Club Fbass (thread 13)

[Black Bart]

That's a beauty, congrats!

 

[Tom7]

Finally got my first VF, and it turned out beautifully.
Northern ash (one piece)
Indian rosewood
One piece neck
70s position pups
Nitro
Wider body with thinner width
Slightly larger neck pocket
18mm
10.3 pounds
Smaller pickguard

Tone= wow!

George did a great job building it.... thanks also to Dan ( painting), Sarah, Marcel, and everyone else at FBass for making it a great experience as usual.

Cheers, Mitch

'bout time... we haven't had a roster update all month! ;-)

By the way, this also why I love custom basses like Fbass. Where else could you get a custom body shape and size, custom string spacing, custom pickup placement with custom woods, retro finish options, etc.?

I must say, I have never seen so much thought put into a VF5; this is very cool.There are some very interesting choices with this bass... it has DEFINITELY been designed for a certain tone.

First, nitro. I know that's George's favorite for tone as well. My BN5 has it and I *love* that tone!

Second, 18 mm string spacing. That is so close to the standard 19mm that I first wondered why bother with the custom bridge, but then I realized it's like having the spacing of playing over the neck pickup or finger board except that you get that string tightness of being back nearer the bridge... a tad tighter for better speed... I bet I'd like that too.

Third, I'm intrigued by the combination of ash body with 70s pickup positions, but with a rosewood finger board. I'm guessing that would tilt the classic 70s tone a bit toward the warm, sweet side, which sounds like a really cool idea.

Fourth, I'm very curious about the wider body. There are two ways to take what you described about the body... are you saying you nudged the shape a little towards the classic Fender Jazz body?

Fifth, the larger neck pocket, why? Will that affect the decay (sustain) of the bass?

Lastly, I was surprised you didn't get a matching head stock. Were you afraid the extra finish would tweak the balance of the bass and make the neck dive [wink].

Is that a vintage bent plate bridge? It's hard to see.

Anyway, great bass. I hope you will be able to share some recordings with it soon.

George should make this a new line and name it after you.

Congrats!

CLUB FBASS ROSTER
(Updated 02 December 2016)

