I'd agree with that, but I'd put that $1500 on a good used Roscoe, there are several in the classifieds as we type. For $1500 you can get a 'lifetime' bass instead of something you want to upgrade from a year from now.
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Music Man basses
- Thread starter Bachh
- Start date
I'd agree with that, but I'd put that $1500 on a good used Roscoe, there are several in the classifieds as we type. For $1500 you can get a 'lifetime' bass instead of something you want to upgrade from a year from now.
You just completely summarized my MM experience. I have now owned 2 and in both cases the look and sound were to die for...but from a playability standpoint it always seemed like I was fighting it. I subscribe to the mantra of playability over tone, and in this case it really hurts as the tone is to die for! I even have big hands and for me they just don't feel comfortable the way a Lakland or Fender feels. I would also echo buying used. Plenty of great Rays out there on TB for a great price. If you know what you like you can pick up one much cheaper than $1,500.
I have long fingers (I'm 6'3"), and I do wonder if they were designed to fit people with more 'average' hands. That said I've played L2000s that I liked, and I've got a P bass* that I like, and I've got two Jazzes*, so it's not like I turn my nose up at 'generic' basses. That said, my favourite bass is my '91 Thumb, which admittedly is a bit of an oddity and divides opinion, although it seems everybody who picks mine up offers me money for it.
* Full disclosure: Only the neck on the P is from Fender, everything else on all three basses is from Warmoth, Allparts, Moses, etc. I am not a Fender fanboy by any means.
hasbeen
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Marcus plays over the neck, in between the front pickup and the end of the finger board.
he slaps over the neck but pops just below it. I can't really describe it but that's just as close as i can get
A lot of my thoughts have already been stated here, but I will try to add my 2 cents without being overly repetitive. (BTW, I currently own a Stingray, a J-bass, and a P-bass.)
Stingrays used in jazz: I think they're versatile enough that you can use them for pretty much any style. And, quite frankly, jazz music could stand to occasionally have a more aggressive sounding bass in the mix.
Cost: Obviously, it's up to you to determine if you can afford it, but there are quality basses to be had for a little less money, so don't assume that you have to start at $1,500 to get a decent one. Several brands have already been mentioned.
Visibility: Don't think so much about how many you currently see, but consider how many and who has played them (and the different genres represented) over the past 35+ years. There are quite a few heavyweights on that list.
One final word... If you are inclined at any point to look at a Classic model, inspect it carefully. I had a bad experience with quality on a CS I bought during Guitar Center's recent blowout, and have heard of similar concerns here on TB.
Good luck.
Stingrays used in jazz: I think they're versatile enough that you can use them for pretty much any style. And, quite frankly, jazz music could stand to occasionally have a more aggressive sounding bass in the mix.
Cost: Obviously, it's up to you to determine if you can afford it, but there are quality basses to be had for a little less money, so don't assume that you have to start at $1,500 to get a decent one. Several brands have already been mentioned.
Visibility: Don't think so much about how many you currently see, but consider how many and who has played them (and the different genres represented) over the past 35+ years. There are quite a few heavyweights on that list.
One final word... If you are inclined at any point to look at a Classic model, inspect it carefully. I had a bad experience with quality on a CS I bought during Guitar Center's recent blowout, and have heard of similar concerns here on TB.
Good luck.
hasbeen
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yes. You had said he does it by the bridge, which is why I commented. BTW, I know Marcus so I've seen it up close.
completely messed up neck for bridge, thanks for pointing it out now i can edit it before everyone here thinks i'm a complete ignorant
hasbeen
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Fender dominates because the P bass started the whole electric bass genre and is still the tone that you hear in your head when you think of "electric bass". Additionally it is a staple in recording and live so sound engineers love it. They know exactly where to set the EQ and it sounds great.
Then there is the vintage aspect. P's and J's were around long before MM, well, at least long enough to be in almost every classic rock photo you'll ever see. Pick up a MM and a MIM P bass. If you buy them used, you can get both for $1500 and it will cover everything you will ever run into.
