Big AL owners who also have Bongos/SRs/Sterlings

[syciprider]

I want a new EB with the new passive/active preamp. I'm really feeling a 25th 4H. It's similar to what I consider "home" which is playing directly over the big EBMM bridge HB. However, the Big AL's bridge SC is intriguing. My question to you Big AL owners is how much of that signature EB sound am I giving up if I got a Big AL? Is it a totally different beast or did EB sprinkle enough pixie dust on the BA to retain that distinct and unmistakable Musicman vibe?

Thanks!

 

[Duarte]

From the videos I have seen and clips I have heard, it still has the unmistakable Music Man character. If you havn't already check out Ed's 'preview' either on youtube or in his thread here. It sounds damn awesome.

 

[TheAntMan]

I tried a Big AL and found it to be a very cool bass. It is still on my 'if I hit the lotto' or 'when I get more cash' bass list

I ended up getting the 25th 4H for a couple of primary reasons.
1) It had more of that EBMM SR tone with the bridge pu.
2) Only chance to get one in this color.
3) Has the middle and neck Single coils and the 4 band preamp.

After spending some time with it; I have yet to run out of tonal possibilities with this bass. As Ed has demonstrated; it gets TONS of tones.

Big AL will eventually make it into my stable of EBMM basses but I had to get the 25th while the getting was good and I have been super happy with it.

All that being said; I have found that my Bongos, and Stingray have not been replaced by the 25th. Each has their own special magic that can not totally be displaced by another bass. I think the same will be true of the Big AL or any EBMM.

my $0.02

-- Ant

 

[smallequestrian]

Well, I've been playing nothing but my Big Al since I got it (that's a lie, I picked up my other bass for the first time yesterday in a month).

It has a very musicman vibe going both in sound and feel. I think the feel has a lot to do with the "natural" neck and the finish work. Tonally, its kind of similar, espescially the bridge and middle in series mode. But then you get the added benifit of some tones you just can't achieve on the other models. That middle pickup solo'd is killer. The bridge pickup solo'd in active with a little bass boost is much different and IMO better than the single coil settings on the Sterlings and SR5's.

You've got the big humbucker in the bridge covered. I'm a big fan of that tone, but I think there is enough of it in the Big AL to keep you satisfied while you explore the other tones.

All that said, I played a Sterling the other day at a GC right after playing a Big Al, while I can cop similar tones on my Big AL, it definitely brought a smile to my face. I could easily imagine picking up a Sterling eventually as a complement.

 

[EdFriedland]

Well, my experience with Al has given me the impression that it has a completely unique sound of it's own. Yeah... there is a tonal relation to the MM family in it's sparkley edge, and of course it's built like the others, the neck is pretty much like the Sterling. But I think the Al does not get all that close to the SR type tone everyone identifies as Music Man. And, I don't think that's a BAD thing in the least! Let's face it, you can get sound that from any number of MM models. The Al is to my way of thinking, a different, but equally cool beast. And, the middle pickup will go head to head with the P Bass.

So... short answer - IMO, the Al is somewhat removed from the traditional MM tone, but it does have many new and completely useful sounds. If you're a MM fan, it strikes me as an important addition to round out your tonal palette. And it's bound to attract some new players that want some traditional tones like the P in a cool new shape.

 

[midopa]

yes, the big al's tones have that full-bodied, cut-through-the-mix-with-zing-and-zest ebmm quality. you can get sounds that are kind of similar to the basses from mm's other basses and options, but the big al is really a different beast. that's what i like about it and all the other mm basses. just trying to rehash the same sounds and placing them into another body/package isn't really the mm way to do things. i really like the big al and i really like all my other mm basses. group huuuug

 

[TheAntMan]

group huuuug

huuugging back at ya!

-- Ant

 

[Big Poppa]

what ed said...thanks

 

[syciprider]

Thanks to all of you. I appreciate the hobbyist, journeyman and pro level views every responder presented.

Pete you have email about a couple of questions