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Music Man Caprice: True Boutique Quality

#481
B-line said:
If you replied that they did not, I was going to caution you about going all Jaco Pastorius on the neck!:roflmao:
So...

How come they do not? Aren't most of the other EBMM's available f/l?
Guess they wanted to make that model "old school" huh?
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I've done that to a couple of basses, a G&L L1000 and a Stingray 5, and they turned out very well. Just have to do careful work and do a good setup including lowering the strings in the nut. :)

Most EBMM basses do come in fretless varieties. Who knows, maybe they will get there. I think these (Caprice and Cutlass) are just so different from the EBMM active instruments, that I don't generalize ... same company, but very different product lines, for sure. Here's hoping they do come out with fretless ones though!
 
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#482
Oneud said:
Has there been any word if they will do a Sterling by Music Man version of the Caprice? I'm sure that would sell like crazy

Either way, I'm eagerly awaiting the 5 string version
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I thought I had a vague memory of seeing something where they (someone from SBMM) had said they were not currently considering this. But I can't find it anywhere, so it may be my imagination. I wish they would!
 
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#483
Inara said:
I've done that to a couple of basses, a G&L L1000 and a Stingray 5, and they turned out very well. Just have to do careful work and do a good setup including lowering the strings in the nut. :)

Most EBMM basses do come in fretless varieties. Who knows, maybe they will get there. I think these (Caprice and Cutlass) are just so different from the EBMM active instruments, that I don't generalize ... same company, but very different product lines, for sure. Here's hoping they do come out with fretless ones though!
Click to expand...

Well, then my only other suggestion (and I'm SURE this would work) is:

Call EBMM 9-5 PST

Say: (disguise your voice!) "Hey dawg..This is Randy Jackson- Build me a f/l Caprice and send it to this address (yours of course), I'll be in town and will pick it up there- C'mon,get it rolling!"

All things being equal, you should have it within a week or less.
 
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#484
B-line said:
Well, then my only other suggestion (and I'm SURE this would work) is:

Call EBMM 9-5 PST

Say: (disguise your voice!) "Hey dawg..This is Randy Jackson- Build me a f/l Caprice and send it to this address (yours of course), I'll be in town and will pick it up there- C'mon,get it rolling!"

All things being equal, you should have it within a week or less.
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Cool idea, thanks! Sadly (or not?), I'm really pretty certain that I cannot pull off a Randy Jackson impersonation, even if the other party can't see me, lol. ;)
 
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#485
Inara said:
Cool idea, thanks! Sadly (or not?), I'm really pretty certain that I cannot pull off a Randy Jackson impersonation, even if the other party can't see me, lol. ;)
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Ahhh, no worries!

Simply gaze at THIS:

download.jpg


While making the call! It will immediately alter your voice so the order can be processed.
..And you're welcome!
 
#487
Dr. Cheese said:
Yes indeed the fretwork was flawless. I could see putting a D-tuner on a Caprice too.
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I have been playing a Vintage Burst Caprice for roughly 3 months. I believe the frets are stainless steel,they shure seem like it.
my Caprice seems like it could last forever. I agree, great fret work,starting with a beautifully cut nut.
 
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#489
I made the mistake of playing this bass today at my local GC. AMAZING!! Words cant even describe. The bottom line is this...it took every bit of will power to leave that bass in the store. I must have one. Everything about this bass fits like a glove. I really think this is the best bass that I have ever played in my life. I never could have imagined it would be such a great instrument.
 
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#490
LadyLoveStingRay5 said:
Did you special order the bass from MusicMan like this? I want a white one with black pick guard and rosewood fingerboard. I wonder if they will do it for me?
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Yes, but I have an artist's deal with them. I don't know how others get special orders, but I know they do. I wound up getting mine with both p/gs. It came with the stock mint one, and they tossed that in.

Fwiw- the mint p/g looks 1000x better in real life than in pix. I'm even considering putting it back on.
 
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#491
Gave them a call this evening asking if I could special order white with rosewood fingerboard. No dice!! Said there wasn't any plans for new finish options either.

But the rep did seem to make note of my request . Maybe if enough people request something they will consider it.
 
#492
LadyLoveStingRay5 said:
Gave them a call this evening asking if I could special order white with rosewood fingerboard. No dice!!
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You'll just have to do as I did and buy two, then swap the necks. I wanted white with rosewood, but bought red with rosewood instead (rosewood was the requirement). Then a white one came up at a discount, so I snagged it as well.

