Interesting Observation

[Boogie.Man]

I was cruising another bass forum yesterday and read an lengthy thread by someone who ordered a somewhat difficult to obtain classic bass. The brand bass was used a lot by some bass player named Paul over in England. It is made in California. The person spent over $3,000 on it new. He posted a lot of pictures of QC issues with it. Many of the issues were pure slop. And this was from a company that recently raised prices.

What I found amazing was that:
1. A company let it out the door.
2. This brand has many loyal owners who just dismissed the QC issues as normal and acceptable. i.e. "Easy fixes for a luthier."
3. Many people commented that this was not uncommon for some of the other brands, one based in California and the other based in Michigan/Tennessee?

I had to reply that Music Man was the only brand that I would order sight unseen. In all of my experience with Music Man, I have only seen one bass that had a couple of factory cosmetic issues. Only one!

Maybe I am too picky, but I am surprised what people deem acceptable. Keep up the good work, Music Man.

 

[Big Poppa]

Boogie I dont like to say anything about my competition. Im seriously happy to have as many manufacturers creating choices for players as possible. It is sometimes a little disheartening to go to guitar center and see a instrument that they sell a zillion of and for a lot more money than we get. but what the heck...I picked a very narrow market segment to chase. Im happy

 

[Boogie.Man]

Yea, but..

I too like choice. And my choices are pretty much limited to whatever Guitar Center sells. But at the risk of sounding like a fanatical fan boy, when you pick up a Music Man product and you compare it to any other in its price range, it's seems like a no brainer. The fit and finish are impeccable. It's one of those "duh" moments. The only problems I ever see are abuse related.

I looked at a new red xxth anniversary bass complete with the ashtray. Sure it was nice, but compared to the Classic StingRay it didn't cut it. And the StingRay was 3/4 the price.

The only basses, commonly found in Guitar Center, that I think come near are the natural wood German basses. And then only their bubinga models, at that. But still they could use a better quality material for the control cavity and ship the basses in a hardshell case. The little kit they supply is cool, but not a deal maker.

Once again, my opinions are all based upon what I've found; and/or purchased; from Dallas area Guitar Centers.

 

[Chuck B]

The only basses, commonly found in Guitar Center, that I think come near are the natural wood German basses.

I hope that you are not talking about those basses with a "W" on the head?

 

[Sonnyonbass]

And what's wrong with those?

I've owned 1 of the first thumb basses and I'm still very sad I sold that 1.
Great playability, great sound.
Most if the basses they make nowadays are a joke compared to that.

But my Bongo is a very good replacement!

 

[MusicMan4Life38]

Ahh Guitar Center the Wal-Mart of the music world

 

[Boogie.Man]

Hey...I like Guitar Center

I like Guitar Center. Some of the people are rude, and/or ignorant, but many more are helpful. The only other options in Dallas are one Best Buy, a junky store that can not easily be described and a store in Irving.

My only complaint with them is the shop worn condition of the bulk of their inventory.

BTW, I don't like Wally World.

Forgot Charlies Guitar shop, but they don't cater to bassists and they seem to have an attitude that I don't particularly find inviting. Plus their inventory is scarce.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

In my experience, sometimes some of what can be perceived as quality issues is actually store maintenance. I recently played a Stingray 5 that had the worst fret sprout I have ever seen on any instrument. I mean, you probably could have measured 1mm extension on both sides of the neck on all the frets - it was that bad! It was a safety hazard! Fortunately, I know that the Stingray 5 is a really good instrument (I have three) and that it did not leave the factory like that. Cold Canadian winters and the dry air is the culprit.

It must be difficult for a manufacturer to be able to carry over their quality into their retailers once the product leaves their hands.

Still, I think that the Music Man instruments I have played in stores are consistently good and more so than most, if not all of their competitors.

 

[dave_bass5]

I hope that you are not talking about those basses with a "W" on the head?

I believe it has a R on it.

 

[Mabongohogany]

I'm certainly happy w/ my (2) MM basses- A Sterling, which has been my "go-to" for quite a while, and a Mahogany Bongo HH, which is a one-off in build and sound.

I also own (many) other basses , including models built by all the others mentioned so far; several other "stock" and "boutique" builders and custom-built basses as well.

Every instrument I've bought or had built has been to my evaluation, flawless in construction, finish and tone. Just lucky I guess?

I agree that EBMM has quality and QC that's at the top of the heap- as far as I can recall, they always have.

I read the TB post-too bad, it never should have happened of course.
But in my experience, instances like that are the exception, rather than the norm.

That's all I'd add; Play on!

 

[Boogie.Man]

W

I meant the German basses made by the little guy who played the little Ewok in the third original Star Wars movie.

I attribute most of what I see to the stores; dings, scratches, missing parts, fret sprout, etc. But I did unbox an American Branded bass made in Mexico that had a big gouge in the neck. That had to have come from the factory that way. I also unboxed another American Branded bass made in Japan that had severe fret sprout. Yet another glossy headstock American made one with a big dent in the headstock. And I can't count how crappy finishes on seen on two classic American manufactures that were highly popular in the '60s and '70s. Bubbles in the paint, factory dings, mismatched wood. But I have seen good examples coming from the brand made on the West coast. But I have yet to see a really good finish on the Tennessee/Michigan (?) company's products. To me it's a crap shoot with the former and a waste with the latter.

 

[dave_bass5]

Ah right. There was a thread on BassChat that sounded very similar although not quite a severe.
Ive also know of a Lakland skyline that was very poorly put together and sold as new. Even the logo was off the headstock.

 

[bovinehost]

Boogie I dont like to say anything about my competition. Im seriously happy to have as many manufacturers creating choices for players as possible.

With the above in mind, let's see if this thread can survive. A few suggestions to encourage just that:

- let's not brand-bash.
- let's keep the focus on what's right about EBMM.
- let's avoid talking about what's WRONG with other manufacturers.

Okay, good luck on this.

Jack

 

[MadMatt]

- let's not brand-bash.
- let's keep the focus on what's right about EBMM.
- let's avoid talking about what's WRONG with other manufacturers.

Okay, good luck on this.

Jack

#1 I hate Windows

#2 The Sound, the feel, the looks! Oh, did I mention the sound?

#3 There are other manufacturers making Basses?

 

[bovinehost]

Dude, you're GOOD.

 

[brockusher]

#1 I hate Windows

#2 The Sound, the feel, the looks! Oh, did I mention the sound?

#3 There are other manufacturers making Basses?

+1 though I don't mind me some other basses but EBMM's are just worlds away in quality, sound, and feel.