• 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.

New Music Man Starry Night PDN

#61
MultiScaleMale said:
But you ending up spending $1300 on a $600 bass. You'll never get that back in a resale. I say it makes more sense to buy used, but buy good from the start.
Click to expand...

I agree but I don't buy to resell per se. It happens to us all though. Recently put together what I thought would be my ultimate Tele and took a $1200 bath in the end so I know that pain for sure.

Your comment about "buying good" is pretty much my point and why I'm tentative about spending so much up front for something I can't try first. Thing of it is my P bass was built for me to my specifications and it still needed to be heavily modified before I was happy with it. I could go on but you know what I'm sayin'...
 
#62
Up the dose said:
I get your hesitation on making a commitment to giving a manufacturer big money before you get to play an instrument. You had to pay considerable money to upgrade your Fender to your liking. There's a tremendous variety of manufacturers who make parts to upgrade Fenders because they so often fall short of expectations. You will not have that problem if you ever choose to purchase a Ernie Ball bass. They are remarkably consistent and will likely exceed your expectations.
Click to expand...

I wish that were true. I've been trying to find a MusicMan bass that I could bond with since back in the day when Leo was still running the show. I even know some of the Ball family but I've never found an instrument that wanted to take home regardless of price. Love the concept. Love the sound. Just can't get on with their products. Oh well, I keep trying . . . :)
 
#64
howlin said:
I wish that were true. I've been trying to find a MusicMan bass that I could bond with since back in the day when Leo was still running the show. I even know some of the Ball family but I've never found an instrument that wanted to take home regardless of price. Love the concept. Love the sound. Just can't get on with their products. Oh well, I keep trying . . . :)
Click to expand...
Whats the problem?
 
#65
Worldeeeter said:
Ignorance question (I know nothing about MM basses): I see a lot of Music Man basses with two MM pickups, and I see just as many with only the bridge pickup. My assumption is that the two-pickup model allows for a much more aggressive tone, but I'm not positive. I can't find any side-by-side comparisons online.

So, what is the general preference (one MM pickup or two), and why?
Click to expand...

I had a SR5 in the HH configuration and never used any of the additional pickup options. Just soloed the bridge pickup. Any time I did try another selection, it didn't last very long. The other selections didn't sound right to me and that bridge pickup is perfectly located. Nothing else is needed IMO. I have a SR5 Classic now, and I don't feel like I'm missing anything with the single pickup.
 
#69
Worldeeeter said:
Ignorance question (I know nothing about MM basses): I see a lot of Music Man basses with two MM pickups, and I see just as many with only the bridge pickup. My assumption is that the two-pickup model allows for a much more aggressive tone, but I'm not positive. I can't find any side-by-side comparisons online.

So, what is the general preference (one MM pickup or two), and why?
Click to expand...
You have a 5 way switch with the two humbuckers, from left to right when looking at the bass I believe it's: bridge humbucker, single coil on the right bridge humbucker pole, both humbuckers, another single coil (don't quote me on that, not 100% sure), and the last one is neck humbucker. Gives you more options and tone control. Downside is that the neck humbucker can get in the way of slap. Most stingray purists will only get the single humbucker because they just want the original stingray tone, especially if you get the 2-band eq Classic stingray versus the 3-band. Downside is less options, but if you don't need them it won't make a difference. But the 5H has a three way switch that has humbucker in parallel, single, and humbucker in series. Either way, a stingray is a stingray and they're awesome basses.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TolerancEJ and Worldeeeter
#70
mwhammerhand said:
You have a 5 way switch with the two humbuckers, from left to right when looking at the bass I believe it's: bridge humbucker, single coil on the right bridge humbucker pole, both humbuckers, another single coil (don't quote me on that, not 100% sure), and the last one is neck humbucker. Gives you more options and tone control. Downside is that the neck humbucker can get in the way of slap. Most stingray purists will only get the single humbucker because they just want the original stingray tone, especially if you get the 2-band eq Classic stingray versus the 3-band. Downside is less options, but if you don't need them it won't make a difference. But the 5H has a three way switch that has humbucker in parallel, single, and humbucker in series. Either way, a stingray is a stingray and they're awesome basses.
Click to expand...

Great answer! I was beginning to wonder if anyone even knew the difference.
 
#71
Worldeeeter said:
Great answer! I was beginning to wonder if anyone even knew the difference.
Click to expand...
The centre setting with both humbuckers on gives a fabulous slap tone - more scooped and more 'hi fi' sounding than the standard bridge pick up Stingray slap sound (which is also a great sound).

I have several Stingrays but the one which gets the most use is my SR4HH - it really is a Swiss army knife bass - I use all of the switch settings (sometimes more than one on the same song).

The Stingray is a great bass if you want to go from fabulous finger style sound to fabulous slap sound without any setting change - the extra pick up adds a little bass to the sound - and creates four more very usable sounds.

The second setting on mine (from the bridge) gives the outer coils of each pick up and the second gives the inner coils of each. I have a Classic Sabre and as well as having the 2 band EQ, positions 2 and 4 (from the bridge) are different (bridge H and one neck coil - as per 44/94; and inner neck coil only - killer P bass sound - respectively).

These basses give classic Musicman sounds and a lot more.
 
  • Like
Reactions: liverbird and Worldeeeter
#73
DigitalMan said:
Just a quick note. I looks like the neck-through versions are all painted and don't display any roasted maple. I confirmed this on the Stingray, but might apply to other basses.
Click to expand...

Does that mean these are starting to ship and you encountered one of the neck through Starry Night Stingrays? Or was this just a confirmation by asking EBMM or one of their dealers?
 
#74
Edmang said:
Does that mean these are starting to ship and you encountered one of the neck through Starry Night Stingrays? Or was this just a confirmation by asking EBMM or one of their dealers?
Click to expand...
This was a confirmation by asking EBMM customer service. I saw the text "matching headstock" on Sweetwater and it got my hamster wheel spinning. Here is the text of their reply:

"Thanks for playing Music Man! These will definitely be different than bolt on counterparts. The neck through instruments will have painted necks in the Starry Night package. You will not see any of the maple."
 
  • Like
Reactions: Edmang
#75
Hope this is ok - If anybody missed the opportunity to get in on this, or wants to grab a second one I do have a deposit in for a Classic Stingray 5 with matching headstock with an estimated completion of beginning of December. I recently caught the upright bug and am going to be listing some gear, but I thought I'd mention this here. If you want it, let me know and we can work out the details.
 
#78
I have this BFR in a beautiful sparkling black sugar gloss with a roasted Birdseye maple neck and an ebony fingerboard. It looks, feels and plays awesome. I would definitely go for that new special run, but I am not hungry anymore.
IMG_1641.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pet Sounds and Tbone76

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back