The price for most basses has gone up quite significantly over the past few years. Unfortunately, it's getting to the point where it's very hard to justify buying something new unless it's custom.
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Upside: at Sweetwater it's now just $100 more for a 30th anny buttercream roasted neck StingRay5 than a Cutlass.
edit: on the EBMM website, it looks like some prices have jumped while others are the same. StingRay 4H still hanging out at 1699, while the Classics and Old Smoothies have jumped to 2300 (I think a $300 bump?). I'm sure when the new 18v lighter StingRays hit they will land right around 2100, proportional to the passive models.
edit: on the EBMM website, it looks like some prices have jumped while others are the same. StingRay 4H still hanging out at 1699, while the Classics and Old Smoothies have jumped to 2300 (I think a $300 bump?). I'm sure when the new 18v lighter StingRays hit they will land right around 2100, proportional to the passive models.
Makes me very happy that I pulled the trigger on this purchase back in early November 2017 on this. GC had it used in California for $1,100. It dropped one day to $1,000 so I jumped on it and had them ship it to NJ. One of the finest bass guitars I own.
Yeah, between the cost of living, and taxes, I have no idea why any business stays in California. NJ is pretty bad also. I'll be out of here someday.
REVERB has a couple of mint ones for under 1600 one is a Sunburst for 1300...
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I just noticed the jump today as well 
I had played the "Classic Natural" cutlass bass the last couple of times I was at Sweetwater and it was a joy to play... but after a $550 price increase I wish I'd never even picked it up.
I had played the "Classic Natural" cutlass bass the last couple of times I was at Sweetwater and it was a joy to play... but after a $550 price increase I wish I'd never even picked it up.
Buy used .I just noticed the jump today as well
For some perspective Roger Sadowsky has had to come out with a slightly cheaper line of Metros since they getting around $3K and non Satin series American Sadowsky get up to $6k. $2k+ for the Caprice, the higher price is disappointing, but not shocking. My question is how does G&L keep their prices so low when they are a smaller company that EBMM?
If you really want to save money, buy an Ibanez TMB600 or 605, have a tech shield it for noise, you will will have a killer PJ for under $750.
Well good thing I bought mine back in December. I paid $1400 and some change for a "used' one, but it was basically mint condition. I think it was a return. $500 is insane. It does seem like they might be pricing it like that to price it out of competition, but I don't understand why they'd not want people to buy one. If it's not doing well, just discontinue it.
I'm not saying I agree with or like the price increase but I will say that any Musicman I've ever owned could easily go head to head, quality wise, with a Sadowsky Metro. I had a Metro... for a week and sent it back. It was just nothing special to me. My Stingray hung around over 20 yrs and I also owned Sabre and Sterlings. All were top quality.
Heck, I might just get another one!
I don’t like taking shots at anyone, but Sadowsky fans can get almost mystical in their praise of that brand’s fit and finish. Sadowsky is excellent, but others are too. I certainly feel that Music Man is easily comparable to Sadowsky in fit and finish. Roger Sadowsky himself has said that the market for boutique Stingray would be small because Stingrays are already so good.
I think a lot of it is the experience of buying from a craftsman/luthier/shop or from a "company". Mike Lull is a great comparison. That's literally one dude building stunning classic basses to order. Makes it tough to justify shelling out for a factory instrument (even from the best factory) with just a few locked color/neck options. Seems like the majority of folks I've seen on here that have one bought used, b-stock, or at a discount already.
If it signifies that EBMM is super confident in these models and that it stands up to the $2200+ competition, then that's awesome. If it signifies that they're not selling well, and are pricing them with an eye toward discontinuing, that's too bad, because they are solid. If we see em reduced again on clearance in a year, I guess we'll know for sure.
If it signifies that EBMM is super confident in these models and that it stands up to the $2200+ competition, then that's awesome. If it signifies that they're not selling well, and are pricing them with an eye toward discontinuing, that's too bad, because they are solid. If we see em reduced again on clearance in a year, I guess we'll know for sure.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I think you can all blame @Dr. Cheese for starting this with the title he did Music Man Caprice: True Boutique Quality. He built the stadium, and they came 
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I think you can all blame @Dr. Cheese for starting this with the title he did Music Man Caprice: True Boutique Quality. He built the stadium, and they came
Jokes aside, I am sure I sold some Caprices for Music Man here at Talkbass. That said, I cannot think of a single negative review of the Caprice anywhere.
