Music Man Caprice: True Boutique Quality

[Rickter]

My favorite store just got a Music Man Caprice in today....

Despite my newly acquired American Precision V, these basses really had my interest. If they had a 5 string version I would have been all over it. Prior to purchasing my P5 had been contemplating building what I wanted from Warmoth parts and in that endeavor I had been researching Delano pickups. The idea of P5 and J5 pickups with MM style magnets was intriguing. And now EBMM will show you just what it's like (albeit probably more aggressive than the Delano pickups).

 

[svtb15]

The Caprice's P pup is slightly smaller in overall dimensions than a stock p bass pickup

I still want to try these out, but might have to wait a while to see one.

One nice thing about the Cutlass is that the pickup could be easily swapped for something different if the stock one wasn't quite to your taste, since it looks pretty much like a stock P shape. But the bridge pickup in the Caprice is a Music Man shape so you would have to do routing or get someone to stuff a standard j pup into a different shaped cover. If the pups sound good then it wouldn't be an issue, other than for those that like to tinker.

 

[blindrabbit]

I was impressed by the bass, too, after I got a chance to check it out. I think it is first lightweight EB bass I've came across. I have a Sterling, a Stingray and a SR5, which are on the heavy side.

IME, Stingrays and SR5s do tend towards the heavier end of the spectrum, but Sterlings are consistently some of the lightest mass production basses I've owned/held/seen/played.

 

[birminghambass]

IME, Stingrays and SR5s do tend towards the heavier end of the spectrum, but Sterlings are consistently some of the lightest mass production basses I've owned/held/seen/played.

Interesting. I've owned 6 Sterlings, all were 9+ lbs. The Caprice I played was very light, closer to 8 lbs I'm sure.

 

[blindrabbit]

Interesting. I've owned 6 Sterlings, all were 9+ lbs. The Caprice I played was very light, closer to 8 lbs I'm sure.

I owned an 8.4 lb Sterling, and I've seen more than a few others for sale here in the Classifieds that are sub-9 lbs. Even the 9 lb ones seem to be in the low 9s. I think the smaller body shape helps. It looks to my eye as though the Caprice's body is even smaller than the Sterling, which should help lower that weight further.

All this talk of lightweight Caprices makes me want to rush out and try one. Shame that EBMM doesn't offer a medium scale option though.

 

[Antisyzygy]

I love a PJ. I seem to be gravitating more to passive basses these days. I have a Sadowsky Metro Hybrid PJ that I love, but I can't help but think this is more in line with where the tone in my head is going.

I'd also suggest trying out a G&L SB-2. Just to get a different take on a PJ like this Caprice.

 

[WorktheWood]

I guess I played a lemon because I tried one of these out the other day and was blown away by how bad it sounded and felt. I checked to see if it made over seas somewhere. The tone was just weak.

 

[Bass Viking]

That's a nice sounding bass. I hope the store doesn't mind you shooting videos!

I see Musicman recently re-introduced the Cutlass but too bad it's not like the old one with the graphite neck. Do we really need another P bass on the market?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

That's a nice sounding bass. I hope the store doesn't mind you shooting videos!

I see Musicman recently re-introduced the Cutlass but too bad it's not like the old one with the graphite neck. Do we really need another P bass on the market?

They don't mind. I have bought lots of gear from them over the years and I have managed to sell some basses for them by mentioning them to people who asked me about what they saw me playing.

 

[Flaked Beans]

That's a nice sounding bass. I hope the store doesn't mind you shooting videos!

I see Musicman recently re-introduced the Cutlass but too bad it's not like the old one with the graphite neck. Do we really need another P bass on the market?

Yes we do!

Doc, that musicman caprice bass sounds excellent!

 

[Commreman]

I've been considering the P/J route. How does this stack up against a G&L SB 2?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Yes we do!

Doc, that musicman caprice bass sounds excellent!

A Fodera without the J pickup too looks naked to me. I guess Victor Wooten has me trained!

 

[mmbongo]

You know Sterling Ball will make it 17.5mm just because he can.

And in any color you want, as long as it's the color Sterling Ball wants it to be!

 

[Poke]

I think I'm in love. Why did I open this thread?

 

[mattpnolan]

I really liked the Caprice I played as well. The neck was a little weird to me, but I'm sure I'd get used to it. Really, though, I'm not interested until there is a 5-string.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I really liked the Caprice I played as well. The neck was a little weird to me, but I'm sure I'd get used to it. Really, though, I'm not interested until there is a 5-string.

I can understand that.

 

[Mastermold]

I played a few of these at the NAMM show back in January. Can agree they are well made and a nice take on a classic design.

 

[mattpnolan]

I can understand that.

Yeah, I should have said I am very used to the standard Jazz neck. The Caprice was a little clunker to me.

I just bought a 4 string PJ from Valenti, but if they make a Caprice fiver, it will be a great opportunity for me to get a quality 5 string and also get the beautiful well made Caprice

 

[knockerjoe]

I picked up one today at GC and gave it a try. Was very impressed. Light weight. Neck felt in between a P and a J.
The quality was fantastic. I will go out on a limb here and say it is a step forward in the progression of the original Fender bass. I have always felt that G&L and Music Man has always brought forward and refined from the original.
If I was shopping for a new P style bass today it would have come home with me.
Don't judge this bass until you try it!

 

[Mastermold]

I picked up one today at GC and gave it a try. Was very impressed. Light weight. Neck felt in between a P and a J.
The quality was fantastic. I will go out on a limb here and say it is a step forward in the progression of the original Fender bass. I have always felt that G&L and Music Man has always brought forward and refined from the original.
If I was shopping for a new P style bass today it would have come home with me.
Don't judge this bass until you try it!

+1
It's not exactly a Fender copy, it's similar but has its own pickup design.