Club Fbass (thread 13)

[monsterthompson]

My BN5 Deluxe is maple. My BN5 standard is ebony. I can hear no characteristics identifiable as specific to the board material. If you’re hearing a demo difference I’d first review the demos to ensure “all else equal.” I don’t know that I’ve seen/heard a demo where all factors were identical aside from the board, where it was recoded and mixed/mastered/etc. the same. My ears have never been golden, but they’re usually pretty decent.

I think that the onboard EQ should compensate for any perceived difference. I cant imagine we’d be compensating for much more than a subtle difference that could vaporize in a mix. That said, chase your vision and tell us what you find.

 

[Justin Keoni]

My BN5 Deluxe is maple. My BN5 standard is ebony. I can hear no characteristics identifiable as specific to the board material. If you’re hearing a demo difference I’d first review the demos to ensure “all else equal.” I don’t know that I’ve seen/heard a demo where all factors were identical aside from the board, where it was recoded and mixed/mastered/etc. the same. My ears have never been golden, but they’re usually pretty decent.

I think that the onboard EQ should compensate for any perceived difference. I cant imagine we’d be compensating for much more than a subtle difference that could vaporize in a mix. That said, chase your vision and tell us what you find.

Super helpful info. I’ve come across a bunch of posts talking about the brightness of the maple and the perceived compression of the ebony, which made me wonder if the differences are actually discernible. The guy who sold me my bass spent thousands more because he wanted a maple board as it’s supposedly “brighter and snappier”, but in a blind test would someone really be able to discern the differences if eq was allowed?

 

[Jugghaid]

No.

There is a ton that goes into the sounds an individual bass makes. Fretboard material is only one of many factors.

 

[monsterthompson]

Super helpful info. I’ve come across a bunch of posts talking about the brightness of the maple and the perceived compression of the ebony, which made me wonder if the differences are actually discernible. The guy who sold me my bass spent thousands more because he wanted a maple board as it’s supposedly “brighter and snappier”, but in a blind test would someone really be able to discern the differences if eq was allowed?

Music Force does nice demos.
Well, there could be some power of suggestion, expectations, and hearing with the eyes, but I could be persuaded to agree there’s a brighter step to the maple vs the ebony, assuming my speakers aren’t lying to me (though I didn’t listen on my best system). There’s always a chance that there could be a difference in the age or quality of the strings or various other components. Maybe there’s a pickup height difference. Maybe there’s some other variable in play. But assuming those are all non-issues or negligible differences, and that demo sound difference really boils down to the board material, I think you’d be hard pressed to find folks who could pick them out in a blind test as they are, and allowing for EQ adjustments would certainly make it a challenging challenge. I suspect a mid boost on the maple or a treble boost on the ebony would be all it takes.

Given that, if you want a specific sound for practice, or isolated tracking, then you want that sound.

I find it unlikely that the seller spent thousands to have a maple board. Maple is standard and no up charge. Birdseye, flame, and roasted are $500 up charges… and so is ebony, so that’s an even cost. Now the maple tops will run into the thousands, particularly if you add a fancier maple board option. Perhaps that’s what they meant.

 

[Justin Keoni]

I’m digging the sound of my new BN5 which got me wondering: Are there any pickups I can install in my other bass that will get close to the FBass pickup tone? Possibly the Nordstrand Zen Blades? Any experience or wisdom is appreciated. Thanks

 

[monsterthompson]

I had the Zen Blades on a short scale bass and I wouldn’t put them in the same camp as the F Bass BN pickups. I never did a side by side and can’t say exactly why, just that I don’t recall them being similar.

 

[Justin Keoni]

I had the Zen Blades on a short scale bass and I wouldn’t put them in the same camp as the F Bass BN pickups. I never did a side by side and can’t say exactly why, just that I don’t recall them being similar.

Thanks. Can you think of an alternative?

 

[monsterthompson]

Thanks. Can you think of an alternative?

