Should You Buy That EXPENSIVE Instrument? MY FBASS BN5 EXPERIENCE.

[@tlingit]

I have Foderas and FBasses. While I love both, I definitely prefer FBass - especially for 6-string basses. FBass balances on the strap brilliantly, making it easier to see your fretting hand and taking fatigue out of that arm as well. FBass's tone is not just amazing, but it is flexible. I prefer the FBass preamup over the Pope preamp in Fodera. FBass's boost-only preamp keeps your tone organic as you shape it. And the body shape of FBass BN5 is gorgeous.

[@tylerrayhughes]

I think I want a 6 string fbass next!

[@justinfedenyszen7049]

Totally agree with this. George has a magical recipe.

[@_B_E_A_D_G_C]

I have a MTD 635 and a F Bass BN6 Deluxe , and a Fodera being built. I LOVE my FBass. You’re spot on about the F preamp. It’s amazing , and organic sounding. I’m curious about the Pope pre- I have a TF Bullhead 1k and love how it sounds . I guess we’ll see when I get the Fodera !

[@_B_E_A_D_G_C]

@@tylerrayhughesdo it ! Mine is 19mm spacing (by request) because I have big hands. If you can swing a deluxe, their humbuckers are amazing - sounds sweet in single coil as well. It took me around 18 months for my build. Looks like their time has gone up

[@tylerrayhughes]

@@_B_E_A_D_G_C I know! Back when I got mine it only took 8 months and that was with a 3 month hold on northern ash! Can’t believe how much the company has grown in 5 years

[@jenkx11]

I went through the same process when buying my Ken Smith some years ago. Talked with Ken, choose the wood combo, made a deposit, paid on it, about 7 months later the bass arrived and I was overjoyed. A great process indeed. I agree that building a custom bass helps you feel more connected to the instrument.

[@tylerrayhughes]

I’m ready for round 2!

[@MarcoH72]

You’ve convinced me, I’m buying that expensive instrument.

[@derekfoehr9264]

I love the BN5. I have owned one since 2003. My favorite neck feel for a 5 string is still the Lakland USA.

[@tylerrayhughes]

Lakland makes a great bass!

[@RamaNatan]

I had BN5, VF5 on my mid gear journey they’re simply amazing, a high quality one! Now I’m in love with my AC5 simply thee best fretless! A piece of an art

[@tylerrayhughes]

If i had the extra cash i would love to have one of those!

[@nickfoster9350]

Having a custom, handbuilt bass is such an incredible thing; it is uniquely yours, and knowing it was built with love by skilled luthiers, just makes it so much more than 'just a bass.' I have a couple custom basses, and each one is something I will cherish forever.

[@tylerrayhughes]

I love every minute of mine! Thanks for sharing!

[@nickfoster9350]

@@tylerrayhughes My next bass purchase is a toss up between an F Bass, or a Skjold bass. Both are incredible instruments, so it'll be a game time decision.

[@tylerrayhughes]

@@nickfoster9350 good luck! It’s a big decision no matter what

[@hoompaloompaa]

Buying a boutique bass is like buying an art. Id buy one of those if i have the money and its gonna be worth every penny

[@tylerrayhughes]

I’m ready for number 2!

[@bongosock]

I have a few basses now. My main basses are both 5 string, fretted and fretless. Outside of those, I look for 'romantic' instruments, that make me feel a certain way, or put me in a certain mood. A four string Jazz or Stingray would never be my 'everything' instrument, but there's a romance to them, that put me in a certain mood when I play.

[@tylerrayhughes]

I feel that! Jazz bass puts me in a mood for sure!

[@redquesada]

Ken smith , the best bass , the best slap sound ever

[@gorandelac]

Gorgeous bass, love them when they have 24 frets. I have AC5 at home for 10 years now and had a few BN5s.. just perfect basses. thanks for the vid!

[@tylerrayhughes]

Thank you! I wish I had another. Would like a vf series

[@gorandelac]

@@tylerrayhughes yea VFs are great my friend has one VF5 with 24 frets... Gorgeous bass.

