Question Reflex 5, Big Al 5, or 25th 5?

[jlepre]

Since I am selling my 20th, I need some advice, and answers for my next bass.

I won't be able to buy for at least a couple months, but was wondering a few things:

1. Has there been a release date for the Reflex 5?
2. How does the Big Al 5 measure up against the SR5 Hss for sound, and playabilty?
3. Are there any dealers that still have any 25th SR5 hss/maple neck/MHS quilt top in stock?

Thanks for your help.

 

[projectapollo]

Bass Central shows this one on their website. 5HSS Quilt, Maple.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Since I am selling my 20th, I need some advice, and answers for my next bass.

I won't be able to buy for at least a couple months, but was wondering a few things:

1. Has there been a release date for the Reflex 5?
2. How does the Big Al 5 measure up against the SR5 Hss for sound, and playabilty?
3. Are there any dealers that still have any 25th SR5 hss/maple neck/MHS quilt top in stock?

Thanks for your help.

I will answer questions 2 because Q.:1 ==>> (check the website if it features there it means it's on sale now)

1. How does the Big Al 5 measure up against the SR5 Hss for sound, and playabilty

Well I think you mean the 25th HSS right? cause there isn't an SR5 HSS, so I'll chime in as I have both:

The 25th HSS is a bit heavier than the Big Al 5 SSS due to the different body woods, Ash with mahogany block (and maple top) vs. African Mahogany my 25th 5HSS weighs 10.08lbs whereas the BA5SSS weighs 9.12lbs and they do sound quite different from one another, the sound difference is partly due to the rosewood fingerboard on the 25th as opposed to the maple one on the BA5SSS

Both basses offer a variety of sounds and many many combinations that you will hardly get bored with, there are some slight similarity on both basses when you play the middle pickup on its own as they are both neodymium pickups, and same when you play neck and middle together but as I've said earlier the wood differences give each bass a distinctive tone and I feel I have the best of both worlds.

Even though I am a die hard maple fingerboard fan, I feel satisfied with the 25th having a rosewood one otherwise the two might have been too similar in sound.

The neck on both is very similar and they play like a dream, the fretwork on these basses is stellar, you can slide from the lower fret to the highest on these bass and you'll think you are playing a fretless such is the smooth surface of the frets.

Acoustically (*unplugged) the Big Al 5 has a tendency to resonate a little longer, this might be also due to the African Mahogany, however the 25th also was reknowned for its sustain but that big al just rings and rings....

I would hate to be in your position where you must decide one against the other as it is a very tough choice, however the 25th Anniversary regardless of the fact that you can get it under the Reflex spec, it is still a limited edition, and you can get a big al or a reflex any other time, whereas these 25th's are soon running out and once they are gone, you'll only find them in the 2nd hand market.

 

[jlepre]

Thanks Apollo,

I have already sent Beaver an email on that one.,

Wazoo,
Are you saying that the Reflex 5 is already available? I thought that the Reflex 4 was available, but the 5 was still under wraps?

I appreciate your description of the slight nuances between the 2 basses, but I will be looking for a maple neck in either case.

Keep the responses coming guys.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Wazoo,
Are you saying that the Reflex 5 is already available? I thought that the Reflex 4 was available, but the 5 was still under wraps?

That I am not too sure about it, give your favourite dealer a call and ask them to investigate, sorry if I misled you, however the UK distributors are already listing them (the five strings ones) as you can see on this link

reflex_bass_black_retail.jpg

Cheers

 

[A.J.]

Both the 4 and the 5 are available for order.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Thank you A.J. for clarifying,

So it's official the Reflex Bass is available in 4 and 5 strings H / HH or HSS

 

[syciprider]

The Big AL is a completely different animal than the 25th and the Reflex or any other humbucker equipped EBMM. If you are hooked on that signature Musicman tone then the Big AL SSS might not be for you. Having said that, it is an amazing tone monster and IMO a stable of one SSS and one H or HH equipped EBMM will fill any tone goals you will ever want.

 

[jlepre]

I think I'm leaning toward a Reflex 5 Hss in black.

 

[syciprider]

IMO you can't go wrong with any one of these Next Gen EBs

 

[overtime]

The bass that projectappollo posted i bought and will be delivered Monday 07/19/10 can't wait!