Bass player review of 25th & Big Al

[laneline]

Nice review of both basses although I don't get how 2 new innovative designs from one of the top manufacturers in the world gets passed over for an editor's award. The review is totally positive with no concerns, I'm going to fire off an e-mail to Herrera and ask him.

 

[Big Poppa]

they suck eggs and we dont advertise

 

[MudvilleStomper]

lol!!!

 

[bovinehost]

they suck eggs and we dont advertise

I was thinking hard about how to sum it up and was summarily beaten to the punch.

 

[laneline]

If they respond to my inquiry of what criteria they use for an award I'll post it. I figured advertising is a big component in their "objectivity".

 

[shakinbacon]

they are a business, so if not praising an advertising sponsor's equipment makes them lose money... well I can see why it would influence them

not saying it is fair, just ripe for conflict

Consumer Reports had it right originally... don't have ads.

unfortunately this doesn't seem to be the business model for the magazine

 

[strummer]

unfortunately this doesn't seem to be the business model for the magazine

No, because it is near enough impossible to run a magazine without ads. Having said that, I always feel a little disturbed when the alleged business model of Bass Player comes up. I run a magazine too, and we test stuff (not basses lol), but we don't care what advertisers we have in the magazine. They adverise to reach our readers, not to sponsor the magazine. We've had ad boycotts in the past, and we do have manufacturers that don't advertize, but we try to test what our readers want to read about.
But it's acomplicated matter, where the magazine will no doubt claim EBMM does not think their readers are important, becasue if they did they would advertize. At the same time, writing rave reviews about idiotic $7000 basses endorsed by Pi does not really make a magazine trustworthy, does it?

 

[five7]

Fairness?

 

[EdFriedland]

If you'd like to compare and contrast, my review of the 25th