EBMM Idea Thread! Guitar Chapter.

[Twilight Zodiac]

Ernie Ball Music Man instruments have been celebrated and hailed as some of the finest instruments on the market for years. They are revolutionary and classic, all the while maintaining something that many companies have dismissed, and thats an open mind for those that devote themselves to the instruments and the community that the Ball family has built.
Today, the craftsman of these fine products are being celebrated as they see their hard work be part of a musical creation, whether it be from endorsed artists or Ernie Ball devotees, Music Man has certainly raised the standard of what we shape our idea of the "perfect" instrument is.
So please, let this thread be devoted to posting ideas onto this site, allowing the mildest to the wildest dreams be heard by those that keep an open ear to these suggestions.
This thread is not for complaints and grievances really, rather to positively and respectfully let our opinions be heard and responded to.
Oh, and have fun!


Thank you,
Twilight Zodiac

 

[Twilight Zodiac]

Here are some ideas that I have dreamt of, from the mildest to wildest, to the small to the tremendous, I am thankful for this area with which to express ourselves.

1. A smooth joystick instead of a toggle. A keyboard has a modulation stick or joystick with which to mesh and mingle their sounds with, adding life with subtle nuances to their music. Now, while a three position switch is still very versitile, what if you could determine exactly how much of each pickup you are using and blending in a smooth and simple control.
Take for instance on a piezo equipped bridge. Instead of using a pot to blend it, what if you could direct the flow and blend with something as smooth as a keyboard joystick on the guitar? To me, it would allow even more individuality to each instrument and allow each pickup to be used to its fullest, satisfying the artists particular nuances.
2. On the market there are lots of "build it yourself" kind of kits that you can try to make the instrument of your dreams and budget. It would be cool to have something like this, an affordable and custom Music Man to build your own. A double benefit to this might be a better appreciation for the hard work of the employees at Ernie Ball.
An extention to this idea would be having a secondary cavity that is empty so that when you buy a guitar, if you want to add, lets say a sustainer, you'll have the space with which to do so without further drilling.
3. My father is a PEZ collector, could you imagine a Silo "PEZ" neck? Not look wise, but function. If you need to adjust something or clean etc, you would be able to do that with a collapsable guitar. Perfect for flight use and on the go travels.
4. Ok, so you know seat belts, how they retract until you need to pull on it to use? How about that for a guitar? You'll never lose a strap again, and you'll be able to safely play with your guitar without worrying about the strap coming off in the middle of a song.
5. Glow in the dark inlays, or messages. Take for instance a JP with the inlays, what if with the light on, you couldn't see the inlays, but when you turn off the lights, BAM! a beautiful display of crafstmanship and a colorful "JP" in the dark onstage.
6. The Mystic Dream finish is beautiful and original, however it is being copied and marketed a lot by other companies. Thats fine, so that just means the standard has been raised again! How about mystic dream inlays?
7. A convertible solidbody guitar. Say you want a solidbody, then for the next set, you need a semi hollowbody, being able to control how much breath you want, almost like how you can control a piezo.
8. A convertable scale length guitar. I like 24 3/4 scale length necks, but if i need to tune down, it would be cool to be able to pull the neck so that I can extend it to a 25.5 scale length neck.

Thank you for reading the first (and not last) installment of ideas!


-Twilight Zodiac

 

[whitestrat]

Ok, here's my thoughts on your suggestions as a customer:

1. A smooth joystick instead of a toggle...

Who would make this switch for you? Switchcraft? Allparts? CTS? Are there enough parts made currently to provide a low cost especially if it's only implemented in EBMM guitars? Most positions used by consumers are a fixed few. These would usually be more than enough to satisfy the general public, who really would have their hands full trying work with a standard 3 way or 5 way switch already. The cost factor of such a modification is best left as an aftermarket mod by the customers themselves, and not at a manufacturing level.

