Club Fbass (Part 11!)

[George Furlanet]

Originally Posted by jbo

Thanks Tom!!! Another question for you. Have you played your BN6LE in passive mode and then get a loud pop when switching to active? I've been playing a lot in passive lately, and if I leave the bass in passive for awhile, when I switch to active, the pop is loud enough to clip my amp. Just wondering if this is supposed to happen or if there may be something wrong with a connection in my bass!!

Hi
That is static build-up from the friction of your arms on the finish; worse when you're playing on carpet.
Before you switch back to active, turn your preamp stage volume down on your amp.

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by jbo

Thanks Tom!!! Another question for you. Have you played your BN6LE in passive mode and then get a loud pop when switching to active? I've been playing a lot in passive lately, and if I leave the bass in passive for awhile, when I switch to active, the pop is loud enough to clip my amp. Just wondering if this is supposed to happen or if there may be something wrong with a connection in my bass!!

I haven't had that pop but then again I've only played it in passive mode at home for experimentation; I haven't gigged in passive yet.

The fact that you are, though, makes me want to give it a closer look.

I love my BN6LE, but I love George's preamp much more than the preamp on my LE replica. In fact, I had to get to know that preamp for awhile before I could even say I liked it.

Anyway, you have me thinking I should give this bass a good run in passive mode.

Last week the battery went on my BN5. Of course, with George's preamp all I had to do was pull up the knob and I was able to keep playing in passive mode.

It was reminiscent of the "standby" switch on my Foderas, and I really like having the ability to turn the bass off noise wise at the bass.

In fact, I was tempted to just remove the battery from my BN5 and use it passively so that the preamp switch would be like a standby switch on the BN5, but I just love what George's preamp adds too much.

But that's not to say I may not give it a try on my BN6LE.

Interesting.

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by George Furlanet

Hi
That is static build-up from the friction of your arms on the finish; worse when you're playing on carpet.
Before you switch back to active, turn your preamp stage volume down on your amp.

George, is there something about playing with the preamp engaged that keeps the static from building up?

And I've never had this happen on my basses with your preamp, but might it? Or is this just something with the BN6LE Replica pre?

[Tom7]

Remember that old cartoon, Space Jam, where aliens steal the talents of NBA players?

If I could steal abilities, Alain and David Hughes would be on my list:

http://youtu.be/BBLa8q07t00

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by Tom7

Remember that old cartoon, Space Jam, where aliens steal the talents of NBA players?

If I could steal abilities, Alain and David Hughes would be on my list:

http://youtu.be/BBLa8q07t00

Yeah, in the movie "Bass Jam" I'd have his chops:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW8DI...=ULTW8DIbuh5uI

[bassman10]

Originally Posted by Tom7

I seriously like ramps.

I didn't see the point in them either until I realized that when I was really playing something serious, I always played over one of the magnetic pickups.

So I ordered by BN6 with a ramp and wow -- I had to have them ever since.

My AC6 Classic can't have a ramp because of the chambers underneath. That's okay though because to get that upright sound, I play over the finger board anyway.

And I go back and forth on using the ebony ramp I had made for my AC6 Signature. I love that thing, but I prefer the look of the bass without it -- and I think it might liven the bass up to not use it, although I've made some changes to the strings and how I play it so I should experiment with the ramp again.

But you have the concept right; the ramp keeps you from going too low on the strings which allows you to play not just more quickly, but more evenly.

BTW, when I play with 2 or 3 finger right hand technique, I don't care as much.

When I play with thumb and 3 fingers though, then a ramp is super nice.

I know some guys, like Hadrien Feraud can play that technique without the ramp, but I can only do it if I hold very still or am sitting down. Since I can't seem to stand still when I play though, I like ramps.

Hi Tom.... I was looking on the F Bass site and the AC Classic photos and I noticed that a couple of pictures of the AC Classic had the ramps installed on them. Was just wondering if that's something that happened after you had your built??

