Ernie Ball Music Man S.U.B.

This is the same bass as all the others here, so reiterating the features isnt necessary. However, mine did come from guitar center with a plain black pickguard rather than the diamond plate, thankfully.

The music style I predominantly play is pop punk, so presence and brightness is very key, but that has to come without sacrificing the full sounding low end. Think Mike Dirnt or early Claypool. I use it through a hartke head and 4x10 aluminum cab and this seems to be a perfect trio for me. Is it noisy? Well, like alot of bassist, I take tone and noise very seriously so I tried it out quite a bit at the store testing it with different amps and cables and I was just amazed... it sounds like theres a gate on it! Perfectly silent when not played, but the active pickup clearly and accurately picks up the softest noise. There is a song I play where i hold a chord and softly drum on the bass, building in volume for an intro. I've had fans say it sounded like I was using a volume pedal or even a keyboard.

I would agree, though, that there might be a bit more tonal variety than I need. On many songs, I have to dial the treble knob back about 10% to keep it from being too bright but I kick that in when i'm trying to get distortion feedback. Backing the treble back about halfway gives a tremendous and round tone for a more jazzy or bluesy approach. I've used it live and in the studio and it has never failed me.

Here is where the bass fell short. There were some minor flaws (I knew I could fix them, so I bought it anyway) like really high action right off the shelf. When I straightened out the neck, there was way too much buzz, so I had to raise the saddles and lower the pickup a touch, etc... It took about a half hour and then all the problems I had with the bass were gone. A straight necked, sustain-y, tonal monster that I would confidently stack next to carvin, high-end fenders, etc.

Finish wise, yeah, it's not pretty. Fine with me, though, because its scratch and wear resistant and stands up to real life admirably.

It's been dropped, banged, tossed... and it only goes out of tune if the tuners are hit. The chrome plating on the bridge is already rusting and I've only had it a year. True, I sould clean it better, but I want to replace the parts with ones that wont rust next time.

I have and will still use this without a backup. Unbeatable for the price and hard to match at any pice.

If it were stolen, I would definitely look for another one.

All of the features have been cover here before, so I will just make some observations about the bass here. First of the bass is very heavy, which I actually view as a good thing. The bass is built like a tank. I think it's actually impossible to damage the finish on the body of the bass, but I don't really feel like putting that theory to the test. The bass is very ugly, with what I have dubbed the "truck bed finish."

It sounds like a Stingray, plain and simple. If you have always wanted the Ray sound, but without the hefty price tag, this is the perfect bass for you. The sound is full and round, and the slapping tone is excellent. I play pop-punk, and this bass is perfect for the sound I am looking for. The sound is very versatile and could be stretched to play any genre of music. I would say that this bass is great for the stage, due to the rugged finish and heft of the bass.

As I mentioned before the finish on this bass is very ugly, especially when it has the standard pick guard. I changed the pickguard as soon as I got it and it made the bass's appearance bearable. I purchased the bass second hand, so I have no idea how the action was from the factory. When I received the bass there was some pretty hefty fret buzz (which appears to be a problem from the factory, looking at the other reviews), but a quick turn of the truss rod fixed that problem. Other than that I have no problems with how the bass is set up.

Once again, this bass is a tank. This bass idea for gigging. It has all the sound of the Ray, but with a finish that is tougher than a 2 dollar steak, and it's in the price range where I am not worried about taking it out of the house. I would, and do, gig this bass without a back up.

When I bought the bass I e-mailed the customer service rep from Ernie Ball to ask about getting a new pickguard for it. The customer service was excellent. It usually took only 30 mins to get a response, and the rep was very friendly to me answering all of my questions in a polite manner. Overall I had a superb experience with the people at Ernie Ball.

