Ernie Ball Music Man S.U.B.

The features have been explained already. If you've gotten here, you know them already.

I had just bought an Ibanez BTB405QM when I tried the SUB5 out. Although the BTB is a beautiful bass, the playability and sound are just not there. THis thing goes from punchy to subdued in a heartbeat. It sounds really clean compared to the muddy sound of the BTB.

The setup was awesome from the factory. The fit and finish are great. I really liked the 34" scale neck compared to my old BTB's 35". The neck is also quite a bit narrower which makes the string spacing perfect for me. I can literally accomplish runs almost twice as fast on the SUB as I could on the BTB due to the neck layout. Overall, this thing just has that "tight" feel. As far as the dull finish, I think it kinda has that rock/industrial look. Besides.......anyone that knows basses knows that this is a Music Man even from a mile away.

The bass is AWESOME. The only complaint that I have is that unlike my BTB, the way the horn is shaped makes it easy for the strap to come off the front. BUT........ you know, it's a MUSIC MAN! I'll buy some strap locks! The thing is solid. I have only had it for a week now, but I know a LOT of guys that have MM basses and their stories tell it all. The bass player for The Hunger has a MM and a Tobias. The Tobias never comes out of the case!

Haven't had to deal with them yet, but as you can see from other reviews, I'm sure they are great.

I have been playing for around 5 years and have owned SEVERAL basses from several manufacturers, but the SUB takes the cake. If it were lost or stolen, I would have another one next to my amp before the ink dried on the police report. I compared it to the Ibanez BTB405QM (which I returned to get the SUB5), Yamaha RBX 705, Ibanez SR505, Spector 5 string Fender P/Jazz basses and an ESP LTD B-305. This bass hammers them all! The only thing I would change would be to have the neck natural instead of painted black, but IT'S A MUSIC MAN........I'll get over it! The one thing I have always heard from other bass players is that FINISH REALLY MEANS NOTHING....If the thing is not easy to play, or doesn't sound good, who cares how pretty it is. I play it through an Ampeg SVT III Pro running into 2 Ampeg 410HE cabinets, and this bass sounds ABSOLUTELY AWESOME! Go ahead....... You know you want to buyt it......... Buy it! Buy it NOW! You won't regret it.

Differences from Stingray: cheesy finish, cheesy pickguard, no belly cut on rear of body, no arm cut on front body. Otherwise, the same as far as I know - same wood, PU, electronics, good hardware, etc. Tuners and bridge are all solid; if not the same as Stingray, I can't tell and have no complaints. Fit and finish are top notch; bass isn't too heavy, and balances very well on strap or lap. Feels VERY solid. A few upper fret slots aren't completely filled, but plays great otherwise.

Fabulous - sounds like a Stingray should, and plays as well or better than than any SR I've played. Single PU, which I like, but still very versitle woth active 2-band preamp. I generally don't go for active basses, as I think they sound artificial or overly processed. This pre is great - very resposnive to dynamics, and natural sounding. Very tight, bottomy if needed with a push on the bass control, very snappy id the treble is boosted and the bass rolled off.

Bass was set up VERY well straight from the factory - I bought it at GC, and do you think THEY did anything to set it up? I had to tweak it a bit to get the harmonics set, but otherwise great right off the floor. All hardware and electronics were solidly mounted, neck is like a rock No complaints.

Extremely solid. I have no doubt this bass with withstand the roughest treatment, especially with the textured finish.

So far great. E-mailed them about a replacement pickguard, and they were back to me in a day. BTW, they say any standard SR guard will fit, so those who feel like me and can't stand the cheap metal standard guard need not fret.

For those who want the true Stingray sound and aren't concerned about cosmetics, this bass is IT! So it doesn't have the same body bevels and finish as the $1200 version - who cares? Everything else is the same, from the body wood to the PU and preamp. It plays and sounds as good as any full priced SR I've played, and I've been a pro or semo-pro player for 25 years. Hell, I'll say this - I had a pre-EB SR when they first cmae out back in the late 70's, and I like this one a LOT better!

USA Made
4-string
passive 2-band
all other specs same as other reviews here

the SUB's simple features mean a beginner like me don't need to fiddle around a great deal before getting a great sound i like

i'm an absolute beginner, so i play mostly very simple pop-rock basslines, and can't claim to have a great ear for tones.

