Club Fbass (thread 13)

[pbass6811]

Thanks guys, interesting points, and some things I never considered. I probably shouldn't jinx myself by saying this but in almost 40 years of gigging, I have never 'needed' a back up bass. The only time I change basses on stage is for some kind of effect. Either musical or visual. So having two identical sounding basses never occurred to me.
Believe it or not I can make my ash/maple BN5 sound very, very similar to my ash/rosewood VF5. Who knew?

I've had one of almost everything crap out at a gig-basses, amps, cabs, something on my pedalboard, a relationship, lol! Now, I try to take Murphy's Law out of the equation. I hate retuning. To me, that looks unprofessional. I'm not talking about just going from standard to Drop-D, I'm talking about retuning the whole bass in the middle of a set. It's quicker and more visually impactful to just put on a different bass that's already tuned and ready. I don't wish equipment failure on anyone, but I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

I'm also not gonna kid you, I'm an electronics-makes-a-bigger-difference-than-wood-choices guy. Not saying it's not important, but if you put the same pickups and electronics in an ash/maple bass and an alder/rosewood bass, they're gonna sound pretty similar...

 

[BassJuju]

Thanks guys, interesting points, and some things I never considered. I probably shouldn't jinx myself by saying this but in almost 40 years of gigging, I have never 'needed' a back up bass. The only time I change basses on stage is for some kind of effect. Either musical or visual. So having two identical sounding basses never occurred to me.
Believe it or not I can make my ash/maple BN5 sound very, very similar to my ash/rosewood VF5. Who knew?

Dude... you don’t even look like you 40 years old!

 

[wthompson007]

Dude... you don’t even look like you 40 years old!

Thanks juju, that's the nicest thing anyone has said to me for a while! You'd think after this long I'd have a few gold records and millions of dollars. I still love to play though and although I've slowed down a bit, (and need lighter gear), I love making music to this very day!

 

[BassJuju]

Thanks juju, that's the nicest thing anyone has said to me for a while! You'd think after this long I'd have a few gold records and millions of dollars. I still love to play though and although I've slowed down a bit, (and need lighter gear), I love making music to this very day!

I hear ya... some things just aren’t measured in dollars. I think we agree that there’s not much better than playing music.

 

[wthompson007]

I hear ya... some things just aren’t measured in dollars. I think we agree that there’s not much better than playing music.

My enjoyment of playing the bass definitely increased after I discovered Fbass. These instruments are a joy to play, and ergonomically suited for my old bones.

 

[Tom7]

Tom, I echo what everyone else says about you. We are extremely grateful for all you do here. Thank you!

What if we create a Flickr account for F Basses? We can have separate galleries based on specific models, users, even by country. Who knows? Flickr is being bought my SmugMug which is a photographer site, so I imagine it will only get better, but won’t affect an account if we make one now.

Thoughts?

First, thanks, guys, for the encouraging words. I hope it didn't look like I was fishing for them, I was just pointing out that I was trying to help us all see each others' photos as well.

And yes, dead links are the core problem.

And I was thinking about a Flickr account for Fbasses as well... or maybe something else that I'm just not aware exists yet.

 

[Tom7]

Here’s my new VF5!

View attachment 3004230
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Wow! This update adds these photos to those Marcel took before shipping the bass. Love this, especially that fingerboard with those blocks.

CLUB FBASS ROSTER
(Updated 04 May 2018)

