legoman Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 (edited) I've been the owner of a Musicman Cutlass I for over 15 years now (having stumbled across one for sale at the Gallery in Camden) which has proven to be one hell of a servant over the years (and probably one of the nicest basses I've ever played) but I recall some years ago that it was mentioned to me that only 10 Cutlass I's ever made it over to the UK and that one was destroyed in a fire so only 9 remained in circulation here?? Having recently joined BC it got me wondering if there were any members who currently or have owned one, especially in the UK as whilst I took the above comment with a pinch of salt, since I've had mine I've never seen another one in the flesh ever, but have seen a few other pre EB Musicman bass models, so wondered if there was any truth in their alleged rarity in Blighty? Here's a pic of my Cutlass I, along with my recent Marcus Miller Fender Jazz acquisition...(click to enlarge) [attachment=102450:IMAG0319.jpg] As you can see mine has had the 3 band EQ mod (which was done before I bought it) and has a wickedly low action, which is great for a skinny fingered ham fister like me Dave Edited March 14, 2012 by legoman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 [quote name='legoman' timestamp='1331687594' post='1577331'] I've been the owner of a Musicman Cutlass I for over 15 years now (having stumbled across one for sale at the Gallery in Camden) which has proven to be one hell of a servant over the years (and probably one of the nicest basses I've ever played) but I recall some years ago that it was mentioned to me that only 10 Cutlass I's ever made it over to the UK and that one was destroyed in a fire so only 9 remained in circulation here?? [/quote] I'm not sure how credible that claim is... I've an infrequent visitor to guitar/bass shops and have seen a couple for sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legoman Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share Posted March 15, 2012 [quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1331721457' post='1577562'] I'm not sure how credible that claim is... I've an infrequent visitor to guitar/bass shops and have seen a couple for sale. [/quote] Yeah I'm sure you're right as it seemed a bit odd, but it came from what I'd consider a reliable source at the old Bass Centre in Wapping so I didn't dismiss it out of hand....unless I caught them on a wind up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jecklin Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I spent a good hour playing a cutlass at the wapping bass centre back in 1999. I couldn't get over how different it seemed to a 'ray, edit>>> but I'm now losing confidence in believing it wasn't a cutlass II, which would explain a substantial difference in sound. Whatever, it was gloss black and slightly roadworn, but very appealing because of it. Lovely basses and this spurns me on to desire a Status neck on a more modern ray... Ah well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I've owned three, a Cutlass 1, a Cutlass II and a Cutlass 1 ex Cliff Williams with thru body string anchoring and three bolt neck. Have yet to find one capable of supplying low action but I live in hope... ...do you have any pics of the marker numbers written on the heel of the neck on your instrument? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legoman Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share Posted March 15, 2012 [quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1331794223' post='1578826'] I've owned three, a Cutlass 1, a Cutlass II and a Cutlass 1 ex Cliff Williams with thru body string anchoring and three bolt neck. Have yet to find one capable of supplying low action but I live in hope... ...do you have any pics of the marker numbers written on the heel of the neck on your instrument? [/quote] Hi Kiwi, I don't have any to hand unfortunately. Would I be correct in assuming that I'd need to unbolt the neck from the body to access these marker numbers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 [quote name='legoman' timestamp='1331810105' post='1579139'] I don't have any to hand unfortunately. Would I be correct in assuming that I'd need to unbolt the neck from the body to access these marker numbers? [/quote] Yes, that's correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legoman Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share Posted March 15, 2012 Ah OK, well if I feel brave enough ang get time at the weekend, I might have a go at unbolting and posting a snap of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelk27 Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 (edited) I have a II, but it's dead. It got submerged. Edited March 16, 2012 by noelk27 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierreganseman Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Kiwi i have your ex cuttlass one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 [quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1331857886' post='1580168'] I have a II, but it's dead. It got submerged. [/quote] ? huh? explain please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matski Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 (edited) Hello! I have a Cutlass 1 too. I bought mine from the Bass Centre in Wapping in 1991 - just walked in there one day, saw it hanging on the wall and had to have it. Mine's black and it's a 1983 model - so not strung through the body and with a 4-bolt neck. [attachment=103033:Cutlass I.jpg] Years ago I remember talking to a guy from Strings & Things - UK distributor for MM gear - and he told me that 12 Cutlasses were only ever imported to the UK. The only other guy I've met who has owned one was Paul Raven of Killing Joke - he played mine and asked if I wanted to sell it to him as mine was in much better condition than his. The answer was a resounding "NO!" Edited March 20, 2012 by matski Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 [quote name='pierreganseman' timestamp='1332187426' post='1584602'] Kiwi i have your ex cuttlass one [/quote] Awesome! Nice to know its gone to a good home Pierre. [quote name='matski' timestamp='1332236701' post='1585109'] Years ago I remember talking to a guy from Strings & Things - UK distributor for MM gear - and he told me that 12 Cutlasses were only ever imported to the UK.