BUT when i played this at the shop, it sounded out of this world compared to the Yamaha RBX 270 i had been playing. the lows were thunderous, and sustain went on for what seems like forever.

at first i thought the HUGE difference might be due to the fact that music shops use great amps to make their guitars sound good, BUT when i went home to play the SUB on the same amp i had been using (and WITHOUT changing the settings), it sounded like I had a new amp in addition to the new SUB i had just bought! same thunderous lows and sweet cutting highs were heard despite my inept playing.

the shop guy brought down the action a little and it was perfect.

love the Music Man textured finish on the body, cos it means i no longer worry about my sweaty arms staining the body.

the black satin finish on the back of the neck makes for excellent, smooth playing, but i have heard it scratches easily, so i will have to be extra careful not to nick it.

as for the love-it-or-hate-it aluminium pickguard, i loved it at first cos it looks so industrial, then i notice it doesn't rest completely flush with the body, and seems a little tacky. worse, one corner already seems to be curling upward away from the body. now, i'm thinking of having it replaced sometime in the near future. (one point deducted because of this flaw)

i'm too new a player to think about back-ups, but this does seem rather solid and completely reliable.

i emailed them about not being able to find the serial number on my guitar, but haven't heard from them yet.

Like i said, i'm a complete beginner. which means i was a little embarassed when i asked to try the SUB, which costs more than twice the price of my Yahama RBX270 (i'm not worthy of a Music Man!!)

but i had been looking for a US-made bass at an affordable price, so i didn't care about my embarassment and went right ahead to try it. and fell in love with it immediately!

its great tone and sound made me want to play it every single day (at the risk of neglecting my wife).

2002
22 fret, four string
wood?! what wood!
precision lookin' body, sting ray style

this bass has such a gnarly fuckin' tone, I play in a live rock and roll 3 piece, and when the guitarist is playing his leads, I really need to fill up the song. This bass fills up the song. and that's that. perfect for stage, its has a really nice growly thumpy punchy tone that kicks the shit out of any other bass under a grand. studio, I'm not too sure how this would sound in the studio, although I'm sure it would be better than most other basses under a 1000, I'd probably recommend something else? I play a rickenbacker in the studio, and this thing can't compare to it.

the finish isn't a pretty little finish. you can't see the wood through the finish- it's some weird ass thick layer of ugly paint over it. there are some pros to this, first of all it's not a fancy ass paint job it doesn't matter if it gets some shit on it, or a little (or big) scratch. So far, there are NO marks on it, and I play live shows 2-3 times a week, and the thing gets the shit beaten out of it. another nice thing, is there's no way to get the finish all grubbed up with your fingers. the action was great right from the start. It's been over a year, and I haven't had to get it teched once.

this thing can and will withstand anything you throw at it.
the hardware lasts
the finish never gets grubby or worn off
you CAN depend on it!
It could easily be used on a gig without a backup.

the thing is fuckin SOLID.

The SUB stands for sport utility bass. It isn't a luxury S.U.V, it's an old 4x4 jeep that never breaks down and performs best when in 10 inches of mud.

Made in USA
2003
Passive
Poplar body
21 Jumbo frets
34 inch scale
Musicman bridge
Musicman Clover tuners
Textured blood red finish with a wierd metal pickguard.
Musicman humbucker
Controls for volume, bass and treble

Not a bass for the bells and whistles fan. No koa here. This is no girlie bass. It is a rock solid tone monster.

Rich fat tone, bass thumping, growling, excellent attack and a flexible tone for its' modest control options. I played through several heads and even in my old peavey it has a great, and I mean great, sound. I play funky, rocky, jazzy stuff and it totally fits my needs.

Even with my G&L I had to have it set up after I purchased it, but the SUB was perfect. Action was just as I like it, pick up was set up at the right height. Flawless construction. Frets snug as a rug. Hardware solid and beautiful clover tuners, I love the Musicman 3+1 look. The finish is perfect, but don?t look for any wood! I am sure the reduced price is because of this. It is a corner I would happily cut. It is really the reverse of many lower priced basses. Most offer a nice looking wood and finish at the cost of sound and construction quality, but Musicman got it right here. Ok it is kind of ugly with the textured finish and tin pick guard but who cares when it sounds that good!

I can take this bass break cinderblocks with it and return to my gig with it still in tune. It is a bit heavy but well balanced with no neck dives.

