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EBMM Music Man Basses...why so much $?

#101
I only buy used basses(besides an Ibanez Musician back in the 80's, which I still have, and is better now....ha!), and particularly ones that are 10 years old and older. In my opinion, I know more or less exactly what I'm getting with the sound, feel, looks, weight, etc. Not as many surprises. No waiting period to 'see what happens'. I gravitate towards basses that have character, and normal wear. Definitely makes it more original, whether it's a basic, standard, deluxe or other type. These type of basses always peak my interest. Problems/issues with guitars, in my experience, come more regularly with buying new, warranty or not. To me, there is so much value that is hard to put a price on in a well made bass that has been used/not abused for 10, 20, 30 years. While these points may inflate 'my personal value of the bass', I try never to overpay, and there's always a good deal out there somewhere. Good basses hold value. Be smart. There is also something about taking a good used bass out to the gig for the first time....no fear!
 
#102
The trans teal Stingray that I've been longing to replace, the inspiration for this thread, was traded several years ago for a '72 sunburst Jazz bass plus a 4x10 cabinet. A great deal I thought. I was playing a gig in Hoboken and a guy walks up to me after the second set and asks me about the bass. He then offers me $2200 for it. I laughed because I figured he was kidding and told him to show me the money. Lo and behold the guy showed up midway through the third set with 22 hundred dollar bills. I thought he was nuts since the bass wasn't even all original, but since he obviously wanted it and was willing to hand me the cash, I guess it was worth $2200. So all who made that point are correct. Thank you for your input.

One could say that I made out great in the Stingray trade since that bass only cost me $750. And to correct one responder, I think the one i had and all Music Man basses are great instruments, that is why i would love to own another one. I can say it was worth every penny of the money I spent on it new at the time. Perhaps I'm just a cheapskate, and maybe with inflation my old teal Ray really is worth $1200 used today...but I just don't see spending that kind of cash on a bass with 20 plus years of mileage in it. I would pay $600 tops for it, which, based on the responses from the economics professors here, means I'll probably never own a trans teal Stingray with a maple fretboard again. That was my whole point in a nutshell. Outrageous, I know.
 
#103
DWBass said:
Stingrays setup so much better than Fenders and the necks are beautiful (especially the maple fretboards!) I think EBMM's are priced accordingly with other pro quality basses. Overall though, I think these (CNC'd) instruments are overpriced but it is what it is!
Click to expand...

Says you. I have a SR5, an Am Std Precision and a Am Std Jazz. They all set up with the same allen wrench, same screw driver, same feeler gauge, same electronic tuner, etc. They both have simple truss rod adjustments. What's so much better about the EBMM?
 
#104
1. Very high quality materials
2. Amazing playability
3. Require zero modifications to sound amazing
4. Incredibly musical electronics
5. Top notch customer support.

Really not that expensive for an instrument you'll be able to own and play for a lifetime. Most bass companies (high end) sell for double. Ie.Warwick,Lakland,custom shop fender, Ritter, modulus, etc.
 
#105
$1500-2000 really isn't that much for a quality instrument when you start looking at brands/builders like Fodera, MTD, Dingwall, Alembic, etc.

That isn't a slight against boutique builders at all....I wish I could afford one!
 
#108
Hey that was below the belly! xD :hyper: ouch

1954bassman said:
Please don't take this wrong, I just saw the irony of this post in a thread about overpriced used basses.

"They (EBMM basses) sound horrible" "I wouldn't spend more that $1300 for any kind of model (again EBMM)"

Really, most all of us wouldn't spend a penny on a bass we thought sounded "horrible".

No offence or cut intended, just ironic. :)
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#109
AAAAANNNDDDDDDD.. You are are right! BUT!!! What I would like to state is that (yes IMO) you don't get from Music Man what you pay for.. I mean, they will give you the best they can but I believe the price is still too high. Once again I would like to say -50 % would be acceptable :D :p

SactoBass said:
Fixed it for ya. ;)

Based on sales, there seems to be a plethora of folks who have an opinion quite different than yours as to how EBMMs sound. For example, the late Bob Birch in Elton's band. He could have chosen any bass on the planet, and he chose an EBMM. Same with the late Benjamin Orr of the Cars. There are plenty of others who prefer EBMM basses.

There is no right or wrong. It's all a matter of personal preference.
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#110
Mike Sorr said:
Indeed, it is against my personal beliefs to pay several hundred dollars more for a used instrument than I paid new for the exact same instrument a mere 15 years ago.
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So you did a fabulous job of shopping around 15 years ago but are not willing to do the same now? You can find a used Ray for $750 if you're patient. $850 any day of the week.

That's not several hundred dollars more. That's the sign of a consistent value on the used market.
 
#111
Mike Sorr said:
The trans teal Stingray that I've been longing to replace, the inspiration for this thread, was traded several years ago for a '72 sunburst Jazz bass plus a 4x10 cabinet. A great deal I thought. I was playing a gig in Hoboken and a guy walks up to me after the second set and asks me about the bass. He then offers me $2200 for it. I laughed because I figured he was kidding and told him to show me the money. Lo and behold the guy showed up midway through the third set with 22 hundred dollar bills. I thought he was nuts since the bass wasn't even all original, but since he obviously wanted it and was willing to hand me the cash, I guess it was worth $2200. So all who made that point are correct. Thank you for your input.

