Talked with Marcel today, not going to change the bridge. Actually happy about this, the aesthetic and tone are great. F bass preamp on the way.
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Talked with Marcel today, not going to change the bridge. Actually happy about this, the aesthetic and tone are great. F bass preamp on the way.
Well, like most of you, I'm now considering my first F Bass purchase.
I used to walk past rows of these in NYC at Rudy's or Sam Ash, but never picked one up. My "good" basses right now are an Atelier Z M265 and a Dragonfly CJ5.
My question is, is there something special about the older BN5 bass? I see them at not much under list price and some are 20 years old. Do they simply hold their value like that?
I'm looking at a BN5 with poles showing through the wood covers or the black plastic, with poles showing.
Thanks.
I used to walk past rows of these in NYC at Rudy's or Sam Ash, but never picked one up. My "good" basses right now are an Atelier Z M265 and a Dragonfly CJ5.
My question is, is there something special about the older BN5 bass? I see them at not much under list price and some are 20 years old. Do they simply hold their value like that?
I'm looking at a BN5 with poles showing through the wood covers or the black plastic, with poles showing.
Thanks.
Imo it comes to personal preference. I have had 5 BN5's and kept the older one because the neck shape was the best playing (for me). So, those are the ones I am most tempted by. The neck shape of the newer ones is (I believe) asymmetrical and the ones I sold have had much fuller neck shapes/profiles almost on the chunky side (for me).
Marcel can confirm the years that were different neck profiles. I have had 3 different neck shapes and my early 2k is a keeper.
Sound wise, all of mine sounded similar but there were some minor differences (fingerboard wood and bridge were different on a few of mine).
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I believe they simply hold their value. There've been a few changes over the years (I read every club F-bass thread while waiting for mine to arrive):
-The finish was improved (from nitro to the new, tougher one but at no apparent tone loss)
-The tuners were flipped, so that the B string length is longer (again I believe George said he couldn't tell a difference, but enough people thought it might so he changed it anyway)
Beyond that, I believe any other changes are with the newer models or options (deluxe, etc) that have different switches and pole pieces. They don't use lightweight swamp ash that's become more rare, so there's been no change to a chambered design or something to compensate (like Sadowsky).
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Thank you. I really need to get my hands on one. That would make the decision process easier. As for the tone, I've heard every clip I could find and I'm sure I don't have anything that clean sounding. I'm glad I haven't heard anyone say the tone is too hi-fi or artificial sounding. I've also read through the first hundred pages of this thread (still going) and I'm convinced that the quality is on par with or exceeds my MIJ offerings.
If anyone is in the North Jersey area, like Elmwood Park, I'd love to bring one of mine to compare.
If anyone is in the North Jersey area, like Elmwood Park, I'd love to bring one of mine to compare.
I've also got a Dragonfly CJ5! Cool basses...
Here she is next to my BN5 (ignore my dirty practice room)
I played every bass they'd let me at NAMM a couple years ago and nothing came close to feeling as nice as my F-Bass or inspired any GAS whatsoever, which was a pretty cool feeling! Tone-wise they are super versatile while still having a lot of unique character.
Of course this _is_ the F-bass club thread, but guys like Scott Divine have also been falling in love...
Well alrighty then! You're the perfect one to ask, as far as similarities and differences in tone.I've also got a Dragonfly CJ5! Cool basses...
Here she is next to my BN5 (ignore my dirty practice room)
My CJ5 doesn't have a matching headstock. It's eggplant black, almost deep purple in certain light.
The F Bass is the only other bass, I know of that encourages you to use the full range of the preamp.
I was about to get a CS5 with a fancy top... and then I heard the F Bass clips. How would you say they match up? They seem totally different to me, but in good ways. Feel free to PM me as well.
Yeah you're right, they are totally different in both playability and tone.
In my opinion, the Dragonfly has a very modern tone - but not as hifi and in your face as, say, a Spector. I would compare the Dragonfly more like a Sadowsky. I've owned several of those and they sound like a modern jazz bass.
The FBass BN5 has a very vintage inspired tone. It's the only bass I've ever played where the preamp never overwhelms the natural passive tone of the bass. To my ears, there is no hifi-ness at all. It's a very warm, punchy and smooth, traditional sounding bass. It sounds like an old vintage 60's jazz bass. The preamp is boost-only and you tend to use it sparingly. I usually only need to bump the bass and treble just a bit. But, you can boost the mids all the way, then bump the bass about 10%, favor the back pickup, and you'd get a massive throaty tone that Jaco would probably be jealous of. If you search for some Rich Brown videos on YouTube, you'll actually hear him using this same tone in some of his lesson videos. It really is a unique tone that FBass seems to excel at.
My BN5 can not only sound like the best jazz bass you ever heard, but the neck pickup soloed and preamp are capable of giving me the best PBass tone I've ever heard (and I've owned 3 Fender Custom Shop precisions over the years). I brought a PBass and the BN5 to a studio session once and the engineer wanted the PBass. I let him hear the FBass with the neck pickup and he changed his mind.
