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Ernie Ball Music Man Custom Design Experience

Guess what guitar Marshall use to test their rigs?

Spudmurphy

Spudmurphy

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Joined
Aug 23, 2005
Messages
12,037
Location
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Guys what can I say?

I will remember todays experience for the rest of my life!!

First I'd like to say that I do not propose to go into every detail as this would be a disservice to Sterling, using his bandwidth excessively.

Today I went to the Marshall factory and met Jim Marshall, his PA and board of directors.

I took my Marshall amp with me and Jim signed it for me.

Jim Marshall, is to the British Music Industry what Leo Fender and Ernie Ball are to the US industry.

I propose to write a full report of todays events ( and it's a great story to tell!) and host it on a server which I'll post a link to.

Jim is not a well man having suffered a stroke last year and had pneumonia (oh yeah and he's been married 4 times !! ;))

I took a little gift with me - one of his favourite Cuban cigars and I just didn't care how much it cost me and how much money he's got!! - he was knocked out by the gesture. Anyways 2 oikes from Cardiff had a day they will remember for the rest of their lives - had the red carpet treatment and a 2.5 hour personal tour of the factory and museum.

Here's a few photos

Spud with his Marshall outside the factory

P1100003a.jpg


Spud and Dr Jim Marshall OBE signing Spud's Amp panel
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My amp with signed panel, a bottle of unique Marshall whiskey signed by Jim (man what a gesture I would have been happy just to have bought a T shirt!!), and a CD featuring Jim singing!! he was always a bit of a crooner. That whiskey and cd will stay with me forever!!
P1100047b.jpg


The topic of this thread - An EB bass guitar that is used to test some of the 2000 amps they make a week.
P1100024b.jpg


I'm still on cloud 9 !!!
 
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mesaboogieman

mesaboogieman

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Apr 7, 2007
Messages
439
Location
San Antonio, Texas
That is really cool stuff, Spud! I may be a Mesa guy but I still have my old Marshall JMP 50 watt MKII amp head that I plug into every now and then.
Can't wait to read the rest when you post it.
:D
 
BigTony

BigTony

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Apr 25, 2007
Messages
401
Location
UK Liverpool
Spud, y'know, when I saw that first pic of you smiling, I smiled too. Its so cool to see people when they are that happy. Good on ya dude. Can't wait to hear the rest of the story! What a wonderful experience!
 
Spudmurphy

Spudmurphy

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Joined
Aug 23, 2005
Messages
12,037
Location
Cardiff, United Kingdom
I can see now why people who have been to the EB "bashes" have said that they would remember it for the rest of their lives.

If life was a diary and you underlined certain things that happened to you in red, meaning that they stand out, then I gotta say that Jan 10th 2008 is underlined in red!!

I need to liaise with my buddy (who came with me) to get the full story "up and running" - he runs a server and will host it.

In the future I'll try putting a link in my signature to it.
Spud- still smiling!!!
 
T

travs

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Joined
Mar 16, 2007
Messages
729
Location
sea.wa
We will mark Jan 10th as SpudMurhphy Day. For his contributions to the Ernie Ball/ Musicman community. He had shared his knowledge and passion above and beyond.
Thank you Spuds!

now let's drink!
 
AnthonyD

AnthonyD

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Mar 23, 2005
Messages
3,683
Location
New Jersey
Spud - that's way cool! Thanks for sharing.

Might I ask how you managed to land such a great opportunity?
 
Spudmurphy

Spudmurphy

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Joined
Aug 23, 2005
Messages
12,037
Location
Cardiff, United Kingdom
^
I was at the Music live exibition at the Birmingham NEC a few months ago.

Marshall had their stand there and I bought the book on Jim Marshall called the "Father of Loud".
When I bought it the salesman said Jim was around the corner and he would happily sign it he also signed a James Marshall Hendrix poster for my 17 year old boy.

I went back to the EB stand to take another peek at Mr Horsepower and wandered around for a couple of hours then went back past the Marshall stand and spoke to a lady wearing a Marshall T shirt. I asked about Jim's health and I got talking to her for quite a while. I mentioned how cool it would be if I could get Jims sig on my Marshall. It turns out I was talking to Jim's PA and next to her was Jims daughter.
She asked where I lived and said why not come to the factory. She said that she would make sure that Jim was there. We corresponded via e mail and she would reply the very next day

I was taken aback by the hospitality afforded by The Marshall people - and I am so glad that I was able to meet an icon of the British Music Industry.

I can't wait to give a full lowdown.

Anybody can visit the Marshall factory but it's advisable to contact them first.
 
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kbaim

kbaim

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Joined
Aug 16, 2003
Messages
4,949
Location
Red Rock Country
It's always so great when the legends of the industry make us feel so special. Thank God the world is made up of so many musicians and artists.

Great photos and story!
 
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