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Club Fbass (thread 13)

#5,941
@monsterthompson have you tried the GHS Super Steels Contact Core? I landed on those for my BN5...and for the BN5 Deluxe I landed on GHS Super Steels (non contact core) as my favorites.

I really like the F Bass strings, but to get a good strong B the pickups need to be really close to the strings, which can create some of those overtones or lack of clear fundamental, especially at >12th fret on B...which I don't like to use the B up there anyway but...sometimes happens.
 
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#5,942
@ZuluFoxtrot I haven’t yet. I’m working my way through the SIT offerings first. Ideally I’d like to be able to use one brand on all my basses to simplify ordering. I need a tapered B for one of my Spectors and GHS doesn’t offer a tapered option. That said, I might end up using something else on that Spector anyway, so trying to find a single brand for my string needs might be a fool’s errand.

I forgot that I did lower my pickups on the BN5 at one point and haven’t raised them back. Maybe I need to try that today.
 
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#5,943
Also. A picture. Because why not. I love this bass.
IMG_2524.jpeg
 
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#5,945
String update 743.
Tonight I tried adjusting the pickup heights with the SIT Power Wound strings and got some improvement. I also tried using a tapered 125 and I think that’s closer to the sound I’m after.

There’s a little “dead zone” on the 5th fret low B where something doesn’t quite sound as good as it does on say the 3rd or 7th fret. Some of this is based on EQ and preamp settings with my SansAmp BDDI (and possibly my room sound).

Overall I like the strings. They are a bit tricky to wrap around the tuning pegs compared to strings with thinner wraps/silks. They lack a stainless zing and scoop but offer more warmth and some of this can be adjusted with EQ. They do feel a bit nicer on the fingers.

I’m not sure if I want to try the SIT stainless exposed strings. They are “Conklin” designated and the gauges are odd relative to other 5 string sets. Perhaps I’ll give the GHS or La Bella a shot soon. I’m considering La Bella black tapes on by BNF so maybe La Bella Super Steps will get ordered at the same time. I’ve spent a bit more than I wanted to on strings this month but I wanted to have fresh ones from a few different manufacturers to test at the same time.
 
#5,946
Has anyone here tried the DR Long Necks on an BN5? My main concern is that they have a taper that’s longer than other stings to accommodate a through-body installation. However, a tapered stainless could be what I’m after. I have another 5 string Spector that I’d like to try them on too, so maybe I should just take the plunge.


Editing to add: Just played along to some AC/DC songs and the SIT Power Wound on the BN5 sound pretty good for that.
 
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#5,947
So I’ve got a bee in my bonnet, and I’m contemplating doing a hardware swap on my green BN5 Deluxe to switch to all black. I’m assuming a Hipshot A bridge installation should essentially be unscrewing the existing one and dropping in the new one then adjusting the saddles and intonation. Knobs should be a no brainer. I’m assuming I can find tuners that match the mounting holes and they would fit right in too. Is it really that simple or am I assuming too much.

Along those lines would it be a simple swap to switch out the Hipshot B on my BN5 for a Hipshot A? I’ll take a look at the spec sheets from Hipshot and probably email Marcel. I just thought I’d ask here in case anyone had anything to add.
 
#5,948
monsterthompson said:
So I’ve got a bee in my bonnet, and I’m contemplating doing a hardware swap on my green BN5 Deluxe to switch to all black. I’m assuming a Hipshot A bridge installation should essentially be unscrewing the existing one and dropping in the new one then adjusting the saddles and intonation. Knobs should be a no brainer. I’m assuming I can find tuners that match the mounting holes and they would fit right in too. Is it really that simple or am I assuming too much.

Along those lines would it be a simple swap to switch out the Hipshot B on my BN5 for a Hipshot A? I’ll take a look at the spec sheets from Hipshot and probably email Marcel. I just thought I’d ask here in case anyone had anything to add.
Click to expand...
Tuners should be an easy swap- you can use Gotoh GB707s, or the GB350 Res-o-lites, or In theory the Hipshot 3/8" ultralites should work,,,

As for bridges, switch a Hipshot B for an A is NOT a simple swap out... you'd have to do drill some new holes, and the neck angles are different...
 
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#5,949
monsterthompson said:
So I’ve got a bee in my bonnet, and I’m contemplating doing a hardware swap on my green BN5 Deluxe to switch to all black. I’m assuming a Hipshot A bridge installation should essentially be unscrewing the existing one and dropping in the new one then adjusting the saddles and intonation. Knobs should be a no brainer. I’m assuming I can find tuners that match the mounting holes and they would fit right in too. Is it really that simple or am I assuming too much.

Along those lines would it be a simple swap to switch out the Hipshot B on my BN5 for a Hipshot A? I’ll take a look at the spec sheets from Hipshot and probably email Marcel. I just thought I’d ask here in case anyone had anything to add.
Click to expand...
bucephylus said:
Mike had a 3 screw A bridge installed. The B bridge has 4 screws; so drilling is required.