One could say that I made out great in the Stingray trade since that bass only cost me $750. And to correct one responder, I think the one i had and all Music Man basses are great instruments, that is why i would love to own another one. I can say it was worth every penny of the money I spent on it new at the time. Perhaps I'm just a cheapskate, and maybe with inflation my old teal Ray really is worth $1200 used today...but I just don't see spending that kind of cash on a bass with 20 plus years of mileage in it. I would pay $600 tops for it, which, based on the responses from the economics professors here, means I'll probably never own a trans teal Stingray with a maple fretboard again. That was my whole point in a nutshell. Outrageous, I know.
Click to expand...

Honestly, you sold your stingray for 2200 bucks and are complaining it will cost you 1400 to get another one? Stop being such a cheapskate. It should have tipped you off that your stingray was worth a lot more money when someone offered you 2200 dollars for it. If 500 bucks is the most you will spend on a stingray, find yourself a used USA SUB. Dynamite value for a solid ray, they weren't made in trans teal, but if you want a custom color you gotta pay.
 
#112
The Ernie Ball Music Man company uses a better grade of wood than most. Their regular standard basses have neck wood that competes with Fender's Custom Shop stuff. I kinda think EBMM uses a better grade or whatever of metal for their bridges. EBMM is also a much smaller company..so you're getting a more personal instrument.

I'd rather have G&L.
 
#113
Mike Sorr said:
The trans teal Stingray that I've been longing to replace, the inspiration for this thread, was traded several years ago for a '72 sunburst Jazz bass plus a 4x10 cabinet. A great deal I thought. I was playing a gig in Hoboken and a guy walks up to me after the second set and asks me about the bass. He then offers me $2200 for it. I laughed because I figured he was kidding and told him to show me the money. Lo and behold the guy showed up midway through the third set with 22 hundred dollar bills. I thought he was nuts since the bass wasn't even all original, but since he obviously wanted it and was willing to hand me the cash, I guess it was worth $2200. So all who made that point are correct. Thank you for your input.

One could say that I made out great in the Stingray trade since that bass only cost me $750. And to correct one responder, I think the one i had and all Music Man basses are great instruments, that is why i would love to own another one. I can say it was worth every penny of the money I spent on it new at the time. Perhaps I'm just a cheapskate, and maybe with inflation my old teal Ray really is worth $1200 used today...but I just don't see spending that kind of cash on a bass with 20 plus years of mileage in it. I would pay $600 tops for it, which, based on the responses from the economics professors here, means I'll probably never own a trans teal Stingray with a maple fretboard again. That was my whole point in a nutshell. Outrageous, I know.
Click to expand...

If you're only willing to pay $600 for a used Ray, then you won't be buying a used ray. It's just as simple as that. It doesn't matter what you THINK it's worth. Most buyers of used rays are willing to spend more.

I think a new Ferrari is only worth $20,000, but I'm pretty sure I won't get one for that.
 
#116
hsech said:
Says you. I have a SR5, an Am Std Precision and a Am Std Jazz. They all set up with the same allen wrench, same screw driver, same feeler gauge, same electronic tuner, etc. They both have simple truss rod adjustments. What's so much better about the EBMM?
Click to expand...
In my experience! ;) I have gotten way lower, and more stable action, on a Stingray than I ever have on any Fender I've owned!
 
#117
DWBass said:
In my experience! ;) I have gotten way lower, and more stable action, on a Stingray than I ever have on any Fender I've owned!
Click to expand...

Out of the box, I would agree - with the exceptions of my two '08 Fenders... My other Fenders have needed a trip to the luthier for some light leveling work to play as well as my EBMMs - the '08 Fenders didn't need it... I have never needed any fretwork done to an EBMM, other than a re-fret done because of the idiot that owned it before me... IMO/IME, EBMM's fretwork is as good as it gets for a production instrument, and their necks are very well made on a consistant basis...


- georgestrings
 
#118
*Tempest* said:
Yeah, you've mentioned that, several times. To each his own. You're happy playing your metal on your little Ibanez, and I'm happy playing on my Stingray.

I am posting as someone who actually owns a Music Man and answering the original poster's question.

Respectfully,
-<T>
Click to expand...

Outlaw_son said:
EBMM basses are solid as all hell. You really can see and feel the quality of their basses and the necks are just superb. Worth every penny I'd say.
Click to expand...

Agreed on both...


- georgestrings
 
#119
High quality, that's why.

I own mainly EBMM's, along with two Fender basses and a Fender guitar.

The EBMM's just exude quality as soon as you open the case.

The one's that really surprised me were:

Bongo 5 HH and HS
Classic Stingray 5

Just absolutely amazing. The prices have since shot up in the UK, so they are roughly £1600-1700 for a Bongo 5, but that's not that much more than a Fender 5 Deluxe which isn't, IMO, at the same level of quality.
 
#120
To add on to my earlier post,I still havent played a sub $2000 bass that felt as quality as my Stingray. My 2013 Fender Am P comes close though. Theres something about those EBMM's...like they feel solid and heavy without even being heavy,kinda hard to describe. But to me it screams I totally got what I payed for. Anyone get what Im sayin?
 

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