F Bass BN5

Well I did peter the piggy bank!
This bass comes from Canada. Everything is hand made by Mr George Furlanetto and his team.
The model has 22 frets BN5. The maple neck is bolted three parts. On mine the key is Macassar ebony (one) while it is the maple is usually used on this model.
The body is ash with a grain emerges as beautifully translucent red lacquer.
At hardware point of view, we have a bridge Hipshot B style and mechanical Gotoh (I think now they are Hipshot Ultralights).
Microphones whose cache timber matches the finish of the body are Hum-canceling.
The electronics are very neat and well stocked: a volume knob for each pickup, tone and passive bass, mid, treble for the active part of the Equal note that only boost the signal (what an idea to remove a low low ... tidiou!).
Remember also that the knob of the micro fever is a push-pull which allows spiltter microphones for a more Bass. The knob is also tnalité of push-pull and turns off the preamp and then to play passive. 6 knobs short two push-pull.
The only problem is that the veneer is very brittle so jumps very easily, it is easily repaired as well. Mr F bump on a new more resistant coating while keeping the same properties as sound as it seems it affects the sound! 9 for 22 boxes varnishes and some would have preferred 24.
Oh I forgot, the pitch is 34.5 "
Here is the beast:

UTILIZATION

The neck is perfect, neither too large nor too thin nor too thick. A highway, what! All the frets are easily accessible.
Weight level is quite reasonable but I still advise having a good wide strap well (anyway with my shoulders of lizards, all bass weigh on me ...). It is also fun to play standing seated and that is very well balanced.
The standard gauge 19mm ropes offers all the comfort to slapper.
Anyway Connecting the beast!

SOUNDS

It hurts, I have for over a year and I am still surprised at the possibilities of this bass.
To summarize, the branch and it was the sound, it's not complicated.
Just by juggling the microphone gives a very wide range of sounds but if more is Trifouille the preamp, it's madness!
To summarize, we will say it's a Jazz Bass on steroids, with more options.
I play Rock Funk, Baluchi, in short all the Latin. It is never a piece of souffle.L Electronics are quiet a treat and more from the comfort of the game is very much appreciated. Because they are double and split the pickups offer the possibility to switch from one sound to the jazz bass sounds Precision Milleriens Pasto.
For slap, tapping fingers play at all is possible on this low and in addition it is a joy.
Note that the microphones has a relatively low output level, especially in singles. As we have a good amp AC is not a problem.
I use this bass on stage as well in the studio and is a joy, I have a sound engineer friend who saw me coming with 3600 knobs on my bass he was afraid he was quickly reassured.
If the major resort very well, the F-Bass are also well known for the quality of reports of so serious.

OVERALL OPINION

It's been so since September 2003 I have the beast. I'm still happy, the string action can be very low, the handle is excellent with no dead spots.
What I love about this bass is its sound, its mouth, its playing comfort and versatility. All we ask is low in fat.
the problems are the varnish can be quite fragile and it is sensitive to climatechange: I'm Brittany and ca can be played for something that said I touch the handle twice since I have so once every 6 months, what I do on most of my basses.
I tried plethora low before taking it's that I bought in New York, I have been testing Warwick, Fender Deluxe, BAT, and Ken Smith of Elrick and so on and it the only one that really made me crack, the others had either sound too comfortable either type of play did not suit me. This combines the two. At the price it cost me $ 3000 less than 3000 euros thus 20,000 francs.
With the potential of this low I think it's no price to pay. I have seen F-Bass 4500 euros in France !!!!!! So I do not feel aggrieved about the price though it is a sacred investment. It's guaranteed for life, the warranty is transferable when you sell it, but I do not intend to sell it, no, no, no!
I would do this election if I could afford, I must admit that the fretless look very good too ...
Finally I would say that buying an F-Bass can not be wrong

Made in Canada, Hamilton G. Furlanetto and his team.
22 frets pickups "F" jazz double bass splitables single, now made by Seymour & Duncan.
Hipshot bridge, Gotoh mechanical
Ash body and maple neck, touches of hard rock mapple finish base.
2 volumes, 1 tone and 3 knobs to adjust bass, midrange and treble active.
=> Ideal setup for those looking for a real Jazz Bass sound with a great preamp that does not alter the liabilities, it can just add a little more bass, treble and midrange.
A reproach, the nitrocellulose varnish does not. Mondre in shock, the varnish is peeling or brand. It's too bad for a bass of this price. It seems that using this lacquer F bass (same as on Jass bass near CBS) because it has the advantage of not retaining the vibrations of the bass unlike polyurethane, which "contain" the vibrations. Remains to be seen if this argument is true.
I put 9 because that varnish.

UTILIZATION

Handle extremely comfortable, very fine, easy access to acute
Excellent ergonomics, great looks (in my opinion is the best form of bass are present), appropriate weight.
The knobs are African exotic wood, very nice, also in full view at the touch.

SOUNDS

I play jazz, funk, African music, RnB and sometimes rock.
Lorqui I bought this bass, I really understood what it meant to say the word "versatility." With my setup + bass amp, I spend a Bona (who is my favorite sound), that of Marcus Miller (with little to be a more crystalline and less metal than MM), Pastorius, big sound ... funk
This gives a good sound easy, accurate. It's really the spirit of jazz bass, but with its best set in both the acute and serious (The Fbass are known for their serious if not "dribble" it). Very nice low mids.

