Club Fbass (thread 13)

[jim nolte]

My Studio has 20 frets indeed.
For what I play, I don't mind at all. But I understand when you buy a high end bass, you want everything extra, including the number of frets.

BN5 Studio front by Eneade, sur Flickr

BN5 Studio back by Eneade, sur Flickr

Does it have the Aguilar pre or Fbass pre, if I remember correctly the Studios had the Aguilar, I only played a Studio once and loved it but it was just a month after I purchased my BN5 and had zero funds.

 

[Chace90]

Does it have the Aguilar pre or Fbass pre, if I remember correctly the Studios had the Aguilar, I only played a Studio once and loved it but it was just a month after I purchased my BN5 and had zero funds.

No, Studios I believe all have the F Bass preamp. I couldn't say if the preamp from the late 90s/early 00s differed from the regular preamp. But I don't think Aguilar was even making their onboard preamp yet at that time, but I could be wrong.

Regardless my re-issue definitely has the F Bass preamp. The main electronics difference on the Studio is that it "has Seymour Duncan pickups. Spec’d just like the ones they used to make for us before we made our own pickups." That's what Marcel told me when I got my Studio.

 

[Chace90]

Here's a pic of my VF5 and Studio.

 

[NeilGB]

Here are my 3 F-Basses. I just got the Blue Deluxe. I have owned a number of F-Basses and this Deluxe is the best for sure. It is neck through (so sexy!), mac ebony fret board, maple top, 24 fret. Not sure what it weighs but it is light. My plan was to keep all 3 but the BN5 and the Deluxe (in single coil mode) are so similar I can't justify keeping both. The PMM isn't going anywhere - it has a both a great Stingray and P bass sound. Truly 2 in one.

 

[monsterthompson]

Mmm. Deee lux

 

[Dave Hill]

View attachment 4905672 Here are my 3 F-Basses. I just got the Blue Deluxe. I have owned a number of F-Basses and this Deluxe is the best for sure. It is neck through (so sexy!), mac ebony fret board, maple top, 24 fret. Not sure what it weighs but it is light. My plan was to keep all 3 but the BN5 and the Deluxe (in single coil mode) are so similar I can't justify keeping both. The PMM isn't going anywhere - it has a both a great Stingray and P bass sound. Truly 2 in one.
View attachment 4905672

Let’s see a back shot of the neck-through!!!

 

[NeilGB]

It is hard to get the best angle on this. It looks (and feels) much better in real life.

 

[jim nolte]

No, Studios I believe all have the F Bass preamp. I couldn't say if the preamp from the late 90s/early 00s differed from the regular preamp. But I don't think Aguilar was even making their onboard preamp yet at that time, but I could be wrong.

Regardless my re-issue definitely has the F Bass preamp. The main electronics difference on the Studio is that it "has Seymour Duncan pickups. Spec’d just like the ones they used to make for us before we made our own pickups." That's what Marcel told me when I got my Studio.

Aguilar made the preamp in Alan Carons’ blue fretted bass with the P pups which I think pre- dated the Studio series and I was confusing the re- issue of that with the Studio re- issue..

 

[MattLplaysBass]

View attachment 4905672 Here are my 3 F-Basses. I just got the Blue Deluxe. I have owned a number of F-Basses and this Deluxe is the best for sure. It is neck through (so sexy!), mac ebony fret board, maple top, 24 fret. Not sure what it weighs but it is light. My plan was to keep all 3 but the BN5 and the Deluxe (in single coil mode) are so similar I can't justify keeping both. The PMM isn't going anywhere - it has a both a great Stingray and P bass sound. Truly 2 in one.
View attachment 4905672

I’m glad you grabbed that blue burst deluxe, it was REALLY tempting… if I’d have known it was lightweight, more so… good to read you're loving it

 

[Archaeobass]

View attachment 4905672 Here are my 3 F-Basses. I just got the Blue Deluxe. I have owned a number of F-Basses and this Deluxe is the best for sure. It is neck through (so sexy!), mac ebony fret board, maple top, 24 fret. Not sure what it weighs but it is light. My plan was to keep all 3 but the BN5 and the Deluxe (in single coil mode) are so similar I can't justify keeping both. The PMM isn't going anywhere - it has a both a great Stingray and P bass sound. Truly 2 in one.
View attachment 4905672

I'm glad you're enjoying the PMM, Neil.

 

[B_E_A_D_G_C]

Agreed- while I am NOT much of a 6 string player, my wallet was very happy to see that narrow spacing... not to be outdone, someone posted this in the FB group... jeez, I'm glad I love my BN5 as is, because these fancy topped deluxes are SO tempting... also, I'm intrigued by the separate battery boxes now.

View attachment 4897038 View attachment 4897039 View attachment 4897040 View attachment 4897041

That’s mine ! I just got it !

 

[B_E_A_D_G_C]

Here’s my new BN6 Deluxe . Donovan @ Fretspot nailed it for me. Absolute dream bass

 

[JRMK]

Here’s my new BN6 Deluxe . Donovan @ Fretspot nailed it for me. Absolute dream bass

Piece of art. I would probably hang it on the wall in proper lighting setup in living room and just watch it as a trophee lol

 

[B_E_A_D_G_C]

Piece of art. I would probably hang it on the wall in proper lighting setup in living room and just watch it as a trophee lol

Not a bad idea lol

 

[barrybass33]

Hey f bass club. I just list my VF5 custom 33” for sale in the classifieds if any club members are interested….

 

[Heikki]

I’m a fairly fresh F bass Bn5 player. A great and versatile bass. My only issue is with the B string: compared to other strings it sounds a bit… I wouldn’t say weaker, but sort of more open or less compressed, and therefore a bit less audible, or uneven at least. I currently use Dunlop Marcus Miller bright steel set 45-65-85-105-125. I wonder if a change to a thicker B string would help. I would appreciate your experience on this matter. I would especially value opinions on steel strings, whose tone I’m strongly keen on. Cheers.

 

[Dave Hill]

FBass signature strings are worth a try.

 

[Jugghaid]

Current one on the left

The one I never shoulda sold

 

[will4bass]

I’m a fairly fresh F bass Bn5 player. A great and versatile bass. My only issue is with the B string: compared to other strings it sounds a bit… I wouldn’t say weaker, but sort of more open or less compressed, and therefore a bit less audible, or uneven at least. I currently use Dunlop Marcus Miller bright steel set 45-65-85-105-125. I wonder if a change to a thicker B string would help. I would appreciate your experience on this matter. I would especially value opinions on steel strings, whose tone I’m strongly keen on. Cheers.

The low B on my F basses is as strong as any other string. I’m not a fan of Dunlop MM brights but I used different strings and they all behaved well. Maybe check you set up, like string-pickup distance and/or string height. zif the strings are too low the buzz may cause volume drops.

 

[ZuluFoxtrot]

@Heikki I have a thunderous B string on my AC5, but the B on my BN5 didn't have the same snarl. That B string on the AC5 has stayed in position after 4 or so EADG string changes because it is a "keeper".

So over the weekend, it was time and I changed the strings on my "new-to-me" BN5 recently and the B string came alive, so I can only guess the one on it was a dud. I used the F Bass signature strings, and prefer them on both the AC5 and BN5.

Note - my favorite strings on my fender 62 Jazz are TI Jazz Rounds but on the F Basses I have, they just don't have as much of an impact as they do on the Fender.

Also check the setup - string distance to pickups and height at first fret...someone posted a setup "guide" from F Bass recently. If you can't find it I'll post a picture here of it. LMK. Good Luck