Is the Joe Dart Signature Musicman Bass any good? Mmmmm...

You could say that a signature guitar is just an excuse to slap a famous bass player’s name on the headstock for a bit of extra $$, but when it’s Vulfpeck’s Joe Dart, it was enough to make me instantly reach for my wallet!
So I thought I’d make a quick video to give you guys (and gals) a run through of what this bass can do - I also snuck in a shameless plug to talk up our awesome $30K bass giveaway where you can win the actual bass I’m playing in this video!
Now it’s your turn, watch the video, grab your Joe Dart shades and click the link to find out more!
As always, see you in the shed…
Scott :)
====================================================================
GET MORE BASS TIPS 👇
_________________________________________________________________
🙌 Be the first to know - SUBSCRIBE now → bit.ly/sub-to-sbl-yt
🔓 Unlock your FREE trial to transform your bass playing → bit.ly/3fXt4cI
ABOUT SCOTT’S BASS LESSONS (SBL)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
As the largest online bass education platform in the world, with an ever-expanding course library and 40,000+ active members, Scott’s Bass Lessons (SBL) has everything you need to master the bass, all in one place.
Featuring beginner level bass lessons, engaging courses from expert instructors, step-by-step development curricula, direct feedback on your playing, real-time mentorship from A-list bassists and a thriving and incredibly supportive community, SBL is the perfect platform to uplevel your bass playing, whether you’re a total beginner, or an advanced pro-level bassist.
Try SBL Membership today! → bit.ly/3fXt4cI
RECOMMENDED BASS PLAYLIST
-------------------------------------------------------------
Catch up with SBL Content you’ve missed:
➡️ • SBL Full Video Playlist
#bassguitarlessons #bassforbeginners #easybasslines
LINKS
--------------
Tune in to our Weekly Podcast:
🎧 sblpodcast.buzzsprout.com/share
Explore our FREE courses:
🎸 freebasscourses.com
Try our FREE GrooveTrainer App:
📱 scottsbasslessons.com/groove-...

[@alexdesforges5026]

This bass is like the anti Thundercat signiture

[@Radishmantis]

But you know Thundecat could still make it sound heavenly.

[@iblindsamurai2677]

It’s ironic because joe absolutely loves thundercat too

[@DWN-020]

Look up Phil Lesh's Alembic

[@cm9241]

​@@iblindsamurai2677it's not ironic, it's not about them not liking each other or something. Just a contrast of styles

[@davidadu8559]

“We have a hard to miss volume knob” “wHaT iS iT cONtRolLINg?”

[@ileutur6863]

My only gripe with this is that it shouldn't be an exclusive, ultra expensive signature model. I think MM should release this as a stripped down student instrument, sort of like the Les Paul Jr. Make it into a Sterling line as well, plenty of new players would want it over a Squier or Sire

[@stephenhanson3647]

Musicman Marketing strategy Step 1- Get the $4600 MusicMan limited out to create buzz and demand. 🕶 Step 2a - Release the Standard Joe Dart Bass at $2400 Step 2b - release very limited Joe Dart Jr. (Test the demand) Step 3 - Release the $1000 Sterling version.

[@ileutur6863]

@@stephenhanson3647 A sterling with less features should cost around 500

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

@@stephenhanson3647 Exactly that. And it works!

[@starbeardiesyoung]

And here it is, the price discussion: „Hey Boss, how about a raise? I‘ve been working so hard?“ -> Boss don‘t answer, busy with setting up budget production line outside the country…

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

@Richard Moore You’re not paying more for simplicity, though. You’re paying more for nicer wood, finishes, and features, the only thing on it that’s simpler is the electronics. Electronics are negligible in cost for a manufacturer like Ernie Ball Music Man that makes their own.

[@squishy949]

The story of the design of this bass is that Jack Stratton had a cheap bass from a pawn shop with that single humbucker configuration and natural finish but with with broken active electronics, he fixed it by bypassing the preamp so it ended up with only the volume knob functional. You can see Joe playing this original bass on the Disco Ulysses video. The idea of this signature was to recreate that sound and style but with the craftsmanship of a Musicman.