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by bassman10

Hi Tom.... I was looking on the F Bass site and the AC Classic photos and I noticed that a couple of pictures of the AC Classic had the ramps installed on them. Was just wondering if that's something that happened after you had your built??

Can you post the link for me?

I got the first AC6 Classic -- in fact back then it was call AC6 Acoustic, then AC6 something else (I can't remember right now).

And when I first found out about the new model, I was sworn to secrecy -- including about how the chambers work. In those very early days, George insisted that the bass would not work with a ramp, and I haven't heard otherwise since.

Then again, my AC6 classic also doesn't have any magnetic pickups. The ramp would have to go from finger board to bridge almost if it was going to cover the space not occupied by a magnetic pickup.

[jbo]

Originally Posted by George Furlanet

Hi
That is static build-up from the friction of your arms on the finish; worse when you're playing on carpet.
Before you switch back to active, turn your preamp stage volume down on your amp.

Thanks George! I had no idea it could be something like this, very interesting!!

Originally Posted by Tom7

I haven't had that pop but then again I've only played it in passive mode at home for experimentation; I haven't gigged in passive yet.

The fact that you are, though, makes me want to give it a closer look.

I love my BN6LE, but I love George's preamp much more than the preamp on my LE replica. In fact, I had to get to know that preamp for awhile before I could even say I liked it.

Anyway, you have me thinking I should give this bass a good run in passive mode.

Last week the battery went on my BN5. Of course, with George's preamp all I had to do was pull up the knob and I was able to keep playing in passive mode.

It was reminiscent of the "standby" switch on my Foderas, and I really like having the ability to turn the bass off noise wise at the bass.

In fact, I was tempted to just remove the battery from my BN5 and use it passively so that the preamp switch would be like a standby switch on the BN5, but I just love what George's preamp adds too much.

But that's not to say I may not give it a try on my BN6LE.

Interesting.

I very rarely played mine in passive mode, just kept the preamp on with everything flat. However, a few weeks ago I decided to try it in passive at a gig and ended up keeping it that way the whole time, and really haven't used the preamp much since! It just sounds SO good!! I have my graduate recital coming up in a month and I'm playing D-Code and Slam The Clown, playing both those tunes in passive mode just nails the tone (at least to my ears)!!

Speaking of George's preamp, I've come to decide that I need at least two more F's. An AC6 (I mean, duh!), and a BN6. From what I've read on here, the BN6 is quite different from the LE that I have.

[bassman10]

Originally Posted by Tom7

Can you post the link for me?

I got the first AC6 Classic -- in fact back then it was call AC6 Acoustic, then AC6 something else (I can't remember right now).

And when I first found out about the new model, I was sworn to secrecy -- including about how the chambers work. In those very early days, George insisted that the bass would not work with a ramp, and I haven't heard otherwise since.

Then again, my AC6 classic also doesn't have any magnetic pickups. The ramp would have to go from finger board to bridge almost if it was going to cover the space not occupied by a magnetic pickup.

Hey Tom... I'm sorry, I misunderstood ramp to mean the thumbrest.... So as you said so well, it's not an option and it would not be on the AC Classic... I think I was looking at the Signature instead... Sorry about that!!!

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by bassman10

Hey Tom... I'm sorry, I misunderstood ramp to mean the thumbrest.... So as you said so well, it's not an option and it would not be on the AC Classic... I think I was looking at the Signature instead... Sorry about that!!!

No, that's fine and that makes sense.

I've been working with a cover band that was kind of thrown together nearly spontaneously to cover some gigs that were already booked. For a certain song I've been playing an electric upright bass -- mostly for the look I wanted to project in that song.

Anyway, tonight a technical glitch made me grab my AC6 Classic instead, much to the disapproving frowns of some of the band.

But I wasn't long into the song when I decided, "Wow, this sound so perfect! I'm playing my AC6 Classic for this song from now on, I don't care what they say about the look of an upright bass."

When we finished, I didn't have to say a word. I was asked to always play my AC6 Classic for the song, and was also asked if I would take a solo in the song.

