Music Man Cutlass Redux

[Dr. Cheese]

This is a re-shoot of a video I did last night that was terrible.
The Cutlass is much more of a vintage sounding instrument than the Caprice, which is a very modern take on PJ basses.

I think the Cutlass has a narrow neck for a P-Style bass. It seems like a D shape to me.

 

[sears]

Great! What kind of mute is that? Or, how did you make it?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Great! What kind of mute is that? Or, how did you make it?

It’s just a bit of foam.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I would like to add that the build quality is great, as it is with everything coming out the Music Man factory in San Luis Obispo, California. If you want quality build and vintage tone, but are not worried about having a bass that looks like a ‘57 Fender Precision, the Cutlass is probably perfect for you.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Whew!! That bass sounds great slapped. I kept waiting on you to bust out with Forget Me Nots.

 

[mikeswals]

that seems like a model that EBMM should have used their mute bridge on.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

that seems like a model that EBMM should have used their mute bridge on.

Exactly! Folks need to write to EBMM with that suggestion!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Whew!! That bass sounds great slapped. I kept waiting on you to bust out with Forget Me Nots.

For some reason, I kept forgetting riffs while playing the Cutlass. Personally. I really like this bass. It plays like a dream, and it would be even better if it came with flats or half rounds, and had that bridge with the adjustable mutes, as Caca de Kick suggested. That said, I cannot honestly say it out plays or sounds better than my old 1998 Peavey Fury.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Exactly! Folks need to write to EBMM with that suggestion!

That would possibly add more to the cost. Your foam under the bridge is much cheaper .

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

For some reason, I kept forgetting riffs while playing the Cutlass. Personally. I really like this bass. It plays like a dream, and it would be even better if it came with flats or half rounds, and had that bridge with the adjustable mutes, as Caca de Kick suggested. That said, I cannot honestly say it out plays or sounds better than my old 1998 Peavey Fury.

I completely understand . That’s one reason why I went with the Caprice over the Cutlass when I was auditioning them both . The Cutlass didn’t do anything better than my Classic Vibe 60’s P.
That’s the great thing about a Precision style bass. It doesn’t take a lot of money to get a good one.
I could justify the price for the Caprice because it offered something different than what I already had , but not the Cutlass .

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I completely understand . That’s one reason why I went with the Caprice over the Cutlass when I was auditioning them both . The Cutlass didn’t do anything better than my Classic Vibe 60’s P.
That’s the great thing about a Precision style bass. It doesn’t take a lot of money to get a good one.
I could justify the price for the Caprice because it offered something different than what I already had , but not the Cutlass .

You and I see this the same way.

 

[roller]

that seems like a model that EBMM should have used their mute bridge on.

I don't see why MM doesn't use the adjustable foam mutes on all their bass bridges. It's a great design and probably what I like most about the Stingray.

 

[Cobalt60]

Au Natural: pt. 1

Had a nice 90 minute shoot out at the local GC between a G&L LB-100 and a MM Cutlass (the light blue maple fretboard combo). Bit of background: i have a thing for basses with a natural wood finish. I'm currently playing a Gibson EB-13. Love the punch, warmth and the tonal options. i'm looking to add a Pbass to my collection (fender p/j elite owner , but that's another story). Front runners so far are:
Fender Roasted '58
Lakeland 44-51
MM Cutlass natural
G&L LB-100

Long story hopefully shorter: Cutlass is the front runner by a light year. I can co-sign on all of the previous tb'ers comments about the neck being made of an alien material that seems to beg to be played. Kept running the same series of songs/scales/runs back and forth and although the G&L felt and sounded great in true PBass fashion, the Cutlass was strange to me in that something about the neck feel just made me want to touch it. "Have" to touch it almost. Creepy, in a good way. Tonal options were useable across the board it seemed. Even the heavy high mids range that I tend to avoid seemed pleasing to my ears. The overall weight felt alien as well. The heft of the G&L and the tone were great, and def had the pBass 2.0 feel. The only problem was that the Cutlass to me had the 3.0 Pbass sound and the feel, again, felt toylike in comparison. The cutlass felt like I was playing "bass hero". I couldn't imagine how long the gig would have to be before I got tired of wearing it. I'm usually not even a fan of maple fretboards but it's the only option for the natural body and it sounded so dang good in the store, It's not a problem for me anymore.The funny thing is that I came back in to GC just to test out the Caprice that they had that sold already apparently and just figured I'd give the Cutlass a run to kill some time. Now, the G.A.S. Is real.

* My final decision will be made once I've played the Fender '58 roasted. It's too damn sweet looking to not give it a try, but I've played American Ps before and the Cutlass has em beat IMO. MMV.

2018 goals --> MM Cutlass Natural

 

[selowitch]

Ernie Ball Musicman continues to turn out extraordinary basses. I have tried a Cutlass also and I think it's the cat's meow.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I’m partial to the Caprice but these new passive MusicMans are my favorite basses ever!!
If the Cutlass had same neck as Caprice I’d have one . These basses are fabulous !!

 

[two fingers]

Another great video Doc! (Not as nice as the one your kid did but..... )

I agree with you. This bass has an old-school woody tone to it.... even though it brightens up nicely. A really versatile P bass.

 

[maxschrek]

that seems like a model that EBMM should have used their mute bridge on.

I'd probably buy one if it did.

 

[selowitch]

I'd probably buy one if it did.

Can one be added?

 

[nonohmic]

Sounds awesome eh, man I want one of these. Almost enough to sell up everything and consolidate.

 

[maxschrek]

Can one be added?

Sure but the problem would be sourcing the bridge.