EBMM Bass Custom Shop?

[Deacon John]

Will EBMM do special orders? For example, I'd like a SR 4 but with the old style nut, maybe smaller frets. Is this possible?

Thanks,

D J

[kevin]

HI Deacon...welcome to the EB/MM Forum!!!

We don't do any custom work above and beyond what is actually an available option. Which narrows it down to about 100,000 possible combinations of instruments.

Hope you hang out and have some fun, we have a great group of folks around here!

[bassmonkeee]

"Custom Shops are for when your regular production instruments suck."

Or, something.

[58super]

"Custom Shops are for when your regular production instruments suck."

Or, something.

A very wise man said that a while ago.

[Sonnyonbass]

And my SR5 really does play and (very important) sound better than a LOT of those so called custom instruments. Maybe I'm biased.

You can always buy a stock instrument and let some1 else put in different frets or something.
But why would you?

[KennethB]

"Custom Shops are for when your regular production instruments suck."

Or, something.

This is not really true. Most of the time unsaid companies' custom shops' production suck in equal amounts as unsaid companies' regular production.

[58super]

This is not really true. Most of the time unsaid companies' custom shops' production suck in equal amounts as unsaid companies' regular production.

I recently played an example of such a company's product in this case a $2200 custom shop guitar that had the strings binding in the nut just as bad as one of their $350 guitars. Both wouldn't stay in tune without some file work.

[oli@bass]

Will EBMM do special orders? For example, I'd like a SR 4 but with the old style nut, maybe smaller frets. Is this possible?

Thanks,

D J

Try the Music Man Basses For Sale thread to get a mint older model. And eBay. You could also post in Wanted To Buy.

That being said, I also miss a bit the customizing part of the EBMM production... but I understand the cost vs value vs quality impact a real custom shop would have.

[RobertB]

"Custom Shops are for when your regular production instruments suck."

Or, something.

Not to start a religious war, but I disagree. Custom shops can also be for when some of your customers/enthusiasts specifically value having something that thousands of others don't have, in addition to everything they love about the regular production instruments. And I wouldn't bash anyone for that - it's just another subjective thing. And EB obviously recognizes and caters to that to an extent, with the various limited editions, etc..., which I view as sort of a "compromise" between that desire some customers have for uniqueness & the economic factors in favor of "mass production".

~Rob

[Brim]

EBMM doesn't need a custom shop when they're banking buko bucks on these annual limited editions as well as their overall variety of options. It would just slow down production and raise the price of the standard production basses. Just my opinion...BP should chime in.

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Yeah, and then they could make some 5-strings with 19mm spacing at the bridge!

[bovinehost]

Not to start a religious war, but I disagree.

It's hard to start a religious war when the only combatants would be us.

You may disagree, but the quote about custom shops being for when your regular production sucks? That was a BP quote.

You could even get it on a coffee cup!

Ernie Ball Custom Shop Mug > bovinehost2 | CafePress

Custom shops can also be for when some of your customers/enthusiasts specifically value having something that thousands of others don't have, in addition to everything they love about the regular production instruments.

The BFR instruments should fill that niche nicely without going the "custom shop" route. It may not be exactly what you're thinking about, but once you look at one, it might be exactly what you want.

You have to look at it from the factory standpoint, too, to understand why not. I mean, I'm with you, don't get me wrong - I'd love to be able to call up SLO and say, "I want a purple sparkle Bongo with exhaust pipes".

You bet! But from what I understand, they can't produce regular stock and BFRs fast enough to fill the demand. Something is going very, very right.

I've learned to never say never (see: Bongo 6), but I don't expect to see additional space rented, positions staffed, exhaust pipes purchased in the near future. The instrument factory is the size it needs to be and a true custom shop would almost certainly have to be a separate entity. Maybe BP will weigh in and tell you I'm full of doo-doo, but I think I'm pretty close to right, anyway.

Jack

[bovinehost]

Yeah, and then they could make some 5-strings with 19mm spacing at the bridge!

Shut up!

[RobertB]

Right on, Jack. Points well taken. And I actually meant to convey the opinion that the BFR's & other limited edition runs are a GOOD compromise/solution/response to the demand that exists for more unique instruments.

By "religious war", I just meant that I'm aware & respectful of the strong opinions we EBMM lovers have, and that it's not my intention to join this fine forum and then start stepping on toes.

So the quote is from BP, huh? That's damn good marketing, then!

[Big Poppa]

Listen if the motivation for a custom shop was to truly serve the customer then fine...you decide. There are some examples of the custom shop only reason for existance is to supply a playable instrument...its all ver the road..there are two Japanese companies that have a large presence that has the artists guitar s made in a litle shop in hollywood......