IMO, if they're going to make a neck-through 'Ray, it also needs to have a through-body stringing option for the bridge. It was telling how the EB guy in the video was over the moon describing all the guitar features, but when he got to the basses, it was basically, 'This is the so and so and uh, it does this...'; you could tell he was struggling to remember his talking points, and when asked about the benefits of a neck-through body bass, all he could do was very briefly talk about upper fret access following the interviewer's lead, which IMO, has never even been a remote issue with EB basses. I am seriously loving that Crimson Stealth finish though.
I wonder if the Sterlings will have the same options. I like their necks better. Also, maybe it's just me, but the Bongo seemed to have lost some of its toilet-seat roundness in the body and headstock and looked more streamlined. It's not a bass I want, but I can see why so many other folks like it. I like other modern EB basses quite a bit, but they're like Fender, minor variations of a few established themes. My favorite thing they have done in the past 15 years was to reissue their Classic" series with bridge mutes and to finally add a second pickup option. I would love to have either a vintage or new Sabre reissue, and I bet that if you had enough money, you could get them to build a composite neck ("graphite") Cutlass, too.
Also Chris, in regards to modern MM passive basses, I played a few US-made passive SUB's back in the day. They sounded like a cheap active (like Schecter) import with no character, and VERY active-import (Mexi Jazz and P plus) Fender-like. Those big MM 'buckers need a preamp. If you want Music Man tone with a differently distinct but very useable passive option: G&L. It's amazing how much a passive-set G&L 2000 series through a good preamp sounds like an old 70's MM. There are very few Fender-inspired tonal options unavailable on the market right now. After the Coronado and Starcaster bass, I halfway expect the Katana and Performer to make an appearance soon.
