My '96 Silver Sparkle FB4, which came into my arsenal in early '97, was a monster in playability and looks. Withstood 10 years of gigging, touring, studio time and general all-around abuse without as much as a whimper. I actually had the Lane Poor with Bart preamp. Didn't care for that combo much. Sold the LP within 6 months (yes.. blasphemy, right??? LOL) and installed a Bart pickup - I think it was the MMC, as opposed to the brighter MMK. A few years later I came across and installed the original Aguilar OBP1 two-band preamp. That was the game changer. Now my FB4 had the killer sound to match the looks, playability and neck stability. Incredible instrument.
I agree that the earlier versions of the FB's (specifically those without the truss rod) were sleeker and at least to this bassist, had a superior neck profile than those with truss-rods - certainly better than the FU bass. I was told by Modulus a few years back that by the time the FU bass was in production, the neck had undergone 3 revisions over its lifetime... having played a few FU's, I'd say they ruined what was an amazing feeling neck - at least in comparison to my '96.
Anyway... all this talk makes me want to nab a '96 or '97 FB!!
).