The feel of the neck on the FBass is also unique - the width tapers quite a bit from the 12th fret down to the 1st, and it is very flat. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's a compound radius that goes up to about 15 or 16 inches. The back of the neck is super smooth and buttery feeling. But so is the Dragonfly.
The FBass neck will be thinner than the Dragonfly - but not as thin as an Ibanez or an MTD.
Right now, my best basses are an MTD USA Saratoga 5, a Roscoe SKB 5, a limited edition Sadowsky Modern, and 2 F-Basses (the BN5 and a VF 5 that has a musicman style humbucker in the back).
All of the active basses - including the F-Bass VF model - sound like active basses. The BN5 sounds like a passive bass on steroids. The VF sounds active because it has all Aguilar pickups and electronics. There really is something special about that F-Bass preamp.
The BN5 is also the quietest bass I've ever owned. I've been in noisy electrical and lighting situations where even the MTD would generate noise, but the FBass never would - and I play it almost exclusively in single coil mode.
Out of all my basses, the best playing neck goes to the Roscoe. A close 2nd is a tie for the BN5 and the MTD. As for tone, if I want vintage-inspired, super jazz bass and/or PBass tones, I will always grab the BN5. If I want a very modern style of tone, I would grab the Sadowsky Modern 5 or the Roscoe.
I honestly don't play the Dragonfly much these days - mainly because I have so many other basses in rotation - but I would put it somewhere between the Sadowsky and MTD in terms of sound and flexibility of tone.
Hope that's helpful!
Well first, I'll thank you for the in depth review and comparison. You also have the brown burst BN5 I was looking for and both agree on the Roscoe winning out in the playability dept. Before you answered, I was wondering how it compares to a Roscoe I played a few times at a local GC, not too long ago. I still compare all basses to that one for playability. .
I'm always surprised when people say that the FBass sounds like a passive jazz bass because I hear a smooth, modern, almost too perfect, jazz bass tone. But then, I'm only hearing recordings and you guys actually have this thing.
I'm really glad I asked about this. What are the chances someone could actually compare one of my favorite and rare basses to one I'm looking at?
Looks like I may go the new build route, since pricing is similar. I hope it's not really 8 months for the build time, since what I want isn't really that drastically Custom. At least I feel confident to make the call. I promised myself a new bass when I completed hvac school (after 20 years of doing repairs) so, I'm all set. I may give the used market another week, while I decide on ebony or maple fb.
Thank you again so much for your input here. It was more than helpful. If I end up waiting 8 months, this is the place to do it, lol.
Hi !
I had left the F Bass club, but I am back with a BN5 Studio (picks to follow).
The strings need to be changed but I am pleasantly surprised with the bass.
The single coil / humbucker push pull is reversed compared to my previous BN5 (single coil is up), but the volume drop in humbucker mode is more subtle.
Speaking of strings, I have in stock :
- Sadowsky blue label nickels 40-125 (tapered B)
- DR Pure Blues 45-125
- DR Fat Beams 45-130
I have never tried any of these strings on a F, which would you recommend ?
I had left the F Bass club, but I am back with a BN5 Studio (picks to follow).
The strings need to be changed but I am pleasantly surprised with the bass.
The single coil / humbucker push pull is reversed compared to my previous BN5 (single coil is up), but the volume drop in humbucker mode is more subtle.
Speaking of strings, I have in stock :
- Sadowsky blue label nickels 40-125 (tapered B)
- DR Pure Blues 45-125
- DR Fat Beams 45-130
I have never tried any of these strings on a F, which would you recommend ?
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I’ve only played the DR’s and liked them both. If memory serves, there was a time that Fat Beams were an option from F Bass; maybe it still is. I’ve played Pure Blues on several and they were nice. I’d go Fat Beams from those options.
Do any of you have experience with the difference in the sound between the newer single coil pickups and the older non-single coils? I think they changed in the early 2000's. I have a 97 BNF5 which has the older pickups and was wondering about the sound difference. Thanks for any info.
I also found this on the FAQ. I know about the MarloweDK method (slapping detuned strings), but I never heard of this method.
How do I liven dead strings?
On an instrument in which the strings are through the end of the bridge:
How do I liven dead strings?
On an instrument in which the strings are through the end of the bridge:
- Detune enough so that you can push the ball of the string free of the bridge
- Place a protective layer (business card or cardboard) behind the bridge so as not to damage the finish
- Grip the string just above the saddle and spin it clockwise (to the right viewing from the bridge to the neck) two to three turns.
- Hold the string in place at the bridge to keep it from spinning back and re-tune. It should be as bright as the rest of the set
Wish me luck...... Drill 3 holes, solder/install Hope for the best 
Only the tone is push/pull as these are not single coil pickups. George gave me the wiring instructions.
Only the tone is push/pull as these are not single coil pickups. George gave me the wiring instructions.
Wish me luck...... Drill 3 holes, solder/install Hope for the best
Only the tone is push/pull as these are not single coil pickups. George gave me the wiring instructions.
View attachment 4837545
Yikes! Drill 3 holes in an F-bass! I'd need luck and a new pair of shorts!