1. George_Furlanet (Number assigned by club vote)
2. Tombowlus - BN4, BN5, VF5, VF-P4, Studio 5,
3. Puff_father - BN5
4. Debassed - BNF5
5. ThumbyAche - BN5, GFC
6. brandonwong - AC6-Standard, BN6-Limited Edition AC Replica, BN5, BN6, VF5, Vintage Fretless 5
7. Tom7 - BN5, BN5, BN4, BN6, BN5, BN5,, AC5,
8. Erick Lam - BN5
9. knarleybass - BN5, BN6
10. Reefer - b, BN4?
11. VinceLovesF - BN5BN5
12. T._Brookins - 2
13. DonovanBankhead - BN5
14. Speyer - BN5, (b)
15. jmilky - VF4
16. edel - BN5,, (BNF5)
17. administrator - VF5
18. Dave Hill - BN5 (b), c
19. FbassDave - BN5(b)
20. Vic - BN5
21. Georges_Abitbol - BN5 (?) (Studio5)
22. xav_paris - Prototype, AC5
23. Munjibunga - BN5, BNF5
24. Toolmybass - BN5
25. Modny - BN5, BN6
26. mikoespanol - AC5
27. Ron_Plichta - BNF5
28. Gbarchus - AC5
29. nuwavedc - VF5 pj
30. JerryJ - BN5, Vintage 4, Studio6
31. yansdgr - BN6
32. firebass - BNF5, AC6, Studio5
33. choad42 - BN4
34. donstrenz - BN5 (stolen)
35. Gilsonite - 2
36. Tjluke - BN6, AC6
37. cabooke - BN5
38. Brad Johnson - BN6
39. MHemmber - AC5
40. Deevit / FortressOne - 2,, (AC6)
41. dreamwood - BN5, VF5
42. wolfbass1025 - BN6, Vintage4, BN5
43. funkydanbass - BN6
44. Phillip Jordan - BN6, Vintage4
45. Halftooth - BN5
46. thndrstk6 - AC5
47. funkifiedsoul - BN5
48. Trapeze Fan - BN6
49. Poppsyche - BN5
50. Groovy Bastard - AC5
51. Kemet09 - VF5
52. ModulusAcacia - BNF6
53. bassjam - Vintage BNF6
54. ad9000 - BN6
55. Basses55 - BN4, AC5, BN6
56. Kevin Woods - BN5, BN5
57. pierreganseman - BN5
58. DiDi G - BN6
59. Greggles - BN6
60. kotzman - BN4
61. Alphaman - BN4
62. remigioremigio - VF5
63. JensWest - AC5
64. eduardxtb - BN5
65. dveeus1 - BNF5, BN5
66. paulvienneau - AC6, AC6
67. bdgotoh - BN6, BN6
68. rabster - b, AC6
69. funkygeos - b
70. fusoid - BN5 (piccolo), AC5
71. WovenGraphite - BN6 (b), BNF5 (BN5)
72. rnlytton - AC6, AC6-LW, BN5, 3 BN6s!
73. bardlute - BN5
74. chrisloe - BN5, VF5, VF5
75. Iposavad - BN5
76. yinghock - BN6, BNF5 with rosewood board!
77. pocketmonster - AC5
78. bassment bn5 - BN5, VF5, BN6
79. hairman - VF5, VF5,
80. JOEP054 - BN5, AC4, VF5, Studio 5, Passive 6, BN5
81. p0k - more photos, BNF5
82. jmilkey - BN5
83. Bass Junkie - VF5, (with a VF4 being built!)
84. narud - BN5,
85. BIg O - BN5, AC5, BN5
86. felicidade - BNF5
87. Drone80 - BNF5, BN5
88. steve f - VF5
89. Fbassed - BN5
90. rick1906 - BN4
91. Romu - AC5, BN5
92. Bajosintrastos - BN4
93. jimc - (2), BN5 #2
94. cfequa - AC6, BNFF6
95. mrbassman_de - BN5, VF5, BN5 BN5, BN5 (studio), BN5 (defretted), VF5, AC5, BN6, NY5, Studio
96. Graham Monette - BNF5
97. Shelly - BN5
98. tonenazi - BN6
99. Abacobob - VF5

