That's an older neck-through, passive BNF5. If you can get the serial number, Mr. Furlanetto can tell you all about it.
Looks nice.
Looks nice.
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Hey F Bass guys! I need a little assist here if you can. I am looking around at fretless basses and found this one, but have no idea what it is based on the knobs. Can one of you guys give me an idea of what this is? Sorry for the low quality postage stamp pics, it's all I've got at the moment.
Yep, poorly repaired headstock. I checked it out inadvertently when it was in Virginia. They offered it to me for $800. Even at that price, with a complete refinish you'd still have a bass that had a major headstock repair so resale value would likely be low. As a keeper project only it might be an okay deal.
I appreciate the assistance guys. I called the GC and the guy told me he didn't think the repair was done very well at all, which was surprising (the candor, I mean). He also told me it was the same kind of bass that Victor Wooten plays, called a 'Fedora'. 
I appreciate the assistance guys. I called the GC and the guy told me he didn't think the repair was done very well at all, which was surprising (the candor, I mean). He also told me it was the same kind of bass that Victor Wooten plays, called a 'Fedora'.
Hi Jim, it's definately not a Fodera played by Victor Wooten, it's an F Bass, but the one that GC seems to be sending from one shop to the other in hopes to get someone to buy it. If you go back a few pages, you'll see better pix of the major damage to the head stock, along with some good perspectives on how much it might cost to have a good repair done to it. Also, the resale value will be way down because of that damage, and it's too bad to see GC trying to pawn off that bass that George and his team built with so much love.... But hey, that just my 2 cents worth.... 
If I had to guess I'd say it's moving from store to store due to the return policy which allows you to buy from any store and return locally.
I didn't find out about the damage until I saw it locally even though I specifically asked about the condition. I suggested that they mention it in the ad and was told the ad couldn't be changed.
I didn't find out about the damage until I saw it locally even though I specifically asked about the condition. I suggested that they mention it in the ad and was told the ad couldn't be changed.
Like Randyt, I'm curious about this. I've got an AC5 on order and wonder what others have used successfully on this model (other than R Coco). I experimented with a bunch of different strings on my BNF5, only to end up where I began - with the stock F strings. For this AC5 I'm inclined to try some flatwounds such as TI Jazz Flats. Any experience out there?
I use TI flats on my AC6 and on my VF5-PJ and they sound great for different reasons on each bass.
On the AC6 they feel really nice and supple because of the 34.5" scale length and have a nice upright vibe to them. I didn't adjust the bridge or nut at all, so I can go back to F Bass strings whenever I want.
My main bass is my AC5 and I use F Bass strings on that.
On the AC6 they feel really nice and supple because of the 34.5" scale length and have a nice upright vibe to them. I didn't adjust the bridge or nut at all, so I can go back to F Bass strings whenever I want.
My main bass is my AC5 and I use F Bass strings on that.
I have several Fbasses, and in my experience, where Fbass strings get iffy is when:
(1) You put them on a bass with two F Bass stacked, single coil/hum-cancelling, magnetic pickups, such as a BN5 or BN6.
(2) When you play above the 14th fret.
My theory has been the bendiness of the exposed core string, combined with pushing the string down so close to the pickups (playing above the 14th fret), puts the string in a place where the BN NECK pickup's magnets mess with the vibration of the string.
The sound of a single note is very obviously off, and off with itself. Play a chord up there and you are really in the twilight zone. It's awful.
That said, Fbass strings are just fine on my VF5 even above the 14th fret, perhaps because those single coils aren't as strong magnetically as the BN stacked single coil, humbuckers.
Likewise, playing above the 14th fret on my AC6-signature is just fine because it does not have a neck pickup.
And my AC6 Limited Edition Replica doesn't have the problem, probably because its split pickups are a different beast.
But my BN5 and BN6? Yikes. They are intonationally challenged above the 14th fret with Fbass strings.
So on my BN5, I don't use Fbass strings on EADGC (I do for the B string). Because this bass lacks a C string, I'm forced to play above the 14th fret more frequently than my BN6.
And while BN6 does have Fbass strings, when the strings are new, I avoid going too high up the neck. Sometimes that's a real pain, but I don't play chords or solo nearly as much as David Hughes, so I can get away with playing it until the strings calm down. Usually.
I am a huge fan of Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats, and a huge fan of BN5s, but I've never thought of using TIJFs on a BN5 mostly because the BN5 has one of THE best slap tones in music. I do like the tone of slapping flats, but I have another bass for that vibe, TIJFs on an Alleva Coppolo custom.
+1. BTW, you just gave me an idea: I think I want to try TIJFs on my AC6 LE. The dual p-bass pickups on that bass might really hit nicely with the flats.
I LOVE those basses, Tom. All of them.I haven't posted these for a while, and just want to show a little F'n pride!
I remember especially when you received your blue one. It has stayed with me for a long time and was one of the reasons I let myself get a blue BN6.
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- Apr 3, 2003
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George does a great blue finish, doesn't he? I'm obviously a fan of his brown burst, as well.
Man, I've always been envious of your pickup config on that BN6!
You're gonna love that bass! Ed is a close friend of mine and I was helping him sell it at first so it was at my place for a few weeks... Awesome BN5, like they all are!
Yeah, I'm aware of the difference between Fbass and Fodera, which is why I put in the little smiley there.
I thought it was funny that the SC guy didn't know...oh, never mind. GC isn't shipping it from store to store though; people are buying it over the Internet, and then seeing what a beat up and damaged instrument it is when it arrives are simply taking advantage of the chain's 30 day return policy and returning it to their local. Nothing nefarious happening here on GC's part. Someone from Florida bought it off the Internet, it went from the VA store to the customer, and got returned to a FL store that doesn't want it. At least the current store will tell you over the phone what a dog it is, so my hat's off to them!Also, I do have MUCH better pics of this instrument and the damage (and bizarre color) if anyone wants to see them, as I had GC take a few close ups and send them to me. I may post them Saturday evening anyway just to get them saved here and on the public record. I'm not sure what will happen with this bass, but the price really needs to be about $500 I think for someone to seriously consider biting on it and putting in the coin to fix it up properly.
jim
If someone could get this bass down to a decent price, for all things considered, could/would/should the proper repair be done by the folks at Fbass themselves?
Just curious, I have no funds for nor intention of purchasing this bass.
Here is a cellphone video from the gig I did last night. The sound isn't the greatest but you can still tell that my VF sounds great in a mix.
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