Club F-Bass (Part II)

[Vic]

Real quick perspective check here...

I don't want to overstate my personal feelings of the ash/maple VF. I'm sure it's a BETTER bass for some folks. Just turned out to not be my thing. The only reason I'm talking about it as much is because in my specific case (!), it was counter what I would've predicted before I picked them up. Just a point of interest, NOT a dig on the ash/maple VF... not at all.

Also, no, I haven't gotten any PM's from ash/maple VF fans... this is just me doing a safety check. That's all.

[DonovanBankhead]

Of course, the NAMM show can be a tough place to evaluate instruments, as it's so freakin' noisy! :-)

I've got Bassconbeatz former VF5 sitting next to me (just finished making a video of it), and I think you would be impressed how warm that bass can be, even though it's ash/maple. I'll clips uploaded at some point today.

Originally Posted by Vic

Oh as an aside, I have some other stuff that's ash/maple, and to my ears, sounds a lot nicer than the ash/maple VF. That's the "total package" thing. IMHO (maybe very much so), as much as I DO love that wood combo, for some reason, in the VF, it really didn't work for me at all. That may have been the biggest surprise to me when checking them out for the first time at NAMM.

[DonovanBankhead]

Originally Posted by Vic

However, I did not dig the ash/maple VF nearly as much. THAT was the surprise I was referring to, and why I'm really thinking it's more to do with the voicing of his preamp and those new pickups... maybe overemphasizing something for my tastes with those particular woods in the VF case.

To my recollection the only other VF5 in the booth was a naked ash/maple VF5 that had been used as a demo. It had an oil finish, and someone had put DR strings on it. Long story short, I bought it, put F Bass strings on it, and gigged with it last night and it KILLED.

[Vic]

Originally Posted by dkb

To my recollection the only other VF5 in the booth was a naked ash/maple VF5 that had been used as a demo. It had an oil finish, and someone had put DR strings on it. Long story short, I bought it, put F Bass strings on it, and gigged with it last night and it KILLED.

I'd have to check with George on the strings, can't say I remember. Yeah, it was plain ash/maple, but I don't remember an oil finish.

And yeah, you're right about NAMM, but I have a technique that works pretty well... I sit RIGHT in front of the amp and kick it back if I have to. You don't get all the subtle stuff, but you get all the main stuff tonally.

[choad42]

Originally Posted by dkb

To my recollection the only other VF5 in the booth was a naked ash/maple VF5 that had been used as a demo. It had an oil finish, and someone had put DR strings on it. Long story short, I bought it, put F Bass strings on it, and gigged with it last night and it KILLED.

Donovan, I would love to hear more about this bass. Do you have any pics of this demo VF5? If and when I decide to go for a VF5 it will be a "barebones" maple ash ( Marcus'd ) one without a doubt. Please forward the specs on your bass when you get a chance.

Personally, I have never been able to afford any of the standard F Bass models, so I have only bought pre-owned Fs up until now, but these demos that George builds sometimes are a ridiculous deal. All the F Bass greatness, without the frills at a very affordable price point. I would be indebted to you if you found the time to make some vids with this bass.

P.S. Was it a little "too alive" with the DRs on it? That wouldn't surprise me.

Cheers,
Paul Theriault
Bassjones
http://www.myspace.com/paultheriaultmusic

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by GRoberts

What is the "M" for?

Sorry for the tardy reply; it's been a busy weekend and this week is shaping up to be just as busy.

The bass clef sign looks somewhat like a cursive capital "T," and the clef dot on the neck looks like a lower case "O," so I wondered about putting a lower case, cursive "m" and completing the spelling of my first name.

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by tombowlus

Simple solution: play above the neck pickup.

[Laughing!] I DO play above the neck pickup! And above the bridge pickup! And above the fretboard... depending on the tone I'm going for.

As we are always saying around here, much of our tone is in our hands, and playing over the neck pickup gives us a very different tone than playing over the bridge pickup, as I know you know.

I've thought about putting a SMALL piece of tape on that wire to warn my fingers when they are getting too close to the bridge, so I can play with Fbass strings more often.

[thndrstk6]

Tom7,
Here's your CS AC6 mockup request. Let me know what you think.

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by thndrstk6

Tom7,
Here's your CS AC6 mockup request. Let me know what you think.

I realize I may be the only one here who loves a giant bass clef on his bass, but I have to say I really really do.

I swear, Thunder, this is a photo of my current AC6 with a neck pickup and a bass clef top added. It is really remarkable.

Thank you so much for this; I truly appreciate it.

I'm going to sit on these photos for awhile and see if, after time passes, they still seem cool to me, you know what I mean?

Thanks again; you are the man.

[thndrstk6]

No problem. Glad to help.

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by Vic

Real quick perspective check here...

I don't want to overstate my personal feelings of the ash/maple VF. I'm sure it's a BETTER bass for some folks. Just turned out to not be my thing. The only reason I'm talking about it as much is because in my specific case (!), it was counter what I would've predicted before I picked them up. Just a point of interest, NOT a dig on the ash/maple VF... not at all.

