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With my Fbass inbound, I wanted to ask -
I'd love to get a ramp for the bass. I remember way back, Fbass did aftermarket pickup covers, ramps, knobs, etc. Do they still offer that? Or does anyone have a recommendation for a custom ramp?
I'd love to get a ramp for the bass. I remember way back, Fbass did aftermarket pickup covers, ramps, knobs, etc. Do they still offer that? Or does anyone have a recommendation for a custom ramp?
I inquired about one a few years ago. They did them at that time and I suspect they still do. If I wanted to add one, I’d call my F Bass dealer or F Bass directly.
I have one F Bass with a ramp and it’s the best execution of any I’ve played.
I had a BN6 with a ramp for a bit. Ended up pulling it off and cracking a knob the first day I got it while doing it lol. Felt real smart that day. That said, I’m not a ramp guy at all, but it was made flawlessly with an awesome piece of ebony and had a perfect curve.
I had a luthier make me a ramp. It is all I could hope for and follows pickup curvature. I think BN5s are nearly perfect for ramp players, unlike a lot of jazz bass style basses.
1. Pickup covers are radiused (99% regular pickups in all other brands aren't)
2. Magnets are not exposed so if you have ramp very close to strings, it won't touch them
3. Height adjustment screws are not on the side of pickup like majority of J singles (making it hard to carve ramp sides)
1. Pickup covers are radiused (99% regular pickups in all other brands aren't)
2. Magnets are not exposed so if you have ramp very close to strings, it won't touch them
3. Height adjustment screws are not on the side of pickup like majority of J singles (making it hard to carve ramp sides)
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Yes they do. This year, I had Marcel and team build me two for my BN5 with the challenge of matching the burl top. They did an amazing job. But....they are not "inexpensive".
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The only thing I like about this is that it’s an FBass. Lol
I dig it but it's nearly $10,000!
For those that have a BN5 Deluxe, how valuable do you find the extra switches? I could see the series option being something I might like but other than that...I'm pretty thrilled with the sound of my F Bass stock.
For those that have a BN5 Deluxe, how valuable do you find the extra switches? I could see the series option being something I might like but other than that...I'm pretty thrilled with the sound of my F Bass stock.
I have a Deluxe and a BNF with flats. It isn't easy to to a comparison of flats to rounds, so I don't feel like I can give a true apples to apples comparison there. I did manage to test a BN5 Standard in a store, so I got a taste of that sound with rounds there. I do think you sacrifice some of the signature BN sound for more traditional hum bucker and single coil sounds.
Otherwise, I find the switching pretty useful. The output of the series settings is pretty strong and compressed sounding with some thick mid and rolled back highs. I do like having the option of switching pickup sounds on the fly, and I play a variety of styles from punk to ambient, pick and finger style, but no slap. I feel like there's always a sound I can get to if my current sound isn't fitting. More scoop? Try parallel. More presence? Try single. More everything? Try parallel.
With the dual volume controls I do find myself occasional blending a little series or single bridge with a parallel neck.
I don't know that it is worth the price to "upgrade" from an BN you are already happy with. In fact, I still find myself considering a BN Standard.
My BN5 is a ‘99 and has no coil split option because it has split P bass pups underneath the humbucker shells so basically it’s just a passive or active mode option, that’s it, and I love it that way, no fiddling around with different knobs, easy to get sounds that work in any musical situation on stage or off and because of the pickups has a different sound than the “normal” BNs, a little more like a P bass with an attitude
I’m sure the BN Deluxe is amazing but the thing that truly makes an F Bass what it is, is just the beautiful work George and company do along with that preamp. It’s gold and I wouldn’t change a thing. Its own character. Plus it’s getting way expensive.
As a newbie with an Fbass on the way, on the topic of preamps - I'm coming from a decade of primarily passive basses, with a volume and tone knob.
What is the layout on a standard BN4?
What is the layout on a standard BN4?
With push pull on each Vol for hum canceling (dummy coil not dual coil humbucker design). Push pull on the tone to bypass the pre amp.
Congrats! Sure, we’re biased, but F Basses are pretty dang great!
Bass, mid and treble are all boost only, fyi. So if they are all the way down, it’s the same as running it passive.
All true and I certainly like my standard BN's. So much so, that if I had to pick just one to keep today, it would be my BN5 flat carve, roasted alder/roasted maple, in Hale blue. It is also true that a new F bass, of any construction, is more than it was a few years ago. However, that can be said of anything in today's world. Let's price hamburger or 2X4's or gas. Certainly fancy tops and additional options drive up the price, but that has always been true. When I compare what is available from other boutique builders and what those options cost; F Bass is a bargain to me. My Alembic has practically doubled, 14k>26K, in cost for a new one today vs 3 years ago. I see lots of production "US boutique" basses made in other countries for 4, 5, 6 thousand. Price a new Sadowsky made by Rogers team in NY or a Fodera made by Vinnie or one of his apprentices. That isn't to say they are not worth it, just that they no longer cost what they did. There are some high quality basses being made by European luthiers, but even they have started to climb in price-- what was $4500 in 2020 now approaches $7000. Michael league has a signature Italian bass that looks sweet and sounds like, well, Michael, but isn't it like $7K?
To be fair, my stock seafoam green BN5 with maple neck and fretboard was less than 5K 3 years ago and it is as good an instrument as any I have played, but I do like the frosting and I love what George and Co do every time. Best boutique value, in my opinion, around today.
To be fair, my stock seafoam green BN5 with maple neck and fretboard was less than 5K 3 years ago and it is as good an instrument as any I have played, but I do like the frosting and I love what George and Co do every time. Best boutique value, in my opinion, around today.
FBass preamp is really one of the best!
Lately, because I’ve grown to love the P bass tone, I’ve been running the neck pu soloed with a slight mid boost. You really can’t get a bad tone out of these!
And I agree, considering all you get with a standard FBass; matching shells on custom pu’s, matching cover, proprietary custom preamp, hand crafted…They are a great value, if not a good deal! Start adding options though, and things can get out of hand. Lol
Lately, because I’ve grown to love the P bass tone, I’ve been running the neck pu soloed with a slight mid boost. You really can’t get a bad tone out of these!
And I agree, considering all you get with a standard FBass; matching shells on custom pu’s, matching cover, proprietary custom preamp, hand crafted…They are a great value, if not a good deal! Start adding options though, and things can get out of hand. Lol
