Either talk me into it or talk me out of it :-)

[melvin7822]

So originally I thought I had to have one of every bass Music Man produces: a Stingray, a Sterling, a Bongo, a Big Al, a Reflex, and a Game Changer. Lately, I've been thinking that may not be the case.

I like the appeal of having one of each, but I'm not sure it's necessary. So perhaps you can either make me see the light or agree with me that it's not necessary. I'm having the toughest time justifying a Reflex and a Sterling.

In regards to the Reflex, I figured why get one with the Game Changer out and about. Then I thought about a Reflex HSS. So naturally I thought, why would I want a Reflex HSS when I have a Big Al SSS. Any thoughts?

In regards to the Sterling, I think I just don't understand where it would be useful to me. Now I know that body shape and whatnot is different, but I'm more interested in the sound. In every YouTube video I've watched, the Sterling sounds like a pretty aggressive bass. It's hard to justify because I think my Roasted Bongo 5HH can sound pretty aggressive and I also have the great series tones from the Big Al. Any thoughts?

So here are my current basses owned and planned purchases:
Big Al 4 SSS (OWNED)
Bongo 5 HHp (ON ORDER)
Bongo 5 Hp Fretless (ON ORDER)
Classic Stingray 4 (PLANNED)
Game Changer 5 HH (PLANNED FOR WHENEVER IT FINALLY SEES THE LIGHT OF DAY)

And then the suppositional few:
Reflex 4 HSS
Sterling 5 HS

I'll be interested to read your opinions and comments.

 

[adouglas]

You do realize, don't you, that asking knuckleheads to talk you out of buying another Music Man bass is like walking into a bar and asking the patrons for reasons not to have a drink?

I don't have answers for you, but I do believe you're thinking along the right lines. The pertinent question is not "should I?" because everyone is going to answer "YES!"

Rather, you should ask yourself two things:

- Will the purchase give me a sound I don't already have?
- Do I actually need what the purchase will give me?

The second question is what I'm asking myself right now about the Big Al. I love the shape and the ergos, and it sounds great so far (haven't played it with the band yet). But when I pick up my Bongo I keep thinking that it will do everything I need a bass to do....

 

[melvin7822]

I hear you on the Big Al. Since I'm coming from the opposite direction Big Al to now owning a Bongo, for me it makes complete sense. Coils 1+2 in series is a sound that works amazingly for my original band and just cannot be duplicated. While my Bongo 5 HH can get pretty aggresive, it's just a different character altogether. I bought the Bongo because it's a very modern sounding bass and altogether very versatile which I felt would suit me best for my cover band.

My other three planned purchases make sense because I need a fretless, a Stingray in any other form would not sound as sweet, and how could you not find a useful tone that you didn't have already with the Game Changer.

So yeah, this why I'm at a crossroads with that gray area with the Reflex 4 HSS and the Sterling 5 HS. I was thinking at the very least a Reflex 4 HSS with flatwounds could be a cool option. Keko also did a video with his Sterling 5 HS and I thought some interesting sounds could be had, but I was reminded of Big Al and Bongo tones to an extent. At this point I feel like I'm comparing different types of apples as opposed to an apple/orange scenario.

 

[adouglas]

Orange basses are juicier.

 

[melvin7822]

Hence I have that tangerine pearl Bongo 5 Hp Fretless on order ;-)

 

[ivbenaplayin]

Orange basses are juicier.

But sky blue ones are heavenly...

 

[melvin7822]

I bet that would've looked sweet with the old white ice or blue swirl pickguards.

 

[bovinehost]

I am completely not understanding why I would even think about planning to attempt to try to convince you that you don't need one of each.

Okay, now my head hurts.

 

[bassmonkeee]

If you can afford it, go for it. 10 basses is cheaper than a sports car and take up a little less space.

Were I independently wealthy, I'd own one of each.

If you will be sacrificing something else simply to "have them all," that's still up to you.


Will each model bring something to the table that can only be achieved with that bass in the real world? No, probably not. But, neither does a different color on the exact same model. You simply do it because you can.

There are no glue factory candidates in the stable of Musicman basses. Just different breeds--they all go around the same track. Or, something.

