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Well first off, thanks for the advise and help I got from here and via pm. After searching online for a good, used BN5, I decided to go with a new one and called Donovan at Fretspot. I told him I just wanted a brown burst BN5 with a maple fb. We talked about the price increase and the 8 to 14 month wait time and then... it hits him. He just got the exact bass I was looking for, from FBass, just the day before. My description jogged his memory and we struck a deal, at the old price (thank you Donovan). He sent a few pics and gave a brief description while I sent funds. 5 long days later, here we are.
I don't have to... but I will tell you how seriously impressed I am with this bass. The denim/leatherette gig bag alone, may be better than my reunion blues bag. I opened it up and was stunned. Pics really don't do this bass justice. The neck alone is subtly flamed in back and so is the fb. I was told this bass was 10.6lbs and was a little concerned but I figured, my Atelier is 10.2 so I'll be fine. When I stopped drooling long enough to pick up the bass, I was treated to balance so perfect, it actually felt lighter than the Atelier. No joke. I grabbed it at the neck heel and could've balanced it on one finger. I put on the strap in the pic and stood with it for a bit and it felt better than normal, it actually felt good. I did some quick sound testing through my Rumble 40 and before I could even absorb the tone, the feel of the neck and the way I'm able to move on this thing had my full attention. It really reminds me of a Roscoe PJ 5, I used to play at Sam Ash for several weeks until it sold.
I don't know if this is 18 or 19mm but it's the "easiest to play" bass I've come across so far, like that Roscoe. Both hands move effortlessly and I'm playing and slapping very cleanly. I'm going to play this bass exclusively for some time, to really bond with it.
I don't have to do a tone analysis, especially here but for those doing research, I have and have owned many good bases at different price points... but something is different here. This bass demonstrates that there are levels to craftsmanship. I've done carpentry and home repair for over 20 years, believe me, I know. I played this bass passive for like, 30 min before I turned on the preamp and 5 minutes before even plugging it up. Mostly because of how easy it is to play but that tone is truly icing on the cake. By the way, all I did was tune it up. The set up and action are immediately amazing. I'm not even changing strings. It's perfect.
I don't have to... but I will tell you how seriously impressed I am with this bass. The denim/leatherette gig bag alone, may be better than my reunion blues bag. I opened it up and was stunned. Pics really don't do this bass justice. The neck alone is subtly flamed in back and so is the fb. I was told this bass was 10.6lbs and was a little concerned but I figured, my Atelier is 10.2 so I'll be fine. When I stopped drooling long enough to pick up the bass, I was treated to balance so perfect, it actually felt lighter than the Atelier. No joke. I grabbed it at the neck heel and could've balanced it on one finger. I put on the strap in the pic and stood with it for a bit and it felt better than normal, it actually felt good. I did some quick sound testing through my Rumble 40 and before I could even absorb the tone, the feel of the neck and the way I'm able to move on this thing had my full attention. It really reminds me of a Roscoe PJ 5, I used to play at Sam Ash for several weeks until it sold.
I don't know if this is 18 or 19mm but it's the "easiest to play" bass I've come across so far, like that Roscoe. Both hands move effortlessly and I'm playing and slapping very cleanly. I'm going to play this bass exclusively for some time, to really bond with it.
I don't have to do a tone analysis, especially here but for those doing research, I have and have owned many good bases at different price points... but something is different here. This bass demonstrates that there are levels to craftsmanship. I've done carpentry and home repair for over 20 years, believe me, I know. I played this bass passive for like, 30 min before I turned on the preamp and 5 minutes before even plugging it up. Mostly because of how easy it is to play but that tone is truly icing on the cake. By the way, all I did was tune it up. The set up and action are immediately amazing. I'm not even changing strings. It's perfect.
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I've played through a lot of rigs and there are very few that I still have GAS for, but a full Hellborg rig is at the top of the list.
And what a sweet looking bass. Congrats!
Thank you! I didn't think anyone would recognize the Hellborg rig. Other than KevK, who has always come through for me, since the Warwick days. I'll go to my other spot this weekend to try it through my Ampeg/Bergantino rigs.I've played through a lot of rigs and there are very few that I still have GAS for, but a full Hellborg rig is at the top of the list.
And what a sweet looking bass. Congrats!
I’m not Donovan, but I did buy my BN5 from him (and ordered an MTD 535 through him too)
Oops, lol! I expanded the profile pic a little (without my glasses) and thought it was him. My mistake.
Either way, I see MTD is a popular companion for the BN5. Great, modern tones from MTD.
I don't usually like blue basses but FBass blue is in a whole other league. I would definitely sport that! It's beautiful.
You came really close to scoring the Hellborg rack a couple years ago. Shipped to WA state instead. Turned into a claims nightmare too - ugh! I still really miss it though.
The only other basses that I have played that have. as good of balance as my BN5 have been headless designs and in my experience a perfectly balanced bass at 10 lbs feels lighter then a not so well balanced one that weighs 9 lbs, congrats!
Thank you! I was up past midnight, standing with a strap on (the bass, lol) and there are no shoulder issues this morning. I'm going to weigh it today, just to be sure of the weight. Also, I'll measure the string spacing. I have 18mm and 19mm basses that don't feel like this. Amazing physics going on here.
Balances perfectly on your knee too. Try that with a FSO! Lol
Fbasses are tops!
Fbasses are tops!
That’s a smokin bass! Plain Jane ash/maple BN5 is the way to go.
Still not liking the new metal knobs, though. George and Marcel really need to rethink that, IMHO.
Yeah, I've always preferred a bass without a fancy top. I've had a few but I could take it or leave it. I wanted wooden knobs but the small, aluminum ones feel good and they are not in the way when I palm mute. They are not expensive and I'll probably get some, just to have them since they are really nice looking.
Thanks man. If not for you, I'd be waiting many months. So glad I took the plunge.
