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Music Man Caprice: True Boutique Quality

#261
BroBro said:
Read this whole thread and really interested in a Caprice!:hyper:
I have a couple of questions, what does the neck finish feel like? My absolute favourite finish is the satin that is on current Ric 4003W, silky smooth satindrool. Is it like that, or glossier like the fender 'satin'?
And what is neck thickness front to back, is it like a Jazz neck?

Shamelessly paging @Dr. Cheese :D
Thanks!
Click to expand...

The neck has a very fast satin finish that I think feels great.
 
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#262
BroBro said:
Read this whole thread and really interested in a Caprice!:hyper:
I have a couple of questions, what does the neck finish feel like? My absolute favourite finish is the satin that is on current Ric 4003W, silky smooth satindrool. Is it like that, or glossier like the fender 'satin'?
And what is neck thickness front to back, is it like a Jazz neck?

Shamelessly paging @Dr. Cheese :D
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Neck is like a 70's Jazz IMHO. There are two used on GC online!
 
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#264
Great sounding bass for sure.
My boutique money is above the 12th fret though. I expect a boutique to sound pretty much the same in timbre, pitch, tone...etc from bottom to top of the range. The caprice sounds great but fall in that midrange price when I heard it played in the upper registers.
That's my view on boutique. It's probably wrong. But again, I agree, that's a killer sounding bass.
 
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#266
maverick49 said:
Recap of the Caprice at rehearsal. Some bits of info before I express my opinions - Band is a rock power trio, I play mostly fingerstyle aggressively, I like my mids. My rig is a Carvin BX700 set flat with a Tech 21 RPM driving to get a little clank/grind through a Carvin 2x10. Love my Fender Js and Ps. I have had PJs but the bridge pickup always left me wanting despite trying different pickups. I have had MM Stingrays and Sterlings and I also dig their unique sound.
Disclaimer - of course this is a new type of EBMM bass with its own "flavor" but my comparisons will be against other EBMMs and Fenders for reference.
So for the Caprice -
Very comfortable, light (under 9 lbs) and only I put it down in a 2.5 hour period to use the head. For those who are looking for an easy-on-the-back bass, this one is perfect. The only minor nit is an ever so slight neck dive. Probably that larger headstock. ;) The overall feel reminds me of the Sterling.
Neck is slim but not too much. I would not call it a "fast" neck. Reminds me of a cross between Fender Classic 70s and the Sterling neck. NOT a P neck by any means.
Tones - lots of good ones. With the neck pickup only, you get a really nice fat "P" sound. Very Aguilar-esque. It made me happy and I could see playing it this way all of the time. If you are not looking for a PJ and want a P-type, the Cutlass is probably a really good choice. Bridge pickup only gets you Jazz-ish tone but I am not sure I would ever play it that way. Both pickups/tone full - very ballsy. I was very pleased with this tone. About as close to a MM single as you are gonna get but to my ear a different flavor. Sort of like the EQ differences in the Sterling and Stingray. Favorite tone - Neck pickup full, bridge pickup about 60%, and tone backed off to 80%. My guitar player liked this one the best (he digs my Marcus Jazz and Am. Standard P with a Fralin overwound, so his input is pretty good). Some deep punch with the neck pickup, sparkle with the bridge pickup, and some high end with the tone. I would call this setting the P/J/MM mix.
Overall I think this bass is what I would call articulate for a passive bass with the capability of copping a range of classic tones. If you are looking to replace something you are accustomed to like a Fender or EBMM, keep an open mind as this bass is not any of them but has some of the best parts of each.
I really like this bass. Keeper? I would think so but I am a GAS weirdo so you never know. Ask me in 6 months. ;)
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Been jumping around through this thread, and wish I had come across this a month ago :). It was exactly the kind of review I was looking for. I too play through a Carvin BX700 set pretty flat, and love my Fenders and MMs. I put an order in for one yesterday despite not seeing this :). Haven't been this excited about getting a bass in quite a while. I drifted away from my MMs because I got heavily into passive basses, but I feel like I'm about to come back home. Hoping I get a light one because back problems have made that a big consideration...