[@McDoinky]

Thereby making a ton of money on minimal craftsmanship?

[@ifgwelf]

^what kind of smooth brained response is that lol

[@McDoinky]

@@ifgwelf Read it again

[@metemercan1147]

Can see it in the It gets funkier vid too

[@whatskraken3886]

@@McDoinky ever heard of build quality?

[@ItaloTravenzoli]

Tone control? Are you versatile?

[@kennethcoval4970]

Do you eat four pounds of white flour pasta a night?

[@Dayngledongle]

@@kennethcoval4970 just puttin in the work

[@wll1500]

Cut from a tree.

[@shamardaniel4819]

Yes. Yes it is.

[@ChefChrisDay]

Donkey

[@keithklassen5320]

Just so's ya know, an instrument that looks like it has no finish on it actually has a clear matte finish on it. Nobody is foolish enough to send a lovely bass out into the world with no finish; that's incredibly bad for the wood. It would go grey quickly, the moisture level would fluctuate too quickly, any dirt would work its way into the grain, etc.

[@isetta4083]

I think he's confusing no finish for no lacquer

[@quixoticelixer594]

You can absolutely get basses with no finish

[@unfetteredawesomeness]

This Bass is Versatile! You think vlance armstrength is shifting into the active bass boost granny gear in the French Alps? No, this is a 1982 single speed bridgestone; you’re eating four pounds of white flour pasta a night, just put it in the work. Cut from a tree, okay? Stop Whining! No more government subsidies for active basses!

[@nicodawe1476]

this needs more likes

[@geoffbeyer1873]

I have been petitioning my government to stop all active bass subsidies, to no avail. I will use your idea and lobby them each with 4 pounds of white flower pasta. We'll see how that goes.

[@gabrieltrevisan3624]

A man of culture

[@mikevenneri3890]

cringe

[@unfetteredawesomeness]

@@mikevenneri3890 it might look like cringing, but really it's just BASS FACE!! That's just what Joe Dart basslines do to you. So much FUNK!

[@facethefaceandmore44]

In a way, the lack of tone knob is the ultimate incarnation of the Vulfpeck philosophy: EVERYTHING in post-production.

[@bluebones1778]

could you unpack this a bit more?

[@clearision]

"YOU are not versatile"

[@zynthio]

@@bluebones1778 the point being that the eq is going to be tweaked at the mixer/in post/by the amp anyway so there's no point in having a tone knob that isn't going to get touched. The model they made after this didn't even have a volume knob for the same reason

[@the_al_guy3169]

Wise of you to avoid using the word versatile in your review. 😁

[@szrnkabela]

This bass IS (!) versatile! After all, it sounds different with each possible amp and cabinet! You're not versatile! 🤣

[@kennethcoval4970]

Alright vlance armstrength

[@Mrpsblobsoflowendmung]

It should just have one knob , but a tone knob not volume . Perfect

[@zprince4120]

A tone knob and a toggle switch to turn the volume on and off. That way you can set it down to go to the can or get a quick drink without killing the amp.

[@shaeferweleschuk1324]

You could pretty easily wire that up yourself for a couple bucks!

[@markdaniels7174]

No tone knob? Just dial-in the tone you want using your amp.

[@juanignaciopozzi7412]

its too complex, need to remove pickup and string

[@halcyo]

Agreed, put a silent jack on it so when you plug it in it’s on and all the way turned up. A tone knob would be far more useful.

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

It has a finish, it’s just a satin finish on the body, oil and wax on the neck.

[@TheMaygreed]

"The weather is killing here in UK" - wearing a cotton hat :D

[@Thomas.harding]

It’s back to rain and overcast as usual

[@xavierandradev]

And two layers.

[@zac3392]

Laughing from TX...

[@tobybaker5187]

@@zac3392 Went to over 40 two years ago.

[@stenmartens7179]

the thing i just cant get over is the insane price for such a stripped down instrument... all hardware could've been titanium and it still shouldn't cost this... main price driver in electrical basses is the electronics, and this barely has any... and these bridges are pretty damn simplistic as well... so that leaves the tuners, which im sure are hella fine tuners!

