Music Man Big Al

ProcessedMeatMan · Post by **ProcessedMeatMan** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 5:25 pm

I'm a huge Music Man guy. I love their basses. However...

This is by far the ugliest fucking thing I have ever seen in my entire life. That pickguard... *barf*
I had a chance to try one over the weekend though. Damn it sounds good!!! Very versatile. It's just too damn ugly. I'm too shallow. Aesthetics are a big thing with me (as is tone and playability, obviously).

Here's a pretty decent demo

[youtube][/youtube]

mickie08 · Post by **mickie08** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 5:37 pm

there is s omany choices for great guitars/basses now that you should not have to compromise on look, feel, or sound.

It is pretty horrible looking, but I also found the guitar version that is similiar to be pretty ugly myself.

Viljami · Post by **Viljami** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 5:38 pm

I'd like one. Looks way better with the black pickguard, although I do admit that something about it is just off. Not a fan of active electronics neither.

ProcessedMeatMan · Post by **ProcessedMeatMan** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 5:44 pm

I just wanted to try one out, for shits and gigs. Mostly because I've never actually seen one before. I've got too many basses now. I talk about wanting shit all the time, but I couldn't possibly buy another instrument even if I loved the way it looked!

Sloan · Post by **Sloan** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 6:50 pm

bass version of their Albert Lee model

[youtube][/youtube]

BoringPostcards · Post by **BoringPostcards** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 7:04 pm

I love it.
I would like to remind you of this bass: The Bongo, designed by BMW. Hideous.

I think this is much worse.

Viljami · Post by **Viljami** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 7:26 pm

The Bongo is quite possibly one the ugliest basses ever. And considering how many ugly basses are out there..

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 7:28 pm

Viljami wrote:The Bongo is quite possibly one the ugliest basses ever. And considering how many ugly basses are out there..

It's ugly as sin.

But I like the control layout. A lot.

ProcessedMeatMan · Post by **ProcessedMeatMan** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 7:59 pm

I try to forget the Bongo exists. I don't even like it's tone... seems too hollow

jcyphe · Post by **jcyphe** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:13 pm

I like all these shapes. There are usually 2 or 3 things I dislike about most EB/MM design but it's not the body shapes.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:27 pm

Body looks a tad small, and I don't dig actives, but, I kinda like it in general (without tort)
The passive tones are all really quite good in the demo video, and I'm sure it plays quite nicely.

mark-s · Post by **mark-s** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 10:06 pm

forget about a wall of marshalls, that keyboard player's got a wall of synth!

UlricvonCatalyst · Post by **UlricvonCatalyst** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 10:20 pm

There's something about bass players. Despite being the lynchpin about which the group smoothly spins - if they have it in them - and despite there being plenty of fine-looking 'classic' basses available to suit pretty much any budget, the bass player who fancies himself rotten always seems to gravitate towards the most hideously ill-conceived, malformed monstrosities humanity ever dreamt up.

Given a choice between the classical lines of something like this

or this

they will instead opt for this

or this

Mooseboy · Post by **Mooseboy** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 10:31 pm

8 string bass?
That is pretty ugly

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 10:37 pm

Viljami wrote:The Bongo is quite possibly one the ugliest basses ever. And considering how many ugly basses are out there..

The Bonjo is genuinely hideous. I quite like the Big Al though, its quirky in a cool way.

Also I just love how the Albert Lee model looks.

ProcessedMeatMan · Post by **ProcessedMeatMan** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:28 am

UlricvonCatalyst wrote:There's something about bass players. Despite being the lynchpin about which the group smoothly spins - if they have it in them - and despite there being plenty of fine-looking 'classic' basses available to suit pretty much any budget, the bass player who fancies himself rotten always seems to gravitate towards the most hideously ill-conceived, malformed monstrosities humanity ever dreamt up.

After having spent quite a bit of time lurking on TalkBass, I'd have to agree.

ProcessedMeatMan · Post by **ProcessedMeatMan** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:29 am

jcyphe wrote:I like all these shapes. There are usually 2 or 3 things I dislike about most EB/MM design but it's not the body shapes.

Like what? Genuine curiosity

sholkham · Post by **sholkham** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 10:15 am

The Bongo is even worse when you realise it looks like a toilet seat.

nyck · Post by **nyck** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:02 pm

UlricvonCatalyst wrote:There's something about bass players. Despite being the lynchpin about which the group smoothly spins - if they have it in them - and despite there being plenty of fine-looking 'classic' basses available to suit pretty much any budget, the bass player who fancies himself rotten always seems to gravitate towards the most hideously ill-conceived, malformed monstrosities humanity ever dreamt up.

This is the truth. I think a lot of ugly basses get their ugliness from having an overly long and thin upper horn to help balance out the neck when standing. Of course, Fender basses have perfectly proportionate upper horns and balance perfectly, so there's no excuse.

I think the big al looks rad in a 60s kind of way, even if the passive tones sound like Seinfeld. Ernie Ball instruments are really well made. I absolutely love my stingray.
As for the Bongo........ fuck that shit

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 2:58 pm

nyck wrote:This is the truth. I think a lot of ugly basses get their ugliness from having an overly long and thin upper horn to help balance out the neck when standing. Of course, Fender basses have perfectly proportionate upper horns and balance perfectly, so there's no excuse.

No they don't

My Jazz Bass and old Precision copy are both neck heavy. I just use grippy cloth straps to counter the dive.