Musicman20
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Posts posted by Musicman20
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42 minutes ago, Pow_22 said:
valve pre-amp and class D power? Looks nice but hasnt this already been done to death?
It has, but Mesa are a different breed and these are all built in the USA (not that it is a big deal really as any country can make a great amp).
For 999, I think that is reasonable. I expected more.
I am interested in this.
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I am not sure of the noisefloor/fan situation, but the Genz Benz Shuttle/max amps and then the Genzler amps are VERY precise and clean.
A Markbass amp would probably get you there as well. LM4?
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To be honest I don't think bass amps have moved on THAT much since the RH450/750. Same with the later Genz Benz amps. Just new models by various companies with some refinements.
We have probably peaked with a good class D powerful amp combined with a great cab. That or modelling with a high end powered cab.
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13 hours ago, Royaly T said:
I had a TC RH750 and two TC 2 x 10 cabs for ten years. Best sounding rig I've owned never let me down. I had a small crack in one of the pre set buttons but that was all. Sold it to buy GR AT gear because it's so light and I'm not getting any younger. I wouldn't buy their gear now as they have been taken over and previously excellent customer service is now crap.
Agree with this. Back then they were really cutting edge and had great service. I've kept mine and I love the cabs. The only issues are the buttons.
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Sounds and looks fantastic! Nice playing as well.
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On 13/08/2025 at 14:31, Russ said:
NI pays for the state pension and various benefits, not the NHS, so that's not a good comparison. The NHS is funded from general taxation.
OK, using current figures, a salary of £50,000 brings in £3,293 a month, or £39,521 a year after tax and NI. That's an effective tax rate of 20.95%.
Using today's exchange rate, the equivalent US salary is about $67,800. So let's pick a state - let's say Virginia, that's a middle-of-the-road state in terms of state income tax. Adding up federal, state and FICA (basically NI) taxes, you end up with $52,728, an effective tax rate of 22.23%. In some states, it'll be a bit higher, in some a bit lower.
So. not a great start for the US. That amount of tax only covers healthcare if you're a military veteran (the VA), so poor as to be indigent (Medicaid), or pension-age (Medicare - which has a whole different bunch of requirements).
The way it generally works, assuming your employer provides health insurance, is your employer will pay a percentage of the total premium - typically 50%, leaving you on the hook for the other 50% which comes straight out of your pay cheque. Some employers pay more than that, but 50% is pretty standard. That number is subject to how many people the insurance is covering - might only be a couple of hundred if it's just you, up to well over $1k for a family, and, like I said above, the insurance premium is only one payment out of many that you have to make. There's also various levels of insurance, the availability of health savings accounts, and all sorts of other nonsense. The whole thing is a colossal cluster-fornication.
And add in that the cost of living is probably about 50% higher than the UK... yeah. You see where I'm going with this.
Oh I totally agree it's damn difficult in the USA, I was just curious really.
The only reason I mentioned NI contributions is when I was looking for a breakdown of NI, there are many references similar to this:
'The vast majority of public NHS funding comes from general taxation and National Insurance contributions'
I've no idea to be honest.
I've bought many USA instruments in the past, but from now on, due to the extreme prices we are seeing, I will be less tempted. I do have two full fat USA Bongos though (on topic!) and personally I'd advise going for one if you can.
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I'd be intrigued to know the average salary deductions from say 50k in England (and it's equivalent) in USA.
When I say deductions I mean the mandatory deductions only....and then a comparison to USA deductions for med insurance vs the tax/NI element here for healthcare.
I imagine the USA still works out ludicrously expensive.
I have noticed how insanely priced some 'USA' products are in the UK...(are Sterling instrument checked in a USA facility?)
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Wow!
I’m sure you can get a second hand USA model for £1500-1700.
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I heard the song a few weeks back, and I did wonder if Mike had suddenly got into bass tapping. This is a great combination!
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That IS a nice Fender.
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These were sadly discontinued before the Specials. Quite a niche but cool instrument.
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6 hours ago, Rich said:
Without wanting to derail anything, OldGit's Shuker 5-string P was utterly gorgeous. I played a whole gig with it once and the thing was just alive in my hands.
