Club FBass (Part 5)

[J.Wolf]

really, I didn't know that. Is F retailing Markbass in Canada or something? I know MB has a new Alain Caron cab(s), perhaps thats part of the connection?

 

[Vic]

Time for NAMM BASSES!

I will mosdef be playing this one!

 

[thndrstk6]

really, I didn't know that. Is F retailing Markbass in Canada or something? I know MB has a new Alain Caron cab(s), perhaps thats part of the connection?

Not sure of the details. It just says that Fbass is a dealer for Markbass on the site.

http://www.fbass.com/html/news.html

 

[KJung]

Oh. I just saw Invalid Link Removed, and I'm actually interested in both VF5s, not that I could get either of them right now.

This one in particular has me curious. It has an ash body and a maple finger board, but the pickups are in the 60s positions... which is what I understand is the case with BN5s, except that BN5s are 34.5 inches in scale length, and of course the VF5s use George's single coil pickups whereas the BN5s use the stacked soapbars for noise canceling.

I bet this VF5 has a really great tone and it's killing me that I can't pick it up.

I love the spec of an ash/maple bass with 60's position. That's how the vast majority of Sadowsky ash/maple vintage and standard basses are spec'd. You get a lot of that '70's aggressive' sort of tone from the ash/maple IMO, but with a much fatter bridge pickup burp when you need it. That is a GREAT spec, as long as you aren't looking for a very accurate vintage 60's or 70's vibe. That spec just KILLS with the Sadowsky basses, and I bet sounds great here also!

 

[DonovanBankhead]

Does anyone know which booths will have F's

Right now it appears that Mark Bass is the only confirmed booth. I would imagine a few others will pop up...

 

[Tom7]

I love the spec of an ash/maple bass with 60's position. That's how the vast majority of Sadowsky ash/maple vintage and standard basses are spec'd. You get a lot of that '70's aggressive' sort of tone from the ash/maple IMO, but with a much fatter bridge pickup burp when you need it. That is a GREAT spec, as long as you aren't looking for a very accurate vintage 60's or 70's vibe. That spec just KILLS with the Sadowsky basses, and I bet sounds great here also!

I totally agree that Sadowsky basses kill, but didn't realize this is how the vast majority were spec'd. What a great combination. Great Ken. Now I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight.

 

[KJung]

Uh oh!

Ken just rejoined the FBass clan The 'skunk stripe' natural VF5 70's spec should arrive this week (had a bit of a war chest from selling my RA5). Thanks Donovan!

 

[KJung]

I totally agree that Sadowsky basses kill, but didn't realize this is how the vast majority were spec'd. What a great combination. Great Ken. Now I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight.

Just to be clear, the vast majority of Sadowsky JJ's are spec'd with 60's pickup position (the standard JJ configuration except for the Metro UV70 model). Just guessing, but the mix of ash/maple and alder/RW probably favors the alder/RW spec, but again, virtually all the Sadowsky JJ's, regardless of wood combination have that 60's placement of the bridge pickup. I dig it a LOT!

 

[Dave Hill]

Nice, Ken, hope you like it. Is that the one with the custom heel?

 

[KJung]

Nice, Ken, hope you like it. Is that the one with the custom heel?

I have no idea... saw the picture, dug it, bought it I don't know about the heel. Maybe Donovan can post up about it. I'm a 95% below (above?... depending on how you think about it!) the 12th fret guy, so heel design is not crucial for me.

Hopefully it isn't a carving of a parrot or anything


Edit: Just watched the video again.... yes, it has a bit of a more traditional heel. I guess with that heel and the skunk stripe, George was vibing a bit more of the traditional Fender 70's thing with this one... that is FINE with me!

 

[KJung]

Here is a picture of the back of the instrument, from George's website:

 

[Tom7]

Uh oh!

Ken just rejoined the FBass clan The 'skunk stripe' natural VF5 70's spec should arrive this week (had a bit of a war chest from selling my RA5). Thanks Donovan!

Oh wow! I didn't see that coming! I had my eye on that bass you just bought as well. In fact, I made an email inquiry about it and had been talking about it with my wife. Granted, she was more open to moving to Antarctica, but a guy can dream, can't he?

The bass you bought is the visual equivalent of my 76 Jazz bass (natural finish, white pickguard, skunk stripe), except my 76 has blocks and binding. I liked your bass instantly.

The good news, though, is that since I read what you wrote about Sadowsky and the 60s pup placement, my latest dreams have been about the other VF5 Donovan has.

Anyway, congratulations. Hopefully you'll do an audio review of your new VF5 like your Alleva Coppolo reviews. I'd be keenly interested in it since my VF5 is alder rosewood 60s, and I've been curious about the ash maple 70s models.

 

[KJung]

Oh wow! I didn't see that coming! I had my eye on that bass you just bought as well. In fact, I made an email inquiry about it and had been talking about it with my wife. Granted, she was more open to moving to Antarctica, but a guy can dream, can't he?

The bass you bought is the visual equivalent of my 76 Jazz bass (natural finish, white pickguard, skunk stripe), except my 76 has blocks and binding. I liked your bass instantly.

