Club Fbass (thread 13)

[jim nolte]

I really like it. Perfect complement to my uber-modern Valenti. I can get a
Good 60's Jazz tone with the Alleva pickups as well.

It is over 10lbs, but the way a FBass balances, it doesn't feel any heavier than my 7lb Valenti.

My '72 Jazz hasn't seen the light of day since I picked up the VF5....

My

I really like it. Perfect complement to my uber-modern Valenti. I can get a
Good 60's Jazz tone with the Alleva pickups as well.

It is over 10lbs, but the way a FBass balances, it doesn't feel any heavier than my 7lb Valenti.

My '72 Jazz hasn't seen the light of day since I picked up the VF5....

My BN5 is around 10lbs so no worries about weight. I want to keep the sunburst/rosewood vibe of my '65, pretty much have narrowed it down to a VF5 like yours or a Alleva-Coppolo LG5 although I've never played one. Actually I haven't played a VF series either just the BN and Studio model when it was still around.

 

[Baird6869]

My

My BN5 is around 10lbs so no worries about weight. I want to keep the sunburst/rosewood vibe of my '65, pretty much have narrowed it down to a VF5 like yours or a Alleva-Coppolo LG5 although I've never played one. Actually I haven't played a VF series either just the BN and Studio model when it was still around.

A single coil VF is different than a BN IME. I am able to get more old school tones out of my AC pickup equipped VF than any BN I have owned or played. Not better, just different.

Also, the neck extending to the pickup on my BN5F drove me crazy when I slapped. The VF has a more traditional feel to me.

I haven't owned an Alleva Coppolo, but have played a ton of them. Great basses, but getting pricy IMO. The fit/finish and playability are great and very old school Fender feel.

I was considering an AC, Sadowsky or another Valenti when I bought my VF5 and I have no regrets with buying the FBass...

 

[giovabass]

A single coil VF is different than a BN IME. I am able to get more old school tones out of my AC pickup equipped VF than any BN I have owned or played. Not better, just different.

Also, the neck extending to the pickup on my BN5F drove me crazy when I slapped. The VF has a more traditional feel to me.

I haven't owned an Alleva Coppolo, but have played a ton of them. Great basses, but getting pricy IMO. The fit/finish and playability are great and very old school Fender feel.

I was considering an AC, Sadowsky or another Valenti when I bought my VF5 and I have no regrets with buying the FBass...

Is the alder rosewood 18mm spacing the one that you have?

 

[Baird6869]

Is the alder rosewood 18mm spacing the one that you have?

Ash, rosewood and 18mm....

 

[giovabass]

Ash, rosewood and 18mm....

Great catch, I drooled over that bass in the classifieds

 

[jim nolte]

A single coil VF is different than a BN IME. I am able to get more old school tones out of my AC pickup equipped VF than any BN I have owned or played. Not better, just different.

Also, the neck extending to the pickup on my BN5F drove me crazy when I slapped. The VF has a more traditional feel to me.

I haven't owned an Alleva Coppolo, but have played a ton of them. Great basses, but getting pricy IMO. The fit/finish and playability are great and very old school Fender feel.

I was considering an AC, Sadowsky or another Valenti when I bought my VF5 and I have no regrets with buying the FBass...

How Fenderish is the VF body compared to an AC ? I've always heard the AC are like old school Fenders but are the VF more , for lack of a better word, sleeker, sculpted ? Ergonomics are a huge thing for me and over the years I'm leaning more toward a more traditional body shape but not the full on large Jazz body as my '65. Thanks, Jim

 

[Baird6869]

How Fenderish is the VF body compared to an AC ? I've always heard the AC are like old school Fenders but are the VF more , for lack of a better word, sleeker, sculpted ? Ergonomics are a huge thing for me and over the years I'm leaning more toward a more traditional body shape but not the full on large Jazz body as my '65. Thanks, Jim

I haven't a lot of of experience with an AC and a VF side by side, but maybe others like @basses55 and @bassballs27 can chime in.... An AC is definately more Fenderish at first glance IME....

 

[Dave Hill]

My VF4 felt like a slightly smaller jazz.

I think the AC 5's actually have a slightly larger body than a Fender(?).

 

[alexbrownebass]

Hi guys! New to the F Bass thing but so far I'm in love. Just need to get used to the slightly narrower string spacing!

 

[mngnt]

Hi guys! New to the F Bass thing but so far I'm in love. Just need to get used to the slightly narrower string spacing!

Wow, is that the NAMM bass? Beauty.

Is this one 19mm spacing like most are? If so, what did you come from playing?

