10 years of being a knucklehead

[banjoplayer]

Hi guys,
my EBMM Steve Morse had it´s 12th birthday a few days ago but today it is 10 years that I bought it new and joined the EBMM players breed here.

I still enjoy my Music Man guitars, in fact it became a few more over the years: a Silhouette in 2008 (sold), Albert Lee in 2008, SUB1 in 2014, reflex and SBMM Cutlass in 2016. But the Morse is still something special: it´s the one I would keep if I had to track it down to just one. No matter how much I play the others because of preference or sonic variations: The Morse is the one that always fits like a glove and the one I like to come back to. It would be a bit too boring to play just one but it´s the one I love most. I wanted it for so long, then spent the money (didn´t make the decision easy) and never regretted it. Thank you, EBMM!

A few days before buying it I joined the forum (after lurking a while of course) and found a special place. For 10 years it is one of the home pages of my browser and there were only few times I didn´t check in regularly. Beautiful things happened and also very sad things. I´d love to meet more of you but unfortunately most of you are over the pond and not many over here in Germany, not to mention near me. So ironically the only one I met in real life (despite artists like Steve Morse, Albert Lee, Dave LaRue or Steve Lukather) so far is Tommy who lives thousands of miles away but travels the world with Steve Morse. It was always great and I´m looking forward to retry.

That´s simply what I liked to share.

the left side of the pic is 2007, right side is 2017

 

[orion_21]

Well, the TV is nicer

 

[mikeller]

That is a great story. 2017 also shares my 10th year with EBMM - my first was a Trans-Red Hardtail Axis (no longer have) and that started the fun !!!

 

[look_at_her]

Well, the TV is nicer

I guess he sold the wall clock to fund it
Nice story and pics bro , lots of things have changed but Morse is still with you , I joined almost the same time as you did but dont have the pictures to prove it

 

[kbaim]

Terrific pics Banjo.
Happy 10 year!

Who the hell gets thinner with more hair after ten years?

(long live Bela Fleck also who along with steve are my favorite musicians)

 

[kestrou]

Somebody - hint! hint! - should send you a complimentary EBMM coffee mug or something...

Kevin

 

[xjbebop]

Fabulous post! Really like the 'before / after' pics...nicely done!
I understand your feelings for the Morse and you described it well. I'm falling into the same relationship with my Albert Lee's.

*as for Bela Fleck, I've been a huge fan of his & the Flecktones since way back when (I played bass for a long time before switching to guitar). Victor Wooten is still one of the most versatile & musical bass players in the world in my opinion.
I was fortunate enough to see them live half a dozen times back in the day.... just amazing!

Now, back to EBMM!!!

 

[Norrin Radd]

Terrific pics Banjo.
Happy 10 year!

Who the hell gets thinner with more hair after ten years?

I know, right?!? I thought the pics were reversed.

Congrats Banjo!

 

[banjoplayer]

Thanks guys, you are truly amazing. It means a lot.

Thanks for your nice comments about:

- my TV (correct, the new one is nicer but that´s obvious ),

- my weight and my hair (after being a bit overweight for most of my life I managed to lose some weight in the last months. It feels great but the challenge will be to keep it. I changed my nutrition quite a bit and am confident. Long hair helps to mask a receding hairline - have it for a few years already)

- my living room (Looking at the picture I was surprised myself when I realised nearly everything changed here. Has much to do with the arrival of our second daughter, you can see her red toy shop right in the background. The clock is still around in some box. Anybody interested? Always need cash for guitars)

Coffee mugs are always welcome, I´m reallly coffee addicted (hint! hint!).

As far as my username is concerned: I never heard of Bela Fleck until today (good input - what I see on youtube is stunning!!) and rarely played a banjo. As I´m a Deep Purple fan the name "banjoplayer" refers to the description Ian Gillan uses/used when he talked about Ritchie Blackmore in interviews. I´m not sure if he used it just for Ritchie or for all guitar players. In the song "Ted the Mechanic" he sings: "The banjo player took a hike - What's that song I used to like - Vavoom..."

And back to the guitars: To mark the occassion I gave the Morse a good workout at the band rehearsal this evening. Usually I have my Amp set with a little amp distortion and have 3-4 overdrive pedals in front (along with some other effects). But today I played a bit different. Instead of stacking the ODs I had a full open Treble Booster (BSM BM-Q: a german company, highly recommended) in front of the upbreaking amp and controlled it with the volume of the guitar, just like Brian May or others do it. Now, that was very much fun. It gave me a hell lot of dynamics. Will have to do this more often.

