Musicman20

Any more news on these?

No doubt Berg WILL get back into 15s now, and it will be Neo. It will also no doubt be very good!

[quote name='0175westwood29' post='1008853' date='Nov 1 2010, 06:49 PM']nice bass man! i immediately thought of of an sr5! as they really do seem to do it all! and yeh as some have said if i can grab something secondhand then i wont spend the whole lot that i save. anyone got a fender p 5 string? and whats peoples view of the mm bongo? andy[/quote] The Bongo, in my view, is a very powerful flexible instrument. Nothing sounds or looks like a Bongo, and you WILL be heard in the mix. The shape is definitely growing on me. The magnets in the Bongo are neodymium. The latest 2008- Ray 5s are the alnico pups like a Ray 4, so they are much sweeter sounding, and 100% Stingray. The older Ray 5s and the Sterling 5 are ceramic magnets, and are full on aggressive bite (although they can be tamed). I personally like both. I would also love to own a Bongo 5 HH.

Ebony is excellent. I wish I had an ebony fretless Ray!

Ah man what a wicked gig!

[quote name='martthebass' post='1005134' date='Oct 29 2010, 12:18 PM']MM20, what's the tension like on the EBs? I've got Rotoflats on my SR5 fretless and am looking for a lower tension set up. My bad - you answered my question a few posts back (should read the whole thread and stop skimming). BurritoB. Wouldn't worry too much - I wouldn't call the Roto's tension on my SR5 - 'neck breaking' just a bit higher than my personal preference. I'd personally be fine with them on a fretted but prefer something more like TI's on a Fretless. I've got a Roto 5 string set - unused/unopened if anyone wants them for say £15 (plus post).[/quote] Hi! Yep, as I mentioned, it is kind of inbetween. Not tense, not too light. Nice.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='1008917' date='Nov 1 2010, 07:42 PM']Ah, cool. I'm just wondering if the ERs would have a bigger bottom, so to speak...[/quote] The latest HT/EX ER range sound absolutely MASSIVE in the low end. Stunning amount of warmth and full bass from such small cabinets. You would never think it is just a 112.

My now ex-2009 American Standard had a very fast, but also very slim, neck profile. For me, it was a little cramped...and maybe I could have got used to it after a while.

NASH Jazz? I had the sane problem. Strangely, the Sterling Musicman neck is perfect.

Hmm...id think about it. Its not the prettiest Sandbery ive seen. These are more my thing, but might be more money! [url="http://www.jamguitars.co.uk/sandbergbass.htm"]http://www.jamguitars.co.uk/sandbergbass.htm[/url]

[quote name='Muzz' post='1008431' date='Nov 1 2010, 12:46 PM']Popped (275 mile round trip - some 'pop') down to Bass Direct at the weekend, and had the chance to try the BB2024X, and as a Precision/Ray fan, it really was THAT good. MASSIVE sound for a passive, and exemplary build quality. Really nice feel to the neck, and the quality just drips off it. If they made one with a maple board, I'd have very very bad GAS indeed, but I just don't like rosewood boards enough to covet one. With eyes closed, though, it was simply the best P-Bass I've ever played (and I've played a few over the ears). I'd recommend trying one, but only if you're prepared for a £2.5k GAS attack... [/quote] They sure do look nice, but that is a heck of a price tag! Thanks

Ive never understood why people cant just switch between the two? I constantly swap between 4s and 5s, and to be honest, I prefer it that way. I feel like I can try and master two instruments, as the 5 is totally different. I agree a little with the 35" scale, but it definitely isnt necessary for a good quality 5 string....its just an option.

I notice people are looking back at 15s, especially the lighter ones. Probably because the new 15s are much more efficient, or just because people are craving a bit of a different sound. I absolutely love my Orange OBC115...fantastic cab.