I have been for only about a year and a half, and this is my second bass, so I don't really have much experience with a ton of gear. Right now the only other bass I own is a Squire P-Bass (the bass this one replaced). I compared this bass with MIM Fenders and this bass blew them out of the water. The sound was the selling point for me. Make no mistake about it, this is a Stingray in an ugly suit. If it were stolen I would definatly purchase another one. THe only thing I wish it had was an mid EQ, but honestly that asking for a lot for a 400 made in America bass. If you are in the market for a mid-level bass, defiantly, be sure to check this one out, myself (and many others) have. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Here's probably by far the least complicated review of this product. So prepare yourself for clarity. Features wise, it stacks up great compared to other basses in this price range. basically, if you're familiar with the Ernie Ball Stingray with 2-band EQ you'll recognize a similarity. hell, not just a similiarity, its exact. If you're not familiar with the 2-band EQ version imagine its like the 3-band version (the one with 4 knobs) only with one less knob. But, that doesn't take away from anything in my opinion. Just makes it less complicated to dial in your best sound and also puts the input jack in a better position to prevent accidental damage. The body is still made of wood, as is most. Not the quality of the Stingray but hopefully you'll never scratch it hard enough to need to see it. little or no sound quality is lost in their wood choice. The neck is painted black as well as the headstock which i think looks great, i'm a big fan of monochromatics, and the fretboard is rosewood. I prefer maple myself but since they don't give you a choice on this particular model I'll live. And now my favorite part, the finish. Satin (or textured) finish. Great job on that! Difficult to scratch and definitely makes a statement. Now, those of you who enjoy beautiful stains and things of that nature will probably have a difficult time appreciating its beauty, but in this particular situation I couldn't be any happier with it. Unless it came with a case of some type. And whats with the diamond plate pickguard? within the first week of purchasing my bass i ripped that ugly thing off and called ernie ball. they hooked me up with a very nice black pearloid pickguard. NO the stingray pickguard will not fit- nor the sterling or anything else. the new pickguard set me back about another 50 bucks but it was well worth it! hell, i saved myself 500 by choosing the SUB over the stingray anyway. nothing wrong with splurging.

Stylewise its fairly versatile. The reason why I say that is mainly because most any style of music I would play would require me to have a fairly clear tone with the potential to dial in the perfect amount of brightness and punch. I suppose if you are a classical bassist that enjoys throwing down to Bach or something its probably not necessary going to be your first pick. But thats what upright basses are for, right? I play mainly rock but I do like a good dark punch for metal and hardcore. So, I find myself turning down the middle tone knob a quarter-spin so the brightness doesn't overwelm me or pierce the ears of my listeners. Other than that this bass is pretty free of noise. I have noticed that a more seasoned bassist will probably find him/herself adjusting the truss rod and action more than normal to prevent fret buzz. I'm not sure why that is, perhaps its my playing style. but overall a great sound! this is a winner in the studio as well as stage. In my opinion, the SUB is second only to other Ernie Ball Music Man products. I'm very sad they discontinued it.

As I mentioned before, I've found myself adjusting the action and truss rod more than I would like. I've been experiencing fret buzzing. And since the pickup is so clear and bright its rather noticable. I also lowered the pickup on the top a little bit. I use HUGE gauge strings and tune down so the top string was flopping against the pickup and making a less than desirable vibration. But, with that being said, I feel that it was setup pretty close to standard with very little adjustments needing to be made.

So far, I've had this bass and used it as my main bass since 2003. for five years now she has served me well. One thing that I've experienced is quite a bit of rust on the hardware. nothing too damaging but it is on the input and bridge. I do sweat a lot on stage so that could be the culpret but i don't recall ever having that problem in the past with other basses i've owned. in my 15 years of experience this bass is probably the most trustworthy bass i've owned and would trust it to watch my kids for the weekend, if I had any. touching back on what i've mentioned three times now. the necessary adjustments i've made to the actions is the only issues i've had with the reliability. and since i'm quite handy with an alan wrench it hasn't become much of a problem yet. I have yet to scratch the finish. i did however scratch the ugly diamond plate pickguard while throwing in it in the trash. so, if you like that thing and intend to keep it on there i would consider its scratchability.

The only dealings I've had with them so far was at the time of purhase and also when i bought the new pickguard. They were helpful both times but I was giving them money. so I'm going to pass on this question.