When he had it built, there was no such thing as an off-the-peg 5-string P.
That was absolutely lovely.
IMO, the modern Fender American P bass 5 string is actually a really nice instrument.
The P pickup will always bring a certain tone to a B string, and often it's nice to have the bridge pickup to get it to sound a little 'tighter', but I'd go for a Fender P5 if I wanted a passive 5 string P bass.
I've tried many types of 5 string, and still, despite different scale lengths, I absolutely love the Musicman tight and aggressive B string 5 string basses.
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1 hour ago, Steve Browning said:
Surely the dealer buys blnd?
Yep, and you get what you get!
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10 minutes ago, Kev said:
Quite a bold statement, no need for dealers? Everyone buys blind?
No thanks
Dealer as in the distributor, not the shops. It adds another layer of profit.
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1 hour ago, Sibob said:
Sure….but look at it…it’s hateful 🙃
Horrible burst, only maple f/b available. And I know it’s only a render….but what else am I basing this blind purchase on. Gimme a Pino Artist from a retailer any day! (Not that I’m in the market lol).
Si
It 100% wouldn't look anything like that, and the fretboard would be Pau Ferro, which is what Musicman have been using for fretless for a LONG time. You can also choose a nice figured neck if you wanted.
I have a few Musicman sunburst/tobacco burst basses, and they are exceptionally good bursts.
2014 spec:
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1 hour ago, Bass Direct said:
And if people keep doing this then more guitar shops cease to exist, just saying...
...on the contrary, I was saying the cost to import a PP Sig model is roughly the same for an individual as it would be buying from a store like yours in the UK. Which is a good thing as it causes less issues.
If however you don't want the Pino version, you can custom order a different one/spec. Via UK store or from USA - no idea what the prices are.
I think the issue with shops ceasing to exist is not the fault of the customer, it's the fault of changes in world economy and the general landscape of buying products, in a vast amount of industries.
A customer should have one price, wherever, but if it is vastly cheaper elsewhere, they can then spend more on further gear/life/food/holidays.
The problem is, almost all major guitar stores are a fair drive for most people (might take a full day!) so the fun of test driving gear isn't really what it used to be, so they buy online, save time, and yep, they'll vote with their wallet.
If you ask me, no need for dealers (as in the distributor middlemen/women/people, not the stores) in 2025. Adding costs for no reason.
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Buying directly from Musicman's store for the same bass gets you at roughly the UK prices.
You could custom order a fretless...
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If you don't like the limited version, please don't look at Gibson and how they have runs of 10k Les Pauls.
Those 10 limited models will absolutely hold their value.
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I always moan about modern prices. Musicman are probably my favourite brand, if not tied with Fender.
Both are guilty of very high prices now.
However, what I have gathered is that Musicman USA do not simply make hundreds of basses continuously now; they make smaller runs and are a little more 'built to order', so have scaled it down a little.
Their guitars are also now becoming much more popular, and I think the same production applies to them. Make less, higher price.
If people want the Musicman sound but without the cost and ultimately that high end feel/fit and finish, then they can get an import model.
Whether we like it or not, that is how they have stayed doing what they do and this was a change during/after covid I believe.
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I can hear a Stingray Fretless here; I presume it is the same one....
A much more exciting use of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXBiYFoHsOg&list=RDCXBiYFoHsOg&start_radio=1
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1 hour ago, woodywyatt said:
Are these pedals sold out everywhere in UK at the moment?
Apparently, and once the hype wears off and more people get chance to buy them, as with other pedals I can see the price dropping a little.
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Regardless of the features, I must admit, the sounds hit me straight away.....they nailed it.
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The tones from those pickups sound great, it looks fantastic, no doubt plays great but the smaller banjo frets and cost aren't for me.
I am surprised their import basses are now 2k+. I realise manufacturing location doesn't mean much now, heck look at Apple and how insanely high quality their products are, but....it's a lot for a modern take on a PJ from China.
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Think it is absolutely identical. Back pickups on Ray and Sterling USA models, whether H, HS or HH, are all in the 'sweet spot'.
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New Fender Vintera II Roadworn 60's Precision
in Bass Guitars
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Just standard MIM pickups on a 1399 bass immediately puts me off. Too expensive.