Stingrays have a lot of cool features.
wider neck like a precision.
wheel to adjust the truss rod. Much nicer than an allen wrench.
Active electronics to tweak your sound on the fly.
Compensated nut.
Good build quality, and finish detail
You can find some killer deals even new.
Made in the USA (if you care)
I personally use a Sterling 4H when playing in a group. It cuts through nicely and responds well to right hand placement.
wider neck like a precision.
wheel to adjust the truss rod. Much nicer than an allen wrench.
Active electronics to tweak your sound on the fly.
Compensated nut.
Good build quality, and finish detail
You can find some killer deals even new.
Made in the USA (if you care)
I personally use a Sterling 4H when playing in a group. It cuts through nicely and responds well to right hand placement.
I'm trying to hold back here but failing... I've owned both, and every Musicman I've had crushed any Carvin I've owned or tried.
I'm surprised people are saying there are playability issues with the music man. It's obviously objective, but mine is the easiest to get around of the 30 or so basses I've had.
Be just a little bit different and buy this.
I think you'll like the name!
WL-007 is a more affordable version of Woodline, which has been the leading model of the Bacchus Handmade series. Itn addition it has a stunningly beautiful bound body with AAAAA quilted maple top.The slightly down-sized body offers a comfortable neck and smooth playability, and the truss rod adjuster set at the body-end of the neck makes for easy adjustment of neck relief.
The push-pull tone pot works as a 'Turbo Switch' function. When pulled up, the 2 pickups are then connected in series and will produce a more powerful sound. WL-007 inherits the craftsmanship philosophy and high quality standards of the original Woodline, but it takes its appearance to a whole new level. Nothing is more important than precise handcrafting and great attention to detail when making an instrument with ideal tone.
BODY TOP: Quilted Maple
BODY BACK: Alder
NECK: MAPLE
FINGER BOARD: Rosewood
RADIUS: 310R
SCALE: 34 inch
WIDTH AT NUT: 38mm
NUT: ACRYL
MACHINE HEADS: Clover Type
PICK UPS: WSC / JBA
BRIDGE: JB Type
CONTROLS: 2 Vol , 1Tone (Pull up Turbo SW)
FINISH: Oil Finish
STRINGS: D'Addario .045-.105
You'll have plenty left over for a 100 watt Fender Rumble or something similar.
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I went through a lot of basses before I came around to my Fender (Geddy Lee Jazz). I received comments more than once to the effect that band mates wanted a more "____" fill in the blank. I discounted it, thinking they were gear snobs. Until I got my Fender...
IMO, a Fender (Jazz or Precision) is the central starting point. Once you have that, you can later build out / broaden your collection, but if I had to pick just one, it would be a Fender. Others might be better in certain niches / songs, but you could play / record anywhere and any style of music with a Fender.
IMO, a Fender (Jazz or Precision) is the central starting point. Once you have that, you can later build out / broaden your collection, but if I had to pick just one, it would be a Fender. Others might be better in certain niches / songs, but you could play / record anywhere and any style of music with a Fender.
I, too, got my 3-band for $1050, but the Classic cost me $1200 (and I still thought I got a deal!).
The Ed Freidland demo has a spot where he's playing a walking line on the 4-string Classic model with flats installed, and it sounds great. The amp and on-board eq's go a long way to shape your tone (the onboard treble control is especially powerful) and when you factor in plucking technique and right hand plucking location, there's no limit to the sounds you can pull out of even a simple single humbucker Stingray. They're extremely well built basses, and personally, I think a Stingray (or Sterling) would serve you well. I'm not anti-Fender by any means (I love Fender basses, for the record!) but after I bought my 3-band 'Ray 4h, I traded in my P and J basses in on a 2-band Classic series. I've been completely sold on the brand. That said, if you want a 3-band model with the contoured body and the string mutes that the Classic series has, you'll want to look for a mid 90's-early 2000's model year. They also have the now standard 6-bolt neck, I believe. Good luck.