1. George_Furlanet (Number assigned by club vote)
2. Tombowlus - BN4, BN5, VF5
3. Puff_father - BN5
4. Debassed - BNF5
5. ThumbyAche - BN5, GFC
6. brandonwong - AC6-Standard, BN6-Limited Edition AC Replica, BN5, BN6, VF5, Vintage Fretless 5
7. Tom7 - BN5, BN5, BN4, BN6, BN5, BN5,, AC5,
8. Erick Lam - BN5
9. knarleybass - BN5, BN6
10. Reefer - b, BN4?
11. VinceLovesF - BN5BN5
12. T._Brookins - 2
13. DonovanBankhead - BN5
14. Speyer - BN5, (b)
15. jmilky - VF4
16. edel - BN5,, (BNF5)
17. administrator - VF5
18. Dave Hill - BN5 (b), c
19. FbassDave - BN5(b)
20. Vic - BN5
21. Georges_Abitbol - BN5 (?) (Studio5)
22. xav_paris - Prototype, AC5
23. Munjibunga - BN5, BNF5
24. Toolmybass - BN5
25. Modny - BN5, BN6
26. mikoespanol - AC5
27. Ron_Plichta - BNF5
28. Gbarchus - AC5
29. nuwavedc - VF5 pj
30. JerryJ - BN5, Vintage 4, Studio6
31. yansdgr - BN6
32. firebass - BNF5, AC6, Studio5
33. choad42 - BN4
34. donstrenz - BN5 (stolen)
35. Gilsonite - 2
36. Tjluke - BN6, AC6
37. cabooke - BN5
38. Brad Johnson - BN6
39. MHemmber - AC5
40. Deevit / FortressOne - 2,, (AC6)
41. dreamwood - BN5, VF5
42. wolfbass1025 - BN6, Vintage4, BN5
43. funkydanbass - BN6
44. Phillip Jordan - BN6, Vintage4
45. Halftooth - BN5
46. thndrstk6 - AC5
47. funkifiedsoul - BN5
48. Trapeze Fan - BN6
49. Poppsyche - BN5
50. Groovy Bastard - AC5
51. Kemet09 - VF5
52. ModulusAcacia - BNF6
53. bassjam - Vintage BNF6
54. ad9000 - BN6
55. Basses55 - BN4, AC5, BN6
56. Kevin Woods - BN5, BN5
57. pierreganseman - BN5
58. DiDi G - BN6
59. Greggles - BN6
60. kotzman - BN4
61. Alphaman - VF5
62. remigioremigio - AC5
63. JensWest - BN5
64. eduardxtb - AC6
65. dveeus1 - BNF5, BN5
66. paulvienneau - BN6, AC6
67. bdgotoh - BN6
68. rabster - b, AC6
69. funkygeos - b
70. fusoid - BN5 (piccolo), AC5
71. WovenGraphite - BN6 (b), BNF5 (BN5)
72. rnlytton - AC6, AC6-LW, BN5, 3 BN6s!
73. bardlute - BN5
74. chrisloe - BN5, VF5, VF5
75. Iposavad - BN5
76. yinghock - BN6, BNF5 with rosewood board!
77. pocketmonster - AC5
78. bassment bn5 - BN5, VF5, BN6
79. hairman - VF5, VF5,
80. JOEP054 - BN5, AC4, VF5, Studio 5, Passive 6, BN5
81. p0k - more photos, BNF5
82. jmilkey - BN5
83. Bass Junkie - VF5, (with a VF4 being built!)
84. narud - BN5,
85. BIg O - BN4, BN5, AC5
86. felicidade - BN5
87. Drone80 - BNF5, BNF5
88. steve f - BN5, VF5
89. Fbassed - BN5
90. rick1906 - BN4
91. Romu - AC5, BN5
92. Bajosintrastos - BN4
93. jimc - (2), BN5 #2
94. cfequa - BN5
95. mrbassman_de - VF5, BN5, BN5 BN5 (studio), BN5 (defretted), VF5, AC5, BN6, NY5, Studio
96. Graham Monette - BNF5
97. Shelly - BN5
98. tonenazi - BN6
99. Abacobob - VF5

100. jogi68 - BN6, [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
101. ManuBerdin - BN5, BN5, BN5 (wide nut), BN6, lined AC6, BN6, VF5
102. rvf42 - BN5
103. kuma9 - BN5
104. jbay - BN5, BN5
105. INGALL'S - BN5
106. BIGGUY78 - BNF6
107. KERMITNT-BN6
108. Ewo - BNF5
109. frizzle - BN5
110. t0t0m - Vintage BN5
111. blen dem - VF5
112. francoprof - b, AC5
113. bassistck - AC4
114. Sirmike75 - BN6
115. Stereo Joe - AC6
116. starKee - BN5, (AC5)
117. eaflyaway - BN5
118. hyperba55 - BN5, Studio5, BN4
119. penny0072001 - BN5
120. TheSiberian - BN6 + piezo, BN6
121. PhillM47 - BN6
122. zortation - BN6, Studio5, BN5
123. tcydennis - VF5
124. wellso74 - BN5 NYC, AC6
125. boomski - BN5
126. nemo - BNF5, BN6
127. maritimer - BN4, BN4
128. olegsulimov - BN4, BN5, [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
129. Slammyapple - BN5
130. jephil - AC6
131. MVPBASS -VF5, VF4, BN4 32.5"
132. lindseyp - VF5
133. J.Wolf - BN6, GRoberts, BN5
134. Karelbass - AJ Brown, JRB, BN5
135. uilleann13 - jmondick
136. ursus - BN5,
137. BN5
138. BN5 - BN6
139. Adrian Garcia
140. Yvon
141. Freddy-G - dean82Ryan_L, rodneyat, 123eranoid
142. Gordon of Eden
143. choad42
144. black.rose1402
145. <removed>
146. AC5
147. BN4
148. BN5
149. BNF5
150. BN5
151. AC5
152. Jonno1707 - now belongs to mrbassman_de
153. Quadzilla - VF5, BN6, vintage fretless 6
154. pEJi - BN6
155. blen dem - BN6
156. BassBoss - BN5 (BN5)
157. KJung - BN5
158. Bassconbeatz - BN5
159. Dennis Kong - BN5,
160. copasetic - VF5
161. brooklynbassguy - VF5
162. thomasjbass - VF6
163. Maurizo Rolli - BN6
164. widjarjar - Studio 5, Fretted BNF5
165. Tomkiss - BN5VF5, BN5
166. midijab - BN5
167. taylor - BN5
168. rodsnhawgs - BN5
169. TheBasicBassist - BNF5
170. Aram - BN6
171 Ramon Levy - BN6
172. PazzoBasso - BN5
173. thenothing - BN5
174. curt basner - BN6
175. magichand - BN5
176. dbalatero - b, Studio 5
177. ElMon - BN5
178. MrKool - BN5
179. Richard_P_Harve - BNF5, AC5, BNF5
180. davecheng - AC6 (VF5)
181. bass4worship - BN5, BN5
182. w0x0f - VF5
183. kbuschmann - BN4, BN5, BN6LE
184. mVC - BN5, BN5
185. dirtbird - VF5
186. jaws - BN6
187. Gr8tbass - AC5-Classic
188. pbrand - VF5
189. jbo - BN5
190. kulasterol - BN6
191. kantonart - Studio 5
192. metalstorm - Custom sized BN6
193. fzbassman - BN6, BN6 (Dave Hughes)
194. scubaduba - BNF5
195. Jraewood - BN5
196. dslapster64 - BNF6
197. Morfman6 - fretted AC6 (Thor)
198. YCBass - BNF6
199. skb5string - BN5, BN5, BN5, BN5, BN5, BN5, VF5

