Custom Shop..????

[strummer]

I don't really see anyone being particularly nasty, but I'll admit that writing stuff like Lull, Lakland, Valenti and some others provide this kind of custom work at the same price point really gets to me. Because it simply isn't true.

Now there is of course the possibility to adjust production for ebony boards, and there is of course the possibility of adding gold hardware as an option, but at the end of the day ebmm has to sell their stuff and those two potions would be both costly and probably not too wanted anyway. I mean we do know ebmm keeps a fairly keen eye on the market, right?

And the "question" was answered just abour right away, right?

 

[oddjob]

Not nasty... blunt, yes, nasty... nah. It is about the reality of the situtation nothing more, sorry if it comes across that way (joys of the net)

 

[pedullamvp5]

Hey guys, I was just asking a simple question.... no need to get hostile!
I'll leave this issue alone........ But one last offering. I hear so much about the options available... lets see if I have this right, about 12-15 colors, 6-8 pickguards, one color hardware, matching headstock... I guess I just not getting the big picture here for options? But I'll go out on a limb to say this, I bet if you were given the ability to have a EBMM bass built to your wants, none of you would buy what is offered. You'd all make drastic changes......! You know you would, so don't jump me about this either!!!! Be Blessed, and stay in the pocket.

 

[Big Poppa]

Golly Heliboy and all. I explained this to the guy. How about some respect. Four times now he tells me how easy it would be....I count to ten and try not to alienate him..comments like "But I'll go out on a limb to say this, I bet if you were given the ability to have a EBMM bass built to your wants, none of you would buy what is offered." are just silly and his focus is onj his needs and if he really doesnt thinkthere are 100k options when I tell him then it isnt nasty we just have to pacify him

Now if the freaking world demanded ebony which is the most unstable fretboard material on the planet (it tends to split in dry climates) and the most expensive and the hardest to machine. I would make ebony and suck it up. I wish I could find the thread where I had to explain a few months ago just how many options we had.

 

[Big Poppa]

I found it....... maybe this will help

Please understand that making guitars and basses in the USA to begin with is a difficult proposition. IF that becomes your foundation it may make it easier for you to understand our balance between our mission of providing musicians with their tools and basic survival.

IF the public understood that as it is we are a manufacturing marvel in that we can offer so many choices for a reasonable price relative to the other comestic manufacturers. WE star with a committed and talented workforce in planning, purchasing and manufacture. Next is a careful investkment in technology. Third we dont carry inventory. Esentially every instrument is made to order.

As it has men mentioned we have over 100,000 combinatons of instruments and options. Your one change that you desire may some day see the light of day if it becomes signifgant to a larger part of the buying public.

If I offer a new pickguard to a sting ray....

It is:
A maple one
a rosewood one
a two band maple
a two band rosewood
a rosewood piezo one
a maple piezo one
a maple HS
A rosewood HS
A maple hh
a rosewood hh
a maple hs piezo
a rosewood hs piezo
a maple hh piezo
a rosewood hh piezo
A fretless two band
a fretless three band
a fretless piezo
a fretless hs
a fretless hh
a fretless hs piezo
a fretless hh piezo
A 2 band maple mattching headstock
a 2 band rosewood matching headstock
a 3 band maple matching headstock
a three band rosewood matching headstock
a maple matching headstock piezo
a rosewood matching headstock piezo
a hs matching headstock maple
a hs matching headstock rosewood
a hs matching headstock maple piezo
a hs matching headstock rosewood piezo
a hh matching headstock maple
a hh matching headstock rosewood
a hh piezo matching headstock maple
a hh piezo matching headstock rosewood
a fretless unlined matching headstock
a fretless lined matching headstock
a fretless lined matching headstock piezo
a fretless unlined matching headstock piezo

there are more and then multiply that times about 20 colors...Oh wait what about lefties
__________________

 

[oddjob]

Hey guys, I was just asking a simple question.... no need to get hostile!
I'll leave this issue alone........ But one last offering. I hear so much about the options available... lets see if I have this right, about 12-15 colors, 6-8 pickguards, one color hardware, matching headstock... I guess I just not getting the big picture here for options? But I'll go out on a limb to say this, I bet if you were given the ability to have a EBMM bass built to your wants, none of you would buy what is offered. You'd all make drastic changes......! You know you would, so don't jump me about this either!!!! Be Blessed, and stay in the pocket.