I'll go ahead and share that the amp i'm currently using is a Hartke HA5000 head through a Hartke 810XL cabinet. 500 watts total through 8 - 10 inch aluminum cones. I've got good sound clarity. I'm using a few other things in my rack such as a power conditioner (also samson tech), a tuner, a wireless system (samson again), and a distortion pedal (not samson, light distortion). This bass is a seriously amazing addition to my already bad ass rig. If, God forbid, something happened to my bass i would hunt down the guilty party and kill them. If that were not possible, i would replace this bass with a stingray. only because they no longer make the SUB bass and i refuse to buy a used one. God knows what some little 15 year old punk kid has done to that thing in his bedroom at his parents house. as i mentioned before, i've only had a few problems nothing major and i've had my SUB bass for 5 years now. SO FAR SO GOOD. I do however wish it came with a hardshell case. I mean we didn't buy a squier here, it is a music man and it is not cheap. $600 is a lot of money to most people. but, all in all i'm very impressed!

You can get the specs off the EB website and via previous reviews, so I won't bother with the detail. In short, this is a Stingray with a few cosmetic corners cut; i.e. painted black neck, uncontoured, slab body with textured finish, metal scratchplate.

As far as I'm aware the hardware is identical to a stingray, except that the bridge does not have musicman stamped on it.

The feel of the neck is great, not as quick as the oiled neck of a real ray, but a nice smooth satin finish which isn't sticky, and the neck profile is wide but fairly shallow in depth compared to my P bass. It's a nice feel, but not quite as comfy as a proper Ray. BUT, for the money who's complaining?

Although not feature rich, it does have that classic MM Ray sound, which really is the ONLY feature any bass player should ever need! Hence 10/10!

Although only a 2 eq, I have tried 3 eq Rays, and just didn't find I needed the mid control...

It sounds like a Ray to me. Big FAT Bass, zingy, poppy treble. The treble can be a bit overpowering fully open, so guess what? I wind it back a bit! Very quiet.
Not the most versatile bass, but covers most of what I need, from trebly overdrive motorhead, to fat RHCP slappy sounds. I play variously with fingers and a pick, and the eq can be tailored to cope nicely with all my requirements except those really indistinct thuddy, beatle bass type sounds, for which I have a P Bass with flat wound strings.

Superb set up straight out of the box, although I'm told that the shop set it up. Has some sort of compensated nut, so intonates beautifully. The scratch plate was ugly alhough solid, but has been replaced with something prettier

6 Bolt neck which is ROCK solid. hardware seems of good quality. Electronics are very solid. Unless I decided to have a Nirvana moment and start using it as a pickaxe, I can't see this thing breaking!

Not dealt with them - 1 year warranty

I'd ALWAYS wanted a Ray, but having seen all the OLPs and other copies, I just couldn't bring myself to invest in a fake. Then EB made the SUB and all of a sudden a 'Ray alike, with the right backing was in my grasp. Then they pulled the plug, so I had to get one there and then or face the uncertainty of waiting for one on ebay or whatever. I have not looked back. One day I still hope to buy a proper stingray (just that bit more elegant and comfortable), but I now have all the sounds, look and feel that I loved for a fraction of the outlay. I'm not surprised that EB pulled the plug on the SUB range, because when all said and done, they produce all the tones of the full price article for a few cosmetic compromises. I imagine they were stealing masses of sales from themselves, after all, if you want a MM, you want a MM, and if you can't afford one, you buy a fake. I can't see them pinching Fender buyers with this product, as the MM tone is so distinct

mine is the ugly textured blue passive 4 string model made in 2004 with a missing volume knob...
I always wanted a Stingray but as I'm primarily a drummer and an audio engineer and there are many other areas I need to spend my money, I opted for this cheaper SUB version after trying many other basses in the shop.

not as flexible soundwise as the other jazz style, multi-pickup basses in the shop but this is the Stingray sound I was looking for.

As a drummer and an engineer, I always get excited when I see that the bass player I'm about to jam with or record has a Stingray...they just have a growl about them that does it for me and instantly makes me play with gusto and energy. Stingrays really are the ultimate drummers companion when groove and balls are required.

Maybe an active version would have been more versatile EQ wise especially for a live player, but I really could only afford the passive and as I'll mostly use mine for recording, I can tweak the sound, run it through Amplitube etc to sculpt the sound however I want anyway and that's already working perfectly for me with the rocky, funky stuff I'm doing. The bottom end is just perfect too. Could not be happier.

