Club Fbass (Part 11!)

[moorebass]

I hope this is the appropriate forum to post this on, but I just wanted to give a quick nod to Donovan @ Fretspot for some excellent customer service. I had placed a custom order through him for a Red Burst BN5, but had a longtime gig that I was planning to use this at cancelled. Donovan handled this situation with the typical awesome customer service I've come to expect from him. Although I'm very disappointed in the loss of the gig and sad that I won't be getting the BN5 and rejoining this club, I can recommend Donovan without hesitation. Great guy.

[Doner Designs]

Originally Posted by YCBass

Thank you!

This one was a new custom order for me with some slight differences from the standard F bass spec - mainly a bigger body and slightly different shape (upper horn) and pickup placement... There was no "just sending it back" because the bass turned out spectacular and there was technically nothing wrong with the work or finish - I'm just too picky. Shipping to and from plus the refin cost was not feasible. And it wouldn't have been fair for George, who is my friend, to eat any cost because I'm picky. Sanding was within my skill set so I went for it.

I could not tell if you tried to redo the dark grain fill. Do you know how they do that? Never seen it except on the natural F bass but its cool and might like to try it sometime. Seems like it would be really hard not to mess it up.

[Tom7]

Wow, pretty BN. Thanks for posting.

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by moorebass

I hope this is the appropriate forum to post this on, but I just wanted to give a quick nod to Donovan @ Fretspot for some excellent customer service. I had placed a custom order through him for a Red Burst BN5, but had a longtime gig that I was planning to use this at cancelled. Donovan handled this situation with the typical awesome customer service I've come to expect from him. Although I'm very disappointed in the loss of the gig and sad that I won't be getting the BN5 and rejoining this club, I can recommend Donovan without hesitation. Great guy.

Yes, it is a good forum for that. I've bought 2 basses from Donovan and it doesn't surprise me at all that you had that good experience with him. I'm sad about the gig cancelling too.

[ialma]

Any idea anyone ??

Originally Posted by ialma

Sorry for the newbie question, but I'm getting familiar with my BN5 and I'm comparing it to my other bass (Tobias).
The Tobias has quite a higher output volume than the fbass even in passive mode.
At least 30% louder.
No, there is no output level control inside the Bart preamp.
Thanks !

[YCBass]

Originally Posted by Tom7

It looks like Dave Hughes has his own group now, and here is a sampler video he posted of them playing live. It features his BN6 as usual, and also one of my favorite songs of his on an old 4-string Fender Jazz bass.

http://youtu.be/KKN7JZGVxZk

The singer is a friend and former bandmate of mine, I had no idea she was playing with David! Nice!

If anyone is interested, here are some tracks from Gina's and I's old band, Shakedown Lulu White: www.myspace.com/ycoba

Unfortunately this was all before I knew of F bass.

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by YCBass

The singer is a friend and former bandmate of mine, I had no idea she was playing with David! Nice!

If anyone is interested, here are some tracks from Gina's and I's old band, Shakedown Lulu White: www.myspace.com/ycoba

Unfortunately this was all before I knew of F bass.

I just watched Explain. What a COOL video! I was not expecting that, including how she used her voice at the outset.

I'm on a laptop with tin speakers so I'll have to listen again sometime on a real computer to hear the bass. Cool though, very cool.

[Dave Hill]

Originally Posted by ialma

Any idea anyone ??

Crank up the preamp. Very usable tones at high boosts.

[swedbass]

Originally Posted by Tom7

It looks like Dave Hughes has his own group now, and here is a sampler video he posted of them playing live. It features his BN6 as usual, and also one of my favorite songs of his on an old 4-string Fender Jazz bass.

http://youtu.be/KKN7JZGVxZk

Cool that you found that! I've had a band off and on for several years, but like many bands in LA they exist mainly when there is a gig. And it's tough to get a gig in LA!

I hope the video can help line up a booking agent so if any of you can help with that, I would be most grateful!

I'm eagerly waiting for a new BN6 from George, was hoping to get it before christmas but it looks like I won't see it until 2013 :'(

Expect to see a video review of the new bass!

David Hughes

[Randyt]

SwedBass and YCBass...totally dig your tunes...love the vibe..Gina is certainly a great addition too

Well Done!

[YCBass]

Originally Posted by Doner Designs

I could not tell if you tried to redo the dark grain fill. Do you know how they do that? Never seen it except on the natural F bass but its cool and might like to try it sometime. Seems like it would be really hard not to mess it up.

George gave me some instructions on how to "fix" the area I was unhappy with, so based on that I have a clue on how the enhanced grain is achieved... But I did not have the skills to make it work on my bass. On a natural colored bass I understand how it can be done - but I'm not sure if they cover the whole bass in filler then sand from there. What really puzzles me is how they achieve the other Ceruse finishes - white, teal, magenta, etc. under the black finish...

Originally Posted by Randyt

SwedBass and YCBass...totally dig your tunes...love the vibe..Gina is certainly a great addition too

Well Done!

Thank you Randy, I appreciate it. I miss that band, I ran it for 4+ years trying to really make it work; we all did; but it just wasn't meant to be.

[YCBass]

Just a random thought...

So over the weekend when I was playing my BN6, I started to hear a real nice acoustic character to the notes in the high register... Specially the high C... Maybe it's the room or just me but I heard something.