[@bapt_andthebasses]

Hi Scott, nice video. There's always a finish or nearly always. No finish could damage the wood. It's either filled or satin or mat or shiny but you have to have a finish!

[@bapt_andthebasses]

Mostly on Ash which is super grainy.

[@svenkrey650]

Scott! My Personal opinion: your tone when you play THIS BASS, is the Bast by far! Your playing + this Bass is a really aweaome combination.

[@chefbanjo8139]

His short scale signature didn’t even have a volume knob. I shuddered when I first saw it, but the demo of it sounded awesome, so what do I know?

[@kirameki10]

...that its not worth over $2000?

[@kirameki10]

side note i do adore what these basses sound like, and i absolutely love joe dart, its just that when I was eyeing for this bass and when I first looked at the price it nearly gave me a heart attack because of how goddamn expensive it is. I'm pretty sure that when played, you'll go "wow this really is worth selling my kidneys for", but for all intents and purposes, we can all agree that the price is way too high.

[@Its_LumberJack]

@@kirameki10 they are really high for what they are. But the fact that it's a Joe dart signature is what makes them sell like crazy. I ended up just going with a stingray because I figure I can get a pretty close tone with that.

[@Not_Lewis]

If it was a standard production model released by Ernie Ball, same specs and everything, just without the Joe Dart backing, you could cut the price in half. Even then I'm not sure it would sell well because the lack of a volume knob is a deal breaker for most. It sold out solely because of the "signature" edition and artificial scarcity of it.

[@arbdistress5592]

@@Not_Lewis yeah I think MM as a instrument builder they need to explore all possible options to increase the revenue. In the past few years their line up changed a lot I think they are still trying to find the best way to continue.

[@AndrewPenner]

Scott, I just wanted to drop you a "Thank you!" - I haven't played bass in YEARS - long story - but recently I was gifted a BRAND NEW one. Ibanez SR505, so it's definitely not super high end stuff, but it's a bass none the less. Anyway, I'm slowly building up finger strength and dexterity, and your videos have been quite helpful. Right now I'm just running basic fingering up and down the neck as I watch some of your vids. Part of me wants to just get playing, but I'm trying to take it slow, and learn the fundamentals better this time around - theory, scales, arpeggios, physical technique, etc... So yeah. Thank you!

[@pine3737]

I have a Old Smoothie Stingray and it is a active bass that sounds like a passive bass. It has a ten pole pieces pick-up instead of eight like all other four string Stingray's so like Fender the strings go between the poles. Hence, a P-Bass with if you want some get up and go! I love it!

[@rrdream2400]

The Joe Dart sound is much like Bernard Edwards' 70's Sting Ray, flat wound strings with the EQ flat.

[@erickleefeld4883]

If you want a tone knob, replace the stock pot and knob with concentric controls.

[@pmastello]

Scott has a nice house. Eames chair, pool. Doing well

[@bassfunkypenguin]

and he's worked damn hard to get to this point :)

[@scottyboy11001]

See those basses behind him... that he is giving away... yeah thats basically more than my whole assets and retirement fun :)

[@niallpower109]

Congratulations on the stunning house Scott, Well deserved!

[@LonePyroWolf]

Not gonna lie... Hearing Scott play those little licks... I was ready for 'Life in the Fast Lane' to kick in... Ha ha!

[@egeb7]

I don't get the criticism about the action. Its a 5 minute fix. I have never seen a well set up bass in a guitar store.

[@brandonkroeger6229]

I agree. I've never seen Scott play or woo over any music man products in any of his videos. I think a stingray may have hurt him as a child.

[@ShredAimlessly92]

Stingrays ship with rounds, if they shipped this one with flats they may not have adjusted the truss rod as far as you’d need for flat wound tension. Maybe…?

[@1smartjosh]

The action criticism is something a beginner would say. Obviously you adjust it to your liking.

[@dalgguitars]

Set up is personal. Get it set up please.

[@KungThulhu]

"two massive knobs, that would have made my day" :D

[@leegibbs5317]

That's what she said.