 

[Holdsg]

The Sterling has the advantage of the jazz-style neck, and is slightly lighter, on average, if those things are important to you. But I would only steer you to Sterling if you like the jazz neck (never mind the SLO special). Sure, the purists will tell you Sterling tone is different vs. the Ray. To me, its a very small difference, especially in a live band setting. In a blind test, I can nearly always pick out a EBMM from another bass, but it would be near impossible for me to pick out a Sterling from a Ray.

 

[bovinehost]

Yes, but the Sterling 5er is a different animal entirely. I liked the one I had.

I just got a fever and the only answer was Big Al.

 

[RaginRog]

If you can afford it....do it.

I will say, I love my Sterling HS...if you get a Sterling, you may want to get an HS model. Fast neck too!!

Additionally, I'd like to add that I think it's more aggressive sounding than a Bongo...I actually traded my Bongo for a Sterling HS...it's such a great "rock" bass.

 

[MudvilleStomper]

the following is only the opinion of the Mudville Stomper:

1.) no one will admit it, but the Reflex is clearly the flagship EBMM bass. it was chosen to be the vehicle for the Game Changer for a reason. the standard hippy-sandwich type construction with the maple top and the tone block is something you normally only see in BFRs... and not even all of them.

2.) with regards to the Big Al SSS vs the Reflex HSS... sure your Big Al has that single coil way out there by the neck, but it doesn't have that sick sick humbucker in the bridge.

3.) the Reflex also has binding. mmmm binding...


slight thread hijack:

i just typed out a couple of paragraphs and then decided that i won't hijack. i'll just start another thread.

 

[melvin7822]

Well guys, it seems that you're becoming a bad influence ;-). Might as well do everything I can while I'm still single right? I think I can rationalize a Sterling 5 HS now, but I still need work on the Reflex 4 HSS. Does anyone own a Reflex HSS who has restrung it with flatwounds?

 

[Steamthief]

Do you need every model? Of course you don't. You've got two very nice basses, one on order and two more potentially on the way. I'd spend time really getting to know the three you've committed to before buying more whether I had the money or not.

 

[melvin7822]

Do you need every model? Of course you don't. You've got two very nice basses, one on order and two more potentially on the way. I'd spend time really getting to know the three you've committed to before buying more whether I had the money or not.

Very true. With those three alone, I certainly cover a lot of sonic territory. The other two are really just basses that I definitely want as opposed to need. I've always wanted to have a bass with the classic Stingray tone and let's face it, the Game Changer is just plain awesome.

As for the other two, I've thought about having another active 5-string but with the HS configuration and I figured the Sterling seems to really shine in the configuration. I really enjoy coils 2+3 and 1+3&2. As for the Reflex HSS, I've been thinking of having a passive bass (passive/active in this case) that's strung with flatwounds. The Reflex just looks so classy that stringing it with flatwounds kinda seems right.

 

[cellkirk74]

Just to fire this up a little more:

Did you recognize that there is no HH bass with the 5 way switch in your plans?
I am a huge fan of my Stingray 5HH especially for the positions 2 and 4 of the switch.

 

[melvin7822]

You almost made me think about that for a second. But who needs a 5-way switch with The Game Changer in existence?

 

[danny-79]

You almost made me think about that for a second. But who needs a 5-way switch with The Game Changer in existence?

In theory with the Game Changer in you wish list then it should cover everything on your wish list plus more in one single bass so worrying about a five way switch shouldn't even be a consideration

Get one of everything for the hell of it if you got the funds, nobody here gonna talk you out of it.

More is ...errr.... more

 

[melvin7822]

In theory with the Game Changer in you wish list then it should cover everything on your wish list plus more in one single bass so worrying about a five way switch shouldn't even be a consideration

Get one of everything for the hell of it if you got the funds, nobody here gonna talk you out of it.

More is ...errr.... more

I had thought about a Stingray 5 HH at one point, but ultimately the Bongo and the Reflex are my two favorite HH basses. And that's when I thought to myself, if I like the Reflex HH so much, I might as well get the Game Changer.