Would I buy a custom bass... if the price point were the same or reasonably close yeah. Could I design my ultimate Bongo... yeah. Do I have 3 killer instruments... oh, yeah. Is there a "standard" option Bongo out there that I would give my left nut for... yeap (DG Bongo 4 - black ice guard). I can dream but I also realize the reality behind it. The reality is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. You seriously need to come to grips with the laws of economics.

Now , let say this - let's imagine that BP said "Let there be an EBMM custom shop" and I could order my said Bongo from another post... think of what the up charge would have to be to cast my sole Bongo??? My under 2k Bongo probably became and under 3k (more than likely under 4k) - WOULD I STILL GET IT??? Dream about it, yes, drool over it, you got it, buy it... my wife would shoot me so no and I can't think of many that have that kind of $$$ to throw around.

Seriously, there is a DG Bongo out there with my name on it after I sell another bass - and it IS the Bongo I want.

 

[bovinehost]

I've stayed out of this thread. As a consumer, I can see the appeal, of course, of being able to order, say, a Biff Baby Replica Stingray. Or having an ebony board on a Stingray 5. Sure. I can see that.

And what you old timers have to realize is that we're always going to have new members - or newer members, anyway - who haven't been around for past discussions about the concept. I think everyone has been fairly civil about it.

So (a) pedullamvp5 asks the questions and (b) you guys chip in and then (c) BP explains it from his point of view, which is clearly the most relevant opinion.

I think this has worked out, don't you guys?

There are different business models out there. Fender has a Custom Shop...which is sometimes a true custom shop and sometimes not. Unless you're Eric Clapton or you have some serious funds, you still have a range of options to choose and anything outside that range isn't available. There are plenty of good reviews of those instruments - and some horror stories.

It is what it is. If you want a Fender Custom Shop, you know how it works.

Some of the other builders mentioned don't really have a production facility to maintain, building rather large numbers of basses each week, each month.

So, you know - just keep it in perspective and remember that we're all here for basically the same reason - we're fans of the instruments.

Let's not get heated about it, eh?

Jack

 

[pedullamvp5]

Ok guys... end of subject! I sure hope I didn't make anyone mad, because that was not my intention. Again, I love EBMM basses!!! To everyone that posted an opinion, I appreaciate it. Your points were well taken.
Stay deep in the pocket, and be blessed......................................................!

 

[Hellboy]

Well said, Jack. As always. Good chap, you are.

Some people do forget that we are on a web based discussion forum and we express ourselfs in writing only so missunderstandings can come fairly easy. If someone had said the exact same thing face to face that they write here, then it´s very, very likely that noone had reacted as we have the habbit to do on a web forum. pedullamvp5 expressed himself in a nice way, at least from my swedish point of view, and over and over explained that he´s a fan of EB and the instruments. I did get a feeling that the tone was getting agressive from some people and that is not necessary. We are better than that. We are tossing ideas towards one another, not granades. We are on the same side.

I get a feeling that a persons handle/nick name can be enough to get people going here from time to time unfortunately. "That guy has "fender" or any other bass manufacturers name in his nick. He is wicked". Many of us are members on many other web forums and most of us use the same nick and the same password on pretty much all forums cause it´s convenient. And some of us used to play one brand of instruments at a earlier point in life but is now playing something else but for some reasons they keep the same nick on forums just cause it´s convenient. My RL last name is Hellman (as the mayonnaise manufacturer but with one n) and since I´m (slightly) younger than my dad, I´ve choosen the nick "Hellboy". A younger Hellman.... Not at all chocking in Sweden but I know that some english speaking people find it abit upsetting cause they think of the word "hell" and then they start to think of me as satan without knowing anything about me. But "hell" is also the latin word for "light" or "shine". Quite the oposite from what most people think when they hear the word "hell"....