I removed the A bridge, drew a pencil line through the centers of the 3 holes, marked crosses 9mm from center (location of inner holes on the B), placed the B bridge, placed score marks in the center of each B hole, drilled 1/16” pilot holes at score marks, drilled 7/64 holes to proper depth, and finally installed the bridge.

I had measured the G saddle elevation on the A bridge, set the G saddle on the B by caliper, and set the remaining heights and stagger by eye prior to install, which turned out to be really close, requiring minimal adjustment.

The base plate footprint is nearly identical. The mass difference is due to more material being removed in the B bridge.
Click to expand...
 
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#5,950
MattLplaysBass said:
Tuners should be an easy swap- you can use Gotoh GB707s, or the GB350 Res-o-lites, or In theory the Hipshot 3/8" ultralites should work,,,

As for bridges, switch a Hipshot B for an A is NOT a simple swap out... you'd have to do drill some new holes, and the neck angles are different...
Click to expand...

Thanks! I started looking at the Hipshot page yesterday and noted the difference in mounting holes for A and B and realized I'd probably avoid changing bridges on my BN5 Standard which has a B style. As for my BN5 Deluxe, I'm considering the swap from chrome/silver to black.

I'll look at the tuners today.
 
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#5,951
monsterthompson said:
Thanks! I started looking at the Hipshot page yesterday and noted the difference in mounting holes for A and B and realized I'd probably avoid changing bridges on my BN5 Standard which has a B style. As for my BN5 Deluxe, I'm considering the swap from chrome/silver to black.

I'll look at the tuners today.
Click to expand...
You could reach out to Hipshot and ask them, they could probably make you a custom bridge so you wouldn’t have to drill, but $$$
 
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#5,954
Lots of builders use the A style bridge too, and others use different bridges. To each their own. I personally prefer the a-style, if I got my BN5 over again I would have spec'ed it with one, but it's not a deal breaker (I did get an custom A style on my MTD USA bass). For string changes, probably the most I interact with my bridge, the a style is my preference.
 
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#5,955
hi all, here’s a couple of F Basses I’ve seen for sale in Southern Ontario that perhaps someone here might be interested in. I don’t recall seeing either one listed here and I have no connection at all with either seller, it’s just that both of these basses have been listed for sale for a while now and I thought it would be worth spreading the word in case someone wants to contact either seller asking if they’d be willing to ship. also because they’re both priced in Canadian funds they might be particularly appealing given the current exchange rate.

Buy or Sell Used Guitars Locally in City of Toronto | Free Local Classifieds - Kijiji

Guitars and bass are available for sale in City of Toronto- Gibson, Ibanez, Fender, Epiphone, Martin, electric, acoustic guitars & more on Kijiji Canada's #1 Local Marketplaces.
www.kijiji.ca www.kijiji.ca

Facebook

www.facebook.com www.facebook.com

mods if this type of thing isn’t allowed please feel free to delete.

cheers!
Jim
 
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#5,956
fretless714 said:
hi all, here’s a couple of F Basses I’ve seen for sale in Southern Ontario that perhaps someone here might be interested in. I don’t recall seeing either one listed here and I have no connection at all with either seller, it’s just that both of these basses have been listed for sale for a while now and I thought it would be worth spreading the word in case someone wants to contact either seller asking if they’d be willing to ship. also because they’re both priced in Canadian funds they might be particularly appealing given the current exchange rate.

Buy or Sell Used Guitars Locally in City of Toronto | Free Local Classifieds - Kijiji

Guitars and bass are available for sale in City of Toronto- Gibson, Ibanez, Fender, Epiphone, Martin, electric, acoustic guitars & more on Kijiji Canada's #1 Local Marketplaces.
www.kijiji.ca www.kijiji.ca

Facebook

www.facebook.com www.facebook.com

mods if this type of thing isn’t allowed please feel free to delete.

cheers!
Jim
Click to expand...
also it goes without saying that anyone looking to buy anything online from someone you don't know should exercise caution and due diligence.
 
#5,959
I’m kinda tempted to put a set of these nylons on my BN5 standard. It would be easy enough to move the strings between basses to test. I just don’t want to fiddle with saddle heights switching between exposed core and wrapped core. I guess I could always just get another BN5 standard to keep one with each type of string :woot:
 
#5,960
MattLplaysBass said:
Lots of builders use the A style bridge too, and others use different bridges. To each their own. I personally prefer the a-style, if I got my BN5 over again I would have spec'ed it with one, but it's not a deal breaker (I did get an custom A style on my MTD USA bass). For string changes, probably the most I interact with my bridge, the a style is my preference.
Click to expand...
I like em both. They both work just fine. My BN5 and MTD 535-24 both have A style and my Wilkins Jazz has a B Style (among others I own). All killer bases and no issues with the bridges.
 

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