[@mackenlyparmelee5440]

@@leegibbs5317 😎

[@northhallbabe13]

@@leegibbs5317 😎😎

[@dangracia7805]

You know Scott, I agree that there should be a tone control on that bass. However, I don't think their needs to be a volume control on it. I play an '82 passive Jazz and just like I did with my '65 Jazz that I had from 1966 to 1976, I run both volumes all the way open as well as the tone knob all the way open. with those passive controls turning them down only cuts the sound. There is no boost on it. Because I have two pickups, I can control a lot of the sound by where I pluck the strings. - closer to the neck for a darker/warmer sound, and over or even behind the bridge pickup for a much brighter sound that I can easily turn into a growl. I would prefer to just have the volume dimed on that bass with no adjustment knob, and have a tone knob (really just cuts more and more of the treble) that is adjustable, since where I pluck the strings is going to have less of an effect on a single pickup bass than in a Neck + Bridge pickup bass. That way you could still have a single control knob and more versatile tone options.

[@jrfrondelli2023]

Hey Scott, great video as always! :) To be fair, it looks like Ernie Ball left PLENTY of room to add a tone control. About 10 minutes of work, and $5.00 in parts, save for the extra super-duper MASSIVE knob. You might have to fork over a bit of cash for that little bauble. If it was MY bass, this would happen as soon as I got it home. When all is said and done, it's really essentially the same as a P-Bass, but the pickup type and position on the MM DOES give it a different attitude. It burps and growls a bit more.

[@jcout25]

You can't really complain about the action...that's something that you set up to your own personal liking when you get the bass. I don't own any guitar where I don't like the action. Because I personally set them up for myself.

[@valenteves]

I used to have a MM Sterling and the truth is that you couldn't adjust the height too much. Even putting a reinforcement in the neck pocket, the minimum height was still high.

[@rome8180]

On a $3000 instrument you expect to receive it from the factory with low action.

[@OmegaRectum]

I love it so much, the simplicity is what I crave

[@otsurinishiii]

one question....that white knob what is that controlling????

[@johnnypk1963]

Dean Town. Blew my mind first time. One of the greatest bass songs I’ve ever heard.

[@bassventurafretdetective8899]

“Two massive knobs!”😂😂

[@szrnkabela]

And the occasional coil split switch inbetween them...

[@blackberryblossom]

G&L should have sent Joe Dart one of their Kiloton basses. Passive humbucker in that position. He might have made that model famous.

[@TheSwilliams92]

tbh...this bass was based off of a really cheap bass joe played in the early days of Vulfpeck that was difficult to play comfortably..there is no reason to pay several $1000 for this when you can simply do what he did and mod out a cheap instrument...or you mod out a cheap sub ray 4 sterling and get an even better tone with more options

[@sumeursault]

Nice pad. 😎 Seems like you're doing really well with the channel. Congratulations on your success

[@ProgRockDan1]

Thanks for sharing your insights into this bass

[@hootingforowlies548]

The reveal trailer for this bass on the Vulfpeck channel was hilarious 🤣

[@matteooscarmaccuro1498]

Looks like one of those Thomann DIY kits lmao Love it!

[@akmadsen]

Love those kits! I got myself the P-Bass kit a few years ago and it quickly became my goto bass over my Squier P and my Fender J (Mexico/Player Series). I recently installed some Fender Vintage P-Bass pickups in it and it just took it over the top. Still haven't customized the headstock though ... or given the body any kind of finish. And apparently the pickguard is ever so slightly different from that of a real P-Bass, so that's stock too.

[@cd0u50c9]

I still own a random handmade Thumb bass/Ibanez Soundgear blend looklike bass that features a single passive Seymour Duncan pickup like the one on this video - that bass has the volume and tone knobs plus a series/parallel switch which does make a lot of difference, so you are correct on this Scott. The volume tone could have been a stack knob to keep it looking the same.

[@phunkybasstard]

Hey Scott! Great vid! Your signature bass is damn beautiful btw! I hope your upcoming giveaways could be reached out to Singapore as well :'))

[@bassonthemark8191]

Good to know I’m not the only one that says “ergonomical”.

[@nunofernandes4501]

You could always replace the massive knob... with a concentric volume/tone. And the action is adjustable, right?

