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Poor man's Musicman ??

#41
bovinehost said:
bassfest24.jpg



Not a drop of brandy in sight, either.
Click to expand...

beautiful!
:bassist:

sorry to hear there wasnt any brandy ;)
 
#42
bovinehost said:
That's pretty funny. Last time we had a Bass Grope over at my house, this was the crowd:

Our basses were:

bassfest24.jpg



Not a drop of brandy in sight, either.
Click to expand...

Ooo! Ooo! I see the bass I just ordered back by the corner of the fireplace - the Bongo 5 HH in Desert Gold. I had to order it to get the piezo option, and it won't get to me until February... :^(

You guys really like Bongos, don't you? I count 12. EDIT: Make that 15.
 
#45
Caca de Kick said:
Well, I think that says something.... it either retains it's value, or actually appreciates in value as time goes on.
I'm all about buying the piece that holds value.

I've walked in stores that still have new SUBs hanging there.
Click to expand...

SUBs were selling for as little as $300, but have quickly soared in price since they've been discontinued. It's gotten to the point where they sell used for almost as much as a used Stingray. Which begs the question, if you're already spending that much money on a used instrument, why not throw an extra $150-$200 for a real Ray? Get the nicer wood, more comfortable body and a 3 band EQ instead of the 2 band. I could understand if you were getting the SUB new, but since it's used it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. And just because you can score an ATK for cheap doesn't mean you can't turn around and sell it for a profit later.
 
#46
iriegnome said:
...There is a reason the Ibanez are cheap and there is a reason the EBMM's are priced at what they are...
Click to expand...


The reason is that ATKs are made in Korea. It's just that simple. I have owned five Stingrays, two SUBs, and one Sabre. I have also owned three ATKs. I am pretty sure that if ATKs were made in the same factory as Stingrays they would be $1,000+ basses.
 
#48
Vic Winters said:
SUBs were selling for as little as $300, but have quickly soared in price since they've been discontinued. It's gotten to the point where they sell used for almost as much as a used Stingray. Which begs the question, if you're already spending that much money on a used instrument, why not throw an extra $150-$200 for a real Ray? Get the nicer wood, more comfortable body and a 3 band EQ instead of the 2 band.
Click to expand...

I do mostly agree with you. If I had $600 bucks, yes I would save a little more and get a 'normal' StingRay.

But the one thing I don't agree on is the 3-band comment.
I generally don't care for the 3 band eq, but on the dual pickup basses it's fine. More eq isn't better.
I have passed by hundreds of affordable used 3-band eq StingRays to find my 2-band Musicmans, even if they were more expensive. It's a different sound I just love.
 
#49
I don't want to highjack the thread but I can't say enough good things about the SUB series of basses. I own 2 a Passive model SUB and a SUB Sterling(which has been my main bass for the last 3years) I was very disappointed when they discontinued the SUB. The SUB right next to the Fender Highway one series was/is the best mid price basses that were/are out there. If you can find a used one or a new one left over grab it. You won't be sorry.
 
#50
OLP Basses!

3 Levels

Top Level: OLP MM22/MM32 (four string/five string).

It is an officially licensed clone of the EBMM HH, cosmetically identical except for logo on headstock, even the headstock is the same except for logo. Active electronics, 3 Band EQ, 5 way selector switch (the same as the EBMM HH.) Black Cherry or Graphite Pearl, only available in Rosewood. $399/$449 (four string/five string)

Middle Level: OLP Tony Levin Signature (five string only).

Comes in either peach with rosewood and white pearloid, or Aged Natural with Maple and Black Pearloid. Active electronics, 3 band EQ, no coil selector switch (so, same as EBMM Stingray 5 except without the selector switch) $349

Bottom Level: OLP MM2/MM3 (four string/five string.)

There have been a host of colors available with rosewood and/or maple fretboards. It appears the number of options are decreasing, at least according to musiciansfriend.com. There may still be more choices than musiciansfriend.com shows. But according to musiciansfriend, the choices are: Four String: Black and Rosewood w/ Black Pearloid (Stock photo also shows blue pearl with Rosewood and white pearloid, but it doesn't let you select it as an option) Five String: Natural / Maple and Black Pickguard, Honeyburst w/ Rosewood and White Pearloid and Transparent Red / Rosewood and White Pearloid. The OLP MM2/MM3 are passive. They are wired just like a passive Jazz Bass (two volume, one tone, the top volume is for the top coil of the single humbucker pickup, and the bottom volume is for the bottom coil) $249/$279. (Four string/Five String.)