I started to think... Wouldn't it be awesome to have an ACC6 w/ frets and 2 pickups... To really give it an acoustic character? I started to build said bass on the F bass site... I saw the price and immediately had to get over it... Haha... Someday.

Also, a couple people asked for my thoughts on how my refinished BN6 sounds compared to the old finish... Honestly, I think it sounds the same. Now others; like my friend Mitch (basses55); would probably hear a lot more than I do, but to me it's the same awesome tone I loved from the start. I think whatever compression and brightness Poly may have added, compared to the factory Varnish, was tapered off by it being applied so thin and also the pores being left unfilled this time... Just a theory.

[Dave Hill]

YC, I'm happy you've found a way to live with your BN-6.
Personally, I wouldn't have let that out of my shop for aesthetic reasons, especially with a special order. But, things like that matter to some more than others. I personally returned a BN-5 because I didn't think the neck heel matched the burst well.

Then, about 10 years ago, I hit the jackpot, and got the best bass to ever be built:

[Karelbass]

to all my F-Bass brothers, since it's already Christmas here in the Philippines, i just wanted to greet you all a very Merry and Joyous Christmas!!!!!! ::

[YCBass]

Originally Posted by Dave Hill

YC, I'm happy you've found a way to live with your BN-6.
Personally, I wouldn't have let that out of my shop for aesthetic reasons, especially with a special order. But, things like that matter to some more than others. I personally returned a BN-5 because I didn't think the neck heel matched the burst well.

Then, about 10 years ago, I hit the jackpot, and got the best bass to ever be built:

Ya, I really hate that about myself but bottom line is aesthetics matter to me... I wanted to whole package - great tone and great looks... And actually, the fact that it was a special order was the motivation to find a way to make it work... It was just so special in all the other ways.

Speaking of the neck heel... My first thought was to do a black stain to just cover everything up, but I didn't think I could get the Maple neck heel to match the Ash with the same stain and I didn't want to take that chance... Not enough experience with that stuff.

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by swedbass

Cool that you found that!

Sure, I'm a big fan. I have your Foreign Shores and Swoosh CDs, and am waiting on Hopeful Romantic to arrive (ordered from Amazon.com).

Originally Posted by swedbass

I've had a band off and on for several years, but like many bands in LA they exist mainly when there is a gig. And it's tough to get a gig in LA!

I hope the video can help line up a booking agent so if any of you can help with that, I would be most grateful!

Wish I could.

Originally Posted by swedbass

I'm eagerly waiting for a new BN6 from George, was hoping to get it before christmas but it looks like I won't see it until 2013 :'(

Expect to see a video review of the new bass!

Very cool! Will it have a maple fingerboard again? Or are you keeping your current BN6 and getting ebony on the new one? [/quote]

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by YCBass

George gave me some instructions on how to "fix" the area I was unhappy with, so based on that I have a clue on how the enhanced grain is achieved... But I did not have the skills to make it work on my bass. On a natural colored bass I understand how it can be done - but I'm not sure if they cover the whole bass in filler then sand from there. What really puzzles me is how they achieve the other Ceruse finishes - white, teal, magenta, etc. under the black finish...



Thank you Randy, I appreciate it. I miss that band, I ran it for 4+ years trying to really make it work; we all did; but it just wasn't meant to be.

Shame, 'cause I like that band a lot as well.

I know others have wanted George's methods and he (rightfully) keeps them closely held. They don't ask KFC for the 11 secret herbs and spices, or Coke for their recipe... it's not just a secret, it is identified strongly with their brands.

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by YCBass

Just a random thought...

So over the weekend when I was playing my BN6, I started to hear a real nice acoustic character to the notes in the high register... Specially the high C... Maybe it's the room or just me but I heard something.

I started to think... Wouldn't it be awesome to have an ACC6 w/ frets and 2 pickups... To really give it an acoustic character? I started to build said bass on the F bass site... I saw the price and immediately had to get over it... Haha... Someday.

Also, a couple people asked for my thoughts on how my refinished BN6 sounds compared to the old finish... Honestly, I think it sounds the same. Now others; like my friend Mitch (basses55); would probably hear a lot more than I do, but to me it's the same awesome tone I loved from the start. I think whatever compression and brightness Poly may have added, compared to the factory Varnish, was tapered off by it being applied so thin and also the pores being left unfilled this time... Just a theory.

Theory sounds good to me. I'm thrilled it has turned out well for you. The extra work may have been a pain, but I bet that bass means more to you now that you have your own sweat in it too.

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by Dave Hill

... Then, about 10 years ago, I hit the jackpot, and got the best bass to ever be built:

Jackpot is right! It's the grinch bass!

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by YCBass

Ya, I really hate that about myself but bottom line is aesthetics matter to me... I wanted to whole package - great tone and great looks... And actually, the fact that it was a special order was the motivation to find a way to make it work... It was just so special in all the other ways.

Speaking of the neck heel... My first thought was to do a black stain to just cover everything up, but I didn't think I could get the Maple neck heel to match the Ash with the same stain and I didn't want to take that chance... Not enough experience with that stuff.

I was one who was fine with the former look, but I like it now too.

But aesthetics matter to me as well -- a lot. For example, there were less expensive AC6 Signatures that probably sound just as good as mine, but I just had to have THIS one because of its looks.

Thank you, Santa!