I really avoided it in the shop as I think the SUBs finish is disgustingly ugly and the colour options are limited but my blue one has a nice purple/greeny tinge when in the light which has grown on me. I really wanted a black one though.

The scratch plate is a thin waste of space...Ernie Ball should leave the pickguards off the SUBs alltogether and just put a voucher for a new pickguard in it's place. I took it off as soon as I got it home and the bass looked much better. I've just got a black pearloid Stingray pickguard which looks great and instantly saved the look.

As soon as I plugged in though, it was obvious the feel was in a totally different league than the other sub $1000 basses including the Warwick, Spector and Fenders about the shop. The neck feels great and the painted black surface is mirror smooth and the tuning heads and hardware are all really top notch although the tail piece does not have the classic 'stingray' name engraving. The outupt level is huge too and I did have to turn it down to about 8 to keep from overloading the input to the preamp but that's better than having to boost it.

I did have to adjust the truss rod as my was buzzing alot as it had been in the shop for ages and had gone out or been badly re-adjusted in the shop. Mine was also missing the volume knob which I hear is quite a normal problem with the SUB. After playing it for a few days at home, the g string broke which i'll put down to it being played to death in the shop...I can understand that, it's a ball to play :-)

I've already said that I hate the finish and scratch plate but the black neck and overall quality of the parts redeem it's beauty and at least it can take a lot of abuse it just does not match the sound quality of this instrument.

my volume knob buzzes, crackles and drops in and out although tech support at Ernie Ball say to hit it with some spray and it will be fine. If not, I'll just buy a new 500k pot for a few dollars and fit it myself...no big deal. Pots are always a pain.

This bass is solid. I have dropped It several times and it remained perfectly in tune...

Ernie Ball are the best so far. Instant replies, genuine interest in my opinions and they even sent me a replacement volume knob for free. I'm hooked.
I worked in several music stores years ago and always remembered the support/R&D people for Ernie Ball/Music Man being the most likeable and into their art.

i've recorded many basses over the years and this is my favourite rock/funk bass I've worked with.
If you want the Stingray sound at a fraction of the price, you can't loose. I suspect they'll keep their value well too being genuine US articles. If i lost it i'd either by another SUB or a secondhand stingray without bothering to try anything else.

When was it made? Fairly recently. For the general specifications, take a look at the other twenty-odd reviews as I can't really add to them. The model I own is the black textured model, and thankfully it's the active version. Unlike the StingRay (one of which I own), it's got the painted neck but this doesn't feel sticky (I'm one of thiose guys who sweats a bit when playing). I couldn't tell you what wood's used in construction, although one review reckoned the neck was rosewood. The styling is identical to its Sting Ray big brother, although mine seems to be just the merest tad lighter and the neck is definitely slightly slimmer. Mind you, I'm one of those mad blokes who likes slightly weightier instruments, so that's my look-out rather than an actual fault. I got it from a mate who had bought it new in the States - he rarely played it and I haven't gigged it yet so it's absolutely pristine. I wonder, though, if the StingRay 4-string scratchplate would fit...?

As a StingRay user of eleven years standing, it's really hard to review this without comparing all the while. It basically covers everything else I do on my StingRay, although I find it a bit mellower, which is a nice touch. As I no longer gig regularly as a bassist (I had to switch to keys to keep the band going), I've not yet put it through my live rig, but it sounds very nice through my EQ pedal and keyboard combo and it records better than the other one (damn, I'm comparing again). Being a single pickup bass, variety isn't really the thing here, but it's just a good workable sound - I wouldn't normally whack the treble all the way up for slap playing, but I find I can bear to do so without threatening to smash the glass by sound alone.

I got it with slightly heavier strings than I would normally choose, so it's just been set up around my tastes, and feels real nice. I've used 40-100 for years and they still feel good on this one. As I say, the previous owner looked after this (thanks, Gary) and there's not a mark on it, although my local luthier reckoned that the fretting was slightly haphazard and he had a bit of an adventure seating some of the frets. With my dodgy eyesight, I couldn't really tell.

I believe the idea behind this finish was to beat this one up on stage and preserve your more valuable item. I reckon it would do that OK, although to be honest I want to keep it in mint condition! Next time I pick up a dep gig on bass, this is definitely going with me.