 

[basses55]

How Fenderish is the VF body compared to an AC ? I've always heard the AC are like old school Fenders but are the VF more , for lack of a better word, sleeker, sculpted ? Ergonomics are a huge thing for me and over the years I'm leaning more toward a more traditional body shape but not the full on large Jazz body as my '65. Thanks, Jim

It's really hard to answer the question for anybody else.....I could say the VF is a little more sleek and ergonomic than an AC but it might be splitting hairs for your taste and how the body fits yours. The AC could be a fuller sized body but still ergonomic enough. Ive had several of both and I can only say that both feel good to me. I've seen over the years that the same bass feels different with different body types. With that said, having to make a very general evaluation it's probably closer to what you said above , and I think both builders designed it to be that way originally.
Jimmy goes pretty old school and FBass likes to do their own take on Fender style basses...and as with all their models there is a good dose of originality and specific character. Like I said don't rule out either based on body shape and ergonomics if you can try both beforehand.

 

[basses55]

Hi guys! New to the F Bass thing but so far I'm in love. Just need to get used to the slightly narrower string spacing!

I liked it so much I ordered one myself.....

 

[alexbrownebass]

Wow, is that the NAMM bass? Beauty.

Is this one 19mm spacing like most are? If so, what did you come from playing?

Yup, that's the one! I'm definitely a P bass guy (my main player is a '63 P) but I wanted a modern PJ and this fits the bill nicely. I've owned several high end basses and I funded this purchase by selling a Fodera (great bass but not my cup of tea). I also have an Sadowsky JJ 5 String in rotation but I may end up selling it depending on how much play time the F Bass gets.

 

[sifi76]

Ok so figured I'd finally do a post on my new BN5 from fretspot, I'm still in the honeymoon phase and getting used to switching back to a fiver but so far it's pretty positive. My only bugbear is that it's very aggressive on full tilt with either neck or bridge fully dialed, even with the tone rolled off and the eq flat. I tend to favour a more mellow sound, would a set of flats fix this? Other than that it's still early days, the bass does sit differently on me, but I'll get used to it I'm sure. The fit and finish is impeccable though, almost afraid to gig here even though I deliberately looked for a gloss finish for just that purpose lol
Oh and here's a few pics, just for the club records and cause every kid loves candy hehe

 

[Baird6869]

View attachment 1130864 View attachment 1130862 View attachment 1130863 Ok so figured I'd finally do a post on my new BN5 from fretspot, I'm still in the honeymoon phase and getting used to switching back to a fiver but so far it's pretty positive. My only bugbear is that it's very aggressive on full tilt with either neck or bridge fully dialed, even with the tone rolled off and the eq flat. I tend to favour a more mellow sound, would a set of flats fix this? Other than that it's still early days, the bass does sit differently on me, but I'll get used to it I'm sure. The fit and finish is impeccable though, almost afraid to gig here even though I deliberately looked for a gloss finish for just that purpose lol
Oh and here's a few pics, just for the club records and cause every kid loves candy hehe

Gorgeous finish!

The boost only preamp takes a while to get used to IMO. I always run my Fenders fully dimed, but would never do that on a FBass. I get good rock and slap tones with Bass and Mid on about 2 and Treble at 2-3. When you say "flat" are you starting with the tone controls dialled right back?

Also, I tend to run the bridge pickup full and roll off the neck pickup a bit most of the time.

It did take me a while with my first FBass to figure out the right tone in a band mix though...

P.s. I didn't mind TI flats on my VF5, but not really my thing (I am a P Bass with flats guy). I really like Dunlop Nickel Super Brights on my VF5 as they mellow a bit but retain some snappiness. Cheap too...

 

[mngnt]

Ok so figured I'd finally do a post on my new BN5 from fretspot, I'm still in the honeymoon phase and getting used to switching back to a fiver but so far it's pretty positive. My only bugbear is that it's very aggressive on full tilt with either neck or bridge fully dialed, even with the tone rolled off and the eq flat. I tend to favour a more mellow sound, would a set of flats fix this? Other than that it's still early days, the bass does sit differently on me, but I'll get used to it I'm sure. The fit and finish is impeccable though, almost afraid to gig here even though I deliberately looked for a gloss finish for just that purpose lol
Oh and here's a few pics, just for the club records and cause every kid loves candy hehe

Wow, beauty!

Regarding the aggressive tone, you may want to try other strings before going to flats (though I tried Cobalt flats on mine and liked them - brighter than normal flats). I found the F-Bass strings to be quite different than regular "non exposed-core" strings, so a cheap set of D'Addario's or something may be worth trying out to see if they're the culprit.

I've since settled on Elixirs, which I like quite a bit. Not cheap for a simple trial run though.

 

[Tom7]

That1Guy222's new VF5:

Basses55's VF5:

I don't know about you guys, but I'm starting to feel left out. Maybe I should have a talk with MrsTom7... ;-)

Congratulations! And welcome to the club!

And welcome also to scifi76, and his new BN5!