100. jogi68 - BN6, [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
101. ManuBerdin - BN5, BN5, BN5 (wide nut), BN6, lined AC6, BN6, VF5
102. rvf42 - BN5
103. kuma9 - BN5
104. jbay - BN5, BN5
105. INGALL'S - BN5
106. BIGGUY78 - BNF6
107. KERMITNT-BN6
108. Ewo - BNF5
109. frizzle - BN5
110. t0t0m - Vintage BN5
111. blen dem - VF5
112. francoprof - b, AC5
113. bassistck - AC4
114. Sirmike75 - BN6
115. Stereo Joe - AC6
116. starKee - BN5, (AC5)
117. eaflyaway - BN5
118. hyperba55 - BN5, Studio5, BN4
119. penny0072001 - BN5
120. TheSiberian - BN6 + piezo, BN6
121. PhillM47 - BN6
122. zortation - BN6, Studio5, BN5
123. tcydennis - VF5
124. wellso74 - BN5 NYC, AC6
125. boomski - BN5
126. nemo - BNF5, BN6
127. maritimer - BN4, BN4
128. olegsulimov - BN4, BN5, [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
129. Slammyapple - BN5
130. jephil - AC6
131. MVPBASS -VF5, VF4, BN4 32.5"
132. lindseyp - VF5
133. J.Wolf - BN6, GRoberts, BN5
134. Karelbass - AJ Brown, JRB, BN5
135. uilleann13 - VF5
136. jmondick - ursus
137. BN5,
138. BN5 - BN5, BN6
139. Adrian Garcia
140. Yvon
141. Freddy-G - dean82Ryan_L, rodneyat, 123eranoid
142. Gordon of Eden
143. choad42
144. black.rose1402
145. <removed>
146. AC5
147. BN4
148. BN5
149. BNF5
150. BN5
151. AC5
152. Jonno1707 - now belongs to mrbassman_de
153. Quadzilla - VF5, BN6, vintage fretless 6
154. pEJi - BN6
155. blen dem - BN6
156. BassBoss - BN5 (BN5)
157. KJung - BN5
158. Bassconbeatz - BN5
159. Dennis Kong - BN5,
160. copasetic - VF5
161. brooklynbassguy - VF5
162. thomasjbass - VF6
163. Maurizo Rolli - BN6
164. widjarjar - Studio 5, Fretted BNF5
165. Tomkiss - BN5VF5, BN5
166. midijab - BN5
167. taylor - BN5
168. rodsnhawgs - BN5
169. TheBasicBassist - BNF5
170. Aram - BN6
171 Ramon Levy - BN6
172. PazzoBasso - BN5
173. thenothing - BN5
174. curt basner - BN6
175. magichand - BN5
176. dbalatero - b, Studio 5
177. ElMon - BN5
178. MrKool - BN5
179. Richard_P_Harve - BNF5, AC5, BNF5
180. davecheng - AC6 (VF5)
181. bass4worship - BN5, BN5
182. w0x0f - VF5
183. kbuschmann - BN4, BN5, BN6LE
184. mVC - BN5, BN5
185. dirtbird - VF5
186. jaws - BN6
187. Gr8tbass - AC5-Classic
188. pbrand - VF5
189. jbo - BN5
190. kulasterol - BN6
191. kantonart - Studio 5
192. metalstorm - Custom sized BN6
193. fzbassman - BN6, BN6 (Dave Hughes)
194. scubaduba - BNF5
195. Jraewood - BN5
196. dslapster64 - BNF6
197. Morfman6 - fretted AC6 (Thor)
198. YCBass - BNF6
199. skb5string - BN5, BN5, BN5, BN5, BN5, BN5, VF5