[@drewquarrie2116]

F bass has been around for a long time, the very first one I saw was the Alain Caron 6 string fretless model from the late '80s early '90s

[@Bassic778]

I always get the best bass that I can afford. No matter how revered or well-built a bass is, if I can't afford it, then it's irrelevant to me. I'm not knocking high-end basses at all-I used to own an Alembic and a Ken Smith. There are a lot of professional bassists who play Fender, Music Man, Ibanez, Yamaha, and even Sire basses. I'm thrilled with my Cort, Ibanez, Music Man and Sire basses!!!

[@tylerrayhughes]

There you go! Don’t let budget bass stop you from grooving!

[@joannalewis5279]

Fender is now considered budget 😅

[@joshuamcdonnell122]

F bass ruined my other basses. Sounds like the tone in my head matched with ultimate playability.

[@tylerrayhughes]

Same, I don’t grab the others unless I have too!

[@Ben-ic1ve]

Beautiful bass! I’ve been eyeing an Fbass for a while, just so many good boutique options in the market currently

[@tylerrayhughes]

I was looking around for a while too. Between them all, I’m really proud to be and fbass owner

[@ObsidianLife]

I've been fortunately to own some AMAZING Basses (Warwick, Jerzy Drozd, Roscoe, Prometeus, FBB) and nowadays...I would advise MOST people to buy a Mid to High Mid bass, but not to spend more than $3K at the VERY MOST on an instrument. Why? Because taste change, ideas change, what you WANT will change and its a LOT easier to customize a Mid-Level Instrument than to spend money on top of money...EVERY instrument I mentioned above I altered or had some issue with (minor sometimes but still). I found that I would either upgrade electronics, or need fret work done, or one of the above companies put the WRONG finish on an irreplicable piece of wood and it always made me feel "some kind of way" about that bass (though it sounded great!) I will also say, each one made me play differently in a good way. I would encourage most people to spend a LOT of time figuring out what that want before invest significant funds on ONE bass.

[@adamslair4105]

I’ve been playing Dingwall for the last year now. 6 string. Their import model is amazing, so I decided to get a custom. Should have it later this year or early next year. But the fanned fret system was nothing to get used to and the response across each string is just incredible. So there is my recommendation. I have not had the chance to play an F bass, but I’m sure they are fantastic.

[@tylerrayhughes]

Dingwall makes a great bass! Never had the pleasure of owning one though. It’s hard to find an fbass to try. I didn’t try one before I bought one and mine is still the only one I’ve played! Lol

[@CNick75]

I’m a Roscoe and Lakland guy and there is a huge difference between these types of instruments and off the rack stuff. Whether it’s worth it, is a very personal subjective question

[@tylerrayhughes]

And what a topic for a video!

[@daleskidmore1685]

The best instrument to have is the best one you can afford. Even a cheap one can be improved by getting a proper set up by a proper luhtier, or guitar tech, Best one is from personal recommendation by other players. Gradual upgrade of hardware over time gives you time to look around for the best deals. At the end of the day a well made custom instrument is what everyone deserves, but that is not always possible.

[@robsantorobass]

Hey man, great video. I love the passion you have for your instrument and company that you support. Although I personally don’t think a $5,000-$10,000 instrument is “needed” when something in the $1,000-$2,000 range is more than capable of achieving the same goal whether it be tone, playability, etc, however; It was cool to hear how you got your bass and the process that went into it. For me my bass is my Schecter Stiletto Studio-5 bass. It’s such a comfortable bass to play, the neck feels great, amazing tone, very versatile with the 3 band EQ, neck-through, which was always a preference of mine, mahogany body with a bubinga top, the neck is maple and walnut, and a rosewood fingerboard and also loaded with EMG-HZ’s. Some modding I did was I swapped the tuners with Grover’s on the E-G strings and a Hipshot on the low B to go to A if/when the occasion calls for it.

