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Hey Tom ... It was GREAT to spend the day with you too. It's a rare thing to share my passion with someone who gets it. I was happy to show you a behind the scenes look at what I do, even if it was just a rehearsal. So sorry you & your family couldn't make it for the actual performance. I look forward to our paths crossing again in the future, my friend.
As far as my VF5 goes, I couldn't be happier. The sound of Ash/Rosewood, 70's has intrigued me for years & it looks like our friend George has really knocked me out this time ... To me, the sound is PHAT, WARM & ROUND. I almost never dial in more of the back pickup on a bass, but there is something about the growl of this axe that continually blows me away & endears me to use that sound. It's the MOST comfortable bass that I've ever played, live sound guys dig it, recording engineers love how clean it is. AND ... of course, it's REDD
Laughing. You and your red(d) basses!
I had hoped we could find a night, but before you came it looked bleak to find an opening.
I had hoped we could find a night, but before you came it looked bleak to find an opening.
Here's Karel playing is lined fretless AC5.
It has just the right tone for that song; very nice!
BTW, I know we talk on the phone holding it in portrait "mode," but for videoing, landscape works much better.
It has just the right tone for that song; very nice!
BTW, I know we talk on the phone holding it in portrait "mode," but for videoing, landscape works much better.
Alain Caron slapping the hell out of his 6 string Fbass .. total beast! killer bass grooves! 
... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY6Fgda55NQ
... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY6Fgda55NQ
I love it. It's very resonant and perfectly balanced. My old BN6 had the old split coil design, although in a soapbar housing, and I really like the sound of the newer stack coil pickups. And It's so easy to play.
The issue I'm having, which I messaged you about, is that chords don't play in tune and the intonation gets bad higher up on the neck. I'm certain it is because of the exposed core strings. I emailed Marcel about it, but I wasn't satisfied by his suggestion to lower the pickups to reduce overtones. I'm taking it to a luthier tomorrow who confirmed that the exposed core strings are problematic and require the intonation to be done differently. I could of course switch to normal strings, but I dig the loose feel and growly tone of F Bass strings, so I'll see if there is a solution.
I haven't been following the club thread but I have had my eye on this bass for a few months. It was listed at $1999 for a while and about a month ago the price dropped to $1199. Crazy price. I got busy the next day, didn't call and it apparently sold immediately. So I was surprised to see it online again yesterday and available at the same price. Here's where things get cute...
I called the store last night and talked to a guy named Bill at the Fairfax, VA store about the bass. It was still there, I told him I'd come in this morning and look at it. He said he had it right there and would put it behind the counter for me. Before I got off the phone I asked about the condition and he told me it was "fair". That's it. I figured it might be nicked up and I'd see when I got there so no big deal.
Right after I called I did a search and read back through this thread and didn't think I saw this particular bass. I did see your post.
I drove down to Fairfax and asked about the bass. Two salespeople were looking at it when I came in. I looked at the headstock and knew immediately that it was the bass you posted about. Now the obvious question was, why the ____ would a salesperson or whoever Bill is fail to mention something as major as a broken headstock? Maybe I wouldn't notice?
Maybe I'm jaded at this point and just expect the worst out of people, I didn't get upset about it and besides, Bill wasn't there so no point in going off on the guy who was. So I took a look at it while I was there before leaving to come back to Maryland
The repair is definitely crude. The bass plays, there was more relief in the trussrod than I'd care for especially on a fretless. I asked if they could adjust it, the salesguy took it away and came back and it looked about the same so I didn't push the issue.
This bass is a pretty out there color, the pickups are almost a salmon metallic look, the body a lighter version of that. The break goes vertically through the headstock. Someone who doesn't care (at all) about resale value or looks could probably play it provided they were cool with the action. IMO it would be virtually impossible to blend a new finish with the old. The entire bass is painted and the entire bass would need to be repainted after the repair was done. So figure the cost of repair and paintjob. Maybe a grand. They said they'd let me have it for $800. Figure $1,000 for a good repair and proper paintjob, maybe less. Not much care visually wouldn't need to be taken with the repair because it wouldn't be visible after repainting. You could change the color at that point, it wouldn't matter IMO. Then you'd end up with an $1800+ fretless with a history of a broken headstock and non-standard finish. Worth it? Not in my opinion. You wouldn't have to spend much more (with patience) on a nice clean example.
