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Club Fbass (thread 13)

Been playing around with recording my BN5 Deluxe and testing some hardware and plugin signal chains with amp and cab sims, and even reamping a dry signal through pedals. I think I’m leaning towards running the bass in passive mode. It just seems to “work” for what I’m doing, as much as I’d like to keep the preamp on. For context I’m working on “heavier” metal/industrial/punk sound ideas. I’m trying to standardize and simplify signal chain so I can finish raw ideas faster. I tend to use my Spector Euro 5 with EMG pickups for this stuff, but no reason not to try the BN.

Anyone here find themselves favoring the passive BN sound?

No. But, the preamp fairly seamlessly picks up from the where the passive sound “ends”. More so than any other on-board I’ve tried. I ebb and flow between cranking the pre and keeping it low. Sounds great everywhere.

That said, if the bass in passive mode plays better with your recording setup or sounds better effected and /or in the mix…
Pull up the tone knob and roll tape!
FBass can do it.
lol
 
No. But, the preamp fairly seamlessly picks up from the where the passive sound “ends”. More so than any other on-board I’ve tried. I ebb and flow between cranking the pre and keeping it low. Sounds great everywhere.

That said, if the bass in passive mode plays better with your recording setup or sounds better effected and /or in the mix…
Pull up the tone knob and roll tape!
FBass can do it.
lol

True, but I have never had to or needed/wanted to do that.:)

I may try that now tho!
 
No. But, the preamp fairly seamlessly picks up from the where the passive sound “ends”. More so than any other on-board I’ve tried. I ebb and flow between cranking the pre and keeping it low. Sounds great everywhere.

That said, if the bass in passive mode plays better with your recording setup or sounds better effected and /or in the mix…
Pull up the tone knob and roll tape!
FBass can do it.
lol

It sure can :)

I was mostly experimenting with a few plugins and reamping and comparing my F Bass to my Spector Euro 5 which has been my go-to bass for more conventional bass recordings (as opposed to my experimental noise making interests). The Euro doesn’t have a bypass for its preamp, so I was expecting the two basses to record more similarly with the F in active mode.

I did find myself thinking - maybe do want a BN Standard in my collection :) The Deluxe is a joy to play, so it’s hard not to lust after more F Bass goodness.
 
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It sure can :)

I was mostly experimenting with a few plugins and reamping and comparing my F Bass to my Spector Euro 5 which has been my go-to bass for more conventional bass recordings (as opposed to my experimental noise making interests). The Euro doesn’t have a bypass for its preamp, so I was expecting the two basses to record more similarly with the F in active mode.

I did find myself thinking - maybe do want a BN Standard in my collection :) The Deluxe is a joy to play, so it’s hard not to lust after more F Bass goodness.
What were your observations between the F and Spector? Strictly for recording, I seem to favor the rawness of a passive Fender style instrument.

And you definitely need a Standard BN5. I’d wager that you’d sell the Deluxe!
 
What were your observations between the F and Spector? Strictly for recording, I seem to favor the rawness of a passive Fender style instrument.

And you definitely need a Standard BN5. I’d wager that you’d sell the Deluxe!

I was playing along with some Ugritone Death Metal drum libraries for backing tracks with no other instruments. I was also testing out some settings of VST cab sims. I found the Spector fit in with what I wanted to hear more easily, but it’s also the bass I’ve recorded with the most in recent years. I was able to get the Deluxe to work but I didn’t feel like it took a little more tweaking. I’ll need to layer in other instruments to really test it.

I found the Spector with both humbuckers or the bridge with a bit of neck blended was working. For the Deluxe I liked the neck on full in parallel setting with some single coil bridge blended in. I also like the double single b+n sound.

Overall I just find the Deluxe a joy to play and love several of the pickup settings playing solo. Obviously a mix of any kind requires some compromises and adjustments to make everything work. I also notice some of the technique differences when using the deluxe. I find my picking attack to be much softer because something about that just feels right. I’d hazard a guess that my playing dynamics are different as a result. I’m sure I’ll get it sorted out.
 
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From my experience, once you get the first one, you only want more. :smug:

Speaking of…

Purchased a VF5 J from Dave Avenius, formerly from Aguilar, but now he’s with DR Strings. I’m not typically a big black bass fan but the gold guard and block inlays spoke to me…:)
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Speaking of…

Purchased a VF5 J from Dave Avenius, formerly from Aguilar, but now he’s with DR Strings. I’m not typically a big black bass fan but the gold guard and block inlays spoke to me…:)

That is a sharp bass. I’d have bought it too! I will say that it is easy to be all in on F Bass— they make beautiful sounding works of art. I also really like talking to Marcel and George when I can; they are first class.