Psyched!

Will be dropping my in house and at gig reviews as soon as mine arrives. I'm hoping to have it in my hands by next Friday. I got a bit of a special order on it, so I have to wait a little longer than I had hoped.

Should add, that like you @maverick49 , 6 months down the line I'm certain I'll be gassing for something else - but I've got an excellent feeling this is going to become one of main players.
 
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#268
Joe Nerve said:
Been jumping around through this thread, and wish I had come across this a month ago :). It was exactly the kind of review I was looking for. I too play through a Carvin BX700 set pretty flat, and love my Fenders and MMs. I put an order in for one yesterday despite not seeing this :). Haven't been this excited about getting a bass in quite a while. I drifted away from my MMs because I got heavily into passive basses, but I feel like I'm about to come back home. Hoping I get a light one because back problems have made that a big consideration...

Psyched!

Will be dropping my in house and at gig reviews as soon as mine arrives. I'm hoping to have it in my hands by next Friday. I got a bit of a special order on it, so I have to wait a little longer than I had hoped.

Should add, that like you @maverick49 , 6 months down the line I'm certain I'll be gassing for something else - but I've got an excellent feeling this is going to become one of main players.
Click to expand...
What does your special order entail, if I may? =] I am still waiting on a seafoam and tort option >.>
 
#274
Just ordered a black/black/rosewood Caprice from Sweetwater. I've played only straight passive 4-string P's for the longest while. Excited to see what the bridge humbucker will add tonally. Always loved the idea of a Music Man but never wanted to go active. I did play one a few months back at a GC in Madison and haven't been able to shake how insanely good it was since then!

More pics to follow upon arrival. Until then- the obligatory Sweetwater shot. Stoked about the super dark RW fingerboard.
 

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#278
gjohnson441496 said:
The neck is not chunky. It's slim and fast. You'll like it. Don't worry.
Click to expand...

AngelCrusher said:
Agree. It's not slim like a skinny flat ibanez, but in no way is it chunky. EB necks are my favorite.
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Oh man you guys are not doing me any favours, I was kinda hoping to find out a reason not to buy one, but now it looks like I have no choice!:roflmao:
Thanks for the info
 
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#279
FYI to all New Zealanders... Richard Murray at rockshop told me this..
"Yes we have these on order
Hoping to be here in the next 4 weeks or so.
In the $2999.00 price range."
This is actually a surprisingly decent price, considering the Australian RRP is $4100 and they are usually even more expensive in NZ:woot: (ie for reference a Stingray 4HH here retails for $4200)

I'm going to go and test drive one when they come in:hyper:
 
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#280
It's my spring break so I took a 2.5 hour road trip down the California coast today to finally try out a Caprice (and a Cutlass, and lots of other basses and amps!) at the nearest guitar center. Luckily the surf was good on my way down and I scored glassy, waist-high Rincon with only six other guys out in the water. So the day trip was well worth it.

Short version: The Caprice lived up to the hype, and now I want one....(and maybe a V4B with a 212AV)

Not as short version: I had the bass room all to myself for 2 hours. I AB'ed the Caprice against the Cutlass, MM Sterling, MM sting ray, Mexican P bass, classic 70's vibe squier P, and a few others while also trying several different amps. I loved the Caprice, and now I really want one. It was super light, felt solidly built, perfect shaped neck profile (Jazz Bass meets EBMM Sterling neck?), and was versatile as heck with the tones you could get out of it. The tone knob was actually usable all the way around the dial, as Joe Nerve pointed out in his thread. I'm more used to just off, on, and maybe halfway on with my tone knobs but this offered up way more sounds.

It did feel a bit more solidly built and much lighter than the other Music Man basses. It was lighter than all the other basses I tried as well. No dead spot on the G string around the 7th fret. In fact, there was great tone and even volume all the way up the fret board, and I like that it has 21 frets up to the high E. The only thing I noticed that some may take issue with is the Caprice put out slightly less volume than the other basses I tried it against, especially the Cutlass. The Cutlass was practically the loudest bass in the store!

Ok.... what to sell now? See you in the classifieds, I need some cash!

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