I don't have a history of bashing GC and I won't start now... there's no mention of the headstock repair in the listing. The salesguy I spoke to said the listing couldn't be changed, what he didn't realize was that I was all too familiar with how long it had been listed on the website and that when it can back in it was relisted. I was told it had just come back in with the broken headstock and that';s when they dropped the price when I knew the price had been dropped around thirty days ago. None of this added up.
So IMO this is a case of one or more GC folks not doing a very good job. That's putting it mildly. Fortunately that's not how my business with GC usually goes. Guess I'll ask more pointed questions next time like: "Did you fail to mention any catastrophic issues with the item we're discussing?". Sad.
Hi Brad, thanks for the first hand review on it. I had already decided to pass on the bass. I showed the pics to a very talented local repairman. He suggested I look elsewhere as well. His price for a true repair on the bass was $1200.
I've learned to closely question GC sales people when I'm looking at stores out of state from me. I've received 4 items over the past few months that had problems that weren't mentioned by the sales staff when I've talked with them over the phone. I've had no problem returning them to my local GC for a full refund, minus shipping. But it does leave a bad taste in your mouth when you receive an item with obvious damage after being assured it's in "good condition."
A shame that such a nice instrument was subjected to a hack repair job, ugly paint job or not. I'll just bide my time and wait for another to come along. Appreciate the input, let's me know I made the right choice.
I've learned to closely question GC sales people when I'm looking at stores out of state from me. I've received 4 items over the past few months that had problems that weren't mentioned by the sales staff when I've talked with them over the phone. I've had no problem returning them to my local GC for a full refund, minus shipping. But it does leave a bad taste in your mouth when you receive an item with obvious damage after being assured it's in "good condition."
A shame that such a nice instrument was subjected to a hack repair job, ugly paint job or not. I'll just bide my time and wait for another to come along. Appreciate the input, let's me know I made the right choice.
Hi Brad, thanks for the first hand review on it. I had already decided to pass on the bass. I showed the pics to a very talented local repairman. He suggested I look elsewhere as well. His price for a true repair on the bass was $1200.
I've learned to closely question GC sales people when I'm looking at stores out of state from me. I've received 4 items over the past few months that had problems that weren't mentioned by the sales staff when I've talked with them over the phone. I've had no problem returning them to my local GC for a full refund, minus shipping. But it does leave a bad taste in your mouth when you receive an item with obvious damage after being assured it's in "good condition."
A shame that such a nice instrument was subjected to a hack repair job, ugly paint job or not. I'll just bide my time and wait for another to come along. Appreciate the input, let's me know I made the right choice.
Yeah, it's a real shame that a beautiful bass like that was mistreated like that. The good thing is that you can keep looking on the Fbass site for excellent used basses and once in awhile they pop up in here also. I know of an Alain Caron signed one of ten basses built that is up for sale. It has midi and is worth upwards of 10K, but a good offer might get your hands and fingers on it... If you interested private message me, and I'll give you the info. Have a great day...
Wow, Brad, thanks for dropping in with that report. I know it is an inanimate object with no thoughts are feelings, but I can't help but feel badly for that poor, abused Fbass.
Yeah, same here. Again, it could be salvaged as a keeper but I'd think resale value is shot on it unless someone were to keep the headstock repair to themselves and not disclose it... like the guy at GC.
I don't know the difference between a BN5F and an AC. This has two mag pickups, wooden bridge, passive, fingerboard up to the neck pickup and neck through.
- Apr 29, 2003
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- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
Sounds like an older BNF5. A repair and a repaint would be reasonable for 1800 all told, but to have F bass do those repairs, it would be substantially more $$ if i'm not mistaken. And to not have F do the repair... well, might be a sweet bass, but it also might not be great for resale, as mentioned.
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