Does Anyone Still Play Music Man Basses

[PleyswethSqwerl]

I’m curious does anyone still play music man basses, and, or is it their No. 1 go to in 2024. Now before I get berated by lots of people. I only ask this question because, it seems like in this day and age the general consensus is: P bass, J bass, or a P/J. When I look on YouTube and I see people doing videos I only see these basses. When I look on forums I only see people talking about these basses.

From 1999-2006 I saw a plethora of musicians specifically “bass players” using Music Man’s. It was the holy grail of basses when bands such as: Korn, limp Bizkit, Breaking Benjamin, At the drive in, The Mars Volta, Chevelle, etc. were at their peak. Since the hype around these basses seems to have fallen into “dereliction” or atleast from my view or what I can see {emphasis added}.

Has anyone else noticed this or am I inherently mistaken? I love music man but in today’s world of bass they seem to be “played out.” Am I wrong?

Thoughts!!!

 

[Jhalb]

Yes I still play Music Man basses and no you aren’t wrong.

 

[Derry Murbles]

I play them, they’re my number 1, 1a, and 1b currently.

 

[Heiwa]

Artists

John Petrucci, Steve Lukather, Steve Morse, Albert Lee, St. Vincent, James Valentine and more artists trust Ernie Ball Music Man with their tone. Shouldn't you?

www.music-man.com

 

[Al1885]

it seems like in this day and age the general consensus is: P bass, J bass, or a P/J.

Thoughts!!!

Well you can do that on a MusicMan too.

 

[Wood and Wire]

Nope.

Not a single person plays them anymore.

There was an amnesty, and everyone had to surrender their Music Man basses.

 

[PleyswethSqwerl]

Well you can do that on a MusicMan too.
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View attachment 6997784

This is true!!! However Music Man was defined by that single humbucker pup in the back then they moved at one point to $$ humbucker. The precision bass had the identity of the big fat neck with that one split coil. The jazz bass had the identity of two single coils with a thin neck.

If music man have incorporated these two scenarios into their mix. It would substantiate the theory that the single humbucker music man has indeed fallen into dereliction.

 

[J Wilson]

I think over time, you will see fewer of them as their prices continue to soar. For most of its history, MM's were more or less affordable, and now it's getting to where the offshore Sterlings are going up to where the MIA price range once was, and the MIA's just keep rising.

Don't ever forget that instruments are a) fashion, and b) traditional never goes out of style. For as new and hip and different thinking as musicians want to think they are, when it comes to instruments they are painfully creatures of habit: They will always gravitate to the instruments their dads and grandads played in a lot of cases, even their amps in some cases.

You can listen to that crap or if these choices don't suit you, whatever suits you is YOUR business and nobody else's. And these days, there are LOTS of choices. Forget group affirmation.

 

[PleyswethSqwerl]

Nope.
Not a single person plays them anymore.

There was an amnesty, and everyone had to surrender their Music Man basses.

While I wholly understand your obtuse colloquialism. It is vague and unduly burdensome as this was a post to gauge who still plays it as their go to instrument {emphasis added}. Thus, this rather “smug” reply was largely “superfluous.”

 

[PleyswethSqwerl]

I think over time, you will see fewer of them as their prices continue to soar. For most of its history, MM's were more or less affordable, and now it's getting to where the offshore Sterlings are going up to where the MIA price range once was, and the MIA's just keep rising.

Don't ever forget that instruments are a) fashion, and b) traditional never goes out of style. For as new and hip and different thinking as musicians want to think they are, when it comes to instruments they are painfully creatures of habit: They will always gravitate to the instruments their dads and grandads played in a lot of cases, even their amps in some cases.

You can listen to that crap or if these choices don't suit you, whatever suits you is YOUR business and nobody else's. And these days, there are LOTS of choices. Forget group affirmation.

This is a great reply and analysis!!! I think you are correct. I think at one point the MM were a huge fad.

 

[DirtDog]

This is a great reply and analysis!!! I think you are correct. I think at one point the MM were a huge fad.

50 year fad, not bad!

I play mine almost every day.

 

[Pet Sounds]

I’m curious does anyone still play music man basses, and, or is it their No. 1 go to in 2024. Now before I get berated by lots of people. I only ask this question because, it seems like in this day and age the general consensus is: P bass, J bass, or a P/J. When I look on YouTube and I see people doing videos I only see these basses. When I look on forums I only see people talking about these basses.

From 1999-2006 I saw a plethora of musicians specifically “bass players” using Music Man’s. It was the holy grail of basses when bands such as: Korn, limp Bizkit, Breaking Benjamin, At the drive in, The Mars Volta, Chevelle, etc. were at their peak. Since the hype around these basses seems to have fallen into “dereliction” or atleast from my view or what I can see {emphasis added}.

Has anyone else noticed this or am I inherently mistaken? I love music man but in today’s world of bass they seem to be “played out.” Am I wrong?

Thoughts!!!

I think EBMM management realized this was becoming an issue, which is a big reason for the release of the more versatile StingRay Special a few years ago.

 

[Wood and Wire]

While I wholly understand your obtuse colloquialism. It is vague and unduly burdensome as this was a post to gauge who still plays it as their go to instrument {emphasis added}. Thus, this rather “smug” reply was largely “superfluous.”

Well, if it helps your metrics, my 1987 StingRay has been my #1 instrument of choice since 1991~ and will remain so.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

I have the opposite impression compared to yours. Popularity is cyclical, anyway.

A tribute to the staying power of the MM brand is that it is familiar to the newest generation of players. A bassist of today can choose from an amazing array of makes and models, yet MM sells more basses than ever.

 

[Al1885]

I’m curious does anyone still play ......

Thoughts!!!

You can fill in the blank any type of basses and probably get similar response at one time or another.

Is it the tone or the feel of the instruments?

The popularity would go to whatever companies that can boost their marketing and put the instrument in the hands of the artists.

MusicMan Stingray offers something that no others are offering, spaciousness and feel. If your question is "I'm curious if more people are playing 1.5" jazz profile neck today than ever" then the answer is yes, for whatever reason.

 

[vickerekes]

 

[cataract]

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These sound so rad

 

[PleyswethSqwerl]

I have the opposite impression compared to yours. Popularity is cyclical, anyway.

A tribute to the staying power of the MM brand is that it is familiar to the newest generation of players. A bassist of today can choose from an amazing array of makes and models, yet MM sells more basses than ever.

Ok fair opinion!!! If you re-read my post I said it “seems” like Its fading {emphasis added}. Based on forums and a plethora of YouTube videos and forums the MM is the least talked about. You can fact check. However in your world it appears to be alive and breathing ever so vividly. Touché

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Why would I stop? Based on General Consensus? How many stars does he have? I remember when he was just Sargeant Major Consensus...

 

[PleyswethSqwerl]

You can fill in the blank any type of basses and probably get similar response at one time or another.

Is it the tone or the feel of the instruments?

The popularity would go to whatever companies that can boost their marketing and put the instrument in the hands of the artists.

MusicMan Stingray offers something that no others are offering, spaciousness and feel. If your question is "I'm curious if more people are playing 1.5" jazz profile neck today than ever" then the answer is yes, for whatever reason.

No, my question was how many people still play music man? {emphasis added}. Popularity and assumptions is based off proliferation in the metrics of what I see on forums and YouTube videos. If you look and, fact check, you will see that more people talk about the precision bass and, the jazz bass and, rarely ever talk about the music man. Thus i thought this tread was appropriate. Thanks for your input.