What is your favourite Musicman bass design element?

[philthygeezer]

For me it's got to be the truss rod wheel. It makes a PITA job into a simple one.

 

[Aussie Mark]

For me it's got to be the truss rod wheel. It makes a PITA job into a simple one.

You find using an allen wrench a PITA? The truss rod wheel is a minor enhancement, but at the end of the day, you're still using a tool to turn a truss rod, which is the simple part. The hard part is knowing what you're doing, and I can't see that a truss rod wheel makes that any simpler, judging from some of the setup discussions in this forum

 

[Aussie Mark]

My favorite MM bass design element is the preamp. The Stingray was the first active bass, and I thank Leo for giving us that trademark Stingray sound.

 

[bassmonkeee]

My favorite MM bass design element is the preamp. The Stingray was the first active bass, and I thank Leo for giving us that trademark Stingray sound.

I won't debate who had the first active bass, but the Bongo's preamp is what sold me on it. With the two pickups and piezos, there isn't a sound that I can't get with the EQ.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I won't debate who had the first active bass

Who's debating? From the Ernie Ball website .....

When introduced in 1976 by the original Music Man Company, the StingRay immediately became a universal favorite of bassists worldwide. The StingRay was the first production bass to feature active electronics

 

[Samingo]

My favourite Music Man bass design feature would have to be the body/neck. Let's face it, the Stingray just beats the crap out of half the basses out there. It's a bass all it's own and can't particularily be catagorized as a 'rock' or 'jazz' bass or anything like that. That and the trademark Music Man sound is just to die for.

 

[phatduckk]

the neck ... esp. on the sterling

the necks on rays and sterlings feel like butter. its f'in amazing and i cant live w/o it

 

[bassmonkeee]

Who's debating? From the Ernie Ball website .....

Ah, production bass. I'll agree to that. Other than Alembic customs, and one offs, the Stingray was certainly the first production active bass.

I love my Bongo so much that I am tempted to pick up a used Stingray 5 to give more of a chance than one has gotten in a Guitar Center. Hmmm......

 

[ynot]

That killer Sting Ray tone !!!!

The low growl of the Sting Ray has to be my favorite. I love this Bass the look is unlike any other bass -- It kicks a** !!

 

[scottbass71]

The 3 +1 or 4 +1 ( for 5ers) Headstock

 

[philthygeezer]

You find using an allen wrench a PITA? The truss rod wheel is a minor enhancement, but at the end of the day, you're still using a tool to turn a truss rod, which is the simple part. The hard part is knowing what you're doing, and I can't see that a truss rod wheel makes that any simpler, judging from some of the setup discussions in this forum

Yep. Half the time the allen key has too much iron on one end to fit the slot on the body, the other half I'm hunting for the right size, taking off the truss rod cover on the headstock, etc. I have three different basses that take three different sized allen keys. The truss rod adjuster that came with my Fender Hot Rod P has a T - handle and no leverage. The key that fits my Godin is slightly too long so I'll have to grind it down to fit the slot. For me it's a PITA.

The wheel makes it simple and precise, and I can tweek the actions on my Musicmen better than any other bass I've owned.

 

[lowstrung]

My two most favorite things about the Sting Ray are 1st. The togle switch that makes playing 1/16 notes into 1/32 note. 2nd. The slide lever on the back of the neck that raises and lowers the frets for either frettless or fretted.

 

[tkarter]

My favorite it the excellent support you get for any MM bass. Shows quality from job one and where else do you find that?

tk

 

[spectorbassguy]

Man the E-B polishing cloth rocks!
Just kidding - Actually I have abandoned all other basses (including my beloved Ken Smith BT5G) in favor of Music Man exclusively. Not due to any one feature but many. Probably most af all the spirit shown by MM players.

 

[cgworkman]

I dig it all...

 

[Mobay45]

My favorite it the excellent support you get for any MM bass. Shows quality from job one and where else do you find that?

tk

Ford?

 

[nismaniac]

like others have said, the pickup/placement combination and the neck. It's amazing how that neck makes what I thought were very comfortable necks on my other basses not feel as comfortable anymore. My SR5 also feels built like a brick sh*t house, very solid all the way around.

 

[Morrow]

Truss rod wheel, the three and one headstock and although I've never needed it the customer support.

 

[tkarter]

Ford?

I shoulda turned that around a bit. like first job quality.

LOL

tk

 

[Samingo]

+8 to all that. I can't believe I forgot the three and one headstock that I've always loved, among other things. You can't sum it up, MM just rocks.