OVERALL OPINION

The two greatest qualities of this bass are really sound and look. The build quality is undeniable, and more you play, the more we realize that the sound of this bass is not a coincidence, it is the result of a long collaboration between Alain Caron and George Furlanetto. It is for this reason that the F bass have only one model (= concept) the BN.
In the end this bass is really great. Regarding the price, it is very high ($ 3,400 for first prize BN5 new). It is still relatively "reasonable" compared to a Fodera can easily reach $ 6,000 or more!).
Compared to a Sadowsky more expensive, not to photograph, especially for info did not design his Sadowsky preamp that sells so low, it Aguilar. On the other hand, the handle and body are purchased Sadowsky Warmoth, I think. A bit expensive for a low "assembly"!! A shame for me!
F bass BN5 is low very high quality. I would say the bass of a lifetime

Does everything said in the opinions Previous, I will add nothing. Except as may be the finish is not perfect when compared to other brands in the upscale trs (MTD, Fodera ...)

UTILIZATION

The strongest point of this bass is for me the comfort of playing Its handle is perfect for me.
This helps me play better bass and I know of no instrument that love me make a. ..

SOUNDS

I agree with what t said. The highlight of BN5 is its versatility. Moving from one JB's PB, a vintage of its ultra modern. On the jazzy bass limit (without piezo is a feat) a modern sound.

In short I'm in love. In addition to playing this bass on a set Aguilar DB 359 + 112 GS is the nirvana.
George Aguilar Furnaletto prconise to pair with its low .... Well he's right!

OVERALL OPINION

It is an instrument exceptionel. Ms. its price in the absolute lev is reasonable under the provision. I dare to speak of a trs good quality-price ratio.

- I spend the characteristics mentioned in previous assessments.

- My BN5 is standard (key maple / ash body), natural color.

UTILIZATION

- The handle: by far the best of all the bass I've tried (Noguera YC, M'Bappé and Expression Plus Deluxe / Fodera Emperor neck and neck through screwed / Ken Smith / Sadowsky / Fender Jazz Bass (but the everyone knows) / Yamaha TRB5P / Zon Sonus 5 / Fender Marcus Miller 5). Exercise is not easy, but I found that F was able to make a bass whose handle is not too thin / flat, but not too thick and round like a jazz bass. The neck width is also excellent (I have medium sized hands) with a spacing of 19 mm (20 mm is too much for me on a 5 string). The satin finish makes the movement of the hand (not hooking as a gloss).

- Ergonomics of the bass is excellent. It is very well balanced and Calle herself against my body. She did not walk to the horizontal as a jazz bass!

- Access to Acute very easy.

- There are 6 knobs, but the settings are very simple. The 3 knobs on the top are volume neck pickup / bridge pickup / passive tone. Below, there are knobs preamp acute / medium / low. 2 knobs are push / pull: one to enable / disable the preamp and the other to switch from single coil pickup / humbucker. The sound is still very good, whatever the configuration of the microphones. You just do not abuse the passive tone that can cut all the highs.

- The electronics are super quiet. It's simple, when you turn the preamp, EQ and preamp knobs to zero, we hear no breath (which is not the case with lots of bass that I tried). Then when you add high / medium / low, it seems we're always passive, and that the bass is naturally (within the liabilities) of more serious, medium or sharp, still without breath. It's very impressive. I saw no other preamp except that of the 2 Fodera I tried to give such a result.

SOUNDS

- I play soul / funk / pop jazz. It is perfect for my style. I love the sound of my bass with Bona and I can approach him. I think it's related to the use of the same wood on his bass (maple fingerboard and ash body) but also to the microphones F. The bass is very versatile. We can go from one sound to the Pastorius, Marcus Miller, to the sound of Bona and even have a sound close to the bass (yes!). This bass is great. Highs are sweet and not aggressive (this is unfortunately the problem with some maple fingerboard bass I've tried), the sound is more crystalline. If the bass is very well defined (I compared with 2 Fodera Emperor and it has nothing to envy them). In liabilities, it was truly a vintage sound by playing with the bridge pickup. This bass also has a lot of attack. Not being a slappeur, I'm not going to give my point of view, but many say that F has a good sound slap.

- I play on an EBS Drome 12 inches, neutral, no effects.


OVERALL OPINION

- I have this low since 2004. I tried many fretted (Noguera YC-M'Bappé-Expression, 2 Fodera Emperor, several Fender Jazz Bass, Ken Smith, ...) which are good and very good bass. I'm still waiting for the bass that I will want to sell mine. It's simple: I do not see any fault him while low above all have at least one negative point (neck too thin / flat and too wide, too shrill treble, bass weaklings, lack of attack, looks ugly string spacing too large, poor ergonomics, no dial tone passive preamp which distorts the liabilities, disproportionate price) and is reflected in my BN5.

- This bass is in the spirit of jazz bass but has many improvements: the sound is better defined especially in the bass, the preamp does not alter the liabilities, the interface is excellent, the finish is very good even for BN5 standard (hidden microphone preamp cavity cover made of wood, ebony buttons), the look is terrible (I consider it the best look).

- I also have a BNF5 F (fretless version). I do not see today, given the price that I paid the low competition. The only bass that I would try one day are Fodera Imperial Bona (about $ 9000!) And the new range of vintage F, VF5 series. The rest does not really care since I have my BN5.

- Since I paid € 2100 this bass second hand very good condition, I found the quality / price excellent! For a new bass takes $ 3,000, still a very good value for money.