• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

boombox

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 9, 2006
Messages
435
Location
Gonzales, Louisiana, United States
Good thing that my number 2 and 3 are Music Man basses too!

I just received a beauty of bass that I am so happy to now own. A 25th Anniversary Single H, Flame top, BFR Rosewood neck! This bass is absolutely perfect for me. So far I have only taken it out to 1 rehearsal and it blew me away. This Saturday will me my first gig with it. The sound was amazing and the feel of the rosewood neck is unbeatable! (The rosewood seems to have “less drag” than the maple neck and I believe that the Music Man neck finish is the best in the business. … so I guess that make the rosewood +1..?) I love the neck profile, it feels very comfortable even compared to my SR5, which I believe was crafted specifically for my left hand. I also think that the resonance of the rosewood neck is slightly different that the maple necks as well. Aside from tonal differences, which I’m not 100% ready to report on just yet, the response from note to note, fret to fret is perfect!

There have been a few posts lately about “what doesn’t work for me from Music Man”. Well, this bass, for me, has tied together most of the things that I’ve learned I like over the last 8 yrs or so in an instrument. Of course I had to try a few things out to come to the conclusion that this would be a smart bass for me to invest in and so far I have proven myself right.

Here are my rough thoughts and where they came from. (Warning…there are brand names in the following text that some people may not want to see. If you have a weak stomach, stop reading and turn around now.)

1) I love the passive tonality of pickups. Other then Music Man the only other instruments I own are passive. (25th goes passive – check)
2) Even though I love the passive tone my bongo pre-amp rocked and for the months that it was my number one instrument I never had a problem getting a good, useable tone out of it. And my bongo still holds a place dear to my heart. (25th has similar electronics package – very useful on certain gigs, especially if I have to use provided backline that I am not familiar with. – check)
3) Music Man humbuckers rule, I can’t get away from this simple fact. The “mixed component humbucker ” on the 25th is the bomb –(25th has a humbucker – check)
4) I like non conventional body shapes. (25th body is not a standard bass shape but it works well – check)
5) Big decision maker = I owned a Warwick that I liked a lot. It had a humbucker and went passive. It also had a solid wenge neck that I loved! …but, it weighted a good bit and honestly sounded like junk. (for the music I played) When I felt the first BFR Rosewood necks that came out they reminded me a lot of the wenge on the warwick. (For me this sealed the deal. The neck feel I wanted, a weight that was manageable, a REAL music man humbucker, a bongo preamp and the ability to run passive…what more could a fan boy ask for?)

Hats off to the crew one more time for the opportunity to own an amazing bass! This one is very special because it is in commemoration of EBMM 25th anniversary which also happens to be my 25th year of existence. …now I just need a 1984 ray!

Pics to follow.
 

boombox

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 9, 2006
Messages
435
Location
Gonzales, Louisiana, United States
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oli@bass

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 23, 2007
Messages
4,272
Location
Switzerland
That said, I also think that the combination of the rosewood neck works extremely well visually with the finish and shape of the 25th. I so wish I'd been able to get one if these...
 

RaginRog

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 2, 2006
Messages
1,005
Location
Just south of Baltimore, Md
Good thing that my number 2 and 3 are Music Man basses too!

I just received a beauty of bass that I am so happy to now own. A 25th Anniversary Single H, Flame top, BFR Rosewood neck! This bass is absolutely perfect for me. So far I have only taken it out to 1 rehearsal and it blew me away. This Saturday will me my first gig with it. The sound was amazing and the feel of the rosewood neck is unbeatable! (The rosewood seems to have “less drag” than the maple neck and I believe that the Music Man neck finish is the best in the business. … so I guess that make the rosewood +1..?) I love the neck profile, it feels very comfortable even compared to my SR5, which I believe was crafted specifically for my left hand. I also think that the resonance of the rosewood neck is slightly different that the maple necks as well. Aside from tonal differences, which I’m not 100% ready to report on just yet, the response from note to note, fret to fret is perfect!

There have been a few posts lately about “what doesn’t work for me from Music Man”. Well, this bass, for me, has tied together most of the things that I’ve learned I like over the last 8 yrs or so in an instrument. Of course I had to try a few things out to come to the conclusion that this would be a smart bass for me to invest in and so far I have proven myself right.

Here are my rough thoughts and where they came from. (Warning…there are brand names in the following text that some people may not want to see. If you have a weak stomach, stop reading and turn around now.)

1) I love the passive tonality of pickups. Other then Music Man the only other instruments I own are passive. (25th goes passive – check)
2) Even though I love the passive tone my bongo pre-amp rocked and for the months that it was my number one instrument I never had a problem getting a good, useable tone out of it. And my bongo still holds a place dear to my heart. (25th has similar electronics package – very useful on certain gigs, especially if I have to use provided backline that I am not familiar with. – check)
3) Music Man humbuckers rule, I can’t get away from this simple fact. The “mixed component humbucker ” on the 25th is the bomb –(25th has a humbucker – check)
4) I like non conventional body shapes. (25th body is not a standard bass shape but it works well – check)
5) Big decision maker = I owned a Warwick that I liked a lot. It had a humbucker and went passive. It also had a solid wenge neck that I loved! …but, it weighted a good bit and honestly sounded like junk. (for the music I played) When I felt the first BFR Rosewood necks that came out they reminded me a lot of the wenge on the warwick. (For me this sealed the deal. The neck feel I wanted, a weight that was manageable, a REAL music man humbucker, a bongo preamp and the ability to run passive…what more could a fan boy ask for?)

Hats off to the crew one more time for the opportunity to own an amazing bass! This one is very special because it is in commemoration of EBMM 25th anniversary which also happens to be my 25th year of existence. …now I just need a 1984 ray!

Pics to follow.

Brandt, That's one sweet looking bass....you're VERY Lucky!

Hey, thanks for cancelling that pickguard order for me a couple of weeks ago.

-Rog
 

markbass99

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 19, 2008
Messages
292
Those rosewood necks are great players aren't they. That bass almost looks too beautiful to play out, watch out for the dings!
 

Scraggy

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 15, 2005
Messages
93
Location
Mascouche, QC, Canada
really nice bass! The top goes very well with the neck.

as a lucky owner of a BFR rosewood necked Sterling I share with you that admiration on those beautiful creations!
 

boombox

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 9, 2006
Messages
435
Location
Gonzales, Louisiana, United States
Those rosewood necks are great players aren't they. That bass almost looks too beautiful to play out, watch out for the dings!

I bought this one to play! just like the bongo....its gonna get a nick or a ding here or there...hopefully less than more.

Aiup, a man after my own heart, Brandt. That's what I'd order! Love that big, fat single H.

I'm with you on that! Single H's Rule!
 

mmbassplayer

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 6, 2008
Messages
1,142
Location
Honolulu, HI
Nice bass. #3? Don't you have an SR5, Bongo, Big Al and now the 25th? That would be 4, no?

I think Brandt sold the Big Al to Phatduckk. Needless to say... amazing looking bass. Second Brandt on the Rosewood neck. Fastest and best neck i have ever played on a bass. Wish I had the means to get a 25th ( :D look for my post on Monday :D). JOSH
 
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