Well I wrote CS to ask what SUB means. They wrote back same day with a great answer. "Substitue for an overseas knockoff". They also promise a free set of strings when you register your axe but I have not got my strings and it's been three months. If thats my biggest issue then Im ok I guess.

After my beloved L2000 was swiped I was too broke to lay down another $1,300. So Guitar Centers wonderful policy of "go ahead try em out" allowed me play just about every bass they offered. Just about all that was under $1,000 felt like crap and sounded about the same. The VERY LAST bass I picked up was the SUB. Frankly, because it was so dang ugly I stayed away though I have always longed for a sting ray. But as ugly as I think it is it sounds as good. Been grooving for 14 years. Played many many many many basses of all price ranges and I was the best $650 I ever spend on a bass.

Made in USA
Active
Poplar body
21 fret
34 inch scale
Fat and smooth black painted neck (possibly maple)
Musicman bridge
3+1 Musicman tuners
Musicman humbucker
Controls for volume, bass and treble

I recently purchased my SUB Bass a few days ago. The interesting thing is that I have read every review listed on this site about this instrument before purchasing it. I have been playing bass for about 16 years and have to say I love this bass. The sound is FAT. I also own a Krammer Spector and a ESP 5 String. The sub bass has a much rounder sound. I am looking forward to recording with this bass.

The bass was set up almost perfect. A few modifications and it was kicking.

I believe this bass is the most durable I have ever owned. Very solid instrument.

Have not had to deal with them.

Overall I am very happy with my purchase. I think this bass will fit very nicely into my collection. I strongly recomend this bass.

Made in USA
Active
Poplar body (textured painted finish - no ribcage chamfer)
21 fret
34 inch scale
Fat and smooth black painted neck (possibly maple)
Musicman bridge
3+1 Musicman tuners
Musicman humbucker
Controls for volume, bass and treble

Sound capabilities are excellent. Very bright sounding. Can go from thunderous low end to snappy top. Needs careful selection of bass and treble to bring out the mid range. Boosting the bass full on with treble cut produces a real dubby sound, especially if you play near the neck. Backing off the bass a little gives a p-bass type sound - not quite the real thing but going in that direction. Cranking up the treble and cutting the bass gives a slicing sound that could cut through anything. Setting both bass and treble at half way still gives you the cut but makes things much richer sounding. I prefer bass at about half way and treble on half cut for a rich yet defined sound. You can get a fair approximation of a Wal-type sound on most settings if you play further to the bridge.

In short, this bass will do almost anything well whether in live or studio situations. Slap, fingerstyle, pick, flamenco strumming - it can do the lot.

One downside - full treble boost means big time noise !

One point lost for that.

Everything was set up as I expected - perfect.

No flaws in the construction but some paint missing from one of the pick up screws. One point lost for that.

Also, the E-string tuner is not as tight or robust as the others. Doesn't unduly affect tuning but it's another point lost !

A shame really as everything else it spot on.

This bass feels heavy and durable and I'm sure it will last well. Strap buttons feel sold, the neck simply will not budge at all. The body feels armour plated so I wouldn't worry about any scratches.

In short, I would be confident using this on any gig or in the studio without any back-up

When I registered my bass on the Ernie Ball website, I got a free set of strings a few weeks later. Now that is good customer service - other manufacturers take note and don't take us for granted.

Been playing bass for 15 years and this is the best bass I have ever played. It just beat the Rick 4003 and G&L L2000 basses I tested prior to purchase. The simple and straightforward design does it for me.

The sound is great and more versatile that you would think, it plays well and feels comfortable and would be good for any gig.

In short, I would certainly buy one again if this got nicked. A good purchase all round.

