Picking out a finish..... hrm

[timbledum]

Hey cats, hows it goin?

AFter a sting of crappy ~$400NZ (around $2-300US) basses, I've finally managed to accumulate enough of the cold hard stuff to purchase a good, hard working, long lasting, proper bass. I have a friend who's returning home in the states for Christmas so I've managed to convince me to buy me a bass over there, as its heeeaps cheaper than down in kiwiland (3500 for a standard no thrills musicman, thats like 2500 US). So I've been trying to figure out what bass to get.

I managed to boil it down to Stingray HH VS US Fender P, and then eliminated the P. So now all I have to do is choose a finish!

Looking around the interwebs I've kinda settled on Black Cherry Burst, and then realised that on musicians friend its like 200US (300 NZ) more than the standard version! So I guess my question is, whats in it that makes it more expensive, and in your opinion is it worth it? Also whats your favourite finish? Im now thinking of going for the vintage sunburst, which is about midrange in terms of price.

Marcus

 

[bovinehost]

Looking around the interwebs I've kinda settled on Black Cherry Burst, and then realised that on musicians friend its like 200US (300 NZ) more than the standard version! So I guess my question is, whats in it that makes it more expensive, and in your opinion is it worth it? Also whats your favourite finish? Im now thinking of going for the vintage sunburst, which is about midrange in terms of price.

Marcus

Howdy, Marcus! I'm not really from Texas, but I live here, so I like to say things like, "Howdy!" I'm trying to fit in.

There's nothing physical in any given finish that makes it more expensive - except the labor. With bursts, they have to be sprayed two or three times (and with SKILL beyond belief) whereas with a solid finish, it's just once through the paint booth and off it goes to buffing (and to have the magic mojo installed).

I kind of like solid colors, so I'm a bad person to ask about the other stuff.

Anyway, welcome to the board, others will be along soon enough to spout a load of crap about finishes, trust me.



Jack

 

[Aussie Mark]

Marcus, the HH is a good choice in the Stingray department, as is Black Cherry Burst. But, just to mess with your head a little because your rugby team is better than mine, here's some Vintage Sunburst HH Stingray porn to make your decision tougher .....

Seriously though, there is a "sticky" post at the top of the page with a link to lots of different photos of the Musicman color range in real life situations .... http://www.ernieball.com/forums/mus...music-man-bass-finishes-guide.html#post133114

 

[five7]

+1

 

[five7]

Instead of buying a new bass, you could buy a used one.

 

[timbledum]

Oh wow that does look good Aussie Mark! I saw some photos that left me underwhelmed but those ones look fantastic. I think the black cherry burst looks better up close when you can see the wood grain. *looks up sticky thread*. And hey man, your rugby team ain't too bad, at least you got a good coach.

@ 57fenderjazz yeah after talking to one of my mates (who has a 70s musicman I believe) who adamantly believes in putting a bass through its paces before buying and hasn't brought a 1st hand bass in his life, I did think seriously about the whole 2nd hand vs new thing. I think I decided on buying new because a) I haven't seen a stingray HH in NZ ever and b) if I bring this bass over from the states even if I don't like it chances are I'll be able to get as much as I paid. Good call though.

And thanks to bovinehost, that does make a lot of sense. It just makes my decision so much harder! On one hand 300 NZ is nothing really compared to the 2000 odd im gonna be spending anyways, on the other hand I could be getting an extra sansamp di or something with that moneys. I am open to solid colours.

 

[maddog]

get a colour you like and don't look back.

 

[adouglas]

Oh wow that does look good Aussie Mark! I saw some photos that left me underwhelmed but those ones look fantastic.

Every MM finish I've ever seen looks better in person than it does in photos.

Love that burst with tort... a true classic.

My favorites? Check my sig. Two of those are discontinued, sadly.

 

[danny-79]

Every MM finish I've ever seen looks better in person than it does in photos.

Love that burst with tort... a true classic.

Cant say any better than that, never seen one yet in a colour that doesnt look good on the guitar, so whatever you end up getting will definatly be nice

 

[keko]

I like any burst finish 'cause allows you to see the wood under!