Not off the top of my head. I think the basic formula is J influenced, but there’s a lot to consider in that style. I haven’t had many basses with J or even a soap bar style. I also haven’t figured out how much of my BN sound is the exposed core strings vs the electronics and the pickup position. Wish I could be of more help. I’m curious what others think.

 

[Ba55Note]

Thanks. Can you think of an alternative?

I don't have personal experience with them, but nordstrand fat stacks seem to have a similar design. Might be worth checking out.

 

[Dave Hill]

I saw Scott from SBL got a signature Lull. I don’t know what they were, but the pickups were in larger, radiused shell. Not doubt influenced by his love of BN5s.

 

[funkydanbass]

I saw Scott from SBL got a signature Lull. I don’t know what they were, but the pickups were in larger, radiused shell. Not doubt influenced by his love of BN5s.

They're just single coils in radiused ebony pickup covers to emulate the feel of playing over dual coils (ala his F Bass BN5's)...

 

[monsterthompson]

I left town shortly after receiving the F Bass VI, but I got home yesterday and managed to plink around tonight. There were a couple of things that weren’t a “perfect” fit for me right out of the box, and I made a few minor adjustments before I left. Returning to it today felt a bit more comfortable. I was able to dial in some settings with my effects that worked very well. There’s still work to be done, but I’ve moved from “what am I going to do with this” to “I’m going to enjoy this.”

There’s a variety of tones in the pickups and tone and volume knobs. I am quite curious about how the low output neck humbucker would sound in the bridge. There’s something about that pickup that I really enjoy. With the bridge I find myself backing the volume off a little to get into a territory I like, though that requires a balancing act with the preamp gain/distortion. I find the neck is a little easier to dial in at high gain “fuzzy” settings but it doesn’t have the same attack and punch that the bridge position provides.

Overall, the electronics make for a very responsive instrument with a wide variety of sounds available. Marcel mentioned something to the effect of wanting to make an instrument for sonic explorers and I think that goal was achieved. I’ve found settings I like with everything clean and dry, to compressed and snappy, to moderate gain with pick sensitive dynamics. I’m still searching for a high gain chug or singing sustain setting that will be my “go to” sound. Maybe this isn’t the right instrument for that, and something like a baritone guitar sound is what I’m after, or maybe I’ll find that sound soon. I can’t expect one instrument to cover every base, and this one already manages to check a lot of boxes.

 

[Justin Keoni]

Has anyone run into a defective/dead F Bass string? I ordered a fresh set from FretSpot and slapped them on doing a full setup on the neck, string heights, intonation, etc. I love the tone, the playability, and all things about the strings. Unfortunately, I think I received a defective A string. Whether played open or fretted, the A string makes a strange buzzing sound with no clean fundamental. All other strings ring true but this one. I double checked the setup to ensure it wasn’t fret buzz, and can confirm it is not. I was getting worried something was wrong with my new bass! I switched out the faulty string for one from an old set and that one works as perfectly. So it made me wonder, could I have gotten a bad string/batch? I contacted Donovan at FretSpot in hopes he can help. Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[monsterthompson]

I haven’t changed enough strings to notice that kind of issue but I’ll keep my ears open.

I had an issue with the open B string having a chorus warble on my BN5 standard. Ordering another string set didn’t help. Adjusting the pickup height didn’t help. Switching to another string brand (SIT) helped. They don’t do a fully exposed core on the B and E. Instead they use a recessed thinner wrap. Also, I use a plectrum and my technique and picking location seems to be a factor. Finger style and my attempt at thumb/slap indicates that the stock strings might be better for those applications.

Speaking of strings, I’ve got a set of SIT Foundation nickels on the way for my Deluxe. I switched to DR Hi Beams and wasn’t 100% sold on them. Based on the Power Wounds I’ve tried, I think the Foundations could be a nice change.

 

[Justin Keoni]

I haven’t changed enough strings to notice that kind of issue but I’ll keep my ears open.

