We already know the quirks and features of several Fernandes guitars, since we've done various reviews to dig deeper into models like the Retrorocket, Vértigo, Monterey and others. Aware of the company's research and development in electronic technology from our experience with the Sustainer, we wondered about this maker's advances and developments in bass territory.
Well, it's time to settle these questions, now that we have this 5-string Fernandes Gravity Deluxe in our testing lab.
Before getting into our analysis, let's mention the confidence Robert Trujillo, Metallica's bassist, has placed in the power of Fernandes, since we know he's a demanding bassist who looks for instruments that allow flexibility and playing comfort on top of the defined thickness of a professional bass. Even supposing you don't know Rob Trujillo, one of the most recognized bassists in the world, it's reasonable to assume that a band like Metallica, given its already legendary career, its staying power in the record business and its number of fans and records sold, would only choose as its new bassist a musician who measured up, and he, in turn, an instrument that was up to such a heavy responsibility.
Body and Neck
The instrument arrived in perfect packaging, and its looks caught my eye as soon as I opened it. In line with Fernandes's design approach, from the guitars we've already seen at ISP as well as the ones that "make the rounds" on stages, in studios and in rehearsal rooms, this bass's look keeps the company's constants. A bold, aggressive, piercing design, but tasteful (you know there's no accounting for taste). One thing I like about these instruments is the personality in the body cut, since it's hard to be original and find attractive lines at the same time. Returning to the design of this bass, I find its body very sleek and its curves very comfortable, allowing a perfect fit of the instrument against the body, both against the torso and if we look out for the "health" of our forearm when it's resting on it for hours.
As for weight, considering its length, we can say it's not excessive. All in all, from my point of view, the design of the instrument is a hit. As for the color, I see it as very much in line with the design and the concept. A kind of purple silver that adds that "rocker" subtlety without going overboard.
The neck, which includes its corresponding truss rod, is bolted to the body with four screws. Praising the instrument's design again, its dimensions are comfortable for a five-string: if the strings were any closer together, playing could get complicated, and on the other hand a fretboard that's too wide becomes an "odd" thing in the hand; though again, there's something for every taste, I find it a reasonable middle ground.
Electronics
The bass includes an active circuit, powered by a 9V battery housed at the back of the body. After playing a bass with an active circuit, when you pick up one without it, the instrument seems to lack roundness. In any case, we'll talk about the sound a bit further down.
This Fernandes has two "F.G.I Technology" pickups, a term silkscreened in silver on both. Continuing with the circuitry, we come to the four knobs, lacquered in black and located on the lower part of the body, as usual. With them we'll control, with good precision, volume, brightness, darkness, presence, "thickness" and so on...
Bridge, Headstock and Tuners
This is a robust bridge, finished in black, that lets us easily make the adjustments needed to control string height and tension. Looking toward the top of the instrument and after "crossing" the fretboard, we reach the headstock; it continues the design thread described at the beginning of this article, with shapes of its own that match the rest. The three tuners on the upper side tune the B (fifth), E (fourth) and A (third) strings, while the two lower ones handle D (second) and G (first). I'll finish this section by noting that the tuners are smooth and fairly precise, so tuning is comfortable and "fine."
Playing with 5 Strings
For a less experienced bassist, going from the conventional four strings to five may be a little confusing at first, since by natural tendency some of your tricks and habits can come out by mistake at first. However, as you get the hang of it, you'll realize your repertoire of possibilities grows. It grows because your fretboard is enriched, and some things you were "forced" to do before you can now play in different alternative ways, getting different results and sonorities.
The "danger" of the 5th string is that it produces notes in really low octaves, and with high gain levels and playing hard, you may run into unexpected distortion and spikes. I think this is one of the hardest aspects of a 5-string. Even so, the number of resources the bassist gains makes it worthwhile.
To be specific, my impression is that you have to be careful with the 5th: if you're recording at a "fast" pace and playing with great intensity, at a gain that's satisfactory for the other 4 strings, the signal may saturate. In some cases, readjusting the bridge to tighten the 5th a bit more reduces the string's vibration and can tame it somewhat. Also, if you know the instrument well, you can control your picking levels through your playing to even out the output, although that takes some doing. Another option is to use an alternate tuning for this string, or a good compressor, though, well, I suppose "every master has his own method."
On to the Sound
I liked this bass's tonal range. We cover very varied possibilities, from the most metallic and piercing, to darker but fine ones, and, passing through quite a few possible alternatives, we arrive at a resounding, absolute thickness. I love that feeling of the generous power of the low end, blended to the fullest with the kick drum and producing a low-frequency punch that makes every microorganism in your body vibrate. A setup I personally love, and which this bass delivers, is a thick, powerful sound without excessive brightness but defined on the lowest strings, while at the same time making the thinner strings "scream" at much more piercing frequencies by slapping.
In short, the sound is highly versatile, which makes the instrument suitable for a multitude of musical styles.
Conclusions
A satisfying overall assessment for this accomplished, carefully made bass. Versatile sounds, plenty of body thanks to its active circuit, definition, drive and great attack if you want it. If, like me, you find the design appealing, then given its good intonation and sound, it makes a great option as a mid- to high-range bass.