[@ryansteelecreative]

That strikes me as an odd beef. “When I bought the bass it was out of tune and I don’t really like that, maybe that’s just me!”

[@warwickdennis4114]

Scott I love your finger style It just seems like slapping and popping is all the rage and makes it look like if you can’t do that style you can’t play. Yeah ! Your right I don’t play that slap an pop style very well, but not to complain I just like I guess old school finger style.

[@xMTLKx]

There's just no better tone to groove, I love it

[@Jin-Hu]

I’d wire in a tone control and swap out the volume for a push-pull pot to control vol and tone

[@Swalexbass]

The bass looks really cool but the only thing that's stopping me from trying this bass out is its heavy price tag :(

[@madbomber8183]

New one out now for only 400$!! Only this month tho

[@MisterNiles]

Hey. That Dart guy is pretty interesting. Thanks for the heads up. Cool bass playing.

[@ChipsA17]

Ok I want the joe dart bass now. So good looking. Thanks Scott

[@bassimprovjams3772]

John Myung did the same thing with his signature bass but he did add a 5 way rotary pickup selector at least

[@BOBcustom]

some resistive volume pots ( the classic ones) got a nice treble drop when you put them at 8/10 whitout lost a lot of volume, you can handle the signal much beter

[@FunnyBecauseItsTrue]

...I’d be interested in a video about the short scale Joe Dart Jr bass, tuned to low-C, and how string tension and string gauge relate to one another when low tunings are involved...

[@andrejkrstevski5719]

the joe dart signature is great, but what we need is a Scott Devine signature p bass

[@stephenhanson3647]

Nah, he's got the Scott Devine Signature F Bass

[@PorchBass]

His Overwater jazz bass always was the one I associate with Scott.

[@glennrosa234]

love all musicman basses but that is a Beaut. natural also my fav, i notice right from the start looked different & i realized its because no pickguard which we all know is a unique shape of MM (almost a rounded triangle?) another pt. its prob for a strength purpose having the ,5 bolt neck to body because from owning ,& working on basses that dont have the common rectangle even Plate like Fenders there is a tendency for neck warpage ( seen it several times w 4 bolts. & odd shspe plate) anyway jus sayin Scott love all UR sh;*t Keep on doin wut u do bro. Aloha fr th HI. 🤙☮️

[@natinofoster4651]

Really love this bass, sounds super nice

[@Guitar6ty]

I have the Harley Benton MM84A bass which is a clone of the Music Man Stingray and its superb a real deep tone and its well built. As one happy customer said "Its 4 Basses in one pack"

[@williamcardin3634]

Definitely a cool Bass for sure. I love your signature Scott. Sure wish I should win one of those basses cause I haven’t ever won anything in my life ever 😂 but it’s cool… I entered but I’m not expecting anything. Just love watching your channel. So, does the glove help with tone control? Just curious. Anyway, love the channel man. Great stuff. Got me all the way back into bass again. (I’m a drummer nowadays but started on bass and still play and own 2. Bass is just to awesome to ever stop playing).

[@fullhd6598]

Wow amazing bass !! I love it 👏🏻🎸

[@rishaBh_c]

Even though you're playing the joe dart bass, you still sound like yourself! We've heard the 'tone is in the hands' line multiple times, but this is first time I've seen it myself 😂😂!!

[@seanguidry3981]

Scott you got this just keep going!

[@andrewpappas9311]

I'm a big MusicMan fan (My StingRay 4 is definitely my go-to) and I gotta say that Joe Dart sig looks really cool, I haven't seen many StingRay basses without the pickguard so that definitely looks really damn classy

[@steveothebassist]

Just so you guys know, this is a Music Man Sterling, not a Stingray

[@andrewpappas9311]

SteveTheBassist I know, it still looks really cool though

[@multi.instrumentalist]

As an amateur recording artist, I would rather have an EQ pedal than a tone knob. Personally, I think it would be cool to have a coil split feature, maybe via a push-pull knob.