CLUB FBASS ROSTER
(Updated 12 May 2017)

1. George_Furlanet (Number assigned by club vote)
2. Tombowlus - BN4, BN5, VF5, VF-P4, Studio 5,
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 - BN4
62. remigioremigio - VF5
63. JensWest - AC5
64. eduardxtb - BN5
65. dveeus1 - BNF5, BN5
66. paulvienneau - AC6, AC6
67. bdgotoh - BN6, 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 - BN5, AC5, BN5
86. felicidade - BNF5
87. Drone80 - BNF5, BN5
88. steve f - VF5
89. Fbassed - BN5
90. rick1906 - BN4
91. Romu - AC5, BN5
92. Bajosintrastos - BN4
93. jimc - (2), BN5 #2
94. cfequa - AC6, BNFF6
95. mrbassman_de - BN5, 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 - VF5
136. jmondick - ursus
137. BN5,
138. BN5 - 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 - BN5
245. Kevin Freeby - BNF5
246. TolerancEJ - BN6
247. ryanowens - GFC5, 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 - VF5
258. RUFFRYDE - BN5
259. Baird6869 - BN6
260. Mark Wilson - BN5
261. Addison - BN5
262. akukulich - BN5
263. JesseMalaska - BN5, AC5
264. roogbass - BN5
265. Maiden Bass - VF5
266. Dave Scovell - VF4pj
267. robthebassplaye - VF5 pj
268. chris lykins - pre-BN6
269. dudi8 - VF5
270 Steve Clark - BN5, AC5, AC4
271 sorgas - BN6, VF5
272 RickyTee - VF5
273 sok monkey - BN5, BN5
274 bassballs27 - BN5, VFMJ5
275 eusie - VF5
276 Tritone - BN5
277 antontanzil - BN5
278 RBJ11 - BN5
279 Gnal - BN5, AC5
280 ovialexm - BN6
281 phatmon - VF4PJ, VF4PJ
282 AMJBASS - BN5, BNF5
283 ranat - BNF5
284 mikkoantt - VF5PJ
285 SR Addict - BN6
286 DELACIUS - BNF6
287 mngmt - BN5
288 sorgas - BN5
289 KelliB - VF5
290 tyjacks - BN5
291 ScottfromCalgary - George_Furlanet
292 JBoogy - BN4
293 Warren Zaiger - BN5
294 sifi76 - VF5
295 iandmcelroy - VF-P4
296 that1guy222 - Studio 5
297 scifi76 - BN5
.

 

[zortation]

View attachment 1130864 View attachment 1130862 View attachment 1130863 Ok so figured I'd finally do a post on my new BN5 from fretspot, I'm still in the honeymoon phase and getting used to switching back to a fiver but so far it's pretty positive. My only bugbear is that it's very aggressive on full tilt with either neck or bridge fully dialed, even with the tone rolled off and the eq flat. I tend to favour a more mellow sound, would a set of flats fix this? Other than that it's still early days, the bass does sit differently on me, but I'll get used to it I'm sure. The fit and finish is impeccable though, almost afraid to gig here even though I deliberately looked for a gloss finish for just that purpose lol
Oh and here's a few pics, just for the club records and cause every kid loves candy hehe

Just use your favourite set of full wrap roundwounds. The Fbass strings are a devil's bargain and will cause all kinds of weird sonic effects.

 

[sifi76]

Gorgeous finish!

The boost only preamp takes a while to get used to IMO. I always run my Fenders fully dimed, but would never do that on a FBass. I get good rock and slap tones with Bass and Mid on about 2 and Treble at 2-3. When you say "flat" are you starting with the tone controls dialled right back?

Also, I tend to run the bridge pickup full and roll off the neck pickup a bit most of the time.

It did take me a while with my first FBass to figure out the right tone in a band mix though...

P.s. I didn't mind TI flats on my VF5, but not really my thing (I am a P Bass with flats guy). I really like Dunlop Nickel Super Brights on my VF5 as they mellow a bit but retain some snappiness. Cheap too...

Yeah by flat I mean everything at 0, so nothing boosted. I do push the bass and mids a little at points but I've found this smooth tone with the neck pup vol rolled off slightly, sounds very smith like, just have trouble trying to get it to sit in the mix though. I do sometimes get the feeling my genz is being a bit of a jerk to the BN5, but it's early days

 

[tombowlus]

View attachment 1130864 View attachment 1130862 View attachment 1130863 Ok so figured I'd finally do a post on my new BN5 from fretspot, I'm still in the honeymoon phase and getting used to switching back to a fiver but so far it's pretty positive. My only bugbear is that it's very aggressive on full tilt with either neck or bridge fully dialed, even with the tone rolled off and the eq flat. I tend to favour a more mellow sound, would a set of flats fix this? Other than that it's still early days, the bass does sit differently on me, but I'll get used to it I'm sure. The fit and finish is impeccable though, almost afraid to gig here even though I deliberately looked for a gloss finish for just that purpose lol
Oh and here's a few pics, just for the club records and cause every kid loves candy hehe

First off, congrats on a fantastic and beautiful BN5! Your comments on aggressiveness are interesting, because whenever I review other basses, and I use my BN5 as a reference, I am always struck by how smooth the BN5 sounds in comparison. To be clear, are you talking about an aggressive tone only when you have one of the pickups solo'd? Does it sound aggressive with varying degrees of both pickups blended in?