Yamaha made two synths around 1987 - 1988 and they named them V1 and V2. People in Britain got very upset because of this cause V1 and V2 was the name of the flying rockets/bombs Hitler used to send over the channel during WW2. So they took all of them back and renamed them to V50 and V70. Honda made a car modell that they named "Fitta" awhile ago. There is a expression at least in Britain, don´t know about US, that you "get fitta". You exercise, get fit.... Now fitta is also a rather bad swedish word for the female genitals. Honda actually sold two cars here in Sweden before taking them back and renaming them to "Honda Jazz" and that has caused for much joy and laughter over here. "****, it´s raining. My Fitta will get wet..."

What I´m trying to say in a perhaps odd way is that we are members of a, actually, international web forum and I do think that it´s a good thing if we tried to be as opened minded and polite as possible. There are newbies here and there are foreign folks here and there are people suffering from dyslexia and perhaps even a few drummers... Some questions will pop up over and over because of new folks and some will make suggestions that perhaps is not in line with how Ernie Ball wants to run it´s operation. But if and when that happens, then I´d say that it´s a good thing if we still try to act civil and keep our cool. Most of us are regular grand blokes that wants no harm. The odd few wicked ones are easily detected and pedullamvp5 is not one of them. Even if he is from Missouri.... That last thing was a joke....

Sincerely//Jan

 

[oli@bass]

My under 2k Bongo probably became and under 3k (more than likely under 4k) - WOULD I STILL GET IT???

You'd just be facing the price the rest of the world has to pay for these instruments...
Around here EBMM's are already by far the most expensive production instruments, in a price range, where people who can afford them actually don't care that much anymore if it will cost even more.

I'd have paid that 1k upcharge to get the SR 4 I mention here http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/30961-if-there-were-custom-shop-2.html#post489619

I don't want to anger anyone with this, just put another perspective at it.

 

[oli@bass]

Well said, Jack. As always. Good chap, you are.

+1
Always the voice of reason indeed!

We are tossing ideas towards one another, not granades. We are on the same side.

Excatly. I also thought of this in the same way as the thread about licensed low cost EBMM instruments. Getting the ideas flowing. Maybe Big Poppa could get some idea out of this that makes it into something that makes us happy and him.

But "hell" is also the latin word for "light" or "shine". Quite the oposite from what most people think when they hear the word "hell".....

Well... all those fires light up hell quite well, I guess

What I´m trying to say in a perhaps odd way is that we are members of a, actually, international web forum and I do think that it´s a good thing if we tried to be as opened minded and polite as possible. There are newbies here and there are foreign folks here and there are people suffering from dyslexia and perhaps even a few drummers...

LOL!!

Love & Peace!

 

[Hellboy]

Well... all those fires light up hell quite well, I guess

Exactly. Bring your own shovel, mate! I´ll make you work hard since I´m the man....

//Jan

 

[oddjob]

You'd just be facing the price the rest of the world has to pay for these instruments...
Around here EBMM's are already by far the most expensive production instruments, in a price range, where people who can afford them actually don't care that much anymore if it will cost even more.

I'd have paid that 1k upcharge to get the SR 4 I mention here http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/30961-if-there-were-custom-shop-2.html#post489619

I don't want to anger anyone with this, just put another perspective at it.

True but think what it would do to your cost???

 

[strummer]

Exactly. Bring your own shovel, mate! I´ll make you work hard since I´m the man....

//Jan

You mean you're the boy

 

[oddjob]

You mean you're the boy

 

[oddjob]

Well said, Jack. As always. Good chap, you are.

