Musicmans new Big Al

[Jobiebass]

Only just noticed the Big-Al bass today,
[url="http://www.music-man.com/instruments/basses/big-al.html"]Musicman Big Al[/url]


so I was looking on the tinterweb for price, why is it STUPIDLY expensive in the UK???


USA...$1680
[url="http://www.guitarcenter.com/Music-Man-Big-Al-Bass-501816-i1446063.gc"]Guitar Center[/url]


UK...£2569
[url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product.asp?id=11372"]Soundlive[/url]


£1154.50 in america, more then double over here. Does this seam stupid to anyone else?
Id love to play one then maybe fly to america and pick one up, but I cant see many bass shops having these in their shop in the first place.

Massive shame. Correct me if im wrong.

[JPJ]

[quote name='Jobiebass' post='471681' date='Apr 24 2009, 04:37 PM']Only just noticed the Big-Al bass today,
[url="http://www.music-man.com/instruments/basses/big-al.html"]Musicman Big Al[/url]


so I was looking on the tinterweb for price, why is it STUPIDLY expensive in the UK???


USA...$1680
[url="http://www.guitarcenter.com/Music-Man-Big-Al-Bass-501816-i1446063.gc"]Guitar Center[/url]


UK...£2569
[url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product.asp?id=11372"]Soundlive[/url]


£1154.50 in america, more then double over here. Does this seam stupid to anyone else?
Id love to play one then maybe fly to america and pick one up, but I cant see many bass shops having these in their shop in the first place.

Massive shame. Correct me if im wrong.[/quote]

Welcome to Treasure Island, where everything costs more than anywhere else

Mind you, it could be so expensive because its so bloody ugly.

[chris_b]

Somebody switch the lights on in the design dept, so they can see what they're doing!!!

[hubrad]

Could be because so far Sounds Live are doing UK list price whereas Guitar Center are alredy discounting madly in desperation to sell something they don't even appear to have in stock!

[soopercrip]

[quote name='JPJ' post='471685' date='Apr 24 2009, 04:42 PM']Welcome to Treasure Island, where everything costs more than anywhere else

Mind you, it could be so expensive because its so bloody ugly.[/quote]

So many beautiful basses out there, so much potential from a company that can afford a few cents on development and design
and they do this???
maybe one of the ball family let their kindergarten offspring design it... (look what I did at school today grandad....)

[Jobiebass]

[quote name='chris_b' post='471692' date='Apr 24 2009, 04:49 PM']Somebody switch the lights on in the design dept, so they can see what they're doing!!![/quote]

lol, looks to me like they stole the AL guitar body and slapped a stirlin neck on it with 25th anniversary pups.
Prefer the new 25th anniversary bass but once again... expensive.

[Jobiebass]

[quote name='hubrad' post='471697' date='Apr 24 2009, 04:53 PM']Could be because so far Sounds Live are doing UK list price whereas Guitar Center are alredy discounting madly in desperation to sell something they don't even appear to have in stock! [/quote]

Reading the EBMM forums at work today (sadly this site is blocked at work) and I dont think they are out yet by the sounds of it. some guy had the extra pickguards posted but not the bass as of yet

[risingson]

I feel a lot like vomiting uncontrollably!

I'm sure it will sound great, but not £2500 great. Also, it looks a lot like it's been hacked into shape by a group of blind monkeys... a bit like Sterling Ball has betrayed the original vision of Musicman really.

[bumfrog]

whereas at the other end of the scale, these cheaper rays seems have popped up, looks lovely too - £689...

[url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Music-Man-Ray-34,-Honeyburst~ID~11410.asp"]http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~M...st~ID~11410.asp[/url]

[Jobiebass]

[quote name='bumfrog' post='471723' date='Apr 24 2009, 05:10 PM']whereas at the other end of the scale, these cheaper rays seems have popped up, looks lovely too - £689...

[url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Music-Man-Ray-34,-Honeyburst~ID~11410.asp"]http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~M...st~ID~11410.asp[/url][/quote]


Anyone played these Stirling by Musicman basses? im guessing they are gonna be better then OLP's

[hubrad]

[quote name='bumfrog' post='471723' date='Apr 24 2009, 05:10 PM']whereas at the other end of the scale, these cheaper rays seems have popped up, looks lovely too - £689...

