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Club Fbass (thread 13)

#4,841
Doing some measurements on the BNF5 vs some of my other basses. I thought I was a “17mm” fan based on my Spector 5 which is 17mm, but I think I might be more tolerant on 19mm spacing on the BNF5 because the nut is narrow compared to some of my 4 strings with 19mm bridge spacing. I’ve got a Dingwall 4 (tuned BEAD) and the nut spacing is wider and that makes the low end of the fretboard challenging for me to manage (I’ve got hand mobility issues).

Thinking about a BN5 fretted model in the near future, has anyone here played a 17mm and a 19mm and compared them? I’m wondering if I should go all in on a custom build with 17mm or save on the up-charge. Is it just the bridge spacing that gets adjusted, or is the nut narrower too? If the nut is the same, I think I’d be okay with the stock 19mm bridge spacing based on the BNF5 I have.

If anyone has any thoughts on how similar/different the fretted and fretless versions play, I’d be happy to hear it. My assumption is that they’d be nearly identical.
 
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#4,842
Hello F-Bass friends, I am the proud owner of these two fantastic BN5 basses. The white/maple one is from 2014 and the natural/ebony one from 2006. Both play and sound awesome. The white one a bit more crispy/bright and the ebony a bit fatter/more compressed, as one may expect.

Please allow me to ask following:

1) With exactly the same strings and set up the natural/ebony one is quite a bit louder/hotter, even with the pre amp les boosted. Any explanation for this? Is/are the pre amp and/or pickups different between 2014 and 2006?

2) The jack out of the white one is not making 100% good contact with the jack plug and when I start fiddling with it I can make the signal to drop out. This is easily avoided by making the the cord is clamped between the bass and the strap avoiding the plug to move. I do not think this is causing a lower signal. I tried to fix the jack out but it is difficult to reach the contact point. In fact I think I better have it replaced. What are the exact specs/model type of the jackout?

Thank you!

Willem
IMG_6772.jpeg
 
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#4,843
monsterthompson said:
Doing some measurements on the BNF5 vs some of my other basses. I thought I was a “17mm” fan based on my Spector 5 which is 17mm, but I think I might be more tolerant on 19mm spacing on the BNF5 because the nut is narrow compared to some of my 4 strings with 19mm bridge spacing. I’ve got a Dingwall 4 (tuned BEAD) and the nut spacing is wider and that makes the low end of the fretboard challenging for me to manage (I’ve got hand mobility issues).

Thinking about a BN5 fretted model in the near future, has anyone here played a 17mm and a 19mm and compared them? I’m wondering if I should go all in on a custom build with 17mm or save on the up-charge. Is it just the bridge spacing that gets adjusted, or is the nut narrower too? If the nut is the same, I think I’d be okay with the stock 19mm bridge spacing based on the BNF5 I have.

If anyone has any thoughts on how similar/different the fretted and fretless versions play, I’d be happy to hear it. My assumption is that they’d be nearly identical.
Click to expand...

When relaxed at home and fiddling a bit 17mm is fine and may even allow for faster runs fingerstyle but when playing live I prefer more space since I play with more energy. Also for slap I find 19mm more comfortable. But this is sooo personal... I like 19mm always on 5 and 6 strrings.. however.. an old Tobias 5 string with 218mm feels really good too... so there is more to it than spacing, like neck shape, thickness, radius, spacing bridge/nut, wood species (response), sound...
 
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#4,844
will4bass said:
Hello F-Bass friends, I am the proud owner of these two fantastic BN5 basses. The white/maple one is from 2014 and the natural/ebony one from 2006. Both play and sound awesome. The white one a bit more crispy/bright and the ebony a bit fatter/more compressed, as one may expect.

Please allow me to ask following:

1) With exactly the same strings and set up the natural/ebony one is quite a bit louder/hotter, even with the pre amp les boosted. Any explanation for this? Is/are the pre amp and/or pickups different between 2014 and 2006?

2) The jack out of the white one is not making 100% good contact with the jack plug and when I start fiddling with it I can make the signal to drop out. This is easily avoided by making the the cord is clamped between the bass and the strap avoiding the plug to move. I do not think this is causing a lower signal. I tried to fix the jack out but it is difficult to reach the contact point. In fact I think I better have it replaced. What are the exact specs/model type of the jackout?

Thank you!

WillemView attachment 4922907
Click to expand...


I had the same problem with my output jack, largely dependent on the cable I was using. FBass said the replacement is this one: I got one, but haven’t installed it yet. Switched cables. Lol

EP-0152 Switchcraft® 152B Stereo Long Threaded Jack
 
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#4,845
#4,846
@will4bass i know it might be obvious but have you tried pulling the volume pot for quieter one? You might have it fixed to be in humbucking mode when pressed, the other one could be fixed to be single coil mode when pressed. Both modes are quite different on terms of loudness
 
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#4,847
JRMK said:
@will4bass i know it might be obvious but have you tried pulling the volume pot for quieter one? You might have it fixed to be in humbucking mode when pressed, the other one could be fixed to be single coil mode when pressed. Both modes are quite different on terms of loudness
Click to expand...
Sensible thought but yes I did try that. Both are loudest with the pot pushed in ('standard position')
 
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#4,848
will4bass said:
so there is more to it than spacing, like neck shape, thickness, radius, spacing bridge/nut, wood species (response), sound...
Click to expand...

This is certainly something I’ve pondered. My fretless is a fairly recent model so I’d expect the neck profile to be comparable to the current generation of necks, and I wouldn’t expect a shale difference simply based on frets/fretless.

I’m mostly a flat pick player and occasionally do finger style, but no slap. I’ve mostly been playing a Nordy Acinonyx lately and the nut width/spacing is pretty comparable when compared to the BN5, which is pushing me towards the BN5. My main reservation is probably based on picking up a 5 string Fender J recently and absolutely hating the feel of it. I attributed most of that to the bridge spacing, but I’m realizing I was oversimplifying that.
 
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#4,849
monsterthompson said:
Doing some measurements on the BNF5 vs some of my other basses. I thought I was a “17mm” fan based on my Spector 5 which is 17mm, but I think I might be more tolerant on 19mm spacing on the BNF5 because the nut is narrow compared to some of my 4 strings with 19mm bridge spacing. I’ve got a Dingwall 4 (tuned BEAD) and the nut spacing is wider and that makes the low end of the fretboard challenging for me to manage (I’ve got hand mobility issues).

Thinking about a BN5 fretted model in the near future, has anyone here played a 17mm and a 19mm and compared them? I’m wondering if I should go all in on a custom build with 17mm or save on the up-charge. Is it just the bridge spacing that gets adjusted, or is the nut narrower too? If the nut is the same, I think I’d be okay with the stock 19mm bridge spacing based on the BNF5 I have.

If anyone has any thoughts on how similar/different the fretted and fretless versions play, I’d be happy to hear it. My assumption is that they’d be nearly identical.
Click to expand...
I would reach out to Marcel at F Bass and ask him. When I was looking at getting an F Bass, he was super helpful and I never felt like he was just trying to sell me something, just answer my questions (one of the benefits of working at a company with an excellent product, I suppose ;) ).
 
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#4,855
Has anyone repaired a nut that has 1 slot cut too low? My E string has always been the one string that buzzes, unless it is much higher at the bridge than the other strings. My first string change, verified this.
What material can I use to bring it up a bit? Thanks.
 

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