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Music Man Cutlass or American Pro P

#41
Joe Nerve said:
My experience is more like what you said with the Cutlass, "The cutlass is a thicker tone that sounds rounder and less defined in the top end. Its really cool, but its going to come down to what you like." Caprice is rounder and thicker, but it doesn't have the same highs as my Jazz. It has a completely different character that I can't entirely put my finger on. Not really like any bass I ever owned before. Round and thick are definitely in the description though :), but not round and thick like an old Gibson :). Maybe round and thick like an old Gibson but without any of the muddiness, and a little more definition?

I hate describing bass sounds... I'm gonna quit it now. The Caprice is awesome. It just isn't a jazz bass, and if anything can get closer to a P sound, than a J sound.
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Yep!!
 
#42
armybass said:
At first I was a little put off by the look of the Cutlass and Caprice. I had hoped it would be a P Bass with an Egg Shaped Pickguard... :) But then I started listening with my ears instead of my eyes. I started listening to the recordings and videos on YouTube. These EBMM passive basses are monsters. They don't look like or sound like Fenders....because they are not. They are Music Man passive ass kicking basses.
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Once you get over the fact that they don't really look , sound or feel like Fenders and that they really aren't supposed to ,thats when you can really appreciate these basses for what they are. Lets face it, there are enough Fender clones on the market today. I appreciate MusicMan daring to be different while simultaneously stepping away from their own formula of active basses. Yamaha did the same thing with the BB but it has a more aggressive and hotter tone. The smoothness in the tone of the Caprice and Cutlass is what sets them apart. Oh and those lovely necks. Amazing basses.
 
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#45
kinopah said:
I dunno. It accepts a standard P pickup and the rest of the hardware is just standard-issue EBMM (besides the bridge, I guess).

I tend to make purchases based on what I think plays nice and sounds right, as opposed to what's more classic/iconic or what's more likely to have parts available down the road. Honestly, there's zero wrong with an American Pro P (obviously), but I do think the Cutlass is a bit underrated. The fit/finish/playability is better than any US Fender I've owned, plus I like the sound.

I hope you dig whatever you get! I don't think there's been a bad option in this thread.
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Sorry .. ehm ... I don't believe that the finish of this EBMM bass can be any better than that of my 3TS Am. Pro P bass which, in fact, is I M P E C C A B L E .. capitalised and spaced ... this old refrain that EBMM finish is better than any equivalent US Fender finish is really old and consumed IMO ... NOT TRUE in this case ! :thumbsdown:
 
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#49
Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati said:
Sorry .. ehm ... I don't believe that the finish of this EBMM bass can be any better than that of my 3TS Am. Pro P bass which, in fact, is I M P E C C A B L E .. capitalised and spaced ... this old refrain that EBMM finish is better than any equivalent US Fender finish is really old and consumed IMO ... NOT TRUE in this case ! :thumbsdown:
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That's AWESOME!
I've had a buncha Fenders - including an Am Std 3TSB 5'er - which were very well made with maybe a couple of minor issues. I never said that EBMM's are universally better made - that's just been MY experience, having had 4 of each. It's GREAT to hear about current Fender offerings which are impeccable (with the capitals and spaces).

Pretty much every time I've posted in this thread (including the one you quoted), I've said it's tough to go wrong with either of these instruments. :)
 
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#51
kinopah said:
I never said that EBMM's are universally better made - that's just been MY experience
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Mine too.

I've owned about 20 Fenders, and still own 4. I've owned about a dozen MMs, and still own 5. The MMs have all been consistently better quality wise. I've had many many issues with new Fenders, not a single issue with a new MMs. The MMs all feel like much more solid instruments also.

My experience, and I ain't saying that because of any endorsements. I already owned my main MMs before that, and only have a deal because of my love for them. Fender I've had a love/hate relationship with, and only over the past couple of years have found ones I love. And I do love my Fenders.
 
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#52
I don't own either, but I've played both extensively at the local GC, and I greatly prefer the Cutlass.

I like the Am Pro P too, but I feel like it's missing something sound-wise. I had an '08 P (the first year Fender really stepped up their game after being sketchy for a long time), and that instrument was absolutely outstanding in every way. The quality was amazing, and it sounded so nice. I really should never have sold it. The Am Pro that I played just didn't have that. I thought it sounded a little clanky on the high end, and almost had too much of that "hollow" sound that Ps have, only this one had it in spades.

The Cutlass on the other hand, felt and sounded better. The neck was butter, and the balance and weight were absolutely perfect. It sounds like a P, but it's meatier and very, very even across the sound spectrum, which I like a lot. It's what you'd picture an EBMM P bass to sound like. My only complaint was the the nut was cut high.
 
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#55
I'm a Music Man fan and honestly, I wasn't sold on the idea of the Cutlass when I first heard about it. MM makes great "active" basses - you want something passive, then go with Fender.

A couple months ago at Guitar Center I saw one hanging high up on the bass wall and asked if I could check it out.

It looked WAY better in person than it does in the pics, and the neck was the most surprising thing about it. It didn't feel like a standard MM neck, and it didn't feel like a Fender neck either. It felt "broken in" like an old Nash bass or something similar.

Plugged in, it sounded... well, like a really ballsy Pbass. To me, it was lighter than any Fender P I've played, and the construction just felt super solid. The neck is what really sold me though, that thing was special.

The Cutlass definitely gets my vote. :bassist:
 
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#58
Another vote for the G & L.

I think that the MusicMan is a nice bass, but you have a plethora of options with G & L. Neck widths, finishes, binding, etc. - so you can really make it yours.

I think that either the MusicMan or the G & L is a step-up from the Fender - plus you'll be more unique.
 
#60
My opinion: if you want a P bass, don't get the Cutlass. If you wanted an EBMM Stingray 4 HH, would you get a Fender Dimension?

Obviously, whatever bass you get will be a great instrument but I'm of the mind that you should buy what you want, not the offshoot.
 
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