Still haven't swapped the necks, because I've grown to love the red, especially with the white pearl guard I got.

Now my decision is: Do I keep the red and sell the white? or Do I swap the necks, keep the white and try to sell the red with a maple board?
 
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#493
Edgetone said:
You'll just have to do as I did and buy two, then swap the necks. I wanted white with rosewood, but bought red with rosewood instead (rosewood was the requirement). Then a white one came up at a discount, so I snagged it as well.

Still haven't swapped the necks, because I've grown to love the red, especially with the white pearl guard I got.

Now my decision is: Do I keep the red and sell the white? or Do I swap the necks, keep the white and try to sell the red with a maple board?
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The obvious answer is to swap the necks, keep the red/ pearl/ maple for yourself, and sell the white/ rosewood to me.
 
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#494
Well I did the swap tonight and I think they both look fantastic. But whether I keep them this way or not, I'm keeping the rosewood. I just like it much more than the maple on these basses.

Sorry @lowdownthump

White with Rosewood
Caprice swap

Caprice swap

Rosewood neck swapped onto white Music Man Caprice
Caprice swap

Caprice swap

Rosewood neck swapped onto white Music Man Caprice
Caprice swap

Caprice swap

Rosewood neck swapped onto white Music Man Caprice
Caprice swap

Caprice swap

Rosewood neck swapped onto white Music Man Caprice

Coral Red with Maple
Caprice swap

Caprice swap

Maple board swapped onto coral red Music Man Caprice
Caprice swap

Caprice swap

Maple board swapped onto coral red Music Man Caprice
Caprice swap

Caprice swap

Maple board swapped onto coral red Music Man Caprice
Caprice swap

Caprice swap

Maple board swapped onto coral red Music Man Caprice
 
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#498
Edgetone said:
Well I did the swap tonight and I think they both look fantastic. But whether I keep them this way or not, I'm keeping the rosewood. I just like it much more than the maple on these basses.

Sorry @lowdownthump

White with Rosewood
Caprice swap

Caprice swap

Rosewood neck swapped onto white Music Man Caprice
Caprice swap

Caprice swap

Rosewood neck swapped onto white Music Man Caprice
Caprice swap

Caprice swap

Rosewood neck swapped onto white Music Man Caprice
Caprice swap

Caprice swap

Rosewood neck swapped onto white Music Man Caprice

Coral Red with Maple
Caprice swap

Caprice swap

Maple board swapped onto coral red Music Man Caprice
Caprice swap

Caprice swap

Maple board swapped onto coral red Music Man Caprice
Caprice swap

Caprice swap

Maple board swapped onto coral red Music Man Caprice
Caprice swap

Caprice swap

Maple board swapped onto coral red Music Man Caprice
Click to expand...
Put that pearl pickguard on the white / rosewood and you'll really have something special!!
 
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#500
Here's my Caprice review: When the Cutlass/Caprice were announced I didn't think there was anything they could offer that Fender doesn't already offer. Still, I like Music Man's and have a Bongo 4 I use a lot so I was intrigued. Then the local GC got a Caprice in and every time we stopped in my drummer son would find me playing it. Lucky for me my wife decided to give me a bass for my birthday and thanks to my son I now have sunburst/rosewood Caprice. Here's my 2 cents.

Build Quality: Can't say whether it is "boutique" quality but its the nicest instrument I own. Not bad considering its not a high priced one off build. Frets are dressed perfectly with no sharp edges sticking out. The body/neck joint and other tolerances are very tight. Finish is dang near perfect.
The Good: The neck profile makes it very easy to get around on. The volume and tone from string to string is even. Its lightweight at around 8 lbs.
The Better: Man, the sounds you can pull out of the pickups. Ernie Ball did a great job on them. The P pickup by itself is punchy and full. The bridge by itself is bigger and fuller sounding than the typical J bridge pickup. And the tone control is useful throughout the entire sweep and isn't an on/off like some of the other basses I've got.
The Bad: Not much. Maybe some lighter weight tuners would be nice. It doesn't neck dive but less weight is always good by me.
Conclusion: One of the best basses I've had. Up there with a Wal Mk II I had, though a completely different beast. It makes me want to play more. Go out and try one.
 
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