Club Fbass (Part 4)

[hairman]

Here it is:

I had JUST traded for my Skjold Lion's Pride P5, but I think i'm just more of a 2-pup kind of guy...and I love having a preamp. So we are in the process of swapping. Looks great huh??

I know i'm not exactly nr 1 to reply to this pics ... but i must congratulate you!! It's a more than beautyful instrument.
Sure it will sound even better than you'd ever imagined.

Good luck, loads of playing fun with it, .. and welcome to the F-bass club!

 

[hairman]

BTW, I don't know if I've told you, but I used to do business just northeast of you in Amsterdam, with a trip once to Rotterdam. I LOVE the Netherlands!

Didn't know that, i live right between those 2 city's. I love the Netherlands too.

 

[Vic]

Vic, my bad.. I did miss your second half there.

I'm on the road right now... :/ Making excuses on my iPhone.

I look forward to picking this topic up tomorrow.

Pat.

No problem, Pat! It's just that I really like George and his products, so I don't want to come off as
generally poopooing either.

 

[steve f]

From my experience I've found the BN series to have a little more of a wet, round sound
to them. The VFs are a little more dry and jazz bass like.

Here's a good example of the BN sound:

Thanks for doing that - great clips.

IMHO, if you chose to go with a VF, I think you'd be on very familiar territory for that kinda' music, and at least for my tastes, there's definitely no lacking in the neck pickup in my VF. YMMV, but my thing with the BN's is they lack some of the aggression I crave.

Thanks for the feedback.

Leaning a bit toward the sound of the BN but the ergonomics of the VF would be more familiar... what I really need is to find a place to AB them. I think I feel a road trip coming on!

 

[Vic]

Leaning a bit toward the sound of the BN but the ergonomics of the VF would be more familiar... what I really need is to find a place to AB them. I think I feel a road trip coming on!

This is a VERY VERY good idea... the BN and VF are really quite different animals, and make sure you try them both strapped as well. The BN hangs fairly differently than most other basses.

 

[RoboChrist]

with the question of whether my first FBass should be a VF5 or BN5.
I don't have access to compare the two. I mostly play funk, R&B, latin, jazz, and some progressive stuff. Mostly fingerstyle with a little slap and pick as needed. I love the jazz vibe for the bridge and slap tones but always found the traditional jazz neck pup to be lacking. In fact, the alternative for me would be a PJ set up but then the slap isn't quite right.
Maybe I need more than one bass but could the VF or BN give me what I need?
Thanks to anyone who has the time to reply.

You'll get more tonal options with the BN and you'll get more use favouring the neck pickup because of this. My recommendation to anyone getting an F for the first time is go for the whole enchilada and get the BN. It will give you the full flavour of what an Fbass can do.

 

[DonovanBankhead]

Well, after much deliberation and careful reading of everyone's opinions here on the topped VF5, I decided to screw it and just go ahead and get it!

I figure if no one else wants it, I'll be MORE than happy to play it. And it won't be that expensive. Around the $4500 mark... And it will be the only one. And it will be sexy as hell!

 

[steve f]

Well, after much deliberation and careful reading of everyone's opinions here on the topped VF5, I decided to screw it and just go ahead and get it!

I figure if no one else wants it, I'll be MORE than happy to play it. And it won't be that expensive. Around the $4500 mark... And it will be the only one. And it will be sexy as hell!

Despite my comments to the contrary, I'm damn glad you did it.
Can't wait to see the beauty!
Is it done yet?

 

[DonovanBankhead]

Nope - order just placed, so it's a couple of months out...

I'M SO EXCITED!

 

[thndrstk6]

So what's the specs on it again? Maybe I'll get it. I'm looking at new basses now anyways and I'm really itching for VF5.

 

[Vic]

Nope - order just placed, so it's a couple of months out...

I'M SO EXCITED!

I'm with the other guy... while I wouldn't have done it myself, I'm actually kinda' glad you are because I'd like to see what it looks like.

 

[Tom7]

Club Fbass would like to welcome our newest addition: p0k, and his photogetic, all black, VF5.

Welcome aboard!

