... OR Sterlings, besides narrower than Stingray 4 strings, thinner front to back than most Jazzes.
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Are Musicman Basses really that good?
- Thread starter fingerguy
- Start date
... OR Sterlings, besides narrower than Stingray 4 strings, thinner front to back than most Jazzes.
Yes. As far as mass-produced basses go they are among the best. You either like their sound or you don't though, I guess. I will say that everyone I've ever played has played better, to my standards, than any Fender I've ever touched (I'm not anti Fender, I own 3) based on the neck/frets/action.
madbass6
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- Jan 13, 2009
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I was flight delayed for a few days in NYC this last week when the BOMB hit so I walked over to the Sam Ash store. Never had much of an opportunity to play an MM and they had six or seven, along with 4 Rics which are extinct in my neck of the woods.
I had the best snow day ever!
I've always worried about the feel of both brands before even thinking about owning one. I picked up a Ric or two and noodled awhile and immediately thought. Yay! I'm one of those who really likes the fit and feel! Now the trip I was planning to Wildwood won't be a complete gamble.
Well, that was cool! now the MM. HOLY COW! I finally understand the term "plays like butter". Great neck feel, smooth sanded and not sticky or slippery. The balance was almost "blind justice" league. The salesman apologized in advance for any intonation or setup problems due to the cold wet condition coming thru the door. (The bass gear is located close to the front door.) I thought "you're kidding me". The action was smoother than any bass I have ever played. If this is any indication of MM basses I'm in. I didn't notice any flaws in the build and I'm an OCD nitpicker.
They are not in my budget atm but I'm also one of those that really tried to be a Fender P bass owner/player, and it just isn't working out, so there may be a slight adjustment in the future.
I'm thankful for the cancelled flight and the bad weather and still slack jawed with the MM epiphany.
Nope, unless it's the Indonesian side of the county
Hmm, I did mention USA made SUBs (made between 2003-2006)...
Am I missing a joke?
only if they have a neck pickup
the bridge pickup severely limits tone and cuts through the mix too much. i hate them. i had one briefly, got rid of it and got a jazz bass instead which is way better.
Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
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A lot of people seem to be feel threatened when someone points out the flaw in the style bass they play ... well all basses have flaws, the p-bass, the jazz bass, the stingray, the Rickenbacker, etc ...
There is no perfect bass. The woods, the pickups, the electronics, etc ... they all add some things and take away others.
The stingray flaw is built into the design with the one pickup placed at that location. It will make a really strong B and a weaker G. A bass with a neck pickup under the 24th fret will do the opposite. Amazing high notes on the D and G string and a more hollow sound on the B string.
On a Musicman bass if you grab a 2 pickup model and favor or solo the neck pickup and boost the mids you get an incredible retro thump that is not the usual hi-fi sound of a stingray.
People like them because they have a very identifiable tone through the pickup placement and the preamp design, and that tone supports the bass standing forward in the mix. Stingrays are for people who want to be heard.
Personally I love the way they sound, I don't love the way they feel. They are a little heavy, Stingray bodies are a little large for my taste, and the neck profile is quite a bit thinner and deeper and with a smaller fingerboard radius than I would choose. So I've kind of been chasing the idea of a Stingray tone in a bass that is more comfortable for me to play.
Still looking.
Personally I love the way they sound, I don't love the way they feel. They are a little heavy, Stingray bodies are a little large for my taste, and the neck profile is quite a bit thinner and deeper and with a smaller fingerboard radius than I would choose. So I've kind of been chasing the idea of a Stingray tone in a bass that is more comfortable for me to play.
Still looking.
Are they that good?
Can a company sell basses for 44 years if they sold bad basses?
If they weren't as good as any others they would have folded long time ago.
Can a company sell basses for 44 years if they sold bad basses?
If they weren't as good as any others they would have folded long time ago.
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I don't feel threatened at all. I play many basses and I know their flaws well. I don't own or play Music Man, and I haven't for a number of years. I didn't experience the weak G with any of mine, and I used them in the studio and with in-ear monitors (NO compression) all the time, which tends to magnify balance and sustain issues. FWIW, I owned 2 SR5's and a Bongo 5. I've played many others.
Some MM's have a weak G, but I don't buy that it's inherent in the design, or that EVERY Stingray has the same problem.
Yes, YES and YES!!!
Far and away the best mass produced bass out there - I don't use boutique basses so I don't know about them. I do know that I tried just about everything - Fender, G&L, Lakland, Ibanez, Gibson, Epiphone, Hofner....
But when I got to the MM Bongo and Stringray, I stopped trying and started playing.
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I have seen some that are even more figured than that one. If you get a chance to snag a roasted birdseye neck, do it!! It honestly has a 3-dimensional look to it in person.
It is all personal preference, but yes, for the price they are amazing! After having many instruments (list too long, but yes it includes the USA Jazz and Pbass), I keep coming back to the SR5.
Good luck
Good luck
