My first post, and some questions

[bassplayer125]

Hello all! I am in the process of looking for another bass, and am leaning towards a MM. I knew nothing about them, and spent the better part of this past Sunday on this site trying to get familiar with them. I just have a few questions. What does NAMM stand for? What does Dargie Delight mean? I mean Ive seen the basses referred to like this are usually green? Im sure theres more to it than that, I just havent found out what. Also, the basses/colors shown on the website, do they change every year? Theres only a handful of colors and pick guard options (stingray 5 and sterling 5) shown, but there are obviously more colors than that. Is there a way to tell what year a MM is? Also I see everyone listing their serial numbers. Just wondering why. If I wanted to buy a new MM and couldnt find the color/configuration that I wanted on Bass Central or Ebay or something, do I just go to an authorized deal, tell them exactly the setup I want and order? Ok 1 last question I swear . I found this one MM on Guitar Centers Platinum website, and I absolutely loved it, but it was an H and I was hoping to land a HH model. It was white (india ivory), and it had gold hardware. It was sweet. My question is, is that a rare color? Ive never seen that color before I saw this bass on the GC web site. I even googled (the color) it and the only hit was back to that page. Well thanks for the info, and sorry for the many questions. I appreciate it!

Juan

 

[adouglas]

Okay, I'll take a whack. And welcome to our little corner of madness!

What does NAMM stand for?

National Association of Music Merchants. When we talk about NAMM we're referring to their annual trade show, which is the equivalent of CES in the consumer electronics world. This is the show where new products are traditionally debuted.

What does Dargie Delight mean? I mean Ive seen the basses referred to like this are usually green? Im sure theres more to it than that, I just havent found out what.

The Dargie Delight I was a special edition, with a unique green color and martini-glass inlays. All the physical aspects of the bass were stock. Like all special editions, it was a limited run and if you didn't order one at the time, you're out of luck... the ones you see out there in the wild are all that exist. It was followed last year by the Dargie Delight II, which had a cool color-shifting paint.

Also, the basses/colors shown on the website, do they change every year?

Some come, some go. It does change every year.

Theres only a handful of colors and pick guard options (stingray 5 and sterling 5) shown, but there are obviously more colors than that.

What you see listed on the website is what's available for that particular instrument at the moment. Not all instruments are available in all colors.

Is there a way to tell what year a MM is?

Yes, post the serial number in the serial number thread and ask.

Also I see everyone listing their serial numbers. Just wondering why.

Pride of ownership.

If I wanted to buy a new MM and couldnt find the color/configuration that I wanted on Bass Central or Ebay or something, do I just go to an authorized deal, tell them exactly the setup I want and order?

Yes, sort of. Every EBMM instrument is built to order, but that does not mean EBMM has a custom shop. You can't get Big Al electronics in a Stingray body, or ceramic pickups in your Bongo, or fancy-schmancy push-pull phase-coil-tap-Mr. Fusion switching, or throbbin' purplevein spalted coffee-table wood tops, or anything wacky like that. There are custom luthiers who do that sort of thing. With EBMM, what you see is what you get. And it's all primo quality.

You can order anything listed on the site -- if it says the bass comes as an H or an HH, you can order an H or HH in any color shown. If it doesn't say it's available, it isn't. All told there are tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of possible variations of model, pickup configuration, fretboard and color.

Production time is about five or six months, depending. You have to order through a dealer, and there are several reputable ones... DuBaldo, Bass Central and The Perfect Bass all come to mind.

Ok 1 last question I swear . I found this one MM on Guitar Centers Platinum website, and I absolutely loved it, but it was an H and I was hoping to land a HH model. It was white (india ivory), and it had gold hardware. It was sweet. My question is, is that a rare color? Ive never seen that color before I saw this bass on the GC web site. I even googled (the color) it and the only hit was back to that page. Well thanks for the info, and sorry for the many questions. I appreciate it!

That's a special-edition bass and is indeed rare. Don't know if you can order those or if they were a special run just for GC, with no more to be had.

 

[AlexBongoCrazy]

As far as I know you can't go to an authorised dealer and order a custom setup, musicman isn't that kind of company, you'll have to go to one of the insanely expensive companies for that. Bass Central is an authorised musicman dealer as far as I know and they have the best range of musicman basse I have seen online. I don't own a Dargie Delight but I think you might be right that it is the name of a finish. And yeah musicmans website doesnt seem to have all of the finishes and pickguards of the models on their site but if it exists you can find it somewhere online. Not sure what to say for your last question but maybe it was a limited stingray? NAMM: national association of music merchants. Look it up.


Hope that helped?