Some people do forget that we are on a web based discussion forum and we express ourselfs in writing only so missunderstandings can come fairly easy. If someone had said the exact same thing face to face that they write here, then it´s very, very likely that noone had reacted as we have the habbit to do on a web forum. pedullamvp5 expressed himself in a nice way, at least from my swedish point of view, and over and over explained that he´s a fan of EB and the instruments. I did get a feeling that the tone was getting agressive from some people and that is not necessary. We are better than that. We are tossing ideas towards one another, not granades. We are on the same side.

I get a feeling that a persons handle/nick name can be enough to get people going here from time to time unfortunately. "That guy has "fender" or any other bass manufacturers name in his nick. He is wicked". Many of us are members on many other web forums and most of us use the same nick and the same password on pretty much all forums cause it´s convenient. And some of us used to play one brand of instruments at a earlier point in life but is now playing something else but for some reasons they keep the same nick on forums just cause it´s convenient. My RL last name is Hellman (as the mayonnaise manufacturer but with one n) and since I´m (slightly) younger than my dad, I´ve choosen the nick "Hellboy". A younger Hellman.... Not at all chocking in Sweden but I know that some english speaking people find it abit upsetting cause they think of the word "hell" and then they start to think of me as satan without knowing anything about me. But "hell" is also the latin word for "light" or "shine". Quite the oposite from what most people think when they hear the word "hell"....

Yamaha made two synths around 1987 - 1988 and they named them V1 and V2. People in Britain got very upset because of this cause V1 and V2 was the name of the flying rockets/bombs Hitler used to send over the channel during WW2. So they took all of them back and renamed them to V50 and V70. Honda made a car modell that they named "Fitta" awhile ago. There is a expression at least in Britain, don´t know about US, that you "get fitta". You exercise, get fit.... Now fitta is also a rather bad swedish word for the female genitals. Honda actually sold two cars here in Sweden before taking them back and renaming them to "Honda Jazz" and that has caused for much joy and laughter over here. "****, it´s raining. My Fitta will get wet..."

What I´m trying to say in a perhaps odd way is that we are members of a, actually, international web forum and I do think that it´s a good thing if we tried to be as opened minded and polite as possible. There are newbies here and there are foreign folks here and there are people suffering from dyslexia and perhaps even a few drummers... Some questions will pop up over and over because of new folks and some will make suggestions that perhaps is not in line with how Ernie Ball wants to run it´s operation. But if and when that happens, then I´d say that it´s a good thing if we still try to act civil and keep our cool. Most of us are regular grand blokes that wants no harm. The odd few wicked ones are easily detected and pedullamvp5 is not one of them. Even if he is from Missouri.... That last thing was a joke....

Sincerely//Jan

Some good stuff here - 2 things: a) I can only speak for myself but the name has nothing to do with it b)the net thing does make things hard, bluntness can come across as meaness and that was never the intention (btw, I am one of those with dyslexia)

 

[Big Poppa]

Hellboy

great points sort of beaten and cliche if I do say so....I think that the problem is that it is really an adult and I mean mature group here...We have worked hard to keep the bashing to a minimum. I was very happy that there was a warwick guy professsing his love to both mm and warwick and he didnt get one tiny flame....we are making progress. Remember though this is not an open source forum. THis is corporate and that is why it dan be moderated as such. You are from another country and I understand your translation points but I also caution people like pedulla to try to not have laser like focus on just their interests... Pedulla didnt get a little stiff responses because of his name it was following his undying love with a ngative comment.....Kind of like telling your wife that you really love her but if her butt was smaller you would reaLLY BE HAPPY.its a big world out there and as I have also explained the forum doesnt represent the real cusomter....you guys are die hards and if I ran our r and d solely on this input i would surely go broke.......I gues it is lke someone on either coast who may think that thier perspecitve is obvious but forget about Iowa and Kansas..... I dont say this discounting you guys essential input but as Ive said it is like Cayene Pepper....great if you know how much and when to use it.