[@tylerrayhughes]

That’s awesome! I’m really interested in getting a 5 string tuned E-C next. Would also require a hip shot to get down to D at least. I just wonder if this is just fantasy. I don’t know how much I would actually use it for work. The fbass gets me through any gig no doubt. Thanks for the comment!

[@robsantorobass]

@@tylerrayhughes I often thought the same thing with my 5 but in every scenario I’ve run into the low B is what I really need instead of a high C. But could still be cool to mess around with in the future. It sounds like your F bass to you is what my Schecter is to me. A swiss army bass able to handle any situation throw at it.

[@tylerrayhughes]

@@robsantorobass Swiss army bass! Yes!

[@chakuseki]

The answer is YES

[@kane6529]

Rick on man some day I might get a big boy bass! I’ve been playing my MIM Fender Jazz that’s good enough to gif with but definitely understand someone that’s a professional musician wanting something custom made, that things a beautiful instrument

[@tylerrayhughes]

Thanks for that. It’s like sleeping in a bed. You spend so much time there, might as well enjoy it.

[@edennard1]

@kane6529 Not trying to hijack the OP’s upload but I still have 1998 MIM Fender Active 5 Jazz and I still gig it

[@drbassface]

I have the same F bass. Spalted Maple Body and dark wood neck. Paid $3,000 in mid 2,000’s. I still need to get different knobs because my right hand fingers slip off them and can’t grip. Have to swing my left hand around, lol. Do you use the exposed core strings, or ? I’ve had problems with the F bass exposed core strings starting out dead… Same happened with Dean Markley SR 2000’s. I think they discontinued them now…. I still use exposed core on my Tobias. (G is reg). I mainly use my Musicman 5 string basses. They seem to cover so many styles. I use my Tobias for Orchestral Gigs… So my F Bass is like the unplayed guitar in Spinal Tap. lol. One of my only F Bass on a live gig vids… I did have the single coil defeat knob engaged…due to a hum at the gig. Probably would have sounded better if I hadn’t activated it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIuxl4KYocigj5Isi=3XCkCLXgKDlt3occ

[@blargety]

I spent $200 on a Sterling when I first started. 3 months later I spent $750 on a Jackson CBXNT. 3 months after that I bought a Schecter C4-GT. Been happy with every purchase so far, but I definitely don't want to end up with a bunch of bass guitars I don't play. Thinking about having the Schecter set up in D standard, leaving the Jackson in E standard since it's actually surprisingly versatile, and then getting a 5 string from someone like Dingwall or Rickenbacker, but I don't know. A custom bass may just be waaaay too much bass for me at this point in my journey. I'm fortunately successful in other areas of creative work which funds my bass addiction and lessons quite well, but yeah. A high end bass like that may be wasted on me, I can barely even do a proper bass face because Tyler hasn't put out a tutorial yet!

[@tylerrayhughes]

Please hold for the bass face tutorial. I’ve got to ‘act serious’ at the beginning of this KZbin journey. Looking forward to cutting lose as time moves on. Lol

[@blargety]

@@tylerrayhughes hey, you never know, that could be your viral breakout hit. ;)

[@Jaa_kko]

I personally don't think its worth it to get a super expensive custom instrument. I don't think there will ever be a bass or guitar that does everything well, so I'd rather have a few options for different situations. But then again I'm not a virtuoso and I will probably never play something so technical that it would justify getting the perfect feeling instrument and I mostly play in studios where the tone is really the most important thing. Also I tend to like different feeling instruments, it makes them have more character for example like the bulky precision bass neck vs the slicker jazz bass neck or and old V-shape telecaster vs a super thin modern ibanez neck. But if a custom instrument is what you really want and you have the spare money for it then I guess that's what you gotta get!

