Everyone's different, but I've always loathed gloss-finished necks. Without realizing unfinished maple was available on MMs, I've always sanded down the finish (to bare wood in the case of maple) on the back of the necks of all my stringed instruments. The first time I fondled a Sterling, I knew I had to have one. I've felt a lot of satin-finished necks I liked just fine (even some glossy ones, but they wouldn't long remain so if I owned them), but nothing's ever been as sweet to me as that raw, slick maple. It gets better the more I play it, too, as did my buddy's Zakk Wylde Les Paul (also oiled maple, if I'm not mistaken).
If EBMM is applying it, I've no doubt the satin is as good as it can be. I just wish EBMMs weren't so unobtainium in my general area, then I could just give one a feel and not have to wonder. Even though I can't really justify yet another nice instrument (I'm just a hobbyist, playing at impromptu funk/fusion/rock jams at get-togethers, an occasional piddly gig thrown together once in a blue moon), I REALLY want one of these things. If they actually had the exact same neck, I'd just order one sight-unseen as soon as my billfold allows, as quality seems to be a non concern with EBMMs. Every one I've played has been just as solid as anything I've felt, with the exception of a badly neglected pre-EB Stingray.
As far as frets are concerned, I like to either go big or go home, as they say. I like big whoppin jumbos or fretless, though my Fender plays just fine with regular sized fretwire, so I can certainly tolerate normal too. I think the Caprice has tall, narrow frets, which my left hand can't tell from tall, wide ones.
Another thought occurs to me: with that itty-bitty body, lighter weight than my (PERFECTLY-balanced) Sterling, the bigger headstock, and heavy tuners, I wonder if it'd be a neck-diver? I suppose some Hipshots, coupled with my preference for soft, wide, leather straps would probably fix it if so. It did on a feather-light 70s P I had briefly a few years ago, and the Caprice is no doubt better-designed, ergonomically speaking.
