Members HORSE Posted October 13, 2005 Members Posted October 13, 2005 I'm looking at buying a new bass and I'm kind of yearning for a musicman. I play mainly gospel and worship music in church. Is this a good bass for those uses? From what I've read, the musicman is a punchy, full-sounding bass. How does it sit in a mix with other instruments? Also, I'm for sure going to buy one used and I'm wondering if there are particular periods when these were built that yielded higher quality basses or if I can confidently buy one from any year. Any info would be appreciated.
Members Gruven Posted October 13, 2005 Members Posted October 13, 2005 Music Man basses are famous for 'cutting through' the mix so that you can be heard as more than ultra low end mush. The onboard EQ and three way switch on my Stingray 5 allows me to dial in just about any sound I could want. As far as the best years to have, I don't know. Mine is a 2004 and it sounds amazing.
Members Mofopotomus Posted October 13, 2005 Members Posted October 13, 2005 Yeah they defenitely cut, I particularly liked the way mine would blend in with distorted guitar. Check them out, I loved mine, or maybe the SUB would be a good option. Similar build but with a passive pickup, maybe soften the tone a bit, might be better for your uses. Out of curiosity, what kind of bass tone would one want for church/worship music?
Members s4001 Posted October 13, 2005 Members Posted October 13, 2005 The mid to late 80's tend to be gems. That is, unless you can't afford a BOO Stingray. I can't imagine anyone that's ever regretted having one.
Members HORSE Posted October 13, 2005 Author Members Posted October 13, 2005 Originally posted by Mofopotomus Out of curiosity, what kind of bass tone would one want for church/worship music? I've played a few different basses in different worship bands and I've found that the best tone is one that is warm round but punch enough to cut through. i love the jazz bass sound for funk, but it doesn't seem to sit right in a worship band. I've used my cort artisan, but the sound from the humbuckers, while nice and round, tends to lose note definition when combined with the other instruments. the closest I've come to the sound I want is with my fretless jazz bass with the pickups blended out of phase to create the sound of a large humbucker. I figure that a music man will sound similar with its large humbucker, but will have a bit more top end. does my logic make sense? or am I totally off?
Members T. Alan Smith Posted October 13, 2005 Members Posted October 13, 2005 I've thoroughly enjoyed playing my MusicMan basses for worship gigs. As far as how good they sound in that application exactly, well, feel free to ask anyone from my ol' church.
Members Gruven Posted October 13, 2005 Members Posted October 13, 2005 Originally posted by HORSE I've played a few different basses in different worship bands and I've found that the best tone is one that is warm round but punch enough to cut through. i love the jazz bass sound for funk, but it doesn't seem to sit right in a worship band. I've used my cort artisan, but the sound from the humbuckers, while nice and round, tends to lose note definition when combined with the other instruments. the closest I've come to the sound I want is with my fretless jazz bass with the pickups blended out of phase to create the sound of a large humbucker. I figure that a music man will sound similar with its large humbucker, but will have a bit more top end. does my logic make sense? or am I totally off? The MM pickups are switchable and have a 'dummy coil' (doesn't make any sound) so you can get a noisless single coil sound, a humbucking sound and the sound of two parallel single coils. It's really more versatile than some people think and it always seems to make it to peoples ears.
Members sunburstbasser Posted October 13, 2005 Members Posted October 13, 2005 All Music Man pickups are passive, both in the Stingray and the SUB, as well as basses like the Sterling and Bongo. Electronically, the SUB is the same thing as the 2-band Stingray. The Stingray pickup does not have the dummy coil, the Sterling and 5-string Stingray do. The preamps are all active. The SUB is not as heavily contoured, and the finish isn't as nice. In picures it isn't so obvious, but after seeing dozens sitting next to each other at NAMM the Stingray finish is definately nicer, at least to look at. How it affects sound I can't say, and whether aesthetics matters or how much is up to you. I think a Music Man of some kind would probably suit your desires. I have a Cort with a pretty good knockoff of the pickup and 2-band preamp. I find that it doesn't have a lot of low end with the EQ flat, but boosting the bass on the amp more than compensates and makes it sound REALLY good. I sometimes add a touch of bass or treble on the bass as well, to suit my tastes that day. It cuts through anything, no wall of guitar amps will hinder it. Punchy, but very articulate, and it seems to emphasize frequencies that don't get a lot of emphasis from many guitarists so it doesn't get muddy.
Members HORSE Posted October 13, 2005 Author Members Posted October 13, 2005 thanks a bunch everyone. it sounds like I'll have to pick up a music man (as I don't have enough GAS already). what's a decent price to expect to pay for a used stingray 5?
