Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Gig report: I used the Cutlass last night through the Fender 100T and 610 for an outside gig. It was punchy, sizzly and big. We run the gamut of slow waltz to straight out rockers and the bass responded perfectly. Roll the tone back and I had a fat round low end or roll it all the way up and switch to channel 2 with a bit of gain and let loose. With all the P bass comparisons I can honestly say that with the rig I used it was a very close representation. Like I said before, a P bass with the mid rolled back a touch. On that note this will be a keeper bass.
I was originally looking to go American P and am glad I gave this a try. The neck is a gift from the gods, the bass hangs perfectly with no neck dive and the body feels good against the...body. If you are on the fence between the two, take a chance on the Cutlass or go with the tried and true Fender. Either way you cannot lose.
I was originally looking to go American P and am glad I gave this a try. The neck is a gift from the gods, the bass hangs perfectly with no neck dive and the body feels good against the...body. If you are on the fence between the two, take a chance on the Cutlass or go with the tried and true Fender. Either way you cannot lose.
Sounds like you enjoyed it much more than I even expected. The key is to enjoy this bass for what it brings to the table rather than expecting it to be a 100% Fender clone or to be similiar to the active classic MusicMan offerings. Im glad you able to appreciate this wonderful bass on its own merits.
Thank you for reporting back. Enjoy!!
I'll be giggin my Caprice next weekend with my Bassman 100 T too. Looking forward to rolling the J off and see what kind of air and bootys I can push around.
It is an outstanding bass.Update: I'm still in love with this bass
Excellent build quality
Variety of great sounding tones
Excellent playability and feel from the neck and light weight
The Caprice is simply amazing!!
Well, can't really conclude anything for certain out from those two videos, since I doubt they used the same rig and recording equipment.
Doubtful if the two basses are even made of the same type of body wood, and even if, definitely not of the exact same piece of wood.
Likewise the two different bass players might have had an influence on the tone of the basses displayed.
The first video with the Fender P is definitely the better audio recording, though on the the other hand despite of that I still sense that the bass in number two video, the MM Cutlass, has a slightly more bit of gnarl in it's tone, which I personally like.
Based on the two videos alone, if I had to conclude something, the Cutlass win by a hair.
And since I don't have any personal experience with either of those exact models, that about all I have to go by.
Oh, and then the extra fret on the Cutlass, also a small plus in my book, though still a factor I would would go as far as to actually call, if not close to irrelevant, then at least indefinite.
Finally if I had to buy a P style bass, I would chose the brown one in this video, which is actual an American Fender with marble fretboard, though it's from 1977:
.
Doubtful if the two basses are even made of the same type of body wood, and even if, definitely not of the exact same piece of wood.
Likewise the two different bass players might have had an influence on the tone of the basses displayed.
The first video with the Fender P is definitely the better audio recording, though on the the other hand despite of that I still sense that the bass in number two video, the MM Cutlass, has a slightly more bit of gnarl in it's tone, which I personally like.
Based on the two videos alone, if I had to conclude something, the Cutlass win by a hair.
And since I don't have any personal experience with either of those exact models, that about all I have to go by.
Oh, and then the extra fret on the Cutlass, also a small plus in my book, though still a factor I would would go as far as to actually call, if not close to irrelevant, then at least indefinite.
Finally if I had to buy a P style bass, I would chose the brown one in this video, which is actual an American Fender with marble fretboard, though it's from 1977:
.
Last edited:
As with the thread regarding the Flea bass vs an Old Smoothie by @Dr. Cheese, I find myself liking the EBMM product a little more. And I'm a huge Fender guy.
The P sounds great, delivers a little more punch than the Cutlass... but I like the tone better on the Cutlass in the videos.
Were I not already invested in Fender products, I'd certainly be going the EBMM route these days.
The P sounds great, delivers a little more punch than the Cutlass... but I like the tone better on the Cutlass in the videos.
Were I not already invested in Fender products, I'd certainly be going the EBMM route these days.
Nothing wrong with owning and liking both .
I like my Fender/Squier CV 60's P and my MusicMan Caprice. They both play feel and sound great. They offer me variety and each does something different and brings something new to the table that the other doesn't .
I appreciate them both for their own individual merits.
Oh I absolutely agree. I keep a very small stable of basses, and funding for more is pretty limited right now. But the next big purchase I make will probably be an EBMM instrument. Either a Ray, Cutlass, or most likely, a Caprice.
I find that the fit and finish on the LB-100 and the Cutlass seems to be a bit nicer and more refined than the Precision Bass, but of course individual instruments will vary.
Look ... IMO a P bass has certain parameters making it a P bass ... like the G&L SB1 I believe that the Cutlass electronics setup is not fully able to reproduce thd tonal palette of a P bass... this is not a drawback however ... it is what it is ... personally I prefer the sound of a P bass that I deem fatter, but is only my taste ... one note however ... what do you exactly expect more in terms of tone from a USA P bass which can't be produced by a MIM one? I heard many MIM P basses sounding very, very well ... don't actually know their playability, however, as I've never played one myself ..
I have a Mexican P that I still play. After playing the Cutlass I can say that it definitely has a sound of a P but with more fur on the notes and the Fender has that distinct low woody sound. I play them both equally. My MIM P will not go anywhere. It has a mojo that won't quit. To each their own I guess and my ear gets fickle from time to time. Right now I am on a Jazz kick. Not sure why but the Jazz tone is doing it for me right now. It will change, it always does.
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
Yep, the ears can change from day to day....
One thing that struck me immediately about the Cutlass when I tried it is how high-quality the construction is. I also loved the feel of the neck!
When you pickup a cutlass it feels like a combination or a Fender Road worn, American Professional and Custom Shop P all in one.