200. dessunx - BN6
201. Alex - BN6LE Replica, AC6
202. thewildest - BN5, BN4
203. bassman10 - AC6
204. edzaa- VF5 (70s)
205. Danny R. - BN4, BN6
206. sha975 - BN5
207. Arabesque-bass - VF6, (AC5)
208. 74jb - BNF6
209. bigjames - BN5, BN6
210. biggreddbass - BN4
211. maddanthony_59 - VF5
212. Stewthebassman - VF5,
213. ialma - BN5
214. gridchin - VF5, BN5, BNF5
215. swedebass - AC5
216. Bassco - BN5
217. betavision - BNF5
218. Sywannab - BN6, BN4
219. tallbass - BN5
220. Mikey69 - BN6
221. jibreel - BN5
222. greenrositti - BN6, BN6, AC5, VF5
223. austentatiousC - 1987 Fbass
224. kokorollc - Fretted AC6, 2
225. jdbutler238 - BNF5
226. moorebass - AC5
227 hexbass - BN6
228. lebrett - BN4
229. Ron Clark - BN6
230. RandyT - BN6, (BN5)
231. swpyne - BN5
232. b1644 - BN5
233. Alex Zavolokin - BN5,
234. Black Bart - BNF5
245. Kevin Freeby - BN6
246. TolorenceEJ - GFC5
247. ryanowens - BN6
248. dbok - VF5
249. Mike_R30 - VF5, VF4p
250. bassam0222 - BN5
251. asbs - BN4 (Angelica), BN5 (Tracy)
252. jebmd - BNF5, BN5
253. jwr - BN5 (lefty)
254. smeet - BNF5
255. McMillions - BN5
256. jdy - [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
257. Woolber - BN5
258. RUFFRYDE - BN6
259. Baird6869 - BN5
260. Mark Wilson - BN5
261. Addison - BN5
262. akukulich - BN5
263. JesseMalaska - AC5
264. roogbass - VF4pj
265. Maiden Bass - pre-BN6
266. Dave Scovell - George_Furlanet
267. robthebassplaye - BN4
268. chris lykins - BN5
269. dudi8 - VF5
270 Steve Clark - BN5
271 sorgas - BNF5
272 RickyTee - BN5
.

