MM Playability? Dilemma?

[chaddukes]

New to the board. Have a dilemma.

I'm a guitar player primarily who is looking for a bass. Because of this playability is a major concern for me. I just don't have the chops to play a bass with high action and a 36" scale, with monster huge strings. I've played an awful lot of basses and none of them have ever compared to a MusicMan in terms of playability. Warwick comes fairly close. What is it that makes the MM so darn playable? I mean the action is low and the notes are easy to fret, depsite there being plenty of string tension. The bass doesn't have that clicky clacky sound when its played like alot of other modern basses (Ibanez comes to mind). What is it that does this? Is it the design of the neck, the frets, what??????

Heres the dilemma though, while the MM sounds good it isn't really the sound that I'm looking for. I like the Jazz bass sound, especially on the neck pickup. Now, I'm not a tone stickler....I'm not one of those guys who can listen to a recording and can claim to be able to tell you the string guage and make of pickup used on the track. But, I have yet to dial in a sound that seems compatible with jazz, country or R&B on a MM. Could it be that I just haven't figured out how to dial the right sound in?

I'm thinking that I may buy a MM and just put in a Jazz Bass Neck pickup, but goodness then I'd have 7 knobs on the front of the bass. Perhaps, I could take the preamp and go passive all the way. I've never really thought much of active pickups anyway. Anyway thats a lot of money to sink into an already expensive bass.

Anyone else ever done this? Anyone else have this dilemma?

Chad

 

[smallequestrian]

Perhaps you should familiarize yourself, with one of the new two pickup configurations that was announced in July. There would seem to be a Humbucker bridge and Single coil (jazz pickup) at the neck. You could get yourself one in a Sterling or a Stingray. I might reccomend the Sterling for you as it has just about the nicest neck in the world. These sound right up your ally.

 

[AnthonyD]

Brand new HS Sterling... That's a single-coil in the neck position and a humbucker at the bridge.

Nothing like a Sterling neck - nothing. And I'll bet the the single-coil in the neck position will get you what you're looking for.

 

[shamus63]

Brand new HS Sterling... That's a single-coil in the neck position and a humbucker at the bridge.

Nothing like a Sterling neck - nothing. And I'll bet the the single-coil in the neck position will get you what you're looking for.

Sterling...without a doubt! My next bass in Dec.

 

[smallequestrian]

Pertinent Threads here:
Sterling HS
Stingray DualH

 

[shamus63]

Pertinent Threads here:
Sterling HS
Stingray DualH

I don't know how I missed that thread, but that HS Sterling is exactly what I want!

Will there be a variety of color choices?

 

[AnthonyD]

I do believe the current color chart still applies...

 

[shamus63]

I do believe the current color chart still applies...

Perfect!

 

[chaddukes]

Wow! Thanks for the fast response!

I didn't know that there was a HS model....glad to know that now. I'll have to try to find one of those to play.
That could be the absolute answer to my problem.

Anyone have any idea what it is about these necks that make them so magical? What's the fret size?

Chad

 

[smallequestrian]

Hey Adelucia, you need to update your sig.

 

[shamus63]

Wow! Thanks for the fast response!

I didn't know that there was a HS model....glad to know that now. I'll have to try to find one of those to play.
That could be the absolute answer to my problem.

Anyone have any idea what it is about these necks that make them so magical? What's the fret size?

Chad

Here ya' go: http://www.ernieball.com/mmonline/specs/instruments_sterling.html

 

[smallequestrian]

I didn't know that there was a HS model....glad to know that now. I'll have to try to find one of those to play.
That could be the absolute answer to my problem.

Anyone have any idea what it is about these necks that make them so magical? What's the fret size?Chad

You are probably gonna have to wait until November at the earliest to try one out, but it should be worth the wait. You at least could try a one pickup Sterling before then to get a feel for the Neck and playability.

Here is the link for the Sterling Spec. It has not been updated to reflect the new options yet. On there you can see the neck and fret size. Sterling necks are popular because for a couple of reasons. Many people find the Stingray neck to be too big. People that start off playing fender J clones are use to a skinnier neck which the Sterling is more similar too, but nicer. Its just one of those things you have to get in your hands, it can be hard to describe.

Of course the other thing I missed in your original post, you mentioned you liked the playability of W#rw$cks. In that case you might light the Stingray neck better as W#rw$cks tend to be rather chunky in that respect.

 

[AnthonyD]

Hey Adelucia, you need to update your sig.

??? - Still waiting on my Bongo... I received one with lines so I'm still waiting on mines!

 

[Father Gino]

I don't know what makes MM basses so playable, but I was also immediately impressed by this fact myself. One thing I've noticed is that they seem to be set up well right from the factory. This certainly is not true of many instruments you might pick up in a big music store chain.

As for the current model's suitability for playing different syles of music, different strings will make a big difference. There are a lot of MM players here that are very fond of flats for instance. BP will be mad at me, but try some TI flats.

The other thing is that I think Rays & Sterlings really shine when playing live. What may seem thin or harsh all alone sounds great in a less than accoustically perfect room with a band. That being said, most everyone here eagerly awaits the new two pupper models coming out.

 

[phatduckk]

Although the HS Sterling pretty mushc sounds like the best bass that will ever be made you cant forget that about the Bongo .... mabye one of the Bongo guys will chime in soon, but ive as far as i have read - and with a littel bit of experience - the Bongo's preamp can do just about anything ever.

the playability on those is fantasic as well ... and, yes, the neck on the Bongo kicks ass too. another bonus for the Bongo is that you can walk into a store and buy one now and dont have to wait till nove/dec. available in HH, HS or HS pup configs

 

[xring]

Yes! Do try a S/H Bongo. I have this configuration in the 5 string. The single coil in the neck position gives such a sweet clairity to the overall sound, I can't get enough of it. It sounds very different from the H/H IMO.
Dial in some low mids, and tweek a little bit, you will have a great jazz sound. The bonus is, you can also achieve almost any other tone you can imagine, all onboard.
Randy

 

[MingusBASS]

This will come as no suprise to any of you when I say:

Get a Bongo!! It's more versatile and still has that MusicMan sound. It also has the best production neck ever to anyone that doesn't have girl hands. Just play'n guys!

Andrew

 

[AnthonyD]

Girl hands!?

I think I've just been diss'd!

 

[chaddukes]

Will Stingrays ever have two pick ups?

I like fat necks on guitars, so I'm thinking that a Stingray might be the way to go.

As for using the EQ on the guitar I found that dialing in any extra bass made the guitar boomy, but perhaps that was just the rig I was using. I think that I would rather bump the mids a touch and take a lot of highs out, but then it might not cut through. Oh well, trying out a bass at Guitar Center on a Saturday is a pretty foolish may to try to gain any perspective on its tone.

Chad

 

[AnthonyD]

Stingrays and Sterlings are now available in dual pickup configurations. Woo hoo!