Also, no, I haven't gotten any PM's from ash/maple VF fans... this is just me doing a safety check. That's all.

Phew! I'm relieved to read that.

I'm catching up on the forum here and have been a bit surprised at the comments everyone has been making about ash & maple. After all, without a doubt the single most sought after tone for decades has to be Marcus Miller's.

And I REALLY like the tone of the ash & maple VF5s that Donovan demoed on youtube as well. In fact, if money was no object, I'd have an ash & maple VF5 being built as well... or perhaps the demo "naked" one Donovan has on hand, depending on the demo clips.

But alas, a father of 7 children has PLENTY of other priorities competing for his money. Maybe someday.

But for now, I'm adding two alder & rosewood basses to the ash & maples and ash & ebonies I have on hand, and am more than a little excited about that!

[thndrstk6]

brandonwong,
Here's your pair of VF6ers. Let me know if they need any changes.

[thndrstk6]

I severely hope that Mr. Furlanetto comes out with a VF6 some day.

[brandonwong]

<Jaws dropped!!!>

I'm digging it... now i have to check my bank account to see if i have enough. Haha.
I did ask George before if he can do a VF6 and he says not a problem at all. I love the classy look of the sunburst, especially George's sunburst. IMO, they are the best in the industry.
However, i must say the sunburst does resembles Steve Bailey's Aria.

[Kevin Woods]

Ok, I'm game...into the fray...

To my eye, in person the wood is quite a bit darker and richer than it is on the monitor. There are a few impromptu snippets of me playing her in my teaching promo vid, too.





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[KJung]

Originally Posted by Tom7

[Laughing!] I DO play above the neck pickup! And above the bridge pickup! And above the fretboard... depending on the tone I'm going for.

+1

I really disliked the strings that came on my FBass. DR Hi Beams felt better to me, and added a thickness and punch that wasn't there with the stock strings. They last A LOT longer also. IMO and IME.

[DonovanBankhead]

RE: "Naked VF5: I have one lousy pic of this bass, although I'll try and get more soon. I haven't done a video with it yet, although I plan on doing one tonight.

I'm not sure how I would describe this bass with the DR strings. I know that George thought it was interesting and had a totally different vibe going on just because of the strings, but it wasn't a vibe that I particularly cared for. So, I swapped out the strings and was instantly satisfied.

Also, your comment regarding the bare-bones demo models being a real steal is right on. I won't mention how much this one will sell for because I don't want to make this a commercial post, but if someone wants more info they can shoot me a PM. Suffice it to say it's CHEAP for a new VF5...

Also, here's the video of the used VF5 that I made the other day. I had very little time to record it as I only had a few minutes before a gig, but I think it will make people rethink the tonal possibilities of ash/maple...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUUx3BhVieY

And then here's the pic of the "naked" VF5 (uhh, it's the one on the right ;-):

Originally Posted by choad42

Donovan, I would love to hear more about this bass. Do you have any pics of this demo VF5? If and when I decide to go for a VF5 it will be a "barebones" maple ash ( Marcus'd ) one without a doubt. Please forward the specs on your bass when you get a chance.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by dkb

RE: "Naked VF5: I have one lousy pic of this bass, although I'll try and get more soon. I haven't done a video with it yet, although I plan on doing one tonight.

I'm not sure how I would describe this bass with the DR strings. I know that George thought it was interesting and had a totally different vibe going on just because of the strings, but it wasn't a vibe that I particularly cared for. So, I swapped out the strings and was instantly satisfied.

Also, your comment regarding the bare-bones demo models being a real steal is right on. I won't mention how much this one will sell for because I don't want to make this a commercial post, but if someone wants more info they can shoot me a PM. Suffice it to say it's CHEAP for a new VF5...

Also, here's the video of the used VF5 that I made the other day. I had very little time to record it as I only had a few minutes before a gig, but I think it will make people rethink the tonal possibilities of ash/maple...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUUx3BhVieY

And then here's the pic of the "naked" VF5 (uhh, it's the one on the right ;-):

Now THAT sounds GREAT!

Also, I don't think there is any need to 'rethink' ash/maple. That whole discussion was just Vic finding the Alder/RW model more to his personal taste.

K

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by KJung

Now THAT sounds GREAT!

Also, I don't think there is any need to 'rethink' ash/maple. That whole discussion was just Vic finding the Alder/RW model more to his personal taste.

K

+1. Well said, Ken. I've always liked the sound of the ash & maple basses demoed, including this used one and the black and white one Donovan recorded earlier. If money was no object, I'd own both as a matter of fact.

It makes me think of your famous Alleva Coppolo recordings comparing the ash & maple LM5 with the alder & rosewood LG5. Both sounded great, and which one a person might by would depend on what they are looking for, and what they might already have.

[Dave Hill]

Donovan, that used VF5 sounds killer. These basses have been out for a little while with very little talk around here. I guess maybe it took a NAMM show to get a spark. Again, I don't know if your recording techniques are getting better, but, that used one sounds GREAT. Are those F strings?