Members Mofopotomus Posted October 13, 2005 Members Posted October 13, 2005 Originally posted by HORSE thanks a bunch everyone. it sounds like I'll have to pick up a music man (as I don't have enough GAS already). what's a decent price to expect to pay for a used stingray 5? I once saw one for $1000, though I think that was a pretty good price, so you could expect around that, maybe a little more
Members Gruven Posted October 13, 2005 Members Posted October 13, 2005 Originally posted by HORSE thanks a bunch everyone. it sounds like I'll have to pick up a music man (as I don't have enough GAS already). what's a decent price to expect to pay for a used stingray 5? You're very welcome. You're looking at, probably, $900 (American) and up for a used one in decent shape. I bought mine new with a case for about $1,350.
Members james on bass Posted October 13, 2005 Members Posted October 13, 2005 My 5'er was great. I believe it was from '91 or '92.
Members Jazz Ad Posted October 13, 2005 Members Posted October 13, 2005 In case of restrictive budget, the SUB will sound just the same for a fraction of the price.It doesn't look as flashy and all though.
Members mrcrow Posted October 13, 2005 Members Posted October 13, 2005 Originally posted by Mofopotomus Yeah they defenitely cut, I particularly liked the way mine would blend in with distorted guitar. Check them out, I loved mine, or maybe the SUB would be a good option. Similar build but with a passive pickup, maybe soften the tone a bit, might be better for your uses. Out of curiosity, what kind of bass tone would one want for church/worship music? praise bands vary...for the full range of traditional and modern christian music i vot e for the P sound with some J available if you want it...P/J although i just use the P on my P/J and move my fingering hand back to the bridge for the funky tones.. for deep and classical rendering of the lower bass notes the P is ok...and you need to mute a bit to get the thump...all round its ok cutting through is not usually a priority...not for me anyway.. only where there are fills and i use the top string for that.. flats are good in this situation but i use rounds nearly always since a lot of arrangements call for long and vibrant low notes...almost on the verge of needing a compressor... you know the on off type of note with no decay at all...even after 2 bars of fairly med pace music.. thats a general description of my praise band experience with 9 different bands in 16 years..
Members FreestyleIntruder Posted October 13, 2005 Members Posted October 13, 2005 I would have thought a good ol' P would hit the spot for that sort of thing, but then to be honest it's not really my scene so I wouldn't know for sure.
Members T. Alan Smith Posted October 13, 2005 Members Posted October 13, 2005 I've used my fretless MM 'Ray 4, my Carvin BunnyB 5'er & my Washburn 6-string all for worship gigs, all quite successfully. It's now WHAT you play, it's HOW YOU PLAY IT.
Members Fran da Man Posted October 13, 2005 Members Posted October 13, 2005 Houses of Worship are some pesky buggers to play in mix wise.You need to go wireless to get out where the congregation will be to see what is or isn't happening...or do like I did, jump 2 30 foot chords at practice to get out more where the people are; out there was definately different compared to what I hear at my station. Standing at play position all i hear is us battling trying to get the upper hand on certain frequencies...( for me, it's so I could hear myself) out there it all of a sudden became unnecessary.
Members Ole Man Blues Posted October 13, 2005 Members Posted October 13, 2005 I gotta put my 2 cents worth in. Most time I play with only my amp 160 watt SWR. Sometimes, depends on which Church we play in, I opt to go into the PA and use my amp as my monitor. A larger church of 500 or more I use this method. It would be great to be able to stand out with the congregation and hear your tone, but this not an option for everyone. Most players can't afford to purchase a wireless system just for this purpose, although wireless systems are great. Music Man Basses are nice and to each his own. I still vote for the P Bass as being the all around workhorse, especially for Worship. IMO.....................OMB
Members HORSE Posted October 13, 2005 Author Members Posted October 13, 2005 The p bass is another contender in my deliberations. The only thing holding me back is that I find a 5 string really useful for worship music. A lot of songs seem to be written in D and having that low D just makes sense sometimes. Can you get 5 string p basses? I can't say I've ever seen one.
Members FreestyleIntruder Posted October 13, 2005 Members Posted October 13, 2005 Originally posted by HORSE The p bass is another contender in my deliberations. The only thing holding me back is that I find a 5 string really useful for worship music. A lot of songs seem to be written in D and having that low D just makes sense sometimes. Can you get 5 string p basses? I can't say I've ever seen one. They do the whatever-it's called trick jobby one with the big humbucker at the bridge...forget what it's called...is it the Deluxe?
Members mrcrow Posted October 14, 2005 Members Posted October 14, 2005 i see now the problem with a P pup in a 5...its not quite a humbucker this samick has P pups... looks like if i get a 5 it will have to be a jazz or soapbar... or better still the MM 5... we have difficulties with our guitarist with his wireless set up...there is a bit of hum and buzz when he is on 'radio' fortunately our church is small...in a sports hall...so using cable isnt a problem.. tone really is the last thing we discuss...but personally everyone wants to sound for themselves as good a possible when the congegation begins to hot up...its useless playing against them anyway...you just need to fill the gaps.
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