[@funky_monk_9796]

Nice one Scott 👍 love your wisdom, knowledge and enthusiasm in your vids. Signature models are a bit weird to me. Why sound like someone else when you have your own way of playing? Tone is in the fingers and hand position yeah, but... I would have a tone knob here as you say. Not worth the price tag, alas.

[@CommunRyder]

Awesome bass!! I'd ditch the knob out completely though. What's the use of a volume control anyway?? And that huge black cavity plate!! There's must have been a way to drill the wire hole through to the jack hole. Anyhow, this bass is absolutely magnifique!!

[@danielvaldezaguirre]

Perhaps a dpdt pull switch pot combo, can be retrofitted to add tone without making mayor changes to the body

[@IainThacker]

I picked up a Sterling 4HH from Bass Direct and everything about the way it plays and feels (so light) is awesome, this looks very much like that but stripped way back. It's my only issue with both my MMs is that the active pre can't be bypassed.

[@deangomes6280]

It’s up to you if you want to mod it, but you can put a little toggle switch to bypass it. I did that with my sterling 34ca. You cut the wire entering the preamp and the wire leading to the jack. They get soldered to the switch with a jump wire. No tone control either but should your battery die mid gig you could just flip the switch and keep going until you get a break to change the battery out.

[@Abaddon231]

Ive been playing a Geddy Lee J bass for years in a local funk/ska band , and I always have my tone turned 90-100% down, I only use my bridge P/U , and my preferred action is middle to moderately high too. The Joe Dart bass has an amazing tone Its simple, and i love the natural wood look. Seems like it could be a straight out of the box to the stage bass for me. (And i love that) Im gonna have to go try one out , maybe trade in the trusty Geddy J. (Nah JK) im keepin it forever.

[@AnsticePalo]

Or you can find yourself a luthier who will make you your own custom instrument with a similar passive pickup with just a volume knob for half the price.

[@kamasotomonte5043]

Id love that Patitucci bass 😭❤ i cannot find decent 6 string basses anywhere

[@Wandplank12]

"Two massive knobs"? How about a volume and tone stacked knob? You could even make it a push pull knob (humbucker/single maybe...) makes it look just as simplistic though.

[@zubrhero5270]

Ooof, I'm a fan of massive knobs. Hence why I'm subscribed! (ba-dum-tssh) I saw Joe put out the Joe Dart Jr video... saw that it was put out about 5 minutes before I clicked... went to the website as quick as I could... before realising only 50 were made and were sold before the video even came out. Bummer, I really wanted the knob-less model. Musicman related though... I've really been considering getting one of their Bongo basses. They look "ugly" enough to fit in my collection.

[@rubenmoerbeek9647]

They could have stacked the volume and tone knobs onto eachother and have the same looks but add the feel. Well, in its simplicity is versatile. If you want muted tone, just mute.

[@egeb7]

Your house looks beautiful Scott!

[@creamydistortion]

He sold options.

[@I.O.M.]

Halloween, Alaska on the Mac screen. Good tastes Scott.

[@afrocat4592]

Could you replace the volume pot for a stacked pot with a concentric tone and volume knob? That would be ideal if it fits.

[@jeffjones9448]

Beautiful ax! Woah Fbass! The absolute finest boutique basses in the history of all mankind! I had 3 of them back when I had a few dollars. I really miss my AC5, the King of fretless basses!!! Although I preferr alder I really like that bass! If consider getting one solely due to the short scale feel.

[@ericclinton7399]

fbass over Alembics? i see the prickly heat has gone to your head, an hour in the shade looking at the alembic custom of the month pages should help you find your way back to reality...lol

[@jeffjones9448]

@@ericclinton7399 You have a good point there. I'm looking at the Alembics now and I'm getting "that feeling", you know what I mean. I kind of bypass them due to the prices. I've never played one sad to say but I do like the short scale, a lot... I'm almost afraid to play one. I'll be filing for a second mortgage. 😆

[@robertobrien2903]

I'd like to see a bass with one concentric knob. Then volume and tone all on one knob and if possible make it a push pull so you can go active or passive, adjust volume and tone all with one "master" knob...