CLUB FBASS ROSTER
(Updated 30 October 2009)
#00 BN5

1. (Appears to be vacated)
2. Tombowlus - BN5, George_Furlanet, BN4
3. Puff_father - BN5
4. Debassed - VF5
5. ThumbyAche - BN5, BNF5
6. brandonwong - BN5, GFC, AC6, BN5, BN6, VF5
7. Tom7 - Vintage Fretless 5, BN5, BN6, BN5
8. Erick Lam - BN5,
9. knarleybass - AC5, BN5
10. Reefer - BN5, BN4?
11. VinceLovesF - BN6 b
12. T._Brookins - BN5
13. DKB - BN5
14. Speyer - BN5 (BN5,)
15. jmilky - b
16. edel - BN5,
17. administrator - BNF5
18. Dave Hill - VF5 (BN5)
19. FbassDave - b c
20. Vic - BN5
21. Georges_Abitbol - (b) (BN5) (?)
22. xav_paris - Studio5, Prototype
23. Munjibunga - AC5
24. Toolmybass - BN5
25. Modny - BNF5, BN5
26. mikoespanol - BN6
27. Ron_Plichta - AC5
28. Gbarchus - BNF5
29. nuwavedc - AC5
30. JerryJ - >, Vintage 4, Studio6
31. yansdgr - BN6
32. firebass - BNF5, AC6
33. <reserved for the return of choad42Studio5
34. donstrenz - BN4 (stolen)
35. Gilsonite - BN5
36. Tjluke - BN6, AC6
37. cabooke - AC5
38. Brad Johnson - 2
39. MHemmber - AC6
41. dreamwood - BN5
42. wolfbass1025 - BN6, Vintage4, BN5
43. funkydanbass - BN6
44. Phillip Jordan - BN6
45. Halftooth - BN5
46. thndrstk6 - Vintage4
47. funkifiedsoul - AC5
48. Trapeze Fan - BN5
49. Poppsyche - BN6
50. Groovy Bastard - BN5
51. Kemet09 - BNF6
52. ModulusAcacia - BN6
53. bassjam - BN4
54. Bassconbeatz - AC5
55. Basses55 -
56. blen dem - BN6
57. Kevin Woods - BN5
58. pierreganseman - [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
59. DiDi G - BN5
60. Greggles - BN6
61. kotzman - BN6
62. Alphaman - BN4
63. remigioremigio - VF5
64. JensWest - AC5
65. eduardxtb - BN5
66. dveeus1 - BNF5, BN5
67. paulvienneau - AC6, AC6
68. bdgotoh - BN6
69. rabster - BN6, b
70. funkygeos - AC6
71. fusoid - b, BN5 (piccolo)
72. WovenGraphite - AC5 (BN6), BNF5 (BN5)
73. rnlytton - AC6, AC6-LW, BN5, 3 BN6s!
74. bardlute - BN5
75. chrisloe - BN6
76. Iposavad - BNF5
77. yinghock - AC5
78. pocketmonster - VF5
79. bassment bn5 - GRoberts
80. hairman - AJ Brown, JRB
81. JOEP054 - jmondick
82. p0k - ursus
83. <Your name could be here!>

Former Fbass owners:
Freddy-G, Adrian Garcia, Yvon, dean82, smperry, FortressOne, Ryan_L, rodneyat, 123eranoid, Gordon of Eden, choad42, black.rose1402, blen dem, AC5, N4, BN5, ?,
, George_Furlanet, Jonno1707 - BN4, Quadzilla - BN5, VF5, BN5

 

[Tom7]

Here it is:

I love how all black basses look. My electric upright is all black, and looks way cool, but I may be a bit too fastidious for it. I'm constantly wiping it down, but it's worth it for that look.

 

[Tom7]

haha, well i'm glad my GAS could eventually lead me here Sadly I don't own a Pedulla anymore (although I do still run the club), but I hope to have one again at some point! Do I have to wait until its actually in my possession before I get a number?

Oops! Looks like I jumped the gun and gave you a number too early. Oh well, se la vi!

I thought those photos were yours, but no big deal. Just post more photos when it gets here and welcome to the club again!

