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 :)
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[@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.

[@davidadu8559]

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

[@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

[@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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

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

[@KungThulhu]

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

[@leegibbs5317]

That's what she said.

[@mackenlyparmelee5440]

@@leegibbs5317 😎

[@northhallbabe13]

@@leegibbs5317 😎😎

[@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.

[@otsurinishiii]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@OmegaRectum]

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

[@postmalonalisa420]

Imagine one day you're working at the local grocery store. You have been exploring your inner music taste and starved and outlet of passion. As you're nearing the end of a rather quick and easy day, you're winding down with a Spotify generated playlist tailored to your recent interest in groovy bass lines. You hear Dean Town for the first time. Three weeks later you're practicing Joe Dart, Thundercat, and deep in the Scott's channel rabbit hole. You're start your daily practice and Scott video and begin your spider excersie. This video begins and you have never been more excited for a giveaway. Then you look at the date posted 😭 Oh well, thanks Scott. Keep an eye out for the Postmalonalisa bass in a few years.

[@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!

[@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.

[@johnnypk1963]

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

[@bassonthemark8191]

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

[@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

[@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

[@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!”

[@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

[@niallpower109]

Congratulations on the stunning house Scott, Well deserved!

[@cptncanela]

That bass is just marketing from MusicMan. I will never buy a bass like that one. No body finish, one nob, one tone and it is expensive just because it is the JD signature. In my head, that is really silly. I thank Scott he got it so I could see the reality of that bass. Yes, it sounds fantastic, but there are a lot of cheap Fender basses (like the player series that I own) that will sound the same or even better than that one. But this is just a personal opinion that none asked me. But again, thanks to Scott for bringing this type of content. We love you SD

[@57precision]

I agree. This bass really needs a price point of around $1700 to be worth it. It costs as much as a Stingray special, but you're not even getting paint at that price.

[@cptncanela]

@@57precision still too expensive for what you get.

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

It has a finish, it’s just a satin finish. It’s expensive because of the premium body wood, more labor intensive finish process, flamed maple neck and fingerboard, stainless frets and one-off CNC program for the body. It should cost more than it does, honestly. If it’s not for you, I get it, it’s a very specialized instrument. To say it’s expensive because of the name, however, is very wrong. When I find a decent deal on a used one, I’ll be putting a concentric volume/tone pot in it and it’ll probably become my go-to instrument, because my style and tone are well-suited to this instrument.

[@cptncanela]

@@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney the thing is that I can get the same and more with a cheaper bass.

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

@@cptncanela You can’t get any of the things that make this bass special on a cheaper bass, or any other Music Man instrument at any price. I have a US Sterling 4H, an old US SUB Sterling, and a US Sterling 4 HH, they’re the best production basses money can buy in my opinion, but they won’t quite get this tone. It’s not what they do. This will. Maybe you like it and maybe you don’t, that’s irrelevant. I’ll most certainly be picking one of these up, and it’s absolutely worth it and then some.

[@AnonYmous-vu1lw]

Slap a bass on the baarbie. Nice life. Great to see the progression in your channel and pretty much peek in to your life over the years. As a fan of your whole gig and playing, it really appears as a. lovely humble looking success story full of great people. The pad and home look truly happy. And the cameraderie genuine. However if you have me fooled. Well done for that too! Passion and hard work deliverring the goods and its always great to watch and learn..

[@bikeknight54]

A beautiful passive Music Man w/o tone control is ridiculous.

[@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?

[@dannymars]

I’ve always hated the look of the music man bass, but this one looks way cool.

[@6strngbass]

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

[@jasoncompton7074]

If you want a tone knob so bad, then wire one jazz bass stacked knob. Problem solved. You are welcome Scott.

[@andrewparamonoff]

Before opening the comments section, I knew that there would be some subsidies for active basses. But no, I am surprised that they are no more.

[@chriscuthbertson]

Musicman need to make a standard line passive bass (with a tone control). not everyone needs, or wants an onboard eq.

[@longdongbongchong]

Naw, it's what makes the MM sound.

[@basscoup]

Uh, they do - Cutlass and Capris

[@chriscuthbertson]

@@basscoup I presumed they had discontinued them, as I couldn't find them on their website.

[@PorchBass]

@@chriscuthbertson they are not cheap second hand either! I'd love a caprice.

[@timoheinrich8763]

"The bass is not versatile? YOU are not versatile!" :D I actually thought this bass here sounded better than the P-Bass.

[@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.

[@Seize_The_Karp]

It’s set up with flats out of the box. Put on a set of rounds. That ceramic pickup will snarl all day.

[@carloswarriorpro]

Joe dart is a legend 🤘🏻

[@anssimyllymaki1624]

Who? 😁

[@intrepidmercenary_1]

@Marlboro Girl lemme guess...Pete Bartosch is your guy isn't he?

[@bassimprovjams3772]

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

[@edjefferson9175]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@danielvought1802]

A stacked concentric pot In the place of the 1 knob could give you a volume and tone without routing

[@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

[@paoloalcantara2465]

P-bass blew it away

[@malcolmlarri9073]

The gold P bass has my heart !

[@devinebass]

⭐️🏆💛

[@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)

[@matthewb8229]

Scott: I just want a tone control! Scott's Amp: What?! I have more tone knobs than you know what to do with! You don't even USE this one!

