If I swapped the PUPs on my Jazz bass, added an Audere preamp, cut the headstock a bit, added a fretboard extension to give me one more fret, and reshaped the body contours, have I have now invented a new bass I can call my own design?
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Ernie Ball Musicman Owners
- Thread starter TGLbass
- Start date
If I swapped the PUPs on my Jazz bass, added an Audere preamp, cut the headstock a bit, added a fretboard extension to give me one more fret, and reshaped the body contours, have I have now invented a new bass I can call my own design?
First- there is nothing wrong with modding any guitar or bass. Having Franken guitars is not hurting anyone.
If I get a MM bass and when I play it I can't hear the G string in a live enviorment----what am I going to do? Go buy another MM?? I don't think so. I'm going to try and figure out what I need to do so I can hear the G string. Right? So if what I end up doing is buying another preamp that takes care of the problem we call that a Mod and now my MM is not worth anything because I fixed it? Okay so a bass with mods may not be disireable to some and that's okay with me.
Question---If MM has a problem (and they do) with some of thier basses having a weak G string----why do not they make thier basses so that NONE of them have this problem ?? I got rid of an Stingray 4 HH because it had this problem. If I had decent access to a mod or something to completely cure the weak G --I would have kept it. I guess it's all on the down low
because we certainly don't want to mention that a MM could possibly be anything but a gift from God. THAT is the attitude I get from people on everything MM.
I'll tell you what. I don't hate MM. I'm taking my 5 string to the gig here in a little while. I'll figure out what I need to figure out on my own. It's cool. Thankfully I have good back up basses that begin with the letter "F".
If I get a MM bass and when I play it I can't hear the G string in a live enviorment----what am I going to do? Go buy another MM?? I don't think so. I'm going to try and figure out what I need to do so I can hear the G string. Right? So if what I end up doing is buying another preamp that takes care of the problem we call that a Mod and now my MM is not worth anything because I fixed it? Okay so a bass with mods may not be disireable to some and that's okay with me.
Question---If MM has a problem (and they do) with some of thier basses having a weak G string----why do not they make thier basses so that NONE of them have this problem ?? I got rid of an Stingray 4 HH because it had this problem. If I had decent access to a mod or something to completely cure the weak G --I would have kept it. I guess it's all on the down low
because we certainly don't want to mention that a MM could possibly be anything but a gift from God. THAT is the attitude I get from people on everything MM.
I'll tell you what. I don't hate MM. I'm taking my 5 string to the gig here in a little while. I'll figure out what I need to figure out on my own. It's cool. Thankfully I have good back up basses that begin with the letter "F".
I have a 4-string Stingray and a 5-string SUB5... The SUBs are nothing to look down on!!!
Mine is black, and at first I wasn't so keen but I wanted to have a go (I got it from a local seller, I had just seen it in pictures)... in "person" it's much better looking. The textured body finish is actually really cool (the pickguard went, 'though... blergh
) and it just looks (and feels and sounds) amazing.No wonder SUBs didn't work out for MusicMan, they were fantastic basses at much lower price than you'd really expect.
The weak G has been reported to be a problem on SR's; don;t recall this complaint on Bongo's.
I think a Sterling and a Ray are closer in inherent sound than a P to a J.
The preamp and coil options do allow for a broader pallet than a straight up Fender.
That said, a MM sounds like a MM and an F sounds like an F; pick your poison for the occasion IMO.
I think a Sterling and a Ray are closer in inherent sound than a P to a J.
The preamp and coil options do allow for a broader pallet than a straight up Fender.
That said, a MM sounds like a MM and an F sounds like an F; pick your poison for the occasion IMO.
I've owned two EBMMs - a Stingray 5 and a Sterling 4...
Both were very nice basses, both needed *zero* modifications to be nice (though I did add a hipshot & different pick-guard to my Sterling). I found them to be superior to anything Fender offered at the time - and I say that's still the case. They're just made better. And sound better.
Both were very nice basses, both needed *zero* modifications to be nice (though I did add a hipshot & different pick-guard to my Sterling). I found them to be superior to anything Fender offered at the time - and I say that's still the case. They're just made better. And sound better.
I'll give Fender some much deserved respect for the new AMDeluxe series. I love my Geddy, but my Bongo is the superior instrument.