[@SausageFingers420]

I want a fuckin' ziggurat of a knob. One so ostentatious, God is forced to invent new languages to spread confusion among the peoples of Earth. Like, 4 concentric knobs. Pup blend on the bottom, master volume next, bass, then treble with a DOUBLE push-pull for coil tapping AND phase switching. One knob. Ziggurat.

[@6strngbass]

That’s a beautiful piece of swamp ash. I’ve seen other Joe Darts with blander pieces of wood.

[@jacoblopez365]

Dude, that’s my dream bass

[@ness-ee]

Those basses will have finishes on to mitigate against seasonal movement and staining. The ash will have some sort of clear coat and the second bass is oiled, maybe with tung oil

[@shnrrr]

My one and only question is: Does it sound any different than a stingray with the eq bypassed?

[@timoteomeccanicatecnologia]

They could use a concentric knob for volume and tone. It would keep the simplicity in design and add a little bit of versatiliy to the bass.

[@devinebass]

Thanks for the suggestion dude, will send this over to the team to be considered!

[@KlockoFett]

If there was one thing I liked about the Gibson Blackbird, it was no knobs. Just an on/off toggle. Otherwise, I wasn't all that crazy about it. If I said in 30+ years I ever had my controls set anywhere besides everything turned all the way up, I'd be lying.

[@ejnordberg]

I wouldn't need a tone knob, but a parallel-series-split switch would be nice. That can't be adjusted at the pedal.

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

I’ll be putting a concentric volume/tone and a mini-toggle for series/parallel in mine when I get one. Just waiting on a decent deal on a used one with pretty grain.

[@kevgamble]

The series/parallel/single-coil switch is the secret weapon of the EBMM Sterling. Creates three very different types of tones, roughly the same degree of difference as a pickup switch. Over time, I found myself going to single coil most of the time.

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

@@kevgamble It does make them MUCH more versatile than they seem, but I stay parked in parallel 80-90% of the time on my Sterlings. I use single sometimes when I want a real sweet, even, defined kinda thing and series for RAWR! if I’m playing rock with just one guitar and need to get a little more up-front and ballsy to fill in while said guitar takes a solo (or if I take a solo in a rock setting, for that matter). Sterlings are absolutely amazing basses in every way, and I’m continuously flabbergasted at how much everyone fawns over Stingrays but just doesn’t seem to care about Sterlings in the least. They’re like a lighter, faster, better-looking, more comfortable, FAR more versatile Stingray, I just don’t get it.

[@hearpalhere]

I love the look of it man! Sounds great too :-)

[@mattsampson106]

To the best there gas been one batch of 50 Joe Dart signature series bass. At a pawn shop I saw this bass, it was a MusicMan but something was not as other Sting Ray's or Sterlings. The pawn shop guy and myself were if the impression that ALL MM basses had active electronics. So I asked , why dose this bass have only one knob and nothing else. Is it really active? The guy takes the bass down ,flips it over to reveal a chrome plated cover the size to fit 2 9v batteries.!??!¿¡ I ask to look under the plate and when he removes the plate there was nothing. No wires just an empty wood cavity. The now pissed off pawn brroker makes me an offer dropping the price to $1200. There's more that is off. Hanging from a tuning peg in a plastic bag is its pickgaurd. I ask whats up ?.Not only are there holes to accept the puck guard, the holes a lined with metal so as to not damage the wood. Well shit, he goes to put on the P.G. & it don't fit! Because the bridge had a string dampeners on each of its saddles. The guy at the pawn shop thinks this is a fake Music Man after setting up a layaway plan 2 months later payin $725. I take the bass home. I take off the cover for the wiring and stamped on The Wire from the pickup to the potometer it says, Joe Dart prototype number 3. It took several weeks of back in forth with EBMM until it was confirmed this was not only a one off but considered a BFR. EBMM congratulates make on my truly awesome pawn shop find & welcomed me into the EBMM family . The bass is awesome it sounds great

[@hearpalhere]

@@mattsampson106 That's a great story! I always wonder how these kinds of things end up in a pawn shop like that without a proper documentation about their background.