 

[MadMatt]

I found this one MM on Guitar Centers Platinum website, and I absolutely loved it, but it was an H and I was hoping to land a HH model. It was white (india ivory), and it had gold hardware. It was sweet. My question is, is that a rare color?

IIRC that was a special GC only color combo. As adouglas said they are pretty rare. I would pick it up ASAP if I where you now that a couple of thousand EBMM fans have been alerted of its existence

Dont let the fact that it is a single H discorage you. I most recently bought a single H sterling and am surprised at the amount of sound variations I can get by simply tweaking the EQ and changing the position of my right hand.

Come on now... you know you want it... Just do it!

 

[bassplayer125]

Thanks guys so much. I thought NAMM was a musicman synonym that was just used on here, so I didnt bother to google it. So how do these basses compare to say a Fender Jazz or P? Like I said, Im going to upgrade. Im currently playing a Schecter Elite-5. Plays nice, looks real nice, but Im gigging alot, and want something nice, and I know theres better quality basses. I never thought Id spend 15-2000 on a bass, but just might. . And trust me, if that one is still on the GC website for too much longer, that might be the one. Im going to try to locate one locally to play, to see how it feels to me. Thanks again, much appreciated.

Juan

 

[bassplayer125]

PS - Anyway of knowing how many of those India Ivory basses were produced?

 

[adouglas]

Definitely play one, and plug it into a decent amp. GC has Mark Bass gear, and that's a great choice.

Set everything flat to start with (both bass and amp) and use the EQ sparingly. Don't turn everything on the bass up to 11... this isn't a passive instrument. J and P basses sound better when you crank the tone controls all the way up. Not so with MM.

Prepare to have one of those "Oh, NOW I get it!" moments.

 

[fly]

single H Sterlings have major mojo in them............very fine set of tones you can get......

welcome to the madness that is EBMM......

 

[Duarte]

You can order anything listed on the site -- if it says the bass comes as an H or an HH, you can order an H or HH in any color shown. If it doesn't say it's available, it isn't. All told there are tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of possible variations of model, pickup configuration, fretboard and color.

Poppa said there are over 120,000 combinations you can order his instruments in.

And you can't go wrong with any of them!

 

[bassplayer125]

Ok I did it....Couldnt wait.... I ordered it from the GC in Allentown PA to be delivered to Albany NY GC. They said 96 were made total. 24H and 24HH, 2 sets of each (24 maple, 24 Rosewood). There goes the tax refund!

Juan

 

[ptg]

Congrats!!

 

[jadams]

Ok I did it....Couldnt wait.... I ordered it from the GC in Allentown PA to be delivered to Albany NY GC. They said 96 were made total. 24H and 24HH, 2 sets of each (24 maple, 24 Rosewood). There goes the tax refund!

may i be so outward and say, "Congrats, Juan, you made a kick a$$ decision!" not too long ago i was shopping for a bass (well, not just a bass, but rather, the bass) and had the eureka moment that adouglas mentioned. it was just like figuring out the volume of an unevenly shaped object through water-displacement.

enjoy and welcome.

 

[fly]

Ok I did it....Couldnt wait.... I ordered it from the GC in Allentown PA to be delivered to Albany NY GC. They said 96 were made total. 24H and 24HH, 2 sets of each (24 maple, 24 Rosewood). There goes the tax refund!

Juan

what did you order man?


details,details.............

 

[bassplayer125]

I ordered a SR5-H India Ivory is the color with gold hardware, maple neck, and matching headstock. I grabbed it off the Guitar Center Platinum website. The salesman there gave me the serial number, said he called EB and there were 24 made. There were also 24 made with the rosewood neck, then in the HH configuration 2 sets of 24 as well. Does that mean its rare? Are those low numbers? I dont know, but its a sweet bass.

 

[Norm66]

Congratulations! I'm sure you'll love your new bass.

 

[adouglas]

had the eureka moment that adouglas mentioned. it was just like figuring out the volume of an unevenly shaped object through water-displacement.

Yep, I remember clearly when I first stuck my head in a bucket for that very purpose....

 

[MadMatt]

I ordered a SR5-H India Ivory is the color with gold hardware, maple neck, and matching headstock.

GOOD MAN!!!! Congrats! You will not regret it!!!

 

[Powman]

Welcome bassplayer125! I am excited for you. When do you get this bass? Did they give you an estimate arrival date?

 

[strummer]

Way to go Juan, that is one kick ass bass right there! When you get it, make sure you postr pics of it here, as we love ppl showing off their catches

 

[strummer]

Um, think this is it, huh?
Guitar Center: Platinum

Sweet