2. On the market there are lots of "build it yourself" kind of kits that you can try to make the instrument of your dreams and budget. It would be cool to have something like this, an affordable and custom Music Man to build your own. A double benefit to this might be a better appreciation for the hard work of the employees at Ernie Ball.
Kits are not advisable as they are usually detrimental towards brand equity. If EBMM were to issue kits, and say they were easily made, then where's the magic in buying a factory made one? We know now that Fenders aren't all that special, when you can piece together a partsocaster from USACG or Warmoth or Allparts cheaply enough. There's little magic left in the "Made in the USA" bits for Fenders. But for EBMMs, the form factor has been altered enough that it stands out. If you want this special form factor, you can only get it by buying a factory made EBMM guitar. That's what mojo is. The dream. Kits kill the dream.

Also, you've already said that EBMM guitars are well designed, and better made. What do you think kits will do to this perception? Furthermore, the EBMM guitar look is not as common or as widespread as a Strat. So demand for this kit will be non-existent.

And also, you CAN install a sustainiac without having to route holes in the current EBMM body. I've seen a japanese retailer (Rock Inn) do that with the Luke. It's cool.

3. My father is a PEZ collector, could you imagine a Silo "PEZ" neck? Not look wise, but function. If you need to adjust something or clean etc, you would be able to do that with a collapsable guitar. Perfect for flight use and on the go travels.
No clue what a PEZ is, so I can't comment.

4. Ok, so you know seat belts, how they retract until you need to pull on it to use? How about that for a guitar? You'll never lose a strap again, and you'll be able to safely play with your guitar without worrying about the strap coming off in the middle of a song.
Hence EBMM strap locks...

5. Glow in the dark inlays, or messages. Take for instance a JP with the inlays, what if with the light on, you couldn't see the inlays, but when you turn off the lights, BAM! a beautiful display of crafstmanship and a colorful "JP" in the dark onstage.
Inlays are views as fruits of craft. Luminova inlays would kill that beauty. And luminova requires light charging. Quite impractical for night gigs and dim stage lighting. Some watches currently use this. The Bell & Ross Phantom, and the Jean Richard Juventus watches have this "black luminova" where it's not visible in light. But again, it's more of a gimmick than practical...

However, Tritium can be used. But the radioactive-conscious American government will not allow this much tritium to be put into a guitar. It's used in watches and rifle tips now, but that's at total darkness and usually quite close to your face.

6. The Mystic Dream finish is beautiful and original, however it is being copied and marketed a lot by other companies. Thats fine, so that just means the standard has been raised again! How about mystic dream inlays?
Wait for the new slew of colours from EBMM... Mystic dream is magic, but it's not the colour that makes it so nice. It's also the bevelled edges of the JP body, which shows off the colour so nicely. The others, like the Epiphone Chameleon, and the Ibanez S series, don't have it, and therefore does not look as nice.

7. A convertible solidbody guitar. Say you want a solidbody, then for the next set, you need a semi hollowbody, being able to control how much breath you want, almost like how you can control a piezo.
Not entirely a bad idea, but again, impractical. There's already not enough depth or size in current EBMM guitars to be effective as a hollowbody. Piezos are enough, and EBMM uses the best in the market already.

8. A convertable scale length guitar. I like 24 3/4 scale length necks, but if i need to tune down, it would be cool to be able to pull the neck so that I can extend it to a 25.5 scale length neck.
If you pull the neck and lengthen it, you're not tuning down. You're tuning up. Unless you loosen the tension. Again, it's more practical to have ONE guitar for ONE tuning.

 

[Slingy]

It seems to me that EBMM is a conservative company. The innovation and modern appeal is all here, but their designs and color schemes are classy imo. These are pieces of art, not gimmicky party guitars.