The good news, though, is that since I read what you wrote about Sadowsky and the 60s pup placement, my latest dreams have been about the other VF5 Donovan has.

Anyway, congratulations. Hopefully you'll do an audio review of your new VF5 like your Alleva Coppolo reviews. I'd be keenly interested in it since my VF5 is alder rosewood 60s, and I've been curious about the ash maple 70s models.

Thanks! That bass kind of spoke to me. I almost bought the other similar one that Donovan had a while back, but had a few too many instruments in the stable. Since I sold my A-C RA5, that opened up a slot and some cash.

I have that 'ash/maple/60's thing covered with my Sadowsky, or I would have been all over the one you are considering. That is a beauty.

I wonder what the logic of that custom heel was? It looks like the lower string access is the same, and that it just puts a bit more 'wood' into the neck joint... maybe that was the logic? Who knows.. kind of a non-issue to me, but it looks cool.

 

[Vic]

I wonder what the logic of that custom heel was? It looks like the lower string access is the same, and that it just puts a bit more 'wood' into the neck joint... maybe that was the logic? Who knows.. kind of a non-issue to me, but it looks cool.

I have the SAME question.

 

[Tom7]

Thanks! That bass kind of spoke to me. I almost bought the other similar one that Donovan had a while back, but had a few too many instruments in the stable. Since I sold my A-C RA5, that opened up a slot and some cash.

I have that 'ash/maple/60's thing covered with my Sadowsky, or I would have been all over the one you are considering. That is a beauty.

I wonder what the logic of that custom heel was? It looks like the lower string access is the same, and that it just puts a bit more 'wood' into the neck joint... maybe that was the logic? Who knows.. kind of a non-issue to me, but it looks cool.

I think that bass was speaking to a few of us!

I hear you on the "has that covered" aspect of your Sadowsky. Unfortunately for me though, I don't have that hole covered.

My Fbass VF5 is alder/rosewood/60s.

My Coppolo is alder/rosewood/70s.

My 76 Jazz bass is ash/maple/70s...

What I don't have covered is ash/maple/60s.

This particular bass probably won't be around when I get money set aside to fill that hole. When I do, I'll have to look seriously at a Sadowsky or perhaps a custom F... with a look alot like your new F.

My next bass expenditure, though, should be to get my 76 Fender Jazz restored to her former glory.

 

[KJung]

I think that bass was speaking to a few of us!

I hear you on the "has that covered" aspect of your Sadowsky. Unfortunately for me though, I don't have that hole covered.

My Fbass VF5 is alder/rosewood/60s.

My Coppolo is alder/rosewood/70s.

My 76 Jazz bass is ash/maple/70s...

What I don't have covered is ash/maple/60s.

This particular bass probably won't be around when I get money set aside to fill that hole. When I do, I'll have to look seriously at a Sadowsky or perhaps a custom F... with a look alot like your new F.

My next bass expenditure, though, should be to get my 76 Fender Jazz restored to her former glory.

I'll look forward to comparing the tone of this bass to my beloved A-C LM5. I'm very excited to get it! Donovan said he will be shipping second day air either today or first thing tomorrow.

He is a VERY good cat to deal with on this stuff (as you know).

K

 

[Dave Hill]

Yeah, I too am curious about that heel alteration, it certainly doesnt look drastic or obtrusive.

Seems that over the years George has made a lot of changes in his designs, and used very different materials, construction methods, and electronics...finally arriving at the BN and eventually VF series of basses, to which he still apparetly makes incremental changes and adjustments.

To do this successfully ceratinly puts him in a very exclusive club of bass luthiers, and IMO, adds worth to his instruments. I have a lot of respect for George, and for me, the BN5 is the best bass in the world.

All that gushing dribble said, the custom heel on Ken's new bass could just a random customer request. I guess that skunk stripe means it's a one-piece neck/fb/headstock.(?) V. nice.

 

[Dave Hill]

I hear you on the "has that covered" aspect of your Sadowsky. Unfortunately for me though, I don't have that hole covered.

You, my friend, may have too many holes.

 

[Tom7]

You, my friend, may have too many holes.

[Chuckle]Were it not for talkbass.com, I'd probably still be content with 2 basses. This place is bad... in a good way.

You've got to go and FILL those holes!

 

[Tom7]

I'll look forward to comparing the tone of this bass to my beloved A-C LM5. I'm very excited to get it! Donovan said he will be shipping second day air either today or first thing tomorrow.

He is a VERY good cat to deal with on this stuff (as you know).

K

+1 on Donovan.

I downloaded your Coppolo mp3s and have listened to them dozens of times BTW, so I mean it when I say I'm looking forward to hearing your comparison.

Of course there is more than sonics to compare. George (as Dave pointed out) continues to refine his craft and definitely made playability improvements over the classic jazz bass with his VF5 line.

I'm sure it's because my main bass for years was that 76 Jazz bass and I grew to really love it, but I love both the classic Jazz and the neo-Jazz George has designed.