[@ericclinton7399]

Scott’s fingers, Wtf? we are the ultimate tone control, pure without adding phase to the signal

[@Tenoken]

Wearing sunglasses in the house!

[@ohyeah6821]

Back to BASSics

[@jonnyrochester1141]

Basically, this is a Musicman Sterling (hadn't been said in the video). And the cheaper version is the Sterling SB14.

[@jacoblopez365]

Dude, that’s my dream bass

[@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.

[@MisterNiles]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@AykaFix]

How about the Joe Dart Jr. short scale bass...... a review will be welcome Scott

[@simonrodan3670]

I'm guessing that Jo Dart's philosophy was that maximum simplicity was part of the appeal and that also meant that any variation in tone comes from how you play and not what settings you choose.

[@CC-fi3pp]

If I want something not very versatile, I'd get a sweet '63 P Bass reissue.

[@ludvigsundby]

tbf the whole point of the joe dart bass is that it DOESN't have tone knobs, like it's supposed to be as simple as humanly as possible, this is especially clear when you look at the joe dart jr

[@ludvigsundby]

like it doesn't give you an option, if you want a different sound you have to work with another volume level, if not you'll just have to be creative and do it vulfpeck style

[@kamasotomonte5043]

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

[@dirkidentification]

that froggy head on the (ken smith?) tuner, at the right: that's what it's about !!

[@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.

[@ProgRockDan1]

Thanks for sharing your insights into this bass

[@ThomasDaley100]

OBV wearing the ray bans indoors in honour of the most versatile bass in the world

[@ericajohnson7535]

I love the concept--so simple, no batteries.

[@LeeGHThomas]

Batteries. Real complicated.

[@ericajohnson7535]

@@LeeGHThomas and expensive.

[@therealmrfishpaste]

Question: what is prickly heat?

[@RABDS]

Heat rash. Blocked sweat ducts, sweat trapped under the skin, ending up as blister looking skin.

[@nicacrush]

Must be an English thing

[@therealmrfishpaste]

@@nicacrush Indeed...I've never heard of it before.

[@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.

[@Coolio_Ash]

AAAA ITS A GREY HOUND! I love greyhounds

[@Minerider]

who else is here after they just announced a sale for this at $400?

[@devinebass]

Not quite the same thing, this is the Musicman version, the one just announced is the Sterling By Musicman version, at a much more accessible pricepoint!

[@jekanyika]

Just put in my order

[@gssong7111]

He should have J Dart J Bass Sig...

[@windogendoors7566]

This bass is simply phenomenal. The playability is excellent. It sounds amazing especially playing harmonics. It also looks fantastic. I played this thing for like an hour at my guitar center

[@zifuzmalikoshaylou1052]

To make it Simple but why not simple price..too.

[@offbeatbassgear]

So it's a less versatile, more expensive version of a standard EB MM Stingray...Brilliant!

[@drphalanges1520]

Now I need an out of context clip of Scott saying "Two massive knobs!".

[@devinebass]

🤣🤣🤣

[@thomas_the_cat]

most of his tone comes from the shades... so just a single volume knob on the bass is enough 😅

[@devinebass]

🤣🤣🤣

[@benny123550]

easy simple and on the go bass of all

[@kevmac1230]

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

[@markwarner5554]

I mean...there is definitely a finish on that bass. It may be oil, or a very thin sprayed satin poly, but ash and maple would be absolutely filthy within days of being played without a finish. I don't see any sane instrument builder shipping guitar with raw wood on all the handled bits.

[@iamcode.4]

The price is absolutely insane for what you get.

[@shnrrr]

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

[@TheWhmaxwell]

2K? Great review man

[@flakoka44]

In fact, I like the sound of Joe better with the jazz bass than with the Musicman, a matter of taste.

[@edennard1]

Louis Johnson didn't even get a signature Model .. and he was the cat that pretty much put the Sting Ray on the Map....damn

[@andrewswindells8492]

I think I will hold on to my 70's Stingray! That bass looks like a woodwork teacher's mid-term project...Yuk!

[@alanwadey2848]

@Scott's Bass Lessons ; just buy a wah pedal and have the tone control at your feet.

[@PorchBass]

Lol I'm down with that!

[@bandicoot5412]

Yea tone knob, the rest is just right, thank you great revue.

[@danielvaldezaguirre]

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

[@bobt5778]

5:12 my Stingrays feel short to me as well - that's something I like about them.

[@rotek824]

of course it's good, how can you doubt it man it's got strings and pickups and a fretboard

[@fyokota]

I wouldn't change it for my Stingray Special, even if my EQ is always flat.

[@charliemcgrain]

I need versatility, especially at that price.

[@DanHarville]

I thought he said JOE DIRT. I was thinking of the movie.

[@RJRKM]

Strangely I preferred the sound of the Joe Dart Bass over the Pbass

[@johndough247]

Personally I'd rather only a tone knob than a volume knob, on most days volume is "set it and forget it". Fun Fact: this isn't the first signature bass to do this...Timothy B. Schmitt from the Eagles had a Carvin Signature model back in the 90's/early 2000's with J-Bass pickups and only 1 volume knob.

[@svenramnefjell7742]

It’s over due now, but I would not have any of them, if i had the change. It would be a total wast on me. A mid range to cheap would be ok, thank you so mutch😇

[@seanguidry3981]

Scott you got this just keep going!