Special mention to Soundslive for their service. Delivered within 24 hours from purchase and packaged to withstand an earthquake.

bought my Music Mans S.U.B.5 in may 2004. red satin finish. active music man humbucking pick ups with volume, bass & treble settings. rosewood,21 fret suits me fine. the M.M. custom tuners are very solid & smooth to use. i think the truss rod wheel adjustment is a great idea(no string removal required!). thin neck has great feel and easy to move around entire neck to the 21st fret. my friends love the diamond plate pick guard!!i also like the stainless steel hardware, the whole bass has a good solid feel. the flip top access to the battery is a great idea( no need for a screwdriver!) i have found it to be a very comfortable bass to play.

i play rock, slap, gospel and find it has a great all round sound. i also find it good for warmer funk, jazz tones. i am very fussy when it comes to tone, and run through an ampeg amp. i run every control on my bass at full and tweak the rest off my amp. it has a great beefy bottom end sound. one thing i have found though, the output of the pick up doesn't seem to push out evenly across the strings. the d & g strings come through very soft in volume compared to the b,e, and a. i have rectified this by raising the pick up at one end under the d & g strings.

i am happy with the setup. i don't feel i need to change the action. i haven't had any problems with it's construction, but have found that the black satin finish on the back of the neck and headstock scratches off easy with a only a relatively soft bump. i was impressed with the locking allen key function on the control nobs. they certainly won't fall off mid flight through a gig(this happened quite a bit with my previous Cort G Series bass).

one thing i noticed during my first gig with the bass was how sturdy and durable it felt. our drummer and i are not the softest players getting around, and we both appreciate good gear. it holds itself in tune very well. with it's use of stainless steel and aluminium, i think this baby is going to be around for quite some time. as above mentioned, the black satin finish will come off with use. tuners, straddles, strap buttons and control nobs all feel solid. i would safely use it without a back-up.

over the past 15 years, having moved on from a $600(all figures australian)Samick bass, to a $1000 Cort bass, to now a $1800 Music Man bass, the step up in quality is most definately noticeble. one thing that really stood out to me was how easy it is to play. it has great response to even the softest of playing, and i can move up and down the neck smoother than a lot of basses i have ever played(and believe me, i have tried a lot!) i have always wanted a Music Man, but could never afford a Stingray ($3500 aust). my favourite feature is the classic Music Man pick up, because i have always loved its sound. i rate this bass very highly, and have influenced a friend to buy one. the quality of sound, build and price of the S.U.B.5 bass is very hard to beat!!

the no gloss finsih is a nice thing to have...it doesnt take much to keep it looking good. the active electronics are definatly a plus. the composite neck has a different feel, im not sure if its nice or not really. the poplar ody sounds good, it could do with a 24 fret neck though as opposed to the 21 that is on it, and u cant even get to the 21st fret.

this bass honestly made my band sound better..no joke. i can get every sound i can think of out of it. i can get a high slappy sound or a low full sound that resonates forever due to the nice bolt on neck. the active eq helps a lot with the different sounds u can get from it

the action was set almost perfectly, i had to play with the bridge a little because some of the strings hit other frets when i played certain nots, giving me a slight buzz, but other than that action was fine. there was only one noticable blemish. it was on the back of the neck all the way at the bottom where it connects to the body, it looked like someone had hit it one somthing, but i think that was just a result of me buying a floor model.

i have only played a few shows with it so far, but i have pounded the hell out of it, and it takes everything in stride...very durable. iv used it in all the gigs so far without backup, it hasnt failed yet

havnt dealt with them yet, dont have much warranty information

iv been playing for 4 years and i play with a hartke half stack and my last bass was an ibenez srx 300. If it was stolen, id buy another in a second.

made in 2004 in u.s.a. 4 stringer. solid poplar body.
volume and 2 band tone control. single humbucker.
passive electronics. basswood body and maple neck. textured "no gloss"
finish. stingray body style. m.m. bridge. 34" scale neck. m.m. tuners.

i personally prefer the finish on this instrument because it doesn't require much maintenace to look decent.

sounds very nice. sounded great thru an amp and also recorded fine straight into a mixing board. i can get all the sounds i need: rock, funk, reggae, pop. i played both the active electronics model and the passive model. to my ears and playing style the passive one suited me better. if i thought i needed a little more puch in my sound, i would have gone with the active model in an instant. playability is good all over the neck.

set up very well from the factory it seems. however, i don't really know how long it was sitting on the wall. had to intonate the e string. action was nice. pickup was adjusted well. i preferred it
a little lower tho. i easily put it down a tad. no flaws to speak of.

solidly contructed, good hardware, nice simple finish (not sure
how tough it is tho).
i wouldn't gig without a backup, but i would be confident
this instrument would hold up if it was all i had.

have not dealt with them.
i think the warranty is 1 year.

been playing for 20 years. i get the sounds i need with a minimum of
fuss, at a great price, and u.s. built. if stolen, i would buy another one.