[@tylerrayhughes]

Yessir I understand that way of bass as well. I love my fender jazz and will never get rid of it. It’s nice having the fbass for the big gigs though. People recognize it

[@Jaa_kko]

@@tylerrayhughes yea exactly its more of a statement piece / signature thing than a quest for sound

[@tylerrayhughes]

@@Jaa_kko don’t quite agree with you there. My fbass is also the best sounding and feeling instrument I’ve ever worked on

[@Jaa_kko]

@@tylerrayhughes yea no i didn't mean that the custom instruments suck in terms of sound :D I just mean that the perfect instrument that can do everything well doesn't exist and if you want different types of sounds you need different instruments. F basses are awesome and I would love to own one but I still wouldn't play every genre with it

[@Ben-ic1ve]

fair enough! If you hear something like a Ken smith, it has that unique right sound to it (one of the few boutique basses with a very unique tone). That being said the boutique market send to be a lot more of a feel thing.

[@gregorymoore1210]

My next bass is going to be an F Bass. I’m a beginner but I like having quality equipment. These basses seem to be right in the groove for those of us who want a quality instrument without buying a Honda accord.

[@tylerrayhughes]

You will love your fbass! Enjoy!

[@admacdo]

I had an F Bass BN5 within three months of starting to play bass. (Thanks to a very generous friend.) It kinda ruins you for other things. I still bought more basses though. Just do it.

[@torgomax]

I just bought my first Bass, A Peavey Milestone. Did I make a good choice? Thanks.

[@tylerrayhughes]

No way! My first bass was a peavey cirrus bxp! I think peavey makes a great and underrated bass. I love them!

[@torgomax]

@@tylerrayhughes Thanks for the reply 😊

[@joaniepeters2565]

I’m looking up F bass demos and who pops up on here?? Tyler Hughes.. what?? You’re KZbin famous now dude!! That’s awesome, I love these vids. I’ve watched a lot of them and I do like the gear vids your doing. You don’t know who this is because of my “screen name” but i sold you the jazz bass ;) Have you played any MTD basses? I’m looking at those too

[@tylerrayhughes]

Is this RR?

[@tylerrayhughes]

Is this RR?

[@joaniepeters2565]

Yea man, I just got a Kingston ZX and I absolutely love it before ordering a custom bass, I also have a MTD Saratoga on the way because I loved the ZX sound much, and I can upgrade the pick up and pre amp in the Saratoga later if I want to like Justin Raines bass with the bartolini upgrade. But man.. I’ve never been happier in my life about a bass with the MTD ZX

[@joaniepeters2565]

But what got me into these basses was seeing a bassist on KZbin playing a bn5 and then I started researching F bass and MTD

[@joaniepeters2565]

Also dude!! This will change your life: I stumbled upon this on accident, you have to get the Nux Marvin Lee Davis di pre amp.. get it now! You will thank me later

[@Charles-Robitaille]

I ❤❤❤❤❤ my 2 F Basses!!!!!! Killer tools!!!

[@Peter-ff1tp]

Up and comer? F Bass has been around since ‘78, dawg. They’re older than Fodera.

[@tylerrayhughes]

I know man, i really need to start coming up with a script for these things instead of just wingin it.

[@Gerry926]

My FBass is stock but it's what I would've designed anyway. The lifetime warranty was super important to me.

[@tylerrayhughes]

I think I missed the lifetime warranty part! What’s that cover?

[@Gerry926]

@Tyler Ray Hughes My understanding is that even if you buy a used Fbass, it's still protected against manufacturing defects. It's a limited, lifetime warranty. If it's a build issue, send it in. The faq section on their site discusses this.

[@Gerry926]

If I was to add up the money spent on basses that went bad, just out of warranty, it's more than a new F bass.

[@tylerrayhughes]

@@Gerry926 thanks for that!

[@cavetroll666]

currently waiting for a DIngwal D Roc 5 string coming in septemeber :D

[@tylerrayhughes]

Exciting! I’ve never owned one but have certainly enjoyed the ones I’ve played

[@BroGro1998]

Uda man Tyler❗️

[@tylerrayhughes]

No you da man!

