• Ernie Ball
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Ernie Ball Music Man Custom Design Experience

You Know What I've Been Thinking?

bovinehost

bovinehost

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Big Poppa said:
I think you need more time with the ba5. The active passive serie parallel are really fun to play with
Click to expand...

I do need more time with it, to be sure. I haven't really even fooled with the buttons yet (except to make sure it was in active mode, I'm a fanboi).

How does the BA5 hang on your body compared to a Bongo or SR5? I mean, going from SR5 to Bongo the nut end is a bit farther away...
Click to expand...

Definitely feels different than the Bongo. The fretboard is not quite as flat and wide and the neck is smaller overall. Hangs good! Very comfortable.
 
drTStingray

drTStingray

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Congrats - lovely bass and the silver suits the Big Al really well.

Interesting review as well - it sounds like those Bongos may have some competition, Lord Bongo!
 
lefenton

lefenton

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bovinehost said:
While I find it completely comfortable in a Music Man way, there is also this: my friend Bob played it a while back - and Bob is really, deep-down, a Fender guy. I don't even hate him for it. Well, not much, anyway. But Bob's a Fender guy, and 4 strings are plenty for him. He played the Big Al 5 SSS for a bit and said, "Well, hell. I guess I have to get one of these." And he is. He is getting one, a 4 banger. Make of that what you will. I'll just say this bass could win over a metric ass-load of Fender diehards. (And then they'd all have to buy Bongos, too.)
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BH- I totally had a similar experience to your friend. I was a lifetime Fender player. I totally swore by their gear. I have a J5 Deluxe, a P5 Deluxe, and an unique 80's PBass. Played nothing but Fender for 17 years.

I read up about the Big Al on the site and the forums here and was very intrigued. Then when I finally saw one in the local shop, I had to plug it in and play. It took maybe 15 minutes of playing around with the settings and that was me done. I didn't buy it right there on the spot because of the wife giving me the death stare, but I went home and then rushed back to the store about an hour or so later, and made it 15 minutes before they closed, and bought the bass. After playing it, it became an obsession and I had to have it. I talked about it all the way home, went on the website to look at more pics and specs...it was pathetic. I brought it out the next night on a gig with me and I haven't opened up the cases to my Fenders since. The BA4SSS has everything for my needs right now, except the low B. When the need arises for that lower rumble, the BA5 will be the next addition (after a classic ray of course)

Big Poppa said:
The passive is really fun. You should play a night with it and you may be surprised.
Click to expand...

BP- The passive tone is killer! I always rehearse in passive and play the gigs in active because the sound guys always prefer that, but the passive tones this thing gets are stellar!!! The tone knob adds so much and coupled with the pickup selection, the possibilities are pretty amazing. Thanks for this great product! It has changed my perspective completely!
 
Movielife

Movielife

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lefenton said:
BH- I totally had a similar experience to your friend. I was a lifetime Fender player. I totally swore by their gear. I have a J5 Deluxe, a P5 Deluxe, and an unique 80's PBass. Played nothing but Fender for 17 years.

I read up about the Big Al on the site and the forums here and was very intrigued. Then when I finally saw one in the local shop, I had to plug it in and play. It took maybe 15 minutes of playing around with the settings and that was me done. I didn't buy it right there on the spot because of the wife giving me the death stare, but I went home and then rushed back to the store about an hour or so later, and made it 15 minutes before they closed, and bought the bass. After playing it, it became an obsession and I had to have it. I talked about it all the way home, went on the website to look at more pics and specs...it was pathetic. I brought it out the next night on a gig with me and I haven't opened up the cases to my Fenders since. The BA4SSS has everything for my needs right now, except the low B. When the need arises for that lower rumble, the BA5 will be the next addition (after a classic ray of course)



BP- The passive tone is killer! I always rehearse in passive and play the gigs in active because the sound guys always prefer that, but the passive tones this thing gets are stellar!!! The tone knob adds so much and coupled with the pickup selection, the possibilities are pretty amazing. Thanks for this great product! It has changed my perspective completely!
Click to expand...


This is EXACTLY what I wanted to hear about this bass. I have one incoming on Saturday....
 
Oldtoe

Oldtoe

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Big Red arriving tomorrow.

*tapping foot*

I haven't been this excited about a new bass in a while.
 
cellkirk74

cellkirk74

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lefenton said:
BP- The passive tone is killer! I always rehearse in passive and play the gigs in active because the sound guys always prefer that, but the passive tones this thing gets are stellar!!! The tone knob adds so much and coupled with the pickup selection, the possibilities are pretty amazing. Thanks for this great product! It has changed my perspective completely!
Click to expand...

+1
I played the gig last thursday with the Big Al 4 with neck+bridge in passive mode and the sound was huge over the sansamp bddi as DI, the probass 500 and an Ampeg fridge. The thing got amazing tones!
 
Last edited:
lefenton

lefenton

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cellkirk74 said:
+1
I played the gig last thursday with the Big Al 4 with neck+bridge in passive mode and the spund was huge over the sansamp bddi as DI, the probass 500 and an Ampeg fridge. The thing got amazing tones!
Click to expand...


Cellkirk- We have the exact same bass! Love the alder body!

The neck and bridge in passive is a sound that I really dig. Super nice attack!
 
bovinehost

bovinehost

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SmallEQ Paul got me thinking about the passive option on the SSS and I can see the appeal. It's another one of those "Whoa, I didn't expect THAT" moments from these basses.

I promise to play the single H in passive as soon as I have another night to spend with it.
 
adouglas

adouglas

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You know, Jack, since you're so enamored of the 5H and since you're so busy with the little (eyebrow) shaver, it occurs to me that the 5SSS isn't getting the proper amount of exercise.

I think you should send it to me so it can get a daily trip to the dog park. I'll feed it well, let it play with some chew toys and will even wipe the fingerprints off it before I send it back. :D
 
Big Poppa

Big Poppa

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its the DNA he is worried about AD...

The tone conrol is very effective in passive....it was a challenge that I tossed Dudley....he caught it like a glod glove center fielder.....
 
Thornton Davis

Thornton Davis

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Big Poppa said:
its the DNA he is worried about AD...

The tone conrol is very effective in passive....it was a challenge that I tossed Dudley....he caught it like a gold glove center fielder.....
Click to expand...

Very cool! Now i'm even more excited to receive my BA5-H.

TD
 
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