Does Anyone Still Play Music Man Basses

[Geri O]

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}. This this rather “smug” reply was largely “superfluous.”

You have to admit, it makes one wonder just where you live and/or work to not see any Music Man basses and feel compelled to ask such a question.

I live in the deep red neck south USA where supposedly every bassist has a grandfather with an old P bass stashed in a closet or under a bed. I regularly see Music Man basses around here, of all places.

All good, though.

 

[PleyswethSqwerl]

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

Your assertions are overly broad and not reasonably calculated to lead to an eminent factual conclusion. This post was not written to ask you to stop playing MM basses because of some disreputable “general consensus.” “General consensus” and its colloquial use was merely to assert that from what’s being promoted on the web in the bass world these days. The MM bass falls low on the totem pole or is less profoundly talked about or played in demo videos or videos on YouTube. Simultaneously there are less forums on talk bass talking about these instruments anymore.

Thus I was stating “generally” have they fallen into dereliction. I was not asking anyone or asserting anyone else asked anyone to stop playing them {emphasis added}.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

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!!!

Most of those bands don't use stingrays.

They are still popular. I don't like how they feel, or sound. They just don't work for me. But, people still love them.

 

[tb-player]

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.”

 

[Kubicki Fan]

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

I am not debating, I am only exchanging confirmation biases

How do you feel about the Stingray?
Do you like the sound and feel?

 

[PleyswethSqwerl]

You have to admit, it makes one wonder just where you live and/or work to not see any Music Man basses and feel compelled to ask such a question.

I live in the deep red neck south USA where supposedly every bassist has a grandfather with an old P bass stashed in a closet or under a bed. I regularly see Music Man basses around here, of all places.

All good, though.

If you re-read the post I stated “I rarely see YouTube videos of content creators using them and it is less talked about on forums than the other ones” {emphasis added}. I simultaneously asked who still uses them to “substantiate” if there is still a big community. Rather than ignoring the post’s context. If would be much more sufficient to answer if you still use them and explain that a plethora of people in your community still uses them. This is why I would ask such a question {emphasis added}.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

OP, have you owned or currently own a MM or Stirling?

 

[PleyswethSqwerl]

Most of those bands don't use stingrays.

They are still popular. I don't like how they feel, or sound. They just don't work for me. But, people still love them.

At the drive in, breaking Benjamin, and chevelle use sting ray {emphasis added}. Furthermore I was not asserting that the bands used those basses. I asserted they were very popular in that “era” {emphasis added}. However I agree with you I’m not much of a fan of them anymore. However I was in that era.

 

[Al1885]

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 in fact check, you will see that more people talk about the precision bass in the jazz bass and, rarely ever talk about the music man. Thus i thought this tread was appropriate. Thanks for your input.

Everyone I know plays and own multiple MusicMan Stingrays, heck I probably own enough MusicMan for 2 Soccer teams including bench players . YouTube is not the right place to measure the number of users and players. Content creators make content for people to watch and hopefully makes money from viewership. This forum has more threads about MusicMan basses than Jazz or P on the "new post".

 

[Killing Floor]

Gayle Ann Dorsey, Commerford
Millions and billions of metal and country players too.

 

[PleyswethSqwerl]

Everyone I know plays and own multiple MusicMan Stingrays, heck I probably own enough MusicMan for 2 Soccer teams including bench players . YouTube is not the right place to measure the number of users and players. Content creators make content for people to watch and hopefully makes money from viewership. This forum has more threads about MusicMan basses than Jazz or P on the "new post".

I’m not impugning “music man” I stated once again this was “my perception” and what I have been seeing. So I asked who’s number one go to bass is music man. I guess all that other stuff was just an interlude as to my reasoning for making the post and to get answers who still uses these basses.

 

[PleyswethSqwerl]

Gayle Ann Dorsey, Commerford
Millions and billions of metal and country players too.

Great answer!!! Thanks for actually answering the question. This post was not meant to impugn music man. I was merely asking who still uses them.

 

[tindrum]

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.”

 

[Killing Floor]

Great answer!!! Thanks for actually answering the question. This post was not meant to impugn music man. I was merely asking who still uses them.

I’m sure they have a big artist list on the web. But the reality is the same trend line they’ve had for years is MM basses (and guitars) are very common in several genres of modern metal, very common in MOR country, very common in southern and prog too.
But they are not a dominant brand like some. They are holding their own.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Gayle Ann Dorsey, Commerford
Millions and billions of metal and country players too.

Commerford also plays the heck out of his jazz bass.

 

[Killing Floor]

Commerford also plays the heck out of his jazz bass.

Yeah, he’s pretty good at bassin’

 

[eniac]

Sweetwater has a bunch in stock (not just showing on the site, but actually on hand, serial numbers listed). I don't think they'd bother with the brand if they weren't moving them out at a fast enough rate to justify the cost of inventory.

 

[factory presets]

I guess you can safely assume enough people use them to make Mr. Ball feel no need to price them more competitively.

Unless they just buy them to hang on their walls (no emphasis required).

 

[cataract]

I mean, they’re still making them so I certainly hope so lol

 

[steveinohio]

Still play em. Love em. Im sure they will be vogue again at some point. You could ask the same question of five strings, short scales, 51 P style basses, Alembic, Spector, and a litany of others. Honestly it’s all cyclical if you give it time. I think the only constant is the P bass. That’s more likely because it is the fundamental sound of bass in popular music.