[url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Music-Man-Ray-34,-Honeyburst~ID~11410.asp"]http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~M...st~ID~11410.asp[/url][/quote]
Sounds rather tempting.. wonder where they have it made?

[josh3184]

[quote name='bumfrog' post='471723' date='Apr 24 2009, 05:10 PM']whereas at the other end of the scale, these cheaper rays seems have popped up, looks lovely too - £689...

[url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Music-Man-Ray-34,-Honeyburst~ID~11410.asp"]http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~M...st~ID~11410.asp[/url][/quote]

I love the matched headstock!

[skankdelvar]

[quote]Sounds rather tempting.. wonder where they have it made?[/quote]

Korea and Indonesia, according to Sterling Ball.

£650-upwards for US Stingray (S/H)

£689 for an Indonesian Ray

£255 for a Chinese Classic Vibe Squier

Go figure...

Edited April 24, 2009 by skankdelvar

[Paul_C]

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='471741' date='Apr 24 2009, 05:38 PM']Korea and Indonesia, according to Sterling Ball.

£650-upwards for US Stingray (S/H)

£689 for an Indonesian Ray

£255 for a Chinese Classic Vibe Squier

Go figure...[/quote]

how much for a Lakland Skyline ?

[Kiwi]

[quote name='chris_b' post='471692' date='Apr 24 2009, 04:49 PM']Somebody switch the lights on in the design dept, so they can see what they're doing!!![/quote]
+1 and their copywriter as well.

[i]"Controls: Passive preamp: 500kohm volume and 250kohm tone - .047µF tone capacitor; Active preamp: 4-band EQ – 25kohm volume, treble, high-mid, low-mid, bass"[/i]

What is a "passive preamp"?

[XB26354]

That is without a doubt the ugliest looking bass I've ever seen. The body shape and scratchplate look like someone's vomited tomato and black olive pizza onto an Ikea table.

[lapolpora]

It reminds me of the star shaped bass that Bootsy Collins has. Only Bootsy's bass has character and is strangely good looking next to this howler. It isn't a late April Fool's joke that they forgot to take down from the web site?

[Machines]

Yuk, i've lost some respect for Musicman after seeing that monstrosity.

[wotnwhy]

.... i like it....

[tombboy]

[quote name='Jobiebass' post='471699' date='Apr 24 2009, 04:54 PM']lol, looks to me like they stole the AL guitar body[/quote]
Erm.... 'BIG AL'???? Detectives R us!!!

The Bongo was doomed......... until people HEARD it!!

I'm pretty sure Sterling has half a clue as to what he's doing..................... not done too bad so far, has he?

Edited April 24, 2009 by tombboy

[budget bassist]

[quote name='tombboy' post='471798' date='Apr 24 2009, 06:39 PM']Erm.... 'BIG AL'???? Detectives R us!!!

The Bongo was doomed......... until people HEARD it!!

I'm pretty sure Sterling has half a clue as to what he's doing..................... not done too bad so far, has he? [/quote]
what he said, the electronics package looks absolutely mental! plus i kinda like the bass itself anyway

EDIT: urgh, i wish i had a bass to put one of those orange swirl pickguards on!! (check first link in original post)

Edited April 24, 2009 by budget bassist

[saibuster]

I actually like it a lot... reminds me of Michael Libeskind deconstruction architectural style....

[thisnameistaken]

[quote name='XB26354' post='471781' date='Apr 24 2009, 07:05 PM']That is without a doubt the ugliest looking bass I've ever seen.[/quote]

Google "Bongo".

[casapete]

Love it - kinda like a bass version of Albert Lee's Musicman signature guitar?

Great looking tonal options too...

[wotnwhy]

[quote name='casapete' post='472047' date='Apr 25 2009, 10:03 AM']Love it - kinda like a bass version of Albert Lee's Musicman signature guitar?[/quote]

hence Big Al?