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Vintage/old music man gear?!

Orange Adam

Orange Adam

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Jun 26, 2004
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Wrong place at the wrong time
I came across two interesting models...Stingray and Sabre, I believe. But I found no indepth info on the web.
Does anyone know if there's afansite dedicated to older, early 80+s, 7''s even MM?

Thanx
 
Those models were made before Ernie Ball bought Music Man. They were designed by Leo Fender, and made in the mid-late 70's, but unlike the excellent bass lines they weren't all that successful, from what I understand. I've played a few examples of each, and my impression was that these things had a lot more in common with 70's Fender guitars than with current Music Man instruments; I've yet to handle one that impressed me in the least. Remember, Dudley didn't come on board until after Sterling bought Music Man, and he's the driving force behind the current EBMM guitar designs. In terms of the current Music Man, "vintage" means six-bolt necks, and Schaller pickups and trems ;)
 
I also played a few original Music Mans back in the day and agree with Jimi D - they were very odd guitars with strange active electronics (active was huge back in the '70s). They had a lot in common with '70s Fenders:

1. Thick poly finishes
2. Boat-anchor weights
3. 3-bolt neck attachment
4. Bullet truss rod adjusters

However, Leo-era Music Man's did the 3-bolt neck and bullet truss rod adjuster right; the neck pockets were tight and didn't move like the Fenders. By by the time I started playing seriously in 1979 you could tell the Music Man build quality was much better than most Fenders of the day, particularly the Stratocasters. The only other guitars like them I can think of are the almost equally hard-to-find G&L F100s - which were really a "refinement" of one of the orignal Music Mans (the Sabre if I'm remembering correctly). I would also say that the early G&Ls also did the 3-bolt neck right, which you would expect since they came from the same factory and were made by the same people.

The current EBMMs are a completely different and unique line of guitars that only carry the name "Music Man" - the only Leo design still in production is the Sting Ray bass, and even it has been updated with some of Dudley's innovations like the truss rod adjuster and multiple-bolt neck attachment. Jimi D can correct me if this is just urban legend, but the story I've heard is the Silhouette came about when Sterling tasked Dudley with creating a guitar to match the Sting Ray bass. The rest, as they say, is history.
 
Thanx guys!
So no fansites?
I just wish Dudley would make them EBMM bodies a bit bigger:o . A couple of days ago I played this 2hum equipped EBMM Axis, no fancy top, hardtail....blue, matching headstk. Even with those rusty .o8 strings it sounded lovely.But I still cant get over the small body effect. I am 5.9 my hands r not really that big but I still wish MMEB guitars were just a bit bigger/wider, atleast the body. Compared to other guitars...they truely r top notch!!!Gotta love those necks!!!
BTW the guitar Im talking about is in a good shape/not perfect...could use a bit of fixing up and the guy wants 1700USD?!?!?! :eek:
Isnt that a bit too much...I mean even 4 Croatia/Europe.


If anyone has some info on those old MM's please do chime in!

a.

My musikk:
http://tamtam.mi2.hr/EgobooBits/BebeNaVole
 
Orange Adam said:
Thanx guys!
So no fansites?
I just wish Dudley would make them EBMM bodies a bit bigger:o . A couple of days ago I played this 2hum equipped EBMM Axis, no fancy top, hardtail....blue, matching headstk. Even with those rusty .o8 strings it sounded lovely.But I still cant get over the small body effect. I am 5.9 my hands r not really that big but I still wish MMEB guitars were just a bit bigger/wider, atleast the body. Compared to other guitars...they truely r top notch!!!Gotta love those necks!!!
BTW the guitar Im talking about is in a good shape/not perfect...could use a bit of fixing up and the guy wants 1700USD?!?!?! :eek:
Isnt that a bit too much...I mean even 4 Croatia/Europe.


a.

My musikk:
http://tamtam.mi2.hr/EgobooBits/BebeNaVole
Click to expand...

there's nothing small about the morse body..........
 
tommyindelaware said:
there's nothing small about the morse body..........
Click to expand...


Look at a Les Paul. Look at our guitars. Not much difference is size. I'm 6'1 and have big hands( you know what that means ;) .....Big gloves) The size of the guitar has never been a problem to me. Maybe you just need a period of adjustment to get used to one.

Not you Tommy....Orange Adam :o
 
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