Music Man Bass String Survey

[jackajesusfreak]

I contacted Ernie Ball and asked them if they had any plans on producing a short scale model and they are going to bring it before the board. If they do, I would consider putting out the money for one.

I was just curious what type of strings that the Music Man bass owners in here prefer to use:

1. Rounds
2. Flats

[RoboChrist]

One day I'm going to try flats..


I use steel roundwounds by d'addario.

[ajunea3]

I'm curious about trying some (chrome?) flats one day on my Stingray too, but for the time being I use Rotosound Nickel Rounds.

[chuck3]

Isn't the Silhouette bass a 29-5/8 short scale 6?

[Craig_S]

Regular Slinky's work for me. I bet the Ray would sound nice with flats, though.

[chuck3]

Sorry - in response to your question, my Ray has rounds. But I haven't changed strings on it since I got it. I am considering flats as I have them on my P bass and love them.

[jackajesusfreak]

Originally Posted by chuck3

Isn't the Silhouette bass a 29-5/8 short scale 6?

6 String? I can only play a 4 string an have no interest in learning how to play a 5 or 6. Is Silhouette a Musicman model?

[MagicMan_841]

I'm using Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkys on my Sterling. It's my only bass (out of 4) that is still strung with rounds, though. I use Chromes and Labellas on my other basses and I love the sound, I'm sure it would sound good on the Sterling too.

[jackajesusfreak]

Interesting, so far no one uses flats. What's the low end model? What's the cheapest you can get one for?

[chuck3]

Originally Posted by jackajesusfreak

6 String? I can only play a 4 string an have no interest in learning how to play a 5 or 6. Is Silhouette a Musicman model?

Yes it is a Musicman bass guitar. It can be strung E to E or as high as A to A given the 29-5/8 scale. I would love to have one but they are hard to find even in the used market. Pic:

[debris]

I use rounds as well on my Stingray--I think I have Ernie Ball Super Slinkies on right now.
You just really get that punchy goodness with roundwounds. I'd say you can hear it even when you're unplugged.

[Baird6869]

At one point I was gigging 2 30th Anniversary Stingrays..... one with rounds, one with flats. Both sounded amazing, but rounds IMO sounded better for almost all music styles.

P.S. My local store has a used Silhouette piccolo bass (the one pictured above ^^^^ ) and it is pretty cool. It is really expensive though... $1600-1800 I believe. Too much for me to shell out just to try something different.

[JoshuaTSP]

I just got a Stingray yesterday.
It came with D'Addarios...which seemed pretty bright and twangy.
I put on some DR Lo-riders, which I don't seem to care for as much?
I'd rather start brighter, and dial it back to tame.

[jackajesusfreak]

Originally Posted by Baird6869

At one point I was gigging 2 30th Anniversary Stingrays..... one with rounds, one with flats. Both sounded amazing, but rounds IMO sounded better for almost all music styles.

P.S. My local store has a used Silhouette piccolo bass (the one pictured above ^^^^ ) and it is pretty cool. It is really expensive though... $1600-1800 I believe. Too much for me to shell out just to try something different.

I see you can get sterlings on ebay for 5 or 6 hundred.

[jackajesusfreak]

Originally Posted by JoshuaTSP

I just got a Stingray yesterday.
It came with D'Addarios...which seemed pretty bright and twangy.
I put on some DR Lo-riders, which I don't seem to care for as much?
I'd rather start brighter, and dial it back to tame.

What did you pay for that stingray, if you don't mind.

[jackajesusfreak]

Would the general consensus be that the Music Man is the best bass guitar you've ever played?

[JoshuaTSP]

Originally Posted by jackajesusfreak

What did you pay for that stingray, if you don't mind.

I traded a 2001 MIA fender Jazz V for it.
the 'Ray has a Seymour Duncan preamp and Duncan pickup.

Originally Posted by jackajesusfreak

Would the general consensus be that the Music Man is the best bass guitar you've ever played?

They're pretty awesome.....solid instruments, but that's a rather bold statement.

What's your favorite color?
Nope, BLUE is the best color EVAR!!!!!!!

[king_biscuit]

Lo Rider Steel rounds for me (45-105).

[king_biscuit]

Originally Posted by jackajesusfreak

Would the general consensus be that the Music Man is the best bass guitar you've ever played?

There is no way there is general consensus on anything on TB!

[bovinehost]

Originally Posted by jackajesusfreak

I contacted Ernie Ball and asked them if they had any plans on producing a short scale model and they are going to bring it before the board. If they do, I would consider putting out the money for one.

I was just curious what type of strings that the Music Man bass owners in here prefer to use:

1. Rounds
2. Flats

Rather small market for short scales and it really doesn't fit with the overall Music Man line. I wouldn't be holding my breath on that, especially with all the new models they've released over the last year or two (and more to come). Just my opinion, though.

I have nine (or ten?) Music Man basses, including a Stingray or two, and I'm a dedicated flats user. I do keep two basses with rounds on them, but that's mostly a novelty and a reminder that not everyone is like me.

Originally Posted by jackajesusfreak

I see you can get sterlings on ebay for 5 or 6 hundred.

Average price for Sterlings is more like 850-900 used, but there's almost always a deal to be had.

Originally Posted by jackajesusfreak

Would the general consensus be that the Music Man is the best bass guitar you've ever played?

This is Talkbass, man! You're never going to get a general consensus! What I would say is that for me, personally, my Music Man basses are the best bass for ME.

But I have good friends, and I love them dearly, who disagree that Music Man is the best bass for them. And you know what? I agree with them, too.

Jack