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1006610' date='Oct 30 2010, 06:30 PM']I also believe that the Musicman style humbucker pickup is the way forward, it just sounds so much better than a singlecoil or a split coil or whatever![/quote] Agreed, their Humbucker is immense, and their new single coils (well fairly recent) are very nice. [quote name='charic' post='1007244' date='Oct 31 2010, 12:29 PM']For not too modern: My ACG it does both Warwick Not sure if its too modern: Dingwall[/quote] Hmm, never got on with Warwick basses. I tried one and the humbuckers just didnt sound like I expected. VERY well put together though! Not sure about Dingwalls. Nice idea, but I cant szee myself playing one. I need to have a tinkle on one. Thanks anyway! [quote name='Lozz196' post='1007519' date='Oct 31 2010, 04:25 PM']In response to the OP, I really hope that I never get to that point.[/quote] Its happened twice to me. Although I will always own at least one American P bass, and my guitar is actually an American Series Tele which is stunning. I just dont like the lottery and the faults I find on Fenders. The first time it happened was about 8-9 years ago. I saved for ages for a natural American Series Fender Jazz (pre S1 switch) and it was absolutely AWFUL! It paled it comparison to my Stingray that I owned at the time. I decided to take it back as the finish wasnt actually 'finished' (very poor gloss like finish with marks and dimples all over it) and the sound was thin and nothing like I expected a Jazz should be. The recent Fender's Ive owned have been MUCH better, without a doubt! I just decided one modern Fender P was enough, and ill try and find a Jazz that suits at some other point!

I had the same dilemna, and ended up with, IMO, the best of the bunch. 2010 Stingray 5 HS. Very comfortable, very powerful, and nice and light, (I requested a light instrument and they game me one ). It came in brand new at WELL under £2000! If you shop around and you want a new one to your spec, they are between £1300 and £1450 ish. I did try the Lakland JO5s and DJ5s and got annoyed by the lack of consistency with attention to detail. The B was pretty good, but the Ray is much more even between all the strings, (eg you get a nice articulate B and the other strings sound like they do on a 4 string!).

Rosewood for the win.

Depends on if you really think it's the one! I absolutely love Rays so I'd go for the real thing.

The Big Alua stunning in the flesh, and even the Bongo is growing on me!

[quote name='CHRISDABASS' post='1006177' date='Oct 30 2010, 11:46 AM']Hey mate With the bass you have / have on order i cant see you ever needing any other basses you're very lucky to be able to order 4 and 5 string versions of the same bass the Big Al will cope with the single coil / fender (ish) tones, in fact i reckon it'll cover a lot of ground. the one i tried was just amazing!! [/quote] Hi dude! This is partly why I opted for them I guess. They do 'Fender' but they do so much more. That single coil in the centre is a P bass killer! I have no GAS for a 50s P/Tele Bass (whatever they were called) anymore! Im very excited!

I found myself becoming more and more interested in trying different Musicman basses, as you may have guessed. I havent found one yet tI didnt like! What is it about them? Ive no idea. Part of it is the massive tone you get with such a light touch, and the other part is the sheer quality. Ive heard everyone talking about 2EQ Vs 3EQ Ray, and recently I had chance to compare. There is a difference, but I found it very easy to make a 3EQ sound more 'vintage' and thumpy....simple...roll back the treble! I never thought Id sell my 08/09 P and J, but I have. Ive kept the one P that seems to tick all the boxes for me personally, and now I just cannot be bothered to find a Fender Jazz. Call in lazyness perhaps, but the lottery of find another that has good QC and also ticks other boxes is a nightmare. So, for now Ive given up. Ive always preferred the feel of a P anyway due to learning on a P bass copy from day 1, so for now Im going to give it time and just wait for the Jazz! Before anyone suggest a vintage Jazz, its not going to happen. Im far too picky!

Minor update - I have sold the two basses I reviewed here and just kept the one mentioned above (3TS/Rosewood P). I found myself favouring (personally) the rosewood board, and I also found I just didnt need all of those Fenders! After the honeymoon, id say the major selling points are: Flat pole pieces, the bridges, the rolled boards, and the case. The gripes I had are: Buying them seems to have become a lottery again. You get amazing ones, (as per these reviewed and the one I kept) but you also get poor ones (I have played many in stores around me that I just didnt think were upto the standard). In addition, I think the thinner undercoat isnt always fantastic. I much prefer the high gloss of a Musicman bass. That is down to preference though. Maybe the thinner undercoat does help with tone?! I have no idea.

I have a lot of respect for Paul, simple as that. Ive never warmed to the Hofner bass, but the older I get, the more I like it!

All I know is that Fender have officially announced this on Facebook and posted pics of the 60th Telecaster. I wonder what it will be like?