I'd like to see more active/passive switching in the MM world, more than just Reflex and Big Al.
What's with the attitude?
Your statement is oversimplified.
You're trying to tell me that if I sand off 1/4" from the lower bout on a Jazz bass I can give it a new name and I've made a new bass?
What if it looks like a Jazz with a different headstock shape?
What if I take a Jazz bass body and put in a P bass pickup?
In each case it doesn't look like a Jazz bass any more, so is it still a Jazz bass? According to you, no.
Well, I removed the pickup cover on my Jazz bass...I hereby will call it a Z bass because it no longer looks like a J bass.
- Dec 5, 2002
- 4,165
- 2,254
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball Music Man/Sterling By Music Man
I think I can understand it. I'm going to go stare at my Jazz bass for a while and see if it changes, though.
Better be careful Jack; didn't think you were allowed to use the F or any other trademarked F words 
Was just thinking that you have probably read as many MM posts as any one on the planet.
Am not saying you agree, but, have you read many (any)posts either on this or Sterling's board about a weak G on anything but a SR?
Was just thinking that you have probably read as many MM posts as any one on the planet.
Am not saying you agree, but, have you read many (any)posts either on this or Sterling's board about a weak G on anything but a SR?
- Dec 5, 2002
- 4,165
- 2,254
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball Music Man/Sterling By Music Man
Better be careful Jack; didn't think you were allowed to use the F or any other trademarked F words
Was just thinking that you have probably read as many MM posts as any one on the planet.
Am not saying you agree, but, have you read many (any)posts either on this or Sterling's board about a weak G on anything but a SR?
Hey Jim! Between us, and I hope no one else is reading this, I have a Fender - a USA 62 RI Jazz. I'd give it right the hell up for a decent EBMM, but the thing has a wonky truss rod and it's a PITA to adjust. Probably a dedicated Fender guy could figure it out.
I've had a number of Music Man basses, I guess you could say. Maybe into the hundreds at this point.
For the record, I've never had a Sterling, a Stingray 5, a Bongo, a Big Al or anything else with a weak G string.
I HAVE had a few SR4s with a G string issue. I've always been able to make a few adjustments and - voila. But I don't dismiss the fact that it exists. I mean, FWIW, and I'm not expert.
- Dec 28, 2009
- 2,053
- 1,380
- Disclosures
- Endorsed by K.B. Guitars, Nordstrand Audio Pickups, Von York Strings and Gallien-Krueger Amps.
None of my Music Man basses have a weak G string? While I have heard fo the issue, I have never experienced it.
I only have one ball, and it is fun to play with.
I got mine used b/c always wanted a Sterling, but couldn't see paying the price new. Bottom line- good bass that is easy to play, sounds pretty good. My main complaint with mine is the neck shifts way too much (could be due to it was used). I have to adjust it all the time, but that is easy to do; EB makes the truss rod adjustment simple.
I find I roll off the treble a good deal and am careful boosting the bass - too much and it is quite boomy. I think a Bongo would be a cool bass to get someday.
Regarding the G string "weakness"- not a big deal to me.
I got mine used b/c always wanted a Sterling, but couldn't see paying the price new. Bottom line- good bass that is easy to play, sounds pretty good. My main complaint with mine is the neck shifts way too much (could be due to it was used). I have to adjust it all the time, but that is easy to do; EB makes the truss rod adjustment simple.
I find I roll off the treble a good deal and am careful boosting the bass - too much and it is quite boomy. I think a Bongo would be a cool bass to get someday.
Regarding the G string "weakness"- not a big deal to me.
None of my 3 Sterlings have weak G's. In fact, they are extremely consistent in all positions on all strings.
+1
One thing I would add however is that modding a EBMM bass is a mortal sin. Okay, not really. But to me you buy an Ernie Ball because of it's distinct sound. Modding it to change it's tonal characteristics really defeats the purpose of owning one at all. Besides, if you own a Big Al or a Bongo you can basically sound like any other bass anyways
They've fixed it in newer models for the most part. My 2004 (I believe that's its year - It was right before the nut change) Ray has the issue and it really sucks at times. If you're into slapping it sucks a lot.