Read the reviews on Musiciansfriend (overwhelming majority is positive) and get the testimony of OLP owners on TalkBass (again, overwhelming majority is positive) and consider: not only will this have an extremely reasonable replication of the EBMM sound, but it will have the exact EBMM look (minus logo) and it will have the EBMM feel. From a distance, in a band, or on an album, I'll bet most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference....and they're cheap!!!!!!!!

My next bass purchase, and my last til I can get my rickenbacker (which wont be for at least 5 years) will be an OLP MM32 in graphite pearl (Lord Willing!) The hope (and plan) is to have it by February.

p.s. JaySeeDoubleYou is not affiliated with OLP guitars, EBMM guitars, Musiciansfriend, or TalkBass (except as a member on the forums).....this post just sounded so much like an advertisement, that I felt I'd better clarify. :D

Anyway, for what that's worth.
 
#51
Get a SUB... If you can get a good deal on one.

The SUB 5's are like a Stingray 4 string, but with a B-string (much more so than the Stingray 5 is).

I love mine...

But, as mentioned, they are gaining in value, which is unfortunate for you... For a couple hundred more you can get a real Stingray.

FWIW, the SUB IS a MusicMan... not a "knockoff".
 
#52
I mean absolutely no offense to the venerable EBMM, or it's esteemed owners, of which there are a multitude on TalkBass, and cheers to you all............

..........but................

.........in response to the last post: If the "knockoff" is 33% of the price, 90+% of the sound, and 99.99999999% of the look and feel, not to mention, a completely EBMM sanctioned official license and not a rogue impersonator, then to quote one of the reviewers of the OLP Tony Levin (on musiciansfriend.com) when he talked about trading it in for a "real" EBMM: "After trying some high end basses again, I was left feeling that the only thing I would be gaining is prestige of ownership and a lighter wallet."

Not to mention the risk you take taking an expensive, theft prone bass like an EBMM to gigs all over the place...to quote the same guy: "This is not a piece of fragile and expensive art, this is a working man’s bass. I have bought and sold many instruments over the years, this one is a keeper." With the lower price, it's not as big a deal if something happens to it.

So if value is determined by the ratio of price to quality, then the raw value of the OLP is way higher than the EBMM.....

.......therefore.........

EBMM = beauty and brawn

OLP = beauty and brawn..........and brains :)

Seems the only "knockoff" involved is on the price tag. :D

Consider: For the price of one EBMM Stingray, you could have an OLP Tony Levin, a Squier P-Bass, a Squier J-Bass, and an Epi T-Bird....or even for the price of the SUB you could get the Tony Levin and get one of the other three, and you're still getting 90% of the bass....it'll just say OLP instead of EBMM.....on the same exact headstock!

I don't know about you...but I'm sold on OLP!!!
 
#53
I was playing an outdoor gig last year (with my ATK, which I've been playing exclusively for ~6 months) and was working sound with another guy for the band before us - the other guy did the setup while I was off running wires. By the time I was done, the band had begun their set and as soon as I sat at the board I realized that I was hearing one of the best bass sounds I'd heard in a very long time. I glanced up at the stage expecting to see a 'Ray and instead there was the bass player with an OLP 5-string. Blew my mind, as I was convinced that only a true Stingray could make Stingray tone.

I've since completely changed my rig, realizing that the true sound of my ATK was being held back by my choice of preamp. I finally nailed that same tone at our last rehearsal - not only did I know it, but our singer stopped at one point to ask "wow, is that a new bass? It sounds great!"

The lesson? An OLP and an ATK will get you very close, but you'll want some transparent gear to make either one shine.
 
#56
JaySeeDoubleYou said:
I don't know about you...but I'm sold on OLP!!!
Click to expand...

The problem with the OLPs is the quality control...

Sure, you may find some good ones, if you look hard enough, and try before you buy, you can find a really good value. (The same can be said with any of the other budget basses out there).

I'd be comfortable ordering any MusicMan online without trying it first, just because the quality is a bit higher.... I wouldn't take that risk with an OLP... even if it is just a couple hundred bucks... Unless maybe if I was buying from someone on TB who I felt could give an honest assesment of the bass.
 

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