When I was making final decision of buying a new bass I limit it to 3 colors:

Natural, Sunburst, Black Cherry Burst.

My final decision You can see in my signature!

P.S. ...this Sunburst Stingray from above really looks fantastic!

 

[Bloodfist]

I decided on the Black Cherry Burst HH myself. It is more expensive, but when you see it in person it is jaw dropping. I have more compliments on the look and sound of that bass every time I use it. Here's some pics of mine, I highly recommend this finish if you can afford it!

and in a live setting...

 

[Sonnyonbass]

Hey cats, hows it goin?

AFter a sting of crappy ~$400NZ (around $2-300US) basses, I've finally managed to accumulate enough of the cold hard stuff to purchase a good, hard working, long lasting, proper bass. I have a friend who's returning home in the states for Christmas so I've managed to convince me to buy me a bass over there, as its heeeaps cheaper than down in kiwiland (3500 for a standard no thrills musicman, thats like 2500 US). So I've been trying to figure out what bass to get.

I managed to boil it down to Stingray HH VS US Fender P, and then eliminated the P. So now all I have to do is choose a finish!

Looking around the interwebs I've kinda settled on Black Cherry Burst, and then realised that on musicians friend its like 200US (300 NZ) more than the standard version! So I guess my question is, whats in it that makes it more expensive, and in your opinion is it worth it? Also whats your favourite finish? Im now thinking of going for the vintage sunburst, which is about midrange in terms of price.

Marcus

Bass Central still has limited edion Blue Dawns I believe.
They are allowed to ship those overseas. I've seen one when I was there last month. REALLY nice finish! And it saves a bit of money that way. so...

 

[keko]

Bloodfist, Your Stingray looks awesome from any eye or light angle!

Fantastic!

 

[danny-79]

WOW thats an amasing looking bass, never payed much attention to the cherry burst before but that is very nice looking, very very nice looking, Ive got my eye on an electric blue bongo 4HH with full rosewood neck at the min ... that was a option that id never of thought of untill id seen it .

 

[Bloodfist]

Thanks! Here's a couple of pics of the back of it.

 

[kevins]

wait on the classic series a couple months and save up a little more and get seafoam green. best color ever. or you could write an angry letter to musicman demanding trans teal be brought back! cause thats my favorite color lol

 

[T Alan]

My 2nd favorite burst finish from MM...1st being honeyburst. Congrats. She's a beauty ...and would be perfect with a tort guard.

 

[oli@bass]

White, Black, Desert Gold (discontinued)

Does that help?

The StingRay HH is a phantastic choice. Check whether you can find any limited editions that are allowed to be sold internationally. Blue Dawn (2007) is a great colour and so is Sequoia Gold (2008) and Buttercream (2005). Or a Dargie Delight (though I think you won't find them in HH).

If you can wait, I suggest to wait for the Winter NAMM when most likely there will be new colours announced.

 

[timbledum]

Wow this is so cool! I'm kinda getting a good sense of different peoples passions for the different finishes. The more I look, the more hard it is to choose! It's also interesting listening to the different stuff played with these basses, eg, bloodfists band vs rockon!s stuff. Bloodfist, that bass does look freaky good.

I have a feeling that getting it shipped here officially will incur some sorta border tax, while I'm hoping that shipping it to my buddy in the states and him bringing it on the plane will be cheaper.

Just listened to oli@bass's stuff, wow thats exactly how I want to sound! (probably because the bass shines through really well in ska), especially now I know. Almost sounds 311y or something.

 

[timbledum]

Alright now I'm thinking about getting it to New Zealand. I came across this post,

You are hitting the upper size limit for packages that NZ post will handle. So first, lose the case. Detach the neck, pad both neck and body well, and pack in the smallest box you can find that will hold both parts. Mark it "used guitar parts". USPS will have it there in 6-10 days for around $116.99 (Priority Mail International).

What's the cheapest way to ship an electric guitar to New Zealand? | Ask MetaFilter

Would anyone here actually do that with a brand new musicman?