Club Fbass (thread 13)

[s_wood]

Output is quite low in both modes, thanks.

 

[Dave Hill]

Question: I've got a new-to-me 2009 BN5. Love the tone, but as compared to my other basses (both active and passive) the output is quite low. I need to boost my preamps gain about 25% as compared to my other basses to achieve a comparable volume. The battery is new, and the pickups are about 1/4" below the strings.

Is it typical for BN basses to have a relatively weak output, compared with other basses, or is something wrong or different with my pickups?

Fbasses do have slightly lower output. Will be hotter in SC mode. Add some on-board preamp or gain on your amp and forget about it.

 

[J.Wolf]

Hey guys, I'm wondering if anyone here has any leads for me.

I'm looking to unload my VERY very nice Skjold LP and go back to F bass land. I just miss the BN vibe too much, it was home for me for a long time. I've been entertaining trades, but I'm pretty particular, and have realized that I'm really after a pre-2003 BN6 or BN5. I just like the tone and neck shape of the older basses better, for whatever reason. They are hard to find though.

Anyone interested in selling a BN6/BN5 from this era?
Anyone interested in trading for this bass?

lemme know and thanks for any help!

 

[Dave Hill]

Hey guys, I'm wondering if anyone here has any leads for me.

I'm looking to unload my VERY very nice Skjold LP and go back to F bass land. I just miss the BN vibe too much, it was home for me for a long time. I've been entertaining trades, but I'm pretty particular, and have realized that I'm really after a pre-2003 BN6 or BN5. I just like the tone and neck shape of the older basses better, for whatever reason. They are hard to find though.

Anyone interested in selling a BN6/BN5 from this era?
Anyone interested in trading for this bass?

lemme know and thanks for any help!

I know what you mean. I left the Fbass fold for a minute before I realized it was a mistake. I've had my current BN5 since 2003 and I'll never get rid if it. It's the best bass I've ever laid hands on. Other than changing the finish "formula", I wasn't aware of any changes to the BN's(?).

 

[J.Wolf]

the finish change I want to say happened around '03 or '04 from the softer nitro to the "crystal" finish. I prefer the feel of the older nitro, but mine definitely wasnt as durable as the newer finish. I still prefer the feel of the older finish under my hands.

It seems to me like the neck shape changed around 02 or 03 as well. The older ones being more sleek and fast, the newer being slightly more full. Tonally there was a similar change. My older BN6 had a more lean midrange that took mid eq nicely. My more recent BN5 had a built in meat/bulk to the tone that I never really got comfortable with. Not sure if thats the neck shape influencing tone, or the pickup voicing or what, but I'm not the only one to have made these observations over the years.

If any of this info is incorrect, someone please correct me.

 

[Dave Hill]

The only difference in the 3 BN5's (all pre 2004) I had was the weight. They got progressively heavier. To me, the tone got more focused and gritty. The one I have now is about 10.5 lbs. I think George now shoots for around 10 lbs, but, I'm not sure that's always been the case.

 

[mngnt]

The only difference in the 3 BN5's (all pre 2004) I had was the weight. They got progressively heavier. To me, the tone got more focused and gritty. The one I have now is about 10.5 lbs. I think George now shoots for around 10 lbs, but, I'm not sure that's always been the case.

I believe lighter swamp ash is getting harder to find (why Sadowsky is chambering now), but from what I've read F-Bass weight is always higher than others. I believe several club members have had both light and heavier models, with the heavier models having more of that "F-Bass" sound.

My BN6 is almost 11lbs.

 

[J.Wolf]

My BN6 was about 11 pounds. Tonally it was smooth and rich with just enough mids to fill out the ash/maple dip but not so much as to be bulky. My '06 BN5 was very different sounding. Was always fighting the bloated feeling mids and the larger neck. I dont mind the weight, as they're so comfortable, its really the neck feel and the tone that I'm looking at. With the boost only pre, the midrange character being balanced is really important to me.

 

[TolerancEJ]

My BN6 was about 11 pounds. Tonally it was smooth and rich with just enough mids to fill out the ash/maple dip but not so much as to be bulky. My '06 BN5 was very different sounding. Was always fighting the bloated feeling mids and the larger neck. I dont mind the weight, as they're so comfortable, its really the neck feel and the tone that I'm looking at. With the boost only pre, the midrange character being balanced is really important to me.

