What is it about a Musicman neck?

[Crewood]

Hello all, newbie to your forum from the UK.

I've spent many months recently looking for a new guitar, being a lefty is a major handicap when buying. I noticed that Musicman offered their guitars in left handed versions so decided to take a look, I'm all for supporting makers that look after lefties.

Nearly all the articles I read or anyone I spoke to talked about the Musicman necks being so good and easy to play, what is it about the necks that make your guitars so special?

Coming from a Fender family, most of the necks on my guitars are lacquered and not the easiest to get on with, they sometimes feel sticky. Hidden among the Fenders is a cheapo Yamaha Pacifica strat copy, the neck on this is virtually unfinished and it plays beautifully.

Another of the reasons I'm liking the Musicman is I like the beauty of wood and the finishes on the few Musicman guitars I've seen is almost a work of art, good to look at, good to play, what am I missing.

Nice to meet you all

Mike

 

[Bierschinken]

The MusicMan necks just feel killer!

being just waxed and oiled, those necks feel absolutely smooth and fast.
feeling sticky?...no way with that!

To be honest, I thought the silk-finished neck of my Custom Shop ESP is a killer....but then I played the Petrucci Model and after that I always feel the ESP´s neck to be sticky as hell.

Grab yourself an EBMM and you´ll be part of the addiction

 

[Spudmurphy]

Nice to meet you too Crewood - welcome to the forum.

I've been playing guitar for over 30 years and have found Nirvana!
To me the EB neck is sublime. It feels fantastic and I too like the feel of the "unfinished neck" as you put it. Although it does have a coating of gunstock oil and wax. The finish on these instruments are superb both cosmetically and from a playing point of view. The set uo "out of the box" when I bought my Albert Lee was right on the button. I love the sound I'm getting and wish that these guitars had been around when I was a lad
I hope you get to stick around and join in - it does get addictive
Spud

 

[JSX]

Hey Mike, Welcome to the forum!

You're not really missing anything. Music Man guitars are top notch. There playibilty is amazing. I would buy one if I were you!

 

[andynpeters]

Hi there Mike

Funny you should mention lefty EBMMs with great finishes (shameless plug!!!!)

eBay.co.uk: Left Handed Ernie Ball Music Man Silhouette Special (item 270122325364 end time 30-May-07 16:07:47 BST)

 

[andynpeters]

But just to show I'm not entirely mercenary touting for business....take a look at this guy's store, probably the only lefy EBMMs in the UK right now.

Guitars4you - specialist in fine new and used classic guitars

 

[lenny]

If that wasnt a lefty it would be sold right now!

 

[lumberjack]

Welcome to the forums, Mike.

The ernie balls have the best feeling necks in the busines.........period.

Scott

 

[lumberjack]

If that wasnt a lefty it would be sold right now!

I'm glad to see you've still got the SPARKLE fever.

 

[candid_x]

Hi Mike.

The only way to know what the hoopra is about is to get your hands on one or more Balls. The Silos and Axis have a 10" radius - a hugely positive feature to me. But there are models with a flatter radii as well. That's another cool thing - matching your own personal preferences with different model Balls.

Of course most of us here represent a sort of radical fringe of Ball freaks , so you're not like to get negative feedback on MM guitars here, but I think you'll find, as I did, that even those whose personal preferences do not include MM guitars, nearly all will have nothing but great things to say about them.

Balls are super guitars, no matter what level player you happen to be. To know if it's right for you, check 'em out. If you can't find them locally, just buy one off eBay or from one the guys/gals here. You can't go wrong with it, really.

PS: Just make sure it's the real deal you buy, and not a copy.

 

[robelinda2]

Balls are best. simple. the EBMM neck is just magical.

Welcome,and rock on.

 

[PugNinjas]

Simply stated, they feel like an old friend

 

[meenahga]

unpretentiously supple necks...

 

[Colin]

I tried explaining to a customer that had never tried a MM neck what they are like. He started laughing (I think he thought I was over exaggerating), anyway when his guitar arrives he'll understand what all the hyperbole was about...

 

[ivanmihaljevic]

Welcome!!!
I love the MM necks too!

 

[Crewood]

Thanks for the help guys.

The guitars4you emporium is just around the corner from me so I'll take a look.

Hope EBMM are not as hard to get a hold of as the Fenders, who by the way charge a massive premium for left handers. Not to bad on the cheapy MIM stuff but when you start buying custom shop stuff, it's massive.

Mike

 

[andynpeters]

Thanks for the help guys.

The guitars4you emporium is just around the corner from me so I'll take a look.

Hope EBMM are not as hard to get a hold of as the Fenders, who by the way charge a massive premium for left handers. Not to bad on the cheapy MIM stuff but when you start buying custom shop stuff, it's massive.

Mike

In theory much the same price....in practice you'll probably end up having to order a lefty, wait 6 months and get quoted pretty much the full retail price (I was recently).

Unless of course you like one of the Guitars4you ones (I really don't like those brown colours ) or find something on EBay where they CAN be found pretty cheaply but you'll need to be patient.

It's not just a question of the neck and the feel, there's also the sound which you really need to hear and decide if it's what you're looking for. The Silhouette Special pickups are more modern and powerful than the traditional Fender Strat, perhaps a little harsher and less liquid.....(personally I prefer the Strat sound but many don't). The Axis SS MM90 is quite a raunchy thing but fun.

Can't speak for the Luke and the Axis SS with humbuckers., which are the only other available lefties as I've never been in a position to try them.

Anyway, off you go to Guitars4you and inform yourself. (lucky you to be living so close)....let us know what you think

 

[andynpeters]

If that wasnt a lefty it would be sold right now!

And if a frog had wings.....................

 

[Crewood]

Off to guitars4 you it is then, hang on a minute, they only open thursday, friday and saturday. Can I wait that long?

Mike

 

[andynpeters]

Off to guitars4 you it is then, hang on a minute, they only open thursday, friday and saturday. Can I wait that long?

Mike

Of course you can't. Now you'll HAVE to buy my Silhouette Special.