200. dessunx - BN6
201. Alex - BN6LE Replica, AC6
202. thewildest - BN5, BN4
203. bassman10 - AC6
204. edzaa- VF5 (70s)
205. Danny R. - BN4, BN6
206. sha975 - BN5
207. Arabesque-bass - VF6, (AC5)
208. 74jb - BNF6
209. bigjames - BN5, BN6
210. biggreddbass - BN4
211. maddanthony_59 - VF5
212. Stewthebassman - VF5,
213. ialma - BN5
214. gridchin - VF5, BN5, BNF5
215. swedebass - AC5
216. Bassco - BN5
217. betavision - BNF5
218. Sywannab - BN6, BN4
219. tallbass - BN5
220. Mikey69 - BN6
221. jibreel - BN5
222. greenrositti - BN6, BN6, AC5, VF5
223. austentatiousC - 1987 Fbass
224. kokorollc - Fretted AC6, 2
225. jdbutler238 - BNF5
226. moorebass - AC5
227 hexbass - BN6
228. lebrett - BN4
229. Ron Clark - BN6
230. RandyT - BN6, (BN5)
231. swpyne - BN5
232. b1644 - BN5
233. Alex Zavolokin - BN5,
234. Black Bart - BN5
245. Kevin Freeby - BNF5
246. TolerancEJ - BN6
247. ryanowens - GFC5, BN6
248. dbok - VF5
249. Mike_R30 - VF5, VF4p
250. bassam0222 - BN5
251. asbs - BN4 (Angelica), BN5 (Tracy)
252. jebmd - BNF5, BN5
253. jwr - BN5 (lefty)
254. smeet - BNF5
255. McMillions - BN5
256. jdy - [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
257. Woolber - VF5
258. RUFFRYDE - BN5
259. Baird6869 - BN6
260. Mark Wilson - BN5
261. Addison - BN5
262. akukulich - BN5
263. JesseMalaska - BN5, AC5
264. roogbass - BN5
265. Maiden Bass - VF5
266. Dave Scovell - VF4pj
267. robthebassplaye - VF5 pj
268. chris lykins - pre-BN6
269. dudi8 - VF5
270 Steve Clark - VF5, AC4, BN6
271 sorgas - VF5, VF5
272 RickyTee - BN5, BN5
273 sok monkey - BN5
274 bassballs27 - VFMJ5
275 eusie - VF5
276 Tritone - BN5
277 antontanzil - BN5
278 RBJ11 - BN5
279 Gnal - BN5, AC5
280 ovialexm - BN6
281 phatmon - BN6
282 AMJBASS - VF4PJ, VF4PJ
283 ranat - BN5, BNF5
284 mikkoantt - BNF5
285 SR Addict - VF5PJ
286 DELACIUS - BN6
287 mngmt - BNF6, BN5
288 sorgas - BN5
289 KelliB - VF5
290 tyjacks - BN5
291 ScottfromCalgary - VF5
292 JBoogy - BNF6
293 Warren Zaiger - BN5
294 sifi76 - VF5 PJ
295 iandmcelroy - BN5
296 that1guy222 - VF5 JJ
297 scifi76 - GFC, VF5
298 BassJuJu - BN6, BNF6 (#2105), AC4, BN5, BNF5, BN6, BNF6
299 radiocult - BN5

300 wthompson007 - BN5, AC5, BN5,
301 Chase90 - BN4, BN5,
302 lotusland9663 - BN5
303 TimothyGroovy - BN5
304 jmondick - BN5
305 Don Vitos - AC6, BN5
306 Jamster - VF5 (1st post)
307 Crossover - VF5 (arrived post)
308 ScottyDont - George_Furlanet
309 mikkoant - BN4
310 pbass6811 - BN5, VF5
311 aeo_77 - VF-P4
312 TheMartianBassist - Studio 5, BN5
.

 

[Tom7]

I've had one of almost everything crap out at a gig-basses, amps, cabs, something on my pedalboard, a relationship, lol! Now, I try to take Murphy's Law out of the equation. I hate retuning. To me, that looks unprofessional. I'm not talking about just going from standard to Drop-D, I'm talking about retuning the whole bass in the middle of a set. It's quicker and more visually impactful to just put on a different bass that's already tuned and ready. I don't wish equipment failure on anyone, but I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

I'm also not gonna kid you, I'm an electronics-makes-a-bigger-difference-than-wood-choices guy. Not saying it's not important, but if you put the same pickups and electronics in an ash/maple bass and an alder/rosewood bass, they're gonna sound pretty similar...