I got my three band for $900. Strangely, there aren't too many demos of it on YouTube. There are a lot more videos of the two band.
This one does a pretty good job of showing it's versatility.
Plus, they're just so pretty.
This one does a pretty good job of showing it's versatility.
Plus, they're just so pretty.
hasbeen
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I think that many people have developed their view on playability after playing one in a store that wasn't properly set up.
I own a Fender Jazz and a G&L L2000 (which is similar ish to a Stingray 4HH). It's all about the tone and personal preference. You need to find some to play, and see how they sound first, but also importantly how the neck of each feels to your hand, how the bass hangs when standing, how and where your non fretting hand finds a comfortable place to work from. Try before you buy!
I own several basses and have own or played several dozen makes and models, and I'm still confused by and uncertain of my feeling about stingrays.
I own two. ... well tbh they are both usa built sub 5s, one is fretless, but they are in nearly every way identical in playability, tone and operation to a classic ray. .... if you close your eyes and don't touch the body finish.
I LOVE them. ..... but I have a warwick streamer jazzman lx 5 that can sound nearly identical if desired, while being MUCH more versatile electronically than any ernie ball I've played (due in part to pickup pan pot)..... however the TOUCH control of tone of my ebmm basses is imho more interesting and varied than my warwick or my carvin.... in fact it is similar in finger touch tone control ability to my former alembic series 1 ( an $8000 bass, give or take).
I don't like the feel as much as my warwick or carvin though. Just neck profile mostly, but also body shape (note: slab bodies like classic rays).
I could live with only my ebmm basses just fine, but I may one day decide to let the fretted one go since I can cop the sound with my Warwick. My carvin is completely different sounding (icon 6 with single coils and piezos..... no where near as aggressive as ebmm or warwick).
I think that ebmm basses are excellent and very expressive.
But its a conundrum to me about the versatility. .... its nearly all from the fingers, and there are certainly many tones I can't get without a neck pickup (single h only).
Surely a very good choice. .... when I was 16 becoming a pro player I didn't own a bass. .... just borrowed the school's fender precision often. Also a heck of a good, and amazingly versatile, bass.
You will find desire for amp tone controls even with the on board preamp though. .... hard to reduce ebmm presence and punch and zing otherwise when you want to play in a darker style.
I own two. ... well tbh they are both usa built sub 5s, one is fretless, but they are in nearly every way identical in playability, tone and operation to a classic ray. .... if you close your eyes and don't touch the body finish.
I LOVE them. ..... but I have a warwick streamer jazzman lx 5 that can sound nearly identical if desired, while being MUCH more versatile electronically than any ernie ball I've played (due in part to pickup pan pot)..... however the TOUCH control of tone of my ebmm basses is imho more interesting and varied than my warwick or my carvin.... in fact it is similar in finger touch tone control ability to my former alembic series 1 ( an $8000 bass, give or take).
I don't like the feel as much as my warwick or carvin though. Just neck profile mostly, but also body shape (note: slab bodies like classic rays).
I could live with only my ebmm basses just fine, but I may one day decide to let the fretted one go since I can cop the sound with my Warwick. My carvin is completely different sounding (icon 6 with single coils and piezos..... no where near as aggressive as ebmm or warwick).
I think that ebmm basses are excellent and very expressive.
But its a conundrum to me about the versatility. .... its nearly all from the fingers, and there are certainly many tones I can't get without a neck pickup (single h only).
Surely a very good choice. .... when I was 16 becoming a pro player I didn't own a bass. .... just borrowed the school's fender precision often. Also a heck of a good, and amazingly versatile, bass.
You will find desire for amp tone controls even with the on board preamp though. .... hard to reduce ebmm presence and punch and zing otherwise when you want to play in a darker style.