Never dealt with the company - no warranty as I got it second-hand

This is about the fifteenth bass I've owned since I got my first one at seventeen. I'm not sure I'd buy another one if I lost this, as I already have a genuine StingRay, but having said that I'm really taken with it. Obviously I love the instrument as it is, and I can't think of anything that would improve it. A smaller price-tag might have been nice, but Gary's getting married this year and needed the money!

Ok I believe this thing is made pretty recently and I know its made in the USA. Its a 22 fret, 4 string job with single active humbucker and 2 band eq with treble, bass and volume controls. Mine is a very nice textured matt white finish. They are all textured in this series but the white is especially nice. Real good quality finish too. The body is made of poplar and the neck is black painted maple with rosewood fretboard, it has the same musicman bridge as the stingray and the same musicman custom tuners. and the whole thing looks really really nice.

This thing is definitely a slap machine. It has an incredible twang for playing slap and when you wind back the treble it is also capable of some real nice grooves. It's very very bright sounding and I would recommend an EQ pedal in addition to your amp to try and tame the brightness out of it if you aren't playing that much slap. The pots dont buzz at all which is nice. I am playing it thru a Laney R3 (I just got rid of a 700 watt full stack) and it sounds pretty dam nice but I am sure that an even better amp would make this thing sound incredible. I have used it in band rehearsals and it cuts through really nicely and compliments my guitarist nicely who has a very distinctive choppy sound from his satch ibanez. We play a lot of jazzy funk and sometimes riffy type stuff like early incubus/rhcp/muse and it works bang on.

This is where this thing absolutely blew me away. I picked this bad boy up in a shop and within 2 minutes I had decided I was going to buy it and we only went in to price up some new skins for our drummer. I was drawn to it cuz of the way it looked and the way it played was just out of this world. Fantastic slick, low action with no buzz anywhere. This thing also stays in tune better than ANY instrument I have ever played in my life. No flaws anywhere on this instrument. The factory has done an amazing job. This bass really needed no tinkering with at all which is the first instrument I have had where this has been the case and I have has many different guitars from many different makers.

Well I have had it about 3 weeks and no problems as of yet. It is pretty heavy which I like as I used to play Les Paul in my guitaring days. I cant see as anything on here is going to suddenly fall to bits it looks pretty hefty and I would gig it with no backup.

Never had to deal with EB/MM

I have played Stingrays and I really would choose this over them purely because they are amazing value for money and they dont sound inferior at all. The tone is bang on but it would be nice to have a 3 band eq as opposed to 2. If it went missing I would definitely buy another one. I would have to get the white as everyone I have showed this thing absolutely loves it. These things really are classy. Buy it!!

US manufacture, four strings, ACTIVE pickups, white finish, with the black scratch plate

this thing looks freaking awesome! It might be a cheaper, quicker finish than the Stingray but I honestly think it looks better. It's a more urban sort of finish punk rockers would love it

you can get such a huge variety on this bass, and the extra 200 bucks aussie i paid for the active pickups were fully worth it. the thing i love about it is these explosive pops you can get with it.

well, the guy who owns the music shop i bought this from set it up, so i don't know how well the factory sets it up.

the workmanship is superb.

this bass is a mean beast, i would play it live without backup. these things are built to last, hell yes.

the finish, i think i can say it will not rub off without paint stripper, this huge thick finish will not rub off, get scratched, its so easy to clean that the window cleaner where i work could clean it...that means its not very hard to clean...

if it were stolen, god forbid, i would buy this again without question.

Thiss bass sounds and feels very good. It has a plastic coating on the body, which may detract from the look, but it comes in nice colors. I like the active 2-band EQ. I almost wish it had a fatter sound, but playing over the neck position rather than over the single bridge pickup helps out fairly well.

I play in a blues/jazz influenced band, and my guitar player and I agree that it sounds good. I play with the bass knob of the eq at about 80%, and the treble at about 30%. A hotter Bartolini/Music Man style pickup would be an awesome addition to the sound.