 

[Tom7]

From my experience I've found the BN series to have a little more of a wet, round sound
to them. The VFs are a little more dry and jazz bass like.

Here's a good example of the BN sound:


This one has a BN5 in a mix with a band, which is also pretty useful for anyone considering buying one I think.

 

[hairman]

Club Fbass would like to welcome our newest addition: p0k, and his photogetic, all black, VF5.

Welcome aboard!

CLUB FBASS ROSTER
(Updated 30 October 2009)
#00 George_Furlanet

[The growing list ...]

I was just randomly clicking on quite a lot picture links of the F-bass members list, it's realy great to see all those beauty's ... click on a link and be sure it'l be a breathtaking result ... life is wonderful!

 

[thndrstk6]

Loved those links, Nick.

I'd add one more for anyone considering a BN5:

This one has a BN5 in a mix with a band, which is also pretty useful for anyone considering buying one I think.

Yeah I forgot about that one. Thanks.

 

[Dave Hill]

here's another BN5 clip

 

[p0k]

Oops! Looks like I jumped the gun and gave you a number too early. Oh well, se la vi!

I thought those photos were yours, but no big deal. Just post more photos when it gets here and welcome to the club again!

haha, don't worry, i'll try to take some more pics when I get it! And thanks for the number...its my birth year!

 

[Tom7]

Thanks for doing that - great clips.

Thanks for the feedback.

Leaning a bit toward the sound of the BN but the ergonomics of the VF would be more familiar... what I really need is to find a place to AB them. I think I feel a road trip coming on!

As you guys know, I cannot play right now, so I've been trying to decide if it would be worth it to send out my BN5 and VF5 to you so you can A/B them for a couple of weeks if you wanted.

The shipping both ways though... that would probably be in the neighborhood of $350 to $400... probably not practical.

Here's a photo of some of my Fbasses, my Alleva Coppolo Custom, and my Fodera Yin Yang:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. The bass samples follow the photo from left to right. Actually, the photo follows the bass samples, since I just took this photo this morning, but anyway...

In one ear is a familiar slap riff. I chose this Marcus riff so that it could easily be compared to that gold standard for tone. In the other ear is a finger style riff, so you could, if you wanted to, solo the finger style tone and cut out the slap to check out each bass.

Samples 2 and 3 would show you the BN5 and the VF5.

Some people describe the tone of the BN5 as "Marcus on champagne," inferring that it is smooth and tame.

That's not my experience with my BN5.

With noise canceling engaged, then yes, that is exactly how I would describe my BN5's tone. However with the bass in single coil mode, I find its character more aggressive.

The VF5 doesn't have a noise canceling, humbucking mode. It is always single coil.

I am surprised, but I can notice the slight difference in scale length, the BN5 being a half inch longer, but I pretty much only notice it when I have just switched between the two. Seconds after playing, that perception vanishes.

Both basses are cut a bit different from Sadowsky / Alleva Coppolo / Fender bodies, and as a result, fret access is much nicer, as is the balance on the strap.

I find my BN5 is more versatile, tonally speaking, but my VF5 goes where my BN5 can't. I like having both.

The wider pickups of the BN5 make it so I can get away with playing it without a finger ramp. I have half of a finger ramp on my VF5 (George is completing the part between the bridge and the bridge pickup still).

I know this is a bit dumb, but I am comforted by the presence of a pick guard on the VF5. I know that in time, I will scratch up the finish near my G string on my BN5, and have considered stringing it EADGC instead of BEADG to help stave off that dreaded day.

Let's see, can I think of anything else to tell you about the two?

Without a doubt, the VF5 has a more vintage, Fender tone, more so than I understood until recently when I played it through someone else's rig. The BN5 goes there (70s), but does have a bit more modern of a voice.

The tastiest BN5 work I have on CDs is by David Hughes, who often plays bass for Dave Benoit. Get Dave Hughes' two CDs, and you won't sleep until you own a BN5.

Then again, the VF5 is the current buzz bass, winning a few awards from the likes of Bass Gear Magazine, and a lot of very high profile bass players such as Hadrien Feraud and Dominique DiPiazza are being seeing playing VF5s now.

Both are good choices for sure.