Single-Coil (middle toggle position): Of all the modes, this produces the brightest and most open tone with the quickest attack. In comparison to the standard BN series, these singles are a little more lean and mean and have a slightly warmer woody timbre. Single-coils are located in the 60’s position. CLICK FOR SINGLE-COIL AUDIO DEMO created by Mitch Starkman. Note that the single-coil output was matched to the hotter humbucking modes to create a more accurate tonal comparison.

Series Humbucking (down toggle position): Produces the highest output and a much thicker, darker, and more compressed tone. CLICK FOR SERIES HUMBUCKING AUDIO DEMO created by Mitch Starkman. 

Parallel Humbucking (up toggle position): Produces a slightly thicker tone with more midrange honk than the articulate single-coil mode and without any of the 60 cycle hum. CLICK FOR PARALLEL HUMBUCKING AUDIO DEMO created by Mitch Starkman. 

We love a big bass tone though can’t stress enough that it has to be focused and controlled. We’ve added a few key features to the Deluxe to control the colossal series humbucking mode and the overall warmth of the Alnico II magnets:

Exposed-Pole Pickups with taller magnets to add a little more output and high end shimmer at the factory pickup height

Tara Labs Audiophile Grade Wiring, the copper wire soldered between pots is solid rather than being braided to maintain maximum detail

Aluminum A Style Bridge with Brass Saddles to compress/control the lows and highs while improving sustain

String-Through Body with DR Full-Core Strings to give the strings a tighter feel by the bridge. This reduction in string compliance allows us to get the pickups closer to the strings for maximum output and clarity. 

As with all of our basses, our 5 & 6 string Deluxe BN’s are also made with a 34.5” scale length. This 0.5” scale length extension adds clarity to the low B while maintaining a thick and musical G & C. We also don’t shy away from a medium to medium-heavy weight build as we find it adds solidity to the low end and packs serious punch through the mids.

Our preamps are handmade right here in Hamilton using discrete components (transistors, resistors, capacitors) rather than over-engineered IC chips. This helps us achieve a more open and transparent sound that allows the instrument to translate its inherent tone without colouration. Our 3-band preamp controls Bass Boost, Mid Boost, and Treble Boost. When all are set flat at 0, there is no perceivable difference from your passive tone. This makes for an extremely predictable and shape-able tool to explore tones or to simply cater to various gigging environments. The 9V pre has a low draw allowing for approximately 500 hours of play. Now if your battery happens to die in the middle of a gig—don’t fret!— you can pop up the tone control to engage passive mode.

Through careful design and consideration of each component’s weight (down to the ounce), we ensure perfect balance whether playing in the seated position or strapped in. Our treble horns are curved outwards, set further back into the body, and carved to match the curvature of the fretting hand. This allows for easier access to the end of the fingerboard and maximizes comfort in the seated position. Our Deluxe BN’s are also made with a slightly extended bass horn to bring the first position in a little closer when playing with a strap.

When putting so much effort into our design, finishes, and sourcing beautiful tone woods, the last thing we want is to disrupt that aesthetic flow with plastic. So we take the time to grain match pickup shells and backplate covers from the same wood used for the body. To continue this cosmetic harmony, our headstocks are also colour matched to the body or crafted with matching wood veneers for exotic topped builds.

Our builds have been dialled in just-so over decades of refinement, however we know that all players are not made the same. We love working one-on-one to determine target feel, tone, and aesthetics. We’re happy to refer to past builds with varying combos, but are also open to new ideas that still retain the F Bass DNA. Our goal is to make your dream bass so that you can focus on your craft. We don’t want you fighting your instrument or lugging multiple basses to a single gig — so have fun jumping into our custom builder or visiting our photo gallery for inspiration. When you’re ready please don’t hesitate to give us a call or shoot us an email to get the conversation started!