Musicman new Cutlass and Caprice, someone's got a video of them

[Grand Wazoo]

Now you can hear what they sound like.

A precision and a J/P I think... you can argue the opposite but here's the video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FfUNsdb55Y

[Schnozzalee]

Does anyone know if the necks are quartersawn? I think they both sound good, but the large pole pieces detract from the looks a bit.

The P is better (of course)

Edited May 3, 2016 by Schnozzalee

[AndyTravis]

Oh.

Was hoping they'd do something a bit different. But they don't. And they look a bit like a home made fender with a musicman neck.

Shame.

Stick to my old stingray cheers.

[TheGreek]

I preferred the Caprice TBH but won't be rushing out to buy either..

[bassmachine2112]

[attachment=218557:DSCN4071.JPG]



Here is my muso style P-Bass I built 8 years ago-Wizard thumper,schallers,high mass bridge etc.

[Cosmo Valdemar]

I really like the white one... But the traditional MM neck/headstock does look a bit odd on that body. I'm sure I could get used to it though.

Edit: Didn't MM/EB have a Cutlass model back in the 80s - one completely different to this one?

Edited May 4, 2016 by Cosmo Valdemar

[lowhand_mike]

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1462364563' post='3042379']

Edit: Didn't MM/EB have a Cutlass model back in the 80s - one completely different to this one?
[/quote]

yeah, the graphite necked one with a stingray type body

[NancyJohnson]

I like the look of the Caprice (the P/J), but haven't watched the video (yet). Thought it looked a little [i]cheap [/i]looking, not as lush as other MM basses and was staggered to find UK retail will be c.£1.5K. It looks like a £350 bass.

[DBerriff]

How does a bass look cheap these days? You are paying for Musicman build quality I suppose. Having said that, the pickups did make me think of Sandberg's Electra models. Which are cheaper than some. Not £350 cheap though.

Edited May 4, 2016 by DBerriff

[Cosmo Valdemar]

[quote name='lowhand_mike' timestamp='1462369492' post='3042441']
yeah, the graphite necked one with a stingray type body
[/quote]

I though so. Wonder why they didn't come up with a new name?

[project_c]

I really like the way these look for some reason. I hated them when I first saw them but my eyes have got used to them, I kind of get the aesthetic now. I reckon they'll do ok with these basses once people get used to them. And that's coming from a Fender fan.

[NancyJohnson]

[quote name='DBerriff' timestamp='1462373696' post='3042488']
How does a bass look cheap these days? You are paying for Musicman build quality I suppose. Having said that, the pickups did make me think of Sandberg's Electra models. Which are cheaper than some. Not £350 cheap though.
[/quote]

I suppose cheap should imply and be applied to their core basses as 'not as well appointed' or 'less classy'. While I've only owned a lone MM (a Bongo 5HH), I've always felt that MMs (specifically Stingray basses) always kind of carried themselves head and shoulders above the competition in an over-saturated analogous marketplace. Up against the Stingray, the Caprice looks a bit like a lower-cost model, more in line with the Sterling/SUB models. While I've only seen a few stills, to me it doesn't look like a £1,500 instrument.

What I'm trying to say is £350 does buy a lot of bass nowadays. £1,500 should buy you an awful lot more.

[grenadilla]

In that demo the guy has some attitude but he doesn't get a good tone. -Too much buzz and less highs than a passive Fender. Sorry, but I like their active basses better.

Edited May 4, 2016 by grenadilla

[project_c]

I like the buzz but they do sound darker than Fenders. Similar to a P with Quarter Pounders.

[drTStingray]

I think the point with these, as has been picked up elsewhere, is that you would get a traditional sounding/looking bass but with the excellent build quality, playability and neck feel associated with a Musicman bass. They've also produced some pretty decent passive tone controls in other models so these should be versatile.

Im personally not a massive fan of basses in the P, PJ (or J) tradition so will not be ditching my Stingrays in favour of them. However there are good reports of the feel, playability and sound of these basses. I wouldn't mind trying them when available.

[Musicman20]

I'd like to try one, perhaps even own one. MM's passive tone control is wonderful...it really nails what I want from a tone control. The Big Al was a good example of how they approach passive basses and they do sound wonderful.

Unfortunately I feel they may struggle in the UK due to a Fender P being about £300-400 less. I imagine the MM quality will be far superior though.

[40hz]

I'm a big Musicman fan but, to me, these are painfully dull. Imo etc etc.

Edited May 5, 2016 by 40hz

[Musicman20]

Unfortunately these are coming out at over £1600. Considering I bought a Classic 5 Ray/Big Al 5 SSS in upgraded colours for around that, it just seems too high for the UK market. A shame, because I'd really like one.

[Machines]

I can see these flopping massively and being discontinued fairly quickly.

Everyone remembers the Gamechanger ? Right ? Oh.

[Musicman20]

I briefly owned a Gamechanger. Had it been in a colour I liked and been a 5er, I would have kept it. It sounded absolutely amazing, and the body shape was fabulous. It hasn't taken off though. Shame....the Bongo eventually did and still proves popular now.

[JapanAxe]

[quote name='Machines' timestamp='1462893475' post='3046735']
I can see these flopping massively and being discontinued fairly quickly.
[/quote]

That's what I'm counting on. If it sounds like a great Precision, is light, and plays like dairy-based spreadable fat, then I may snag myself a Cutlass.

Not keen on sunburst, so these are my options in a year or so's time:

[djaxup]

The Cutlass has the fantastic Bongo neck shape, the best I ever played so far. Completely effortless.

[Musicman20]

Cheaper here which is good!

[url="http://www.projectmusic.net/music-man-809-c.asp"]http://www.projectmusic.net/music-man-809-c.asp[/url]

[Casablancas]

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1463504762' post='3051897']
Cheaper here which is good!

[url="http://www.projectmusic.net/music-man-809-c.asp"]http://www.projectmu...c-man-809-c.asp[/url]
[/quote]

Not cheap enough for most of us haha. I guess we will have to wait for the Sterling by Musicman version

[Kevin Dean]

Jon Shuker made a bass for me for less than that .