Bass was set up well, I tend to like a low action because it forces me to play cleaner. No flaws. I love the music man bridge (very similar to the Stingray bridge, without the engraved logo. The only detriment would be the (plastic-like)coating on the body, but nice color (burgundy). I like the aluminum pick-guard.

I have only adjusted the truss rod just to lower the action a bit, and it has been rock-solid ever since. Very well built bass. Yes, I play it live, without a back up.

I has been playing for 15 years and this is the most pleasurable bass I've ever owned, and I've had Fenders and Ibanez's. Great sound for funk, jazz, and blues. I would definitely buy another one... I consider it a poor mans' Stingray.

4 strings and 21 frets
passive with two tone controls
single MM humbucker
made in the USA

This bass sounds really good and you can get a lot of tones out of the single pickup. I play mostly jazz and blues and a lot of rock and funk as well so versitilaty is a nesecity. It doesn't have as much bottom as my vintage p bass but still has plenty but it does have better articulation than my american jazz bass and provides good harmonics. This bass pretty much feels like a cross between my p bass and j bass and gives me what I like about them at about half the cost. This bass is a mean slap machine even without the bennefit of an onboard preamp.(Ive havent found an active bass I can live with yet) Has a good variety of sounds but is limited and sounds great through my GK rig.

The action and set up was good right off the shelf and everything was well adjusted. The finish is kinda cheesy but is evenly applied and the neck is fast and smooth. I cant find any flaws

This will deffinatley last a long time or else I wouldn't have bought it . The bass just seems like it was built solidly but could use some strap locks. I bought this as a backup bass but I fell it will come out on stage with me quite a bit. My only concern it that the tuning gears dont seem to be of the same quality of my american jazz bass and feel more like those from a mexican fender bass which I have had problems with in the past.

I havent dealt with them yet

I really like this bass and I am amazed that this quality of bass could be purchased for this kinda of money. I went in to the store looking for a back up/kickaround bass and left with a quality instrument. I don't think it will replace my Jazz bass but will give it a run for its money and considering I paid a less than half of what I paid for my j bass for this bass. I would by another if I have to but other than it being stolen I dont think I will have any reason.

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.

Brand spankin new bass. Haven't had one of these in a while. Sounds just like it's older brother...even with PASSIVE electronics. I seemed to have favored the passive 2 band one over the active when I A/B'd them. Now I don't EVER have to worry about a battery going out on me and still get kick ass tone. It's a slap monster for sure. The action is perfect from the factory. It's in the red color with the diamond p/g. I love the finish. I don't think anything could scratch this thing very easily. It's quality is equal to it's big brother. The neck finish is a big plus.

Sounds killer! It fits my style well since I like to slap and use finger style. It's as quiet as can be. I contribute that to the passive electronics. Haven't recorded with it to get it's real test. Nothing that I dislike on it yet.

Action is perfect from the factory. Pickup is exactly where I like it on a 'Ray. Just amazing!!

I think this thing will last for years to come for me. Truss rod has the easiest adjuster ever. It's VERY solidly built.

N/A

Pick one up if you can't afford it's Big Brother. It's worth it for the cost! Eats everything else up in its path!

I can not believe nobody else has put a review of this bass on yet. It's been out for a year or so and is definitly one of the best values in a loooong time if not ever.

Ok,for those who don't know about it it is basically a Stingray Bass with a crappy finish. The finish instead of beaing a glossy color or sunburst is a flat rough textured ordeal in black, blue, teal or white (mine is white). It may not be pretty to look at but a gigging musician does not care if his or her bass is pretty because if you gig a lot the most beautiful bass will look like crap! I have put lots of scratches, cracks and gouges in beautiful flamed maple, koa and chestnut. Underneath the finish is a poplar body. The same wood Musicman uses for solid color Stingrays, only the transparent and sunburst ones are ash.

It has a 21 fret rosewood board on a 34" scale maple neck. The neck is covered in a flat black finish again unlike the clear gloss on the Stingray. The tuners are decent standard MM fare and the fret work well done.

In the electronics end it has a MM Stingray humbucker with a master volume and and active treble and bass. These are strictly boosts as oppossed to cut/boosts, but many great sounds are easily attained.

The bridge is a standard Stingray offering minus the classic old mutes which aren't offered in the newe