[/quote] New? I can believe that. But if it's out of a total of 600 made, I'm sure there must have been secondhand imports as well. [quote name='matski' timestamp='1332236701' post='1585109'] Mine's black and it's a 1983 model - so not strung through the body and with a 4-bolt neck. [/quote] Can you achieve low action on it? That is, action low enough where you can't slide a 1 quid coin between the frets and the strings without making contact? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matski Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 [quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1332302457' post='1586358'] Can you achieve low action on it? That is, action low enough where you can't slide a 1 quid coin between the frets and the strings without making contact? [/quote] Ermmm, I don't know how thick a £1 coin is, to be honest - I left the UK in '96 and don't have any laying around - but the gap between the top of the last fret and the string is around 3mm. I'm not a fan of super low action anyways, so it suits me. BTW is that 600 number you mentioned an official figure for how many Cutlasses were made? I always wondered how many there were out there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 [quote name='matski' timestamp='1332319401' post='1586436'] the gap between the top of the last fret and the string is around 3mm. [/quote] And the gap around the 12th fret? Problem with the cutlass necks was that the phenolic resin on the fingerboard wasn't stiff enough to resist string tension. All 5 I've either owned or played so far have had the same issue. I've never found one that wasn't from 1983 or 84 either. [quote name='matski' timestamp='1332319401' post='1586436'] BTW is that 600 number you mentioned an official figure for how many Cutlasses were made? I always wondered how many there were out there... [/quote] Yes, an estimate for Cutlass 1 basses. There were 300 Cutlass II's made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matski Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 [quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1332321296' post='1586463'] And the gap around the 12th fret? [/quote] Roughly 2.25 to 2.5mm - but I'm just eyeballing it using a ruler, so don't quote me on that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Thanks for that, I was expecting around 3mm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drTStingray Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 The Bass Centre has a red one when I visited in about 2003 - along with a walnut pre EB Ray, and a pristine Inca Silver 77 Ray with a white pick up cover - I was in the market for an SR5 so ignored them - I wish I'd picked one of them up now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legoman Posted April 14, 2012 Author Share Posted April 14, 2012 [quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1332302457' post='1586358'] Can you achieve low action on it? That is, action low enough where you can't slide a 1 quid coin between the frets and the strings without making contact? [/quote] Hi Kiwi, I haven't had the balls to dismantle the neck cos my action on mine is nice and low and I have a feeling if I do unbolt it that it'll never be as it is now! I don't have a ruler to hand but do have a 50p coin, which I can only slide between around the 13th to 21st frets without pushing up the strings (and between these frets the coin is flush with the strings all along) so I guess I might be a bit lucky with my neck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 [quote name='matski' timestamp='1332236701' post='1585109'] The only other guy I've met who has owned one was Paul Raven of Killing Joke - [/quote] I think Martin McAloon from Prefab Sprout used to have one in the 80's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drewk_ie Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 All you past and present cutlass owners are lucky to have had or have one... Ah, the dream to own a cutlass.... The hunt continues.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime_BASS Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 [quote name='drewk_ie' timestamp='1334434135' post='1616269'] All you past and present cutlass owners are lucky to have had or have one... Ah, the dream to own a cutlass.... The hunt continues.... [/quote] never ending as it appears to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manfred741 Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 (edited) Hello there ! Here is mine !( natural finish, top load bridge ; late 82/early 83). Action is really low on it without too much frizzs ( but could be even lower if neck wasn't a bit bowed , but nothing serious!) Sounds killer when tweeter is turned off on my hartke cabs I may sell it for a need of $$ ( i'm hoping i won't have to ! :/) [attachment=105253:DSC08049.JPG] Edited April 24, 2012 by Manfred741 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevbucket Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 i brought my cutlass out of retirement for a gig last night and i forgot how bloody amazing it really is, so glad i own one , it#s a cutlass 2 , in fact thats it in me little profile pic !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Nice, not many of them around. Necks all like bananas though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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