 

[oddjob]

Kind of like telling your wife that you really love her but if her butt was smaller you would reaLLY BE HAPPY.

That's why my Valentine's Day card didn't go over Learn something new each day... now I better go buy some flowers.

 

[rhythmCity944]

I have a beautiful piece of Mohogany that my dad built an acoustic guitar neck out of back in the 60's and the Cherry slab he made a top with and a small block of Ebony left from the fretboard locked away in my dad's basement. All pieces probably are worth more than any one of my Musicman basses. Just like BP said, that Ebony fretboard (though my dad is in love with the wood) is falling apart even though the guitar has sat in a case for the last 30 years virtually untouched in a climate controlled room. Same with the electric guitar he built from that wood. My dad even wound the pickups on that guitar. My dad tells me everytime he pulls out that guitar how much he loves ebony but how difficult it was to fret up.

 

[Hellboy]

Hellboy

great points sort of beaten and cliche if I do say so....I think that the problem is that it is really an adult and I mean mature group here...We have worked hard to keep the bashing to a minimum. I was very happy that there was a warwick guy professsing his love to both mm and warwick and he didnt get one tiny flame....we are making progress. Remember though this is not an open source forum. THis is corporate and that is why it dan be moderated as such. You are from another country and I understand your translation points but I also caution people like pedulla to try to not have laser like focus on just their interests... Pedulla didnt get a little stiff responses because of his name it was following his undying love with a ngative comment.....Kind of like telling your wife that you really love her but if her butt was smaller you would reaLLY BE HAPPY.its a big world out there and as I have also explained the forum doesnt represent the real cusomter....you guys are die hards and if I ran our r and d solely on this input i would surely go broke.......I gues it is lke someone on either coast who may think that thier perspecitve is obvious but forget about Iowa and Kansas..... I dont say this discounting you guys essential input but as Ive said it is like Cayene Pepper....great if you know how much and when to use it.

Hi and thank you for your reply, sire. Sure, my point of view might be "beaten and cliché" but still the same true. This IS a problem on web forums and this forum is SOO much better than most other forums when it comes to manners but it gets harsh around here too from time to time. I did not in particular find your posts very unfriendly in this matter. I was more refering to what other people wrote but I did not want to point fingers in specific directions.

Sure, it´s EB paying the bills for this forum and all of us respect that. You are in charge indeed but I would imagine that it might be interesting to hear peoples opinions about the products. Both pros and cons. Communication is most often a good thing if kept civil. I personally did not find pedullamvp5´s writing upsetting in any way and, to be perfectly honest, I´d felt hurt and jumped upon if I were him. I don´t see the "undying love with a negative comment" in his writing. The guy is a supporter and on the same side as everyone else. He´s one of ourselfs, you know and I hope that all this hasn´t scared him off. He is/was just tossing ideas and questions around and I got the feeling that he had to defend himself while doing so. And then someone accused him of "arguing". What is wrong with that? One toss a question or an idea around, someone picks up on it and tells their opinion and you answer back in a civil way..... That is a discussion and this is a discussion forum.

There is another thread going on right now regarding possible custom shop instruments and many are actually saying the exact same thing as pedullamvp5 did in this thread. But for some reason that discussion seem more balanced than this one. Most likely because manners have been discussed in this thread and that is, if so, a good thing. He (pedullamvp5) was not talking about regular production instruments, he was talking custom shop and we are all very much aware that it´s you, sire, along with the fine folks at EB that makes all the decisions regarding production. But the reason that most of us are here are to discuss the instruments that we love and perhaps even have the possibility to express some, most often perhaps, utterly uneconomical and perhaps even stupid suggestions.... And doing so using fine manners and a humble attitude. In the best of all worlds.....

Sincerely//Jan Hellman - Sweden