[@jamesmarkham7489]

I think all your information was good. But I don’t think you followed through on your first point. You are not showing any techniques that require a custom level instrument. While you do play on one your technique is not dependent on them. I’d question anyone who says they need an instrument of this level to play certain things. If you practice on any sort of quality serviceable equipment you should be able to pull off most anything. It might get easier with a more expensive instrument for sure but unless your bass guitar is horrifically adjusted you should not find it restricting. I’ve had a few students go out and spend $1k-3k on a bass and get confused why they aren’t improving. It’s in the hands. The time put in.

[@tylerrayhughes]

The point of the video was to talk about my experience with buying an expensive instrument. My video was inspired by comments about not being able to progress on something else which I mention however that is not the goal of the video. Thanks for watching.

[@jamesmarkham7489]

@@tylerrayhughes idk it seems like the point of not being able to progress on a cheaper instrument and you talking of the custom buying process are only slightly related. Not criticizing I guess I was waiting for you to address the point of people saying the instrument was holding them back. Did you feel that way? It seems from your explanation that you got it as a treat for yourself and that you do enjoy it as a professional piece of gear.

[@tylerrayhughes]

@@jamesmarkham7489 ah I understand now. Miscommunication is easy through just text. I personally didn’t not feel that way. However, being on the other side of having the instrument, I would not go back to being without it

[@Ben-ic1ve]

100% none one needs an instrument like this, but definitely a want/desire!

[@edennard1]

I Had a F Bass in 2000. Beautiful instrument just wasn’t my thing..

[@kevinlansdowne1257]

Do you insure there bass? I own a few high-end basses and just wonder if it is worth doing.

[@tylerrayhughes]

I currently do not insure my basses. However I keep them close by. Even when going into the grocery store for a moment the bass is strapped to my back.

[@rsnell22]

Have Kiesel build one to your spec.

[@tylerrayhughes]

Maybe one day.

[@calvinwilds46]

I love lakland 55-02 and 2 sires

[@tylerrayhughes]

My dad has a Sire. Great bass

[@seankent1807]

“Fah-dera”…? Lol

[@tylerrayhughes]

No sir, fuhdaira

[@kevinhughes6707]

F bass will be my new bass…and, efnote drums!!!

[@tylerrayhughes]

I wonder if we can get a family discount buying 2 fbass’s!

[@Ben-ic1ve]

lol I’m looking at the exact same 2 thing. An Fbass BN5 and an Efnote 3 or 3X. Keep me updated!

[@tylerrayhughes]

@@Ben-ic1ve those efforts are awesome looking. Be great for a home setup!

[@garrettlowell7637]

“Should” has nothing to do with it.

[@gimmeagig]

I have never heard of a club owner who would hire a band because the bass player has an F Bass. I like F Basses, but that does not make you a great bassplayer . I have not heard you play but my guess is that if you showed up at the gig with a Sire or any other reasonably decent bass, nobody would send you home based on the instrument you are playing. If you show up on time, know the tunes, can groove and you are not a total dick... they'll have you back. not because you have a F Bass

[@tylerrayhughes]

I don’t know a club owner who knows what an fbass is.

[@_B_E_A_D_G_C]

Nothing wrong with buying a bass that you love and can afford.

[@CNick75]

“Faux-dera” not Fodd Era

[@tylerrayhughes]

Wow thanks!

[@ChristianFerguson-iv6vh]

New Car, or New F Bass.. decisions, decisions...For me it's used squire p bass, or groceries.

[@tylerrayhughes]

I understand that for sure! I bought the bass when i was in college with my last refund check. I have not been able to afford another one since! lol

[@son0fsocal]

4k for a bass and they didn’t even include a case?? A Bag?

[@tylerrayhughes]

It came with a very nice gig bag.

[@CNick75]

A high end soft case or gig bag like Mono offers far superior performance and protection over a hard case. They absorb the shock of a fall. The hard case transfers the shock to the instrument.

[@tylerrayhughes]

@@CNick75 have you seen the fbass bag in person?

[@AlexOnBass]

Fah-dera 😂😂😂😂 that pronunciation is annoying. Great video tho….

[@celestinaliebrecht4679]

"Promo sm" 😉