I liked my BN6 so much, I decided I wanted a second FBass. I've initiated a new VF6-PJ Fretless.

 

[Dave Hill]

My BN6 was about 11 pounds. Tonally it was smooth and rich with just enough mids to fill out the ash/maple dip but not so much as to be bulky. My '06 BN5 was very different sounding. Was always fighting the bloated feeling mids and the larger neck. I dont mind the weight, as they're so comfortable, its really the neck feel and the tone that I'm looking at. With the boost only pre, the midrange character being balanced is really important to me.

Was your '06 lighter?

 

[J.Wolf]

Was your '06 lighter?

That BN5 was about 10 lbs. It didnt feel light for a 5'er, for sure, especially with the neck that was a good bit chunkier than I had expected, coming from pre 2003 BN's

 

[J.Wolf]

It sure was good lookin though....

I'm a sucker for orange things And F basses

 

[Tom7]

I recently installed a set of TI flats on my BN5 and I've been pleasantly surprised with the results. Anyone else have experience with flats on their F's?

For what it's worth, I've found that the TI's do a great job of tempering the natural brightness of the ash/maple construction, while still giving a full range sound. I even dig the slap tone.

Huh. I use TI Jazz flats on other basses, but I've never put them on a BN. Hmm... thanks for the heads up.

 

[Tom7]

When I still had my AC6 I used TI flats on it, mainly to create more of a tonal difference to my AC5 with F Bass strings.

The TI's worked very well with no bridge adjustment needed.

The tension on the 34.5" scale was notably different to the same strings on a 34" scale. They were perfect!

EXACTLY what I'm doing with one of my AC6s, and I completely concur!

 

[Tom7]

Hello! Proud owner of this BN5, birdseye maple fretboard, three piece maple neck, cocobolo top, cocobolo
block inlays and ash body. May I have a number?

I am a sucker for pretty woods, so in my eyes, Club Number 299 goes to one of the best looking BN5s I've ever seen! Congratulations, radiocult!

CLUB FBASS ROSTER
(Updated 18 Jul 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 - BN5
292 JBoogy - George_Furlanet
293 Warren Zaiger - BN4
294 sifi76 - BN5
295 iandmcelroy - VF5
296 that1guy222 - VF-P4
297 scifi76 - Studio 5
298 BassJuJu - BN6
299 radiocult - BN5
.

 

[Tom7]

Holy crud that's gonna be amazing.

Really interested to see how the 6 string P pickup sounds compared to a 4 (or 5). Well I'M interested, my wife/wallet may have another perspective

Well said!

 

[basses55]

Popping in to say hello and see what's new. If I could get a BN5 9lbs, I would be back on board. I just cannot handle 10 lb basses on my shoulder and back anymore. My back gets too sore. Tonally, playability. Fbasses will always be special and exceptional.

Don't give up on that idea. Talk to Marcel or George as they can hand select a piece of ash, possibly swamp...or alder...or alder winged ash core body woods that could come in at 9 or thereabouts. I'm pretty sure about this.
The preference is 10ish but there is possibility for less.

 

[basses55]

It's official. I've finalized the specs and sent a down payment.

FBass VFF6-PJ
Maple Center Block with Ash wings, 3-pc Maple neck
Finish: Lake Placid Blue with Tort pickguard
Fretless Gabon Ebony fingerboard with BNF-style fret markers in the upper register.
34.5" Scale
24 fret range, 19mm spacing
Chrome hardware.

I wanted a chrome pickup cover over the P-pickup but Marcel advised there are no covers large enough for a 6-string.

Also I inquired about a splittable humbucker in the bridge position. Marcel said they/Aguilar don't offer a splittable humbucker at this time. They are considering one by the fall, but they're planning it for the BN/BNF models.

How come you went for 34.5" scale VF?

 

[TolerancEJ]

How come you went for 34.5" scale VF?

I originally asked for 35" but 34.5" was a recommendation of Marcel. I've copied his comments here: "34.5” scale (strongly recommended for good balance from B to C…we don’t offer 35” scale as we aren’t fans of how thin sounding the C string becomes)"

 

[radiocult]

Thanks Tom7, glad to be part of the FBass family, here some pics of the new "baby".