

i played that bass a few years ago when the swami froim the bass palace had it. amazing tone and playability. it was heavy as hell though. those hi-a pickups sounded so organic though, i looooooved that bass. i believe it was form 1984.

Originally Posted by NickyBass

George has been at this for a long time...How about an 80's F Bass:









This one has the pre-Bartolini Barts. They were called Hi-As back in the day.

[NickyBass]

Yes, Tom, you were dead on with the review. It's nice to see a review where there were more descriptive terms than 'Gritty Booty' and 'Slunkyness.' I know it's not easy to describe tone, but----Slunkyness??

I also read your review of the M-Line Wizzy and I thought that that was really well done too.

[Baryonyx]

Just watched a nice video of Alain Caron doing a slap solo on his F Bass this morning. What a tone!

[NickyBass]

Originally Posted by gkbass13

i played that bass a few years ago when the swami froim the bass palace had it. amazing tone and playability. it was heavy as hell though. those hi-a pickups sounded so organic though, i looooooved that bass. i believe it was form 1984.

Yeah, it's one of the heaviest basses that I've played, save for my 70's P bass. I'm 2 inches shorter from having played that Fender for 5 years.

I'm usually not a fan of Barts, but the Hi-As are very organic - Yeah, that's a good word to describe them.

[ThumbyAche]

Originally Posted by jim nolte

You are the first player I've seen with a GFC. How does the body feel on a strap compared to a BN5 which I have? Thanks, Jim

Yah, I have only ever seen 3 of the GFC basses although I'm sure there are more around somewhere. The bass balances really well but is heavier than my BN5. Even with the Ash/Maple combo, both basses sound completely different (to me). The neck on the GFC is a little flatter profile (which I like better actually). I love the look and sound of the GFC and would buy another if he made Alder/Rosewood or even an Ash/Ebony version or something different than what I have.

[MuthaFunk]

Originally Posted by ThumbyAche

Yah, I have only ever seen 3 of the GFC basses although I'm sure there are more around somewhere. The bass balances really well but is heavier than my BN5. Even with the Ash/Maple combo, both basses sound completely different (to me). The neck on the GFC is a little flatter profile (which I like better actually). I love the look and sound of the GFC and would buy another if he made Alder/Rosewood or even an Ash/Ebony version or something different than what I have.

I noted a very different sound between the GFC and the BN5. The GFC had a more pronounced mid sound not quite as warm as the BN5 however fantastic for solo's and quick double taps. I don't know if this GFC has it or not but the one I played had a thumbstop around the nut position on the back of the neck. It was basicly a small lip that was not sanded off to the same profile as the rest of the neck. I think George was just starting to make thoes at that time and was still in the prototype phase. I thought it was a little heaver then the BN5 too.

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by Dave Hill

Hey Tom,

What did that buckeye top BN5 you tested weigh?

Shocking as it may be, we did not weigh instruments as part of our reviews, but as I recall from my 'unofficial' measurements, it was about 8.5 lbs, which I would characterize as a 'pretty light' bass.

Tom.

[NickyBass]

I think the real question is: where is it now?!?!

[GRoberts]

Originally Posted by NickyBass

I think the real question is: where is it now?!?!

Bass and Beyond I believe?

http://www.bassandbeyond.com/html/ba...Buckeye%20Burl