Buying a Steve Morse

[banjoplayer]

Hello everybody,
I´m new in this forum and I´d like to introduce me. I´m 28 years old and from germany.

For a long time, I think about byuing a Morse Model with 4 PUs. Today I was at my dealer, who has one for over a year now, and I played it through a Satriani Peavey Signature Amp.

The Sound, of course, was fantastic, only one thing there was I wondered about. The Bridge Single Coil had a warm, fine sound and the neck single coil sounded very thin. Is this normal, or is this just a matter of adjustment? I hoped for a war, tone like on an strat-neck-PU. It was adjustetd very low. Can anybody give me some opinions?

I have attached a picture from the store. The colour is beautiful, a very dark blueburst. Although maybe I will ordering it in sunburst, because it´s a little bit more beautiful and I have the fear, that everybody is thinking I am just cloning Morsey And the neck could have a little more birdeyes...

Tomorrow I will go with my own amp to the shop to test it again, because I can´t evaluate how big was the participation of the Peavey-Amp to the great sound. I have to test it with my own Crate Vintage Club 30. So, let´s see what the test brings. I´m pretty sure, I will buy it, but the decision is not made yet and I don´t want to make it too easy.

So thank you for reading my lines and I would be very thankful to some opinions regarding the Pickup-Question.

 

[fbecir]

Hello and welcome here ...

I own a Steve Morse for more than 5 years (and yes it is a blueburst, but I am a Steve Morse clone .... well I try my best )
Indeed, the neck single coil has the lowest volume level when you compare it with the 3 others. It is nice when you need quickly to have a cleaner sound.
I use this pickup quite a lot in combination with the 3 others (clean & warm : neck single coil & humbucker, funky sound : the two single coils, clean with more attack : neck single coil + bridge humbucker).
Of course you can change the pickup height if you need more gain, but it is definitely not an high gain pickup.
Personally I don't think I will buy a Y2D because it misses this single coil (and I don't like 5 positions switches : I always miss the position 2 & four. The configuration with the 3 way switch and the 2 toggle switches is great when you are used to it).

Good luck

 

[wolfbone07]

The sunburst color is a good choice. I like mine a lot. The pickup switching is really nice too. You get used to it in a hurry.

 

[Colin]

The single coil is one of the many secret weapons of the Morse. I love it. Are you looking for a hardtail or Floyd?

 

[banjoplayer]

Thank you for your posts so far.
I am looking for a hardtail. I don´t like a floyd rose very much and I don´t use it.

 

[augustyn]

i have a blueburst also cause its "the" color for me and i searched a while to find a used one.
the neck SC is very "vintage" and i like to add it but very seldom use it alone.
morse as all MMs are great guitars. take the blue one. you'll love it!

 

[banjoplayer]

The sunburst color is a good choice. I like mine a lot. The pickup switching is really nice too. You get used to it in a hurry.

Hi Wolfbone07,
maybe you can answer me another question. Is the Sunburst a little bit lucent like the blueburst, where you can see the grain of the wood or is it just a colour?

Thank you
w. best regards

 

[wolfbone07]

You can see the grain of the wood through the burst. If you look for posts by me in the thread on Pics of My Guitar, then you will see it. Here's a link http://www.ernieball.com/forums/mus...al-pics-o-my-guitar-thread-85.html#post267556

 

[kbaim]

You sure it wasn't the single coil you were mistaking for the neck hum?
The lever has to be in the "middle" position for neck hum, not upper position.
Somewhat different wiring and preference ala Steve.
Hope this helps.

 

[GWDavis28]

Check this out:

MusicMan Guitars

There is a Tobacco Burst one.

Hope this helps, Glenn |B)

 

[banjoplayer]

Hello thank you everybody for all your very helpful comments.

Yesterday I was in the shop with my amp (Crate Vintage Club 30) and this was the test that really convinced me. I mean, it was clear that it sounds very fine through a Satriani Signature Amp, but it also sounded stunning through my 12" combo. It sounded very direct and dynamic.

So the dealer will tell me if it´s possible to get an old model in sunburst, otherwise I take the blueburst.

But today there has to be another test - against my guitar. It is a stratocaster copy pimped with two Ibanez Humbuckers, a golden Lace Sensor and a Duncan SC. You see, also 4 PUs - I experimented with the morse wiring. I've got a 5 way lever and a 3 way switch, but no 2 way switch. But I think it sounds not so fine, not so well balanced and has not the great attack of the morse.

I will tell you, how the story continues and post pics if I buy it.

Thx

 

[augustyn]

curious what you're going to do.
i love my blueburst morse

 

[Colin]

But today there has to be another test - against my guitar.

I think I know what the results will be....

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I think I know what the results will be....

I agree !

 

[banjoplayer]

Yup, you were right. The result was... great.
My guitar sounded a little bit crappy. I don´t expected, that the difference would be so big... The Morse is so well balanced and has great attack and reaction.

So I will take it today. Wait for pics.

PS: I asked for the sunburst old model. It is still manufactured as a custom shop model. I would have to wait 6 months and it would cost much more than regular

 

[Colin]

Yup, you were right. The result was... great.
My guitar sounded a little bit crappy. I don´t expected, that the difference would be so big... The Morse is so well balanced and has great attack and reaction.

So I will take it today. Wait for pics.

PS: I asked for the sunburst old model. It is still manufactured as a custom shop model. I would have to wait 6 months and it would cost €. Mine is ~ €.

Good decision to go with the Morse. Not sure what they mean by custom shop model? No such thing. You may want to remove the price you paid for it though, forum rule

 

[joe web]

what he means is, that older modells are only build after an order comes in and not day by day like a petrucci modell....

this is what the german reputation tells over here.

 

[Colin]

you've been quiet lately Joe

 

[banjoplayer]

yes that´s exactly what is meant by "custom shop".

soory for the price. I removed it. Dind´t want to hurt a rule

 

[GWDavis28]

Banjo, EBMM doesn't have a custom shop, every guitar is special. According to BP they offer like 8 gazillion different combinations. Hahahahahahaha

BP's thoughts http://www.ernieball.com/forums/59880-post1.html

If it's here: http://www.ernieball.com/mmonline/specs/

Then they still offer it and make it.

Glenn |B)