So I got a Music Man Reflex HSS 5 string from reverb, and I'm not sure if I want to keep or return. The seller has a thirty day return policy, ive had the bass for two days. i kinda jumped on it cause I know these are hard to come by and i probably wouldnt have the chance to find a nice one at a doable price for a while.
The bass want necessarily something i was looking for, but i thought it was really neat being that it's one of the few factory MM basses beside the Big AL that has an active passive switch, and its controls make it a super versatile bass. one of my gripes so far is that it has suuuuper low out put, even in active mode, now i think they might have tuned the pre amp to be on a similar output level as the passive mode but its really low, like lower than my Ric 4003. Now the bass has some old nickels on it so I definitely gotta slap some steels on it. but because the strings are pretty old the pre amp doesnt really seem to shape the tone, but im sure it works fine as its the same pre amp as the bongo.
One of the really good things about this bass is the middle single coil that really just makes the gnarliest Pbass type tone ever and when you add the Neck Single coil to the middle SC? its a crazy tone! but then comes the funny part, I feel the Humbucker on this bass is severely lacking, its not in the typical MM sweet spot like on the stingray, its pushed closer to the bridge to make space for the two single coils. i feel whem you add the humbucker into the mix with either the Neck or middle pup, instead of adding the best of both pups sonic characteristics it kinda just becomes a scooped sound lacking in personality, which is such a departure from the awesome growly tone you get from the front two pickups.
The body isnt the most comfortable when sitting down, but actually very comfy and compact when standing up. I honestly would be heavily contemplating returning it, but i just joined the worship group at my church and im thinking that pbass and neck pickup tone might really go well with the mix, im just not digging that insanely low output level, i dont want to leave the house with it until i put some new strings on it though.
I honestly think that ive just been spoiled by my spectors, but i could use the more natural tone of the reflex in the worship group, as spectors are very modern and hifi sounding and that's not really a bass tone ive heard much in CCM. but at the same time i could also just dial in a more subdued tone from with my Bongo for the worship stuff. I guess it just boils down to the fact that this was an impulse buy and i didn't really need it, but it does offer something different from the rest of the basses I have.
What would you guys do?
I havent taken any pictures of it yet so ill post from from where i bought it from.
The bass want necessarily something i was looking for, but i thought it was really neat being that it's one of the few factory MM basses beside the Big AL that has an active passive switch, and its controls make it a super versatile bass. one of my gripes so far is that it has suuuuper low out put, even in active mode, now i think they might have tuned the pre amp to be on a similar output level as the passive mode but its really low, like lower than my Ric 4003. Now the bass has some old nickels on it so I definitely gotta slap some steels on it. but because the strings are pretty old the pre amp doesnt really seem to shape the tone, but im sure it works fine as its the same pre amp as the bongo.
One of the really good things about this bass is the middle single coil that really just makes the gnarliest Pbass type tone ever and when you add the Neck Single coil to the middle SC? its a crazy tone! but then comes the funny part, I feel the Humbucker on this bass is severely lacking, its not in the typical MM sweet spot like on the stingray, its pushed closer to the bridge to make space for the two single coils. i feel whem you add the humbucker into the mix with either the Neck or middle pup, instead of adding the best of both pups sonic characteristics it kinda just becomes a scooped sound lacking in personality, which is such a departure from the awesome growly tone you get from the front two pickups.
The body isnt the most comfortable when sitting down, but actually very comfy and compact when standing up. I honestly would be heavily contemplating returning it, but i just joined the worship group at my church and im thinking that pbass and neck pickup tone might really go well with the mix, im just not digging that insanely low output level, i dont want to leave the house with it until i put some new strings on it though.
I honestly think that ive just been spoiled by my spectors, but i could use the more natural tone of the reflex in the worship group, as spectors are very modern and hifi sounding and that's not really a bass tone ive heard much in CCM. but at the same time i could also just dial in a more subdued tone from with my Bongo for the worship stuff. I guess it just boils down to the fact that this was an impulse buy and i didn't really need it, but it does offer something different from the rest of the basses I have.
What would you guys do?
I havent taken any pictures of it yet so ill post from from where i bought it from.
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