I LOVE this bass. Love it. It is just so cool to play a 6-string bass with Fbass aesthetics that sounds just like an upright -- and a really nice sounding upright at that.

[bassman10]

Originally Posted by Tom7

No, that's fine and that makes sense.

I've been working with a cover band that was kind of thrown together nearly spontaneously to cover some gigs that were already booked. For a certain song I've been playing an electric upright bass -- mostly for the look I wanted to project in that song.

Anyway, tonight a technical glitch made me grab my AC6 Classic instead, much to the disapproving frowns of some of the band.

But I wasn't long into the song when I decided, "Wow, this sound so perfect! I'm playing my AC6 Classic for this song from now on, I don't care what they say about the look of an upright bass."

When we finished, I didn't have to say a word. I was asked to always play my AC6 Classic for the song, and was also asked if I would take a solo in the song.

I LOVE this bass. Love it. It is just so cool to play a 6-string bass with Fbass aesthetics that sounds just like an upright -- and a really nice sounding upright at that.

Oh... that's cool.... and to add to your comment, the AC6 Classic is a lot easier to cart around also.... Especially as we get older and finding it harder and harder to pack in the upright....hahaha!!!!

[novenpeter]

Played a BN6 yesterday at my teacher's place, now i have a serious GAS in that. damn

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by bassman10

Oh... that's cool.... and to add to your comment, the AC6 Classic is a lot easier to cart around also.... Especially as we get older and finding it harder and harder to pack in the upright....hahaha!!!!

No kidding. BTW, that event triggered a conversation with my wife about going ahead and selling it, and that led to a conversation about maybe selling most of my 5-string basses since I rarely play any of them any more.

That technical glitch is causing me a lot of trouble!

[Tom7]

Originally Posted by novenpeter

Played a BN6 yesterday at my teacher's place, now i have a serious GAS in that. damn

Oh, I bet.

I think there are a lot of great makers of 4- and 5-string basses, but for me there is a clear leader in 6-string basses: George Furlanetto.

That 34.5 inch scale length is just so right for a 6-string bass.

A lot of players like 35 inch scale length basses because of the tighter B string, however lengthening a bass doesn't just tighten one string. All the strings are tighter on a 35" scale length bass, and that is detrimental to the C string. It makes it sound tinny and strident and not bass-like.

But it is more than the scale length... the pickups, the pickup placement, the string spacing, the balance on the strap...

I try other 6s once in awhile, but none have swayed me away from my belief that Fs are the best -- at least the best for me.

[olegsulimov]

Hello, guys! I'm planning to add BN6 or BN6le in my collection after January. Could you tell me if anyone you see threads with used BN6's or you are gonna sell?

[bassman10]

Originally Posted by olegsulimov

Hello, guys! I'm planning to add BN6 or BN6le in my collection after January. Could you tell me if anyone you see threads with used BN6's or you are gonna sell?

I will keep my eyes opened for a BN6 (used), but they are a rare commodity for sure.. Not many bassists want to get rid of their BN's....

[olegsulimov]

Originally Posted by bassman10

I will keep my eyes opened for a BN6 (used), but they are a rare commodity for sure.. Not many bassists want to get rid of their BN's....

It's true! I remember I saw lots of BN5s and BN6s were sold two years ago in December. So I do hope it will be again this winter

[MRSKI]

There is a killer looking used BN6 at Bass NW in Seattle.
Ash body, maple top and ebony board. Seems fairly priced concidering it is in mint condition.

[Tom7]

I've always thought Esperanza Spalding should play an AC4 Classic, but given her job on this old Fender Jazz, maybe what she needs is a VF4 (alder & rosewood) with Thomastik Infeld Jazz flats.

Either way, I can't believe she can play like this and sing at the same time.

I'm a single celled amoebae.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aRC3...eature=related

[bassman10]

Yeah Tom... she's really something else... and I love her singing and playing... Now how in the heck does she do it? LOL!!!