 

[Dante]

It seems to me that EBMM is a conservative company. The innovation and modern appeal is all here, but their designs and color schemes are classy imo. These are pieces of art, not gimmicky party guitars.

leave it to Moog =)

 

[andynpeters]

It seems to me that EBMM is a conservative company. The innovation and modern appeal is all here, but their designs and color schemes are classy imo. These are pieces of art, not gimmicky party guitars.

I disagree. My EBMMs are excellent functional musical instruments with some innovative features. Art is for hanging on walls, guitars are for making a noise with.

 

[Assumer]

I just want them to offer the Axis Super Sport Neck as an option on all their guitars.

 

[Lou]

Please angle the switch on the axis supersport and move it to a position that isn't blocked by the volume knobs.

 

[Astrofreq]

Please angle the switch on the axis supersport and move it to a position that isn't blocked by the volume knobs.

+1. Then take out the 5 way and put a toggle with a hardtail.

 

[DaPatrooch]

I think silver binding on the Axis Super Sport would be cool, to complement some darker solid colors better, such as Sapphire Black. Maybe some vintage-looking covers on the pups (like on the 20th Silo) and chrome knobs (or the same knobs it already has but in black). Maybe some neck binding on it as well. I think that would be awesome. Everything that EBMM makes is great! I wouldn't really change anything, except something like that ^.

 

[candid_x]

I'd like a cup holder.

 

[Axilla]

I'd like a cup holder.

...as well as a prerouted cavity for a Zippo fuel lighter

 

[beej]

How about a snowglobe and a presidential seal? Oh wait ...

 

[DrKev]

Self adjusting truss rod - factory perfect set up every time.

Some sort of mechanism that allows a fully functional floating bridge but automatically 'hard tails' the bridge for tuning stability when it senses a string break about to occur.

A credit card slot, so I can be paid directly to my bank account before each gig.

A five-way selector that accesses further combinations by twisting the top of the selector knob, rather than push-pull pots or the like.

A programmable guitar strap that automatically reverts to your favourite length after somebody else adjusts it otherwise.

 

[grumpyoldman]

No clue what a PEZ is, so I can't comment..

Lionel

Do your parents know you are using their computer?

 

[Twilight Zodiac]

In my defense, I did mention a few times that this was meant for all kinds of ideas, key word, "ideas."
I don't expect any of these to actually be manufactured. I just thought it would be cool to have a place where you can safely post all these crazy ideas.
Apparently I was wrong.

 

[Roubster]

How about a paintjob by Michelangelo (not that guitar noob) hahaha! Maybe a beer bottle opener, built in machine gun and grenade launcher for those ANNOYING fans.

Side rant: Just to explain the annoying fans...have you ever been to a concert that was partially ruined by the moron next to you? I was at Satriani concert (20th anniversary tour of Surfing With The Alien) and this A*****E was whistling throught the entire show. Another idiot at UFO concert was beligerantly drunk and smashing into people and spilling beer all over the place.

 

[leftyguitarblue]

In my defense, I did mention a few times that this was meant for all kinds of ideas, key word, "ideas."
I don't expect any of these to actually be manufactured. I just thought it would be cool to have a place where you can safely post all these crazy ideas.
Apparently I was wrong.

Isn't that what people are doing? it's all good, you're safe here.


I like the cup holder and machine gun idea personally.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

I would dig a compartment for my blackberry...

Another idiot at UFO concert was beligerantly drunk and smashing into people and spilling beer all over the place.

Kind of like the guy who started swaying and then proceeded to vomit in front of my table at the 8:30 LTE show at BB King's Good thing it was the last song!

 

[brasco68]

I would dig a compartment for my blackberry...



Kind of like the guy who started swaying and then proceeded to vomit in front of my table at the 8:30 LTE show at BB King's Good thing it was the last song!

What the hell is wrong with people when they just can't keep it together when they're out in public?

Years ago I was at a Billy Joel concert and some guy behind me and my girlfriend got so hammered he threw up on my girlfriend...what a douche!

Oh yeah...Pete...I'm down with the Blackberry compartment! +1