When I was in high school, I used to break strings. I would get way too zealous in a slap solo or something, and WHACK! Now I've got to trade out my bass quickly.

I've also BLED on my basses before, and needed to change to a different bass with fresher strings.

And I've had batteries die while playing.

But mostly, because I usually play in cover bands, I just like to get a certain voice for a certain song, so I can swap around basses several times in a set. To make the EQ change, I stored profiles in my Roland pedal, so I can just stomp a few times and have the right EQ for the bass...

... but that's not perfect. I try to make the EQ on my rig adjust for the room so the pedal can change and always be in there, but it doesn't always work out that way.

That said, I hardly gig at all these days. I'd love to, but I'm just super busy in my other life.

 

[pbass6811]

When I was in high school, I used to break strings. I would get way too zealous in a slap solo or something, and WHACK! Now I've got to trade out my bass quickly.

I've also BLED on my basses before, and needed to change to a different bass with fresher strings.

And I've had batteries die while playing.

But mostly, because I usually play in cover bands, I just like to get a certain voice for a certain song, so I can swap around basses several times in a set. To make the EQ change, I stored profiles in my Roland pedal, so I can just stomp a few times and have the right EQ for the bass...

... but that's not perfect. I try to make the EQ on my rig adjust for the room so the pedal can change and always be in there, but it doesn't always work out that way.

That said, I hardly gig at all these days. I'd love to, but I'm just super busy in my other life.

Bleeding for your art, that's rock 'n roll, baby!!

 

[wthompson007]

When I was in high school, I used to break strings. I would get way too zealous in a slap solo or something, and WHACK! Now I've got to trade out my bass quickly.

I've also BLED on my basses before, and needed to change to a different bass with fresher strings.

And I've had batteries die while playing.

But mostly, because I usually play in cover bands, I just like to get a certain voice for a certain song, so I can swap around basses several times in a set. To make the EQ change, I stored profiles in my Roland pedal, so I can just stomp a few times and have the right EQ for the bass...

... but that's not perfect. I try to make the EQ on my rig adjust for the room so the pedal can change and always be in there, but it doesn't always work out that way.

That said, I hardly gig at all these days. I'd love to, but I'm just super busy in my other life.

Could you imagine having an identical bass as a back up for every time you wanted to switch for musical effect or for different tuning? That would blow my mind, and my finances
In my experience bleeding for your art is R&B. Not noticing till the night is over.....that's Rock and Roll.

 

[pbass6811]

Could you imagine having an identical bass as a back up for every time you wanted to switch for musical effect or for different tuning? That would blow my mind, and my finances
In my experience bleeding for your art is R&B. Not noticing till the night is over.....that's Rock and Roll.

It makes my gigging a lot more stress-free. If I know my standard-tuned bass sounds awesome, then I know that my 1/2 step-down bass will sound exactly the same! And if, by chance, something happens to my main bass, I know my backup will sound identical...

Ok, so here's a thing, we had rehearsal tonight. I take the brown fade, because it's already in the right tuning for the songs we're doing. I knew I was going to have to do a setup, because it was buzzing in the recording I made last week. Fire everything up, launch into the first of the new tunes, no usable notes on the first three frets on the A & D strings. Inconvenient, but no biggie. What blew my mind, was all three of the top row of knobs all started turning 360*! I don't mess with the top row of knobs that much, but I know it wasn't doing that last weekend! LOL! Got through rehearsal, got home, got both of the basses setup and got all the knobs tightened back down. So, I've had one knob on the Natural and three knobs on the Brown Fade come loose.

I just thought that was weird. They're ready for tomorrow night...