[@mattsampson106]

@@hearpalhere after looking into the big idea behind the bass and delving into this Joe Dart dude, going off what I learned from interviews and Q n A's I put together the this bass & others were planted by Joe Dart to give fans that "awesome pawn shop find " that he mentioned several times in the press. Beforehand the feel and sound were great and if this were a counterfeit, it's tits! And the extreme price drop, I was buying this. EBMM basses, if you find one with a serial number starting with the letter B, this indicates an instrument of a very limited production. So limited that the number will not show up on the EBMM database.

[@mattsampson106]

@@hearpalhere I'd love to show off with photos. I try to make s video

[@hearpalhere]

@@mattsampson106 Guerrilla marketing at it's finest!

[@MikeRemvidas]

IMo ! All NATURAL, ,Looks really cool and it seems to play nice as well.

[@MP5..]

Your riffing at 3:02 sounds a bit like Michael League’s opening solo in his trio version of Continuum.

[@alainbrasseur7083]

when there is a review of a bass (any kind of), and in the site of constructor specification, I miss few information that I consider as essential : what kind of strings is used : stainless? flat? etc. (Joe Dart's bass has flatwound I guess?) and what gauge? . also, the string spacing on the bridge : 16, 17, 18, 19 , 20 mm ? (I do prefer 18mm or less). The other thing is the weight : what is a light weight? To me a light weight bass is under 3.5Kg (7.7lbs), a superlight weight is under 3Kg (6.6lbs); a heavy bass is up 4Kg (8.8lbs). And of course, to dive or not to dive? that is the neck question... And after rip off the tone knob of all my basses since the last 25 years, I rewired a couple of days ago one on a bass and I began to think it could be useful... :-)

[@egeb7]

Couldnt agree more I need to know the gauges specifically

[@szrnkabela]

He plays on MM factory flats that have a bit more treble than the average flats, similarly to Rotosound Jazz series. These are a bit more zingy for a short time after I clean them.

[@ileutur6863]

For the strings - you change those For the weight - go to the gym

[@olorb2618]

@@ileutur6863 that has nothing to do with going to a gym. Your back and arms start to hurt with a heavy bass (i had 5kg jazz)

[@koalanectar9382]

Scott I love your videos but I really wish you'd mic up your amp and only include the audio straight from the mic when you're playing a bass. It's hard to really get an idea of what the tone really sounds like with all the room noise\string fretting noise.

[@vlada]

I need that Joe Dart bass stand from the video a lot more.... how about a review on those?

[@gat1gigs782]

i can tell that p bass tone makes you super happy!!!

[@alfredbackhus6110]

This is the most beautiful bass I've ever seen - by far. It's a pity the sound of the humbuckers is not for me.

[@keef4937]

Hi Scott, can you please tell me what gives the bass sound that aggressive sound in the clip of Joe at the beginning? Is it an overdrive of some kind? Is it the amp breaking up? Or just the bass sound? Thanks.

[@notverygeordie]

There is a Joe Dart II now! It has TWO knobs. So it must be twice as good. Spoilers: unfortunately for you Scott, neither are tone pots.

[@szrnkabela]

How many tone knobs are on your oven?

[@markdaniels7174]

Of all the basses in the Giveaway, this is the one I want most! (And I’m not even familiar with Joe Dart.)

[@stephenhanson3647]

Get familiar...now!

[@firelanderinoportarlino7437]

But Scott, there are no government subsidies for active basses

[@shaphatyahawadah1373]

L Fender designed that Bass around Louis Johnson's Style that's why it sounds so thick and heavy no matter who plays it ..it sounds like Louis Johnson.

[@malcolmlarri9073]

The gold P bass has my heart !

[@devinebass]

⭐️🏆💛

[@thefrogger6507]

Best part about the no finish is being able to draw funky squiggles on it so it looks more fancy

[@DavideDondiMusic]

Great! No finish means you can create your own finish

[@edjefferson9175]

Put in stacked pots and get your tone knob too. That’s what I would do.

[@MrGunwitch]

Scott I'm trialling your membership but cannot load the website today (it seems to be down?). Can you please advise what the technical issue is? It was working shakily yesterday (videos slow to load, freezing sometimes) but is not even opening today.

[@kevmac1230]

I like it but a series- parallel switch would be nice.