Megatar Models

[JRHellfire]

I'm just wondering because this is probably the only place on the internet to get a real unbiased answer, which model of the Megatar is worth getting.

Is the TrueTapper good enough or does the fanned fret system of the ToneWeaver really make it work the extra $800?

Also are the quad pickups in some of the models necessary?

Is Megatar the best way to go for somebody who wants a fairly cheap touchstyle instrument?

Also I was a little curious about touchstyle instruments in general, just kinda curious as to whether or not the idea of playing prog rock like Yes with it's intense basslines and outlandish guitar is possible on something like the Megatar or the Stick?

Thanks.

[PhoBucket]

I can only comment on the Maxtapper model because I have not played the others. I consider the Megatar to be a very good value, and plan on getting a Truetapper model to get that maple sound. There are a few people on this board who own other models, and may be better able to speak to the value of the other models.

With enough practice, anything is possible.

[traktor]

Hello, JRHellfire,


I'm Traktor, the U.S. Manager for Mobius Megatar. For most of your questions, other folks here are the best to provide you unbiased answers.


However, I do wish to correct one error of fact.

The MaxTapper, at our current price rollback -- with premium dark wood, straplocks, Bartolini dual pickups, and custom Graph Tech StringSaver nut and saddles -- costs $1590.

The ToneWeaver, at our current price rollback -- with identical premium dark wood, straplocks, Bartolini dual pickups, and custom Graph Tech StringSaver nut and saddles -- costs $1990.

The difference in cost for the ToneWeaver is therefore actually $400 rather than $800.


Speaking personally as a musician, my own personal instrument is a ToneWeaver Dual, with just the two pickups. I like that the Dual is lighter in weight than the Quad, and I personally don't feel that I need the other pickups. However, some folks want them, so we provide them.

The difference in cost between Dual Bartolinis and Quad Bartolinis is $300. (The list price of two Bart pickups uninstalled and sitting in a box is about $280.)

So, speaking for myself personally, if I wanted to choose between $400 to go from normal to fanned frets and the TwelveTone individual bridge plates, or alternately to choose spending $300 for another two pickups, personally I would choose to invest in the fanned frets.

And if I wanted to spend another $320, I'd get dual active-circuit Bartolini preamps and dual outjacks.


Of course, regarding Megatar instruments, I have to admit to quite a lot of bias. All the same, that's my personal opinion as a player of these instruments. But, as always among musicians, everyone's opinion, their ears, and their music is their own.


-- Traktor


PS: Nobody has ever requested it, but if someone wanted a fanned-fret instrument with the TwelveTone bridge, but built of light wood, with steel saddles and non-Bart pickups, and no straplocks, we could of course build one. That's one of the beauties of semi-custom assembly and modular architecture.

[Tom Drinkwater]

I play a TrueTapper and love it. I have dual Barts and it is basically stock although I recently took out the stereo jack and put in two mono jacks because it is cheaper than replacing the stereo cord which my kids mangled. Anywho, I'm with Traktor on the 2 pickup thing, my megatar sounds great without the extra pickups. I am glad however that I didn't go with the fanfret setup because I am probably going to change my tuning soon. With fan frets you are pretty much locked into the bass bottom tuning. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this tuning but I am interested in trying others and the fan frets would prohibit this. Of course if you are sure that bass bottom is your thing than definitely go fan fret, it is very cool.

[jamsire]

I have pretty much near every Megatar type before the neck through models.

The Max Tapper is great (that's the last one I bought).

But the Tone weaver is a killer!!

I love the bi-melody on my True Tapper Dragon

And my college students throw down on Midi Tapper.

My point is - you will be happy with MaxTapper, but you will be thrilled to all get out with the Toneweaver.

I hath spoken.


Originally posted by Tom Drinkwater
I play a TrueTapper and love it. I have dual Barts and it is basically stock although I recently took out the stereo jack and put in two mono jacks because it is cheaper than replacing the stereo cord which my kids mangled. Anywho, I'm with Traktor on the 2 pickup thing, my megatar sounds great without the extra pickups. I am glad however that I didn't go with the fanfret setup because I am probably going to change my tuning soon. With fan frets you are pretty much locked into the bass bottom tuning. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this tuning but I am interested in trying others and the fan frets would prohibit this. Of course if you are sure that bass bottom is your thing than definitely go fan fret, it is very cool.

[Nightmare Music]

Originally posted by jamsire
I have pretty much near every Megatar type before the neck through models.

The Max Tapper is great (that's the last one I bought).

But the Tone weaver is a killer!!

I love the bi-melody on my True Tapper Dragon

And my college students throw down on Midi Tapper.

My point is - you will be happy with MaxTapper, but you will be thrilled to all get out with the Toneweaver.

I hath spoken.

i was going to suggest he get in touch with you Ernie, since you own pretty much all of the Megatar options in one instrument of another.


I play a True Tapper Storm, with the Bartolini pickups and it is great. i couldn't complain.

(from everything i can gather. guys, correct me if I'm wrong) the Novax Multi-Scale frets work great, and a big improvement on standard parallel frets IF you use the BassBottom (http://www.megatar.com/english/accessories/Tunings/tunings.html) ,but it can't be used for any other tuning, or stringing arrangement(crossed, uncrossed, 4ths bass, 5ths bass, etc..) unless you're sure you want to use the BassBottom Tuning, i would suggest a model without the Novax Frets.

as far as the wood options, i'm VERY happy with the light wood, but i'm sure the dark wood of the Maxtapper is great too. i haven't played one, so i can't give real review, but i can say the true tapper doesn't disappoint

[TheEclectic]

I have a used TrueTapper and a recently picked up a used MaxTapper.

I like the TrueTapper the best right now, probably because it was my first and I am more familiar with it. The dark fretboard of the MaxTapper throws my sense of place off for some reason - a problem I do not have with guitars.

If you are a biginner then I think that you hold off on getting a fanned fret model becuase it can not be re-strung to a different tunning. The other two models will allow you to experiment with different tunings and string arrangements, which I think is important.

I like the Megatars because they are easy to customize. Soon both of my instruments will have midi (13-pin) capabilities for both the base and treble courses. When I re-string the MaxTapper I am going to uncross the tuning to give me some variety and to help me understand and develop my style.

[lactose]

Hope I am not being to picky but you could string a fanned fret any way you wanted. You just wouldn't get the intended benefit of the altered harmonics. I say this because I have been using uncrossed fourths the most and wondered if a reversed fanned fret arrangement would be worth pursuing on it. The longest string wouldn't have the longest scale, but the longer strings as a group would have a longer scale.

I know, I need to get a girlfriend.

I love fanned frets, the Max Tapper is the first instrument I have purchased in years that did not have fanned frets (I wanted to experiment with different tunings).

I would probably recommend normal frets if you aren't sure which tuning you would use. And if you look around at the various brands and their prices, you will see Megatar is a great value. They are a well made instrument.

[warrplayer]

Now if we could only get bi-directional fanned frets for the Chapman Stick Inverted 5ths/4ths tuning! Traktor?

[lactose]

There is a picture of a bi-fanned neck instrument somewhere on the net. And if I remember correctly, it is set up backwards.