 

[wthompson007]

Makes sense to have a differently tuned bass have the same or at least similar sound to the main one. What would get crazy is to have two of the same bass in standard tuning, two in different tuning, two for modern fretless sound, two for electric upright sound, two for flat wound sound etc. Then you'd really take Murphy out of the picture.
That is odd that all three knobs would go at the same time. Hope all goes well for your gig.

 

[Gnal]

That is really strange. I haven’t had the need to retighten any of the knobs on my BN’s and I had them for years. Red about 4 and Charcoal about 2 respectively. Someone’s got to be messing with you.

 

[TolerancEJ]

That is really strange. I haven’t had the need to retighten any of the knobs on my BN’s and I had them for years. Red about 4 and Charcoal about 2 respectively. Someone’s got to be messing with you.

My BN6 is the opposite I have to tune it up every time, even if it’s only been in its gigbag the whole time. It’s the only bass in my collection I need to make regular tuning adjustments.

 

[Dave Hill]

You got a five (or six) string. Unless you need a low B-flat, shift your hand down a half-step, lol.
I personally like to have one bass per gig. Maybe a second in the bag in case of some sort of disaster.
Further, I like to have pretty different basses, i.e. 4 or 5 string, ash or alder, etc. to cover different gigs.
That said, the BN5 is versatile to cover just about everyting, but sometimes playing something that feels/sounds different coaxes one to play and little different, which is fun.

 

[wthompson007]

You got a five (or six) string. Unless you need a low B-flat, shift your hand down a half-step, lol.
I personally like to have one bass per gig. Maybe a second in the bag in case of some sort of disaster.
Further, I like to have pretty different basses, i.e. 4 or 5 string, ash or alder, etc. to cover different gigs.
That said, the BN5 is versatile to cover just about everyting, but sometimes playing something that feels/sounds different coaxes one to play and little different, which is fun,

That's pretty much exactly how I feel. I don't have a hard time making them sound similar so I like to find instruments that the differences can be emphasized. The beauty of it is that we're all different and there's room enough for everyone. Whatever gets you through the night.

 

[Tom7]

My BN6 is the opposite I have to tune it up every time, even if it’s only been in its gigbag the whole time. It’s the only bass in my collection I need to make regular tuning adjustments.

Wow. I just played one of my BN6s a few hours ago, and it was still in tune from when I played it last Saturday. And by in tune, I mean I checked with a digital tuner before I started playing, and only the A string needed adjusting, but it was still very close.

 

[Tom7]

You got a five (or six) string. Unless you need a low B-flat, shift your hand down a half-step, lol.
I personally like to have one bass per gig. Maybe a second in the bag in case of some sort of disaster.
Further, I like to have pretty different basses, i.e. 4 or 5 string, ash or alder, etc. to cover different gigs.
That said, the BN5 is versatile to cover just about everyting, but sometimes playing something that feels/sounds different coaxes one to play and little different, which is fun.

If I am only bringing one bass, it is almost always one of my BN6s. My BN5 is more versatile, but I have a weird, psychological anxiety that I might need a C string for something and it won't be there. :-/

 

[jim nolte]

Wow. I just played one of my BN6s a few hours ago, and it was still in tune from when I played it last Saturday. And by in tune, I mean I checked with a digital tuner before I started playing, and only the A string needed adjusting, but it was still very close.

if it's going sharp sitting in it's case that could be from the contraction of the steel strings themselves, when you are playing it they get warm, when you put in the case they get cold and contract, as metal does, and goes sharp.

 

[pbass6811]

Makes sense to have a differently tuned bass have the same or at least similar sound to the main one. What would get crazy is to have two of the same bass in standard tuning, two in different tuning, two for modern fretless sound, two for electric upright sound, two for flat wound sound etc. Then you'd really take Murphy out of the picture.
That is odd that all three knobs would go at the same time. Hope all goes well for your gig.

Yeah, that would be a bit over the top. That's why I try to find one bass that makes all the sounds I want, and I buy multiples of that one.

The knob thing is weird, but I'll keep an eye on it. They're ready to rock 'n roll tonight, so it's all good!