 

[basses55]

Wow Tom, you are a good bass sleuth……I'm impressed

First , yes its about time! Glad I did too.
FBass is both a true custom, and at the same time , a high level production line manufacturer. You were pretty much bang on about my thoughts on the spec, and yes the tone of 70s ash punch and solidity along with the edge just taken off a bit with more warmth and smoothness was what I was going for, and it nails that beautifully. I love ash/maple but for this I wanted and even more versatile bass that does the job of providing a great slap tone along with an equally great finger tone. BTW, the 70s position is key to having the punch and definition of the 70s tone coming through the otherwise more subdued rosewood board.

Although I kinda like the look of a more full sized body for a Fender style instrument, we increased the size of the VF body ( and thinned out the width) for tone. George and I think there might be something to a wider /thinner vibrating piece of wood..this is more just a guess or hunch than our proving this from production testing at this point. I went with it because (like I said) I like the look anyways for Jazzes. It may have dome something but its hard to isolate. BTW the body is not larger than an average Jazz, more just normal-ish for 5 string Jazzes.

The wider pocket was done to increase the amount of wood mass that is connected between the neck and the body. These are very solid, connected pieces of wood that could help the fundamental and overall tone in the way we like it. George and I like and think the same way when it comes to tone- organic, wood- centric, natural bass tone. Hence the nitro too

The bridge is an all steel Hipshot L shaped vintage. We tried brass saddles but the steels are the way for this bass.

Forgot to mention we thinned out the width of the fretboard by 1mm to help keep the bass lively with fast response.

I didn't paint the headstock purely because I wanted to keep it kinda vintage looking..so I tinted it and the neck to at least have a bit more of a Fender look for a VF. But I should have also considered the extra weight for balance too…lol ( very funny!)

Marcel took some pictures today with a much better camera which I'll post so people can see how vibrant the nitro looks.

 

[steve f]

Is anyone able to post some quality photos of BNs finished in charcoal burst? Thinking of placing an order but there are limited photos online of varying quality.
Thanks!

 

[Tom7]

Is anyone able to post some quality photos of BNs finished in charcoal burst? Thinking of placing an order but there are limited photos online of varying quality.
Thanks!

I've never seen one in real life, but I've been struck by how the photos of charcoal burst always seem to appear sepia tone tinted, but I guess that's the real color.

Hopefully someone in the club can, but until then, here is Donovan showing off a charcoal burst finished BN6 on YouTube:




And here are some photos of a BN5 for sale in Korea:

 

[Black Bart]

Nice hunting skills Tom, I've never seen the charcoal burst before.

 

[steve f]

Thanks Tom.
I've found a few others as well:

Invalid Link Removed

I think I like the black hardware, now I just need a little cash...

 

[Black Bart]

I don't know, and I can't believe I'm saying this given my proclivity for all black basses, but with the charcoal burst, I prefer the aesthetic of the basses with the chrome hardware. The blue black of the black hardware doesn't really compliment the yellow tint in the burst - IMHO of course

 

[steve f]

I don't know, and I can't believe I'm saying this given my proclivity for all black basses, but with the charcoal burst, I prefer the aesthetic of the basses with the chrome hardware. The blue black of the black hardware doesn't really compliment the yellow tint in the burst - IMHO of course

I see what you mean... I've been going back and forth.
Gold looks nice too but a little flashy for me.

 

[jim nolte]

Finally got my first VF, and it turned out beautifully.
Northern ash (one piece)
Indian rosewood
One piece neck
70s position pups
Nitro
Wider body with thinner width
Slightly larger neck pocket
18mm
10.3 pounds
Smaller pickguard

Tone= wow!

George did a great job building it.... thanks also to Dan ( painting), Sarah, Marcel, and everyone else at FBass for making it a great experience as usual.

Cheers, Mitch

Beautiful bass Mitch!! I'm definitely digging the slightly larger, wider body than the normal VF5 size and I've always thought that George made one of the best 3T sunbursts around. He should offer this as a standard option, the "Basses 55" model! Congrats, Jim

 

[basses55]

Thanks Jim

Remember, nitro is even more vibrant on colors and black, and this is a great example of how it enhances Dan's fine work on the bursts. I think nitro is a win- win all around and worth the upgrade.