I will give you an update in 2027 !

 

[kestrou]

Never heard of Bela Fleck? He's PHONOMENAL - both with "The FleckTones" and his solo stuff

I used to play bass to The Sinister Minister - check it out.

Kevin

 

[fbecir]

Hello Banjo

Thanks a lot for sharing your story and pictures. But I have a question : what's your real first name ? Banjo does not look like a German name ... (well it's Andreas or Steffen, if I can trust the Shelter50 web page ...)
You look definitely nicer with a beard (and I don't say that only because I have a beard since 1989 ...).

Enjoy the ride with your Morse (and you still have to buy 5463 Morse guitars if you want to compete with Kevin !)

 

[CHill]

Cool story. Great looking Morse.

 

[banjoplayer]

Hello Banjo

Thanks a lot for sharing your story and pictures. But I have a question : what's your real first name ? Banjo does not look like a German name ... (well it's Andreas or Steffen, if I can trust the Shelter50 web page ...)
You look definitely nicer with a beard (and I don't say that only because I have a beard since 1989 ...).

Enjoy the ride with your Morse (and you still have to buy 5463 Morse guitars if you want to compete with Kevin !)

Thanks Franz (well that sounds like a german name )
my name is Steffen and together we are the Bearded Morse Players Club (BMPC). Together we have 2 Morses, thats 0.2% of Kevin´s storage and twice the amount of guitars Steve Morse really uses (if you don´t count all those newish Y2D stuff, I mean there is only one #1...!).

well too early to talk serious, I´ll get a coffee.. where is my mug?

Have a nice day!

 

[Mick]

Ich wuerde sagen: Alles richtig gemacht!
Grüße aus Landshut!
Mick

 

[kestrou]

Thanks Franz (well that sounds like a german name )
my name is Steffen and together we are the Bearded Morse Players Club (BMPC). Together we have 2 Morses, thats 0.2% of Kevin´s storage and twice the amount of guitars Steve Morse really uses (if you don´t count all those newish Y2D stuff, I mean there is only one #1...!).

well too early to talk serious, I´ll get a coffee.. where is my mug?

Have a nice day!

But... I have a beard - can I be in the BMPC too!

PM your address - I'm working on getting a mug to you - they're only available online in Europe and I'd like to ship it directly so that you at least get it before your 20th anniversary.

Kevin

 

[beej]

Great story - both you and the guitar got better with age

 

[Spudmurphy]

Hey congrats - nice to see some old faces still checking in!!

 

[agt]

Great story, thanks for sharing. You, your Morse, and your home look better with age. Congratulations on your anniversary!

I also joined the forum in 2007. I first fell in love with EBMM instruments when I first played one in 1992 and finally bought the first of many in 1994.

 

[banjoplayer]

I also joined the forum in 2007. I first fell in love with EBMM instruments when I first played one in 1992 and finally bought the first of many in 1994.

so you are a long time user! great. I - as I think many - first noticed them through Van Halen in 1991 but got seriously attracted through Steve Morse when he joined Purple.

The fact that they guitars really high end and I´m just a hobby player was a barrier between EBMM and me. It took me a few years and some coincidences to bring us together:
#1: a local store suddenly had a Morse although my local store scene is rather poor
#2: a buddy convinced me that nothing is wrong when a hobby player affords a high end guitar
#3: after studying and working for 2 or 3 years, I had some money to spend!

It took me another few months and I went in the store from time to time just looking at it. Then I had the idea to make a gift to myself after getting an unlimited contract but for some reason that I cannot remember, honestly, it went very quick. I went into the store 3 or 4 days in a row, tested the guitar, tested it with my amp and against my guitar at that time and finally got it. Great memories

Hey congrats - nice to see some old faces still checking in!!

thanks - not heard much from you lately except some car things and that you are selling some of your guitars. All fine?

Great story - both you and the guitar got better with age

Great story, thanks for sharing. You, your Morse, and your home look better with age.

Thanks guys, I wasn´t fishing for compliments but am absolutely glad to get some

Ich wuerde sagen: Alles richtig gemacht!
Grüße aus Landshut!
Mick

Danke!!! mmh Landshut - immerhin schonmal Süddeutschland. War ich zwar noch nie, aber wer weiß. Hab mal Deine FB-Seite geliked

But... I have a beard - can I be in the BMPC too!
PM your address

#1 please come in. Now we are three members and quite some guitars

#2 are u kidding?

 

[Mordimer]

Great story It's always a pleasure to read such posts and conversations.
I have a beard, I like coffee a lot… It's time to buy a Morse

Cheers!