Brian May Bass a reality...

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by sumpitan

I don't really get the point of this instrument. Unlike the Red Special guitar, this bass was never used on any classic records and it did not even exist when Queen and Brian May made their musical mark. The classic Queen bass tracks were laid down with Fender and Musicman basses.

Gibson has already amply proven that taking a classic electric guitar and modifying it just enough to make a bass version does not equal a classic bass design. Queen had a powerful bass presence and a really ballsy tone coming out of John Deacon's instruments different in every way to this anachronic anomaly.

I think the word you were looking for is "novelty."

It's a novelty. Nothing more.

[chunkstyle]

Originally Posted by sumpitan

I don't really get the point of this instrument. Unlike the Red Special guitar, this bass was never used on any classic records and it did not even exist when Queen and Brian May made their musical mark. The classic Queen bass tracks were laid down with Fender and Musicman basses.

Gibson has already amply proven that taking a classic electric guitar and modifying it just enough to make a bass version does not equal a classic bass design. Queen had a powerful bass presence and a really ballsy tone coming out of John Deacon's instruments different in every way to this anachronic anomaly.

The point probably is when Brian May plays bass these days, he plays this instrument.

[MEKer]

In the words of a submariner: DIVE. DIVE, DIVE!


No, thanks.

[12stringbassist]

Much prefer this one to the official one, which looks comparatively crap and well-overpriced.

[12stringbassist]

The only reason Brian May has added a bass model to his range is £$.

[SBassman]

You guys are rough.

I'm sure Brian May is set financially. I think this other stuff is a labor of love.

I haven't heard the bass, but - if that design passed through Brian's hands and ears, it's probably a good to great instrument.

[west*coast*bass]

Nothing like knocking a bass that none of you have played... The small mindedness of many TalkBass members never ceases to amaze me.

[Ric5]

First of all Brian May is not a bass player ... so why does he get a signature bass? Second that bass looks like have eb3 and half Ripper. I like different and unusual basses but that particular does not do it for me. They should have made a 3 pickup model.

And what is the deal with those neck dots? And those white knobs have to go.



Yep ... I didn't read the previous post...

[SKATE RAT]

i like the way both of 'em look. but how do they feel and how do they sound?

[MEKer]

Originally Posted by west*coast*bass

Nothing like knocking a bass that none of you have played... The small mindedness of many TalkBass members never ceases to amaze me.

Don't have to play it to know that functionally, balance-wise, it will neck dive unless the body weighs a ton. That's a stopper for me. The other elements of this bass----I don't know and it matters not----the dive stops it in its tracks for me.

If someone does not mind dive, then, yes, they should check it out before bashing, unless they simply do not like the looks. That too, however, is allowed.

Its not necessarily always a matter of small-mindedness. For my personal reason on passing regarding this bass, its having experience with the overall design. If for some arcane reason it does NOT dive, I'd give it a shot as I have liked the feel of the old EB-3 and maybe this is an improvement.

[12stringbassist]

OK, I haven't played the BM bass or even seen one close-up. One photo is all it takes.

My small-mindedness runs to thinking it should have black switches and hardware,
as per the original. It also is missing the versatility that the guitar version promises
because the volume and tone are pretty standard on the BM bass. What happened
to all the switching options you get on a BM guitar, which is what makes them special?
The Dillion has it all for me. The BM has little to recommend it.

The BM bass looks rushed, underfunctional and made of spare bits. And too expensive
for what it is - I would expect to pay that price if it had all the switching options.

I'd add that the Mini-May guitars are a total waste of money.
And I HAVE played one of those.

[lunarpollen]

Originally Posted by 12stringbassist

The only reason Brian May has added a bass model to his range is £$.

Trust me, he does not need any more $. He added it to his range because a prototype was presented to him by the guy who builds spare/backup guitars for him; he posted it to his website a while back asking people's opinions, and obviously there was enough support and feedback for him to say "why not!"

Originally Posted by Ric5

First of all Brian May is not a bass player ... so why does he get a signature bass?

It's his guitar company, he "gets" whatever he wants to put out.

Originally Posted by Ric5

And what is the deal with those neck dots? And those white knobs have to go.

The dots on the neck follow the same pattern as those on his guitar.

The aluminum knobs are the same type as on his guitar.

Originally Posted by 12stringbassist

My small-mindedness runs to thinking it should have black switches and hardware,
as per the original. It also is missing the versatility that the guitar version promises
because the volume and tone are pretty standard on the BM bass. What happened
to all the switching options you get on a BM guitar, which is what makes them special?
The Dillion has it all for me. The BM has little to recommend it.

The BM bass looks rushed, underfunctional and made of spare bits. And too expensive
for what it is - I would expect to pay that price if it had all the switching options.

The Dillion version is interesting but poorly made, and the phase-reversal switches are useless for any kind of bass role. Have you heard what out of phase pickups sound like on a bass? Like poo! Anyway, I speak from experience, I own one of the Dillions. The switches and knobs don't even match his original guitar, looks-wise (wrong type/color, and the switches are diagonally oriented on the bass). However, Tri-Sonics sound great as bass pickups, and having three of them wired in series with an on-off switch for each is cool (it's the only good thing about the Dillion bass).

[smcd]

Originally Posted by Ric5

First of all Brian May is not a bass player ... so why does he get a signature bass?

As previously mentioned, it is his guitar company.


But as you brought it up....Les Paul wasn't a bass player. Why did he have a signature model?

[west*coast*bass]

Originally Posted by MEKer

Don't have to play it to know that functionally, balance-wise, it will neck dive unless the body weighs a ton. That's a stopper for me. The other elements of this bass----I don't know and it matters not----the dive stops it in its tracks for me.

If someone does not mind dive, then, yes, they should check it out before bashing, unless they simply do not like the looks. That too, however, is allowed.

Its not necessarily always a matter of small-mindedness. For my personal reason on passing regarding this bass, its having experience with the overall design. If for some arcane reason it does NOT dive, I'd give it a shot as I have liked the feel of the old EB-3 and maybe this is an improvement.

The smaller headstock tells me that this might not be a problem - but since you are obviously bothered by the POTENTIAL neck dive before you even pick it up, so be it.

I however, will always wait to cast judgment on specific technical specifics until I have proof that they indeed exist. Case in point; the Musicman 25th Anniversary bass...I thought it would neck dive like crazy so I went and tried one out...but guess what, due to the smaller headstock design the balance is actually quite good. Sure, I could have come on here and knocked it because I thought it would have a neck dive problem, but I decided to find out for myself.

I understand your point, I am not a fan of neck heavy basses either, but I'll do some research before I make my decisions.

[Dark Horse]

Originally Posted by MEKer

Don't have to play it to know that functionally, balance-wise, it will neck dive unless the body weighs a ton. That's a stopper for me.

Not necessarily. The small headstock and shorter scale will help balance the bass quite a bit. Also, the EBO sidewinder style pickup adds a pretty fair amount of weight to counterbalance neck dive. The body shouldn't need to be very heavy given these features.

[staindbass]

good thing it doesnt come in 5 strings, i would have to have one on looks alone !

[JoshuaTSP]

Love it, and would buy a used one at a good price.

[pasta4lnch]

looks interesting - I'd try one. Not loving the shape though ... never was a fan of his guitars

[SolomonHelsing]

Well, theres a stockist in the same town as me, think ill go see if they have any in stock tommorow, looks pretty nice, wonder how it sounds.

[Darren Low]

Soooo...has anyone ever played one yet?