Ernie Ball Music Man

I love these bass guitars. I've never played one but I've heard so many great testimonies about them and I love this blue one. Only one problem.....look at the price tag! Yikes!:shock:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Music-Man-Sterling-4-String-Bass-Guitar-515557-i1148779.gc

Jack

There are a few on CL here for like $900 and up. Some of the pricier ones are vintage.

I wouldn't fall in love too hard if you haven't played one; not because the MM is a bad bass (because it's not, it's a great unit), but it's just a bad policy. I have a storied history of falling in love and right back out as soon as I pick up the instrument.

However, they have a great, unique tone that's featured on countless records.

But, if it's that tone you're looking for on the cheap-- you want an Ibanez ATK.
It may look a bit wonky-- but I actually like it more than the MM (in both look and features). The MM can look weird with either a white pick guard, or none at all.

There's quite a few ATK's that have made their way on record via punk, rap, and rock, but that's another discussion.

For less than half of the price, the ATK has a much larger bridge, with a string through option (MM doesn't have that, at least the new ones don't), and an angled headstock (personal preference).
I find the three-way character switch to be quite useful-- a lot of people say they can't tell the difference or it's subtle. It's not-- with good equipment, you can really hear the differences shine through.

I upgraded the tuners to the Hipshots that fit in the stock holes-- that's it.
It's a great, light, ash-bodied bass. Some people complain of the heft, but I might be used to my Gibsons.

I've used it to record with and at shows-- great growly tone that cuts through. With the active EQ, you can get some near-precision or near-jazz sounds out of it, or full-on MM. It responds well to playing position.

I saw a kid use the five string version this past Friday in a band that opened up for my girlfriend's. He just used a DI into the PA and played with both fingerstyle and a pick-- great, great, great tone. Didn't make any EQ adjustments throughout the show, but did use the character switch, and you could really tell.

It's a good desert-island bass that you can give you a lot of versatile tones. It's not my #1, but it probably should be. The only reason I don't use it full-time in my current band is I play with a lot of gain and drive my tube amp-- I haven't gotten the ATK to sound as well as my passive instruments in this application yet.

But if you're looking for that sound and even more features than the MM without breaking bank-- I'd go for the ATK, I love mine.

There is the same model/color for sale on talkbass for $790

Musicman Sterling Blue (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=584945)

Probably won't be there long at that price, but they pop up all the time for sale on that site.

I like the neck of the Music Man Sterling, and I like the MM pickup, but their price IS outrageous. It is "Made in the U.S.A.".

If I were in the market for this type of bass, I would look into:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Sterling-by-Music-Man-SB14-Bass-105326144-i1441959.gc

Sterling by Music Man SB14

For several years I've been playing an OLP/Ernie Ball/Musicman 5 string with a single coiltapped humbucker, ash body, maple fingerboard and neck. It's the cheaper import version, and very good bang for the buck, lots of tone, great playability. At the time I couldn't afford the real deal, but the OLP is a decent substitute.

Mike Bruce

If you're seriously interested in a MM bass, keep watching the basses for sale section at the Ernie Ball company forums, you'll find a nice used one for a lot less than new.

I'll have to disagree with Mike, the now-discontinued OLP line looked like a MM but didn't sound anything like one. Not even close. And it was not an Ernie Ball product at all, OLP just bought licensing rights to use the shape.

I like the neck of the Music Man Sterling, and I like the MM pickup, but their price IS outrageous. It is "Made in the U.S.A.".

If I were in the market for this type of bass, I would look into:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Sterling-by-Music-Man-SB14-Bass-105326144-i1441959.gc

Sterling by Music Man SB14

not really... not when you look at how they are built and how they are finished and how consistent they are...

I once owned a MM Sub 5 and a MM SR5. (both single HB) Great basses with the Musicman sound. Buy used and save $.