Here are MUCH better pics that Marcel took ... I dont post pics too often on TB but I want the Club to see the shape and the colors of this custom VF. Its being considered for becoming standard. I love the way it turned out. Maybe Marcel is listenening about the sig model haha!

 

[basses55]

one more...

 

[Tom7]

Thanks Jim

Remember, nitro is even more vibrant on colors and black, and this is a great example of how it enhances Dan's fine work on the bursts. I think nitro is a win- win all around and worth the upgrade.

Here are MUCH better pics that Marcel took ... I dont post pics too often on TB but I want the Club to see the shape and the colors of this custom VF. Its being considered for becoming standard. I love the way it turned out. Maybe Marcel is listenening about the sig model haha!

I like the first photo because of that smile, but because your shirt is black, you lose the shape of the bass. That last two photos really gives us an idea of how this bass looks in terms of shape. I really like it.

 

[blen dem]

Great smile, great pics now how bout some great sound/vid clips of that beauty in action?

 

[Joelc73]

I have a killer AC5 up for sale if anyone is looking. This one actually used to belong to Mitch.

For Sale - F-bass Alain Caron 5 (Custom)

 

[jim nolte]

I like the first photo because of that smile, but because your shirt is black, you lose the shape of the bass. That last two photos really gives us an idea of how this bass looks in terms of shape. I really like it.

You know, it's not often I'm totally blown away by a bass but the more I look at that the more I would love to own one! The slightly larger body just nails the VF series to me, puts it more somewhere between vintage and Georges' own creations. A real beaut that one is!! Jim

 

[basses55]

You know, it's not often I'm totally blown away by a bass but the more I look at that the more I would love to own one! The slightly larger body just nails the VF series to me, puts it more somewhere between vintage and Georges' own creations. A real beaut that one is!! Jim

I totally agree. The slightly widened neck pocket also contributes to the bass looking more solid and substantial IMO. Plus, reducing the guard and making it smaller all around shows more wood and reduces the dampening affect. All the choices made on this bass was for tone first- thats why they were included. George did a great job drawing out the lines and taking these ideas and building them into a great looking package.

 

[tombowlus]

I have a couple of updates for y'all. First up, I recently picked up Mitch's Studio 5, and I am happy as heck! I have long been intrigued by the Studio 5, but there aren't a lot of them out there. This past summer, I had a chance to play one up at the F Bass shop, and I was hooked! So, when Mitch's came up for sale, I felt compelled to jump on it, and I'm glad that I did.

While I am not ready to share any final or complete thoughts on the tone (I will play it at band practice for the first time tonight), my initial thoughts are that the Studio 5 lays somewhere between the smoothness of BN series and the growl of the VF basses. In fact, it's rather chameleon-like, in that it feels very smooth with a lighter touch, but has a great, vintage J-bass kind of growl when you dig in. It can even get rather P-bass-like with the neck pickup solo'd. It does have a bit more low to low-mid presence, as well.

I know that it doesn't exist without the pics, so here you go!

 

[tombowlus]

And now for the updated "family photos."

These are positioned in terms of oldest (left) to youngest (right):

Just the 5's (BN5, VF5, Studio 5):

Just the 4's (BN4, VF-P4):

And since I had my scale close by, I decided to weigh each of them. Here's how they stack up:

BN4: 9.6 lbs
BN5 10.2 lbs
VF5: 10.5 lbs
VF-P4: 8.4 lbs
Studio 5: 10.0 lbs

 

[RockinRonnie]

And now for the updated "family photos."

These are positioned in terms of oldest (left) to youngest (right):

Just the 5's (BN5, VF5, Studio 5):

Just the 4's (BN4, VF-P4):

And since I had my scale close by, I decided to weigh each of them. Here's how they stack up:

BN4: 9.6 lbs
BN5 10.2 lbs
VF5: 10.5 lbs
VF-P4: 8.4 lbs
Studio 5: 10.0 lbs

Great photos of a beautiful collection of magnificent basses
We all give thanks to Mr Furlanetto