I had an issue with the open B string having a chorus warble on my BN5 standard. Ordering another string set didn’t help. Adjusting the pickup height didn’t help. Switching to another string brand (SIT) helped. They don’t do a fully exposed core on the B and E. Instead they use a recessed thinner wrap. Also, I use a plectrum and my technique and picking location seems to be a factor. Finger style and my attempt at thumb/slap indicates that the stock strings might be better for those applications.

Speaking of strings, I’ve got a set of SIT Foundation nickels on the way for my Deluxe. I switched to DR Hi Beams and wasn’t 100% sold on them. Based on the Power Wounds I’ve tried, I think the Foundations could be a nice change.

Thanks. Let us know how those work. I might pick up some Fat Beams to try out as well.

 

[monsterthompson]

I was curious about the SIT Exposed Core Stainless strings for the BN5 Standard, but they come in odd gauges. The Exposed/Recessed Power Wound Nickel was the closest thing to the F Bass string gauges.

I’m still considering the D’Addario Black Tapes on the BN5 standard. I’m not keen on doing a whole set up for this experiment but I might need to satisfy my curiosity.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

Has anyone run into a defective/dead F Bass string? I ordered a fresh set from FretSpot and slapped them on doing a full setup on the neck, string heights, intonation, etc. I love the tone, the playability, and all things about the strings. Unfortunately, I think I received a defective A string. Whether played open or fretted, the A string makes a strange buzzing sound with no clean fundamental. All other strings ring true but this one. I double checked the setup to ensure it wasn’t fret buzz, and can confirm it is not. I was getting worried something was wrong with my new bass! I switched out the faulty string for one from an old set and that one works as perfectly. So it made me wonder, could I have gotten a bad string/batch? I contacted Donovan at FretSpot in hopes he can help. Any thoughts are appreciated.

I had a dead “E” string, i could tell it was dead when i unwound it, floppy and lifeless, not taught and springy like a new string should be, but I put it on the bass anyways and it was lifeless and flubby… anyways, contacted Marcel at F Bass to purchase a replacement E string, he offered to send me a new one, so i bought a few more sets to make shipping worth while. Between Donovan and Marcel, you should be covered.

 

[Dave Hill]

Bad strings happen.

 

[Justin Keoni]

I had a dead “E” string, i could tell it was dead when i unwound it, floppy and lifeless, not taught and springy like a new string should be, but I put it on the bass anyways and it was lifeless and flubby… anyways, contacted Marcel at F Bass to purchase a replacement E string, he offered to send me a new one, so i bought a few more sets to make shipping worth while. Between Donovan and Marcel, you should be covered.

Donovan responded quickly and will be sending out a replacement string. Great customer service as always! With that said, I’m considering trying out some different strings on my BN5. Anyone have experience with either Fat Beams, LoRider stainless, LaBella RX or any other recommendations I should try? I think HiBeams are a little too mid-scooped for my liking. I’d prefer something similar to the FBass strings in terms of tone, sustain, and playability without the “chorus” effect. Looking for clarity on finger style and killer slap tone.

Also, does anyone know what strings Josh Ham from Planet Shakers uses on his BN5? His slap tone is killer.

 

[Justin Keoni]

Thanks. Let us know how those work. I might pick up some Fat Beams to try out as well.

Just wanted to circle back and share:
- The Mac ebony fretboard sounds great and I don’t feel like I’m missing out on any highs or attack. Very happy with the tone.
- The DR Fat Beams experiment was a huge success for me. Compared to the FBass exposed core strings I feel like the Fat Beams are a little more of everything: a little more aggressive, a little more oomph and volume, a little more bass, low mids, and upper mids. All that with no “chorus” type effect or strange overtones when played with a pick or slap. It’s definitely less of a vintage vibe if that’s what you’re chasing, though. On top of that the Fat Beams can be found at a cheaper price and are much easier to track down thus they will be my string of choice for right now. Side note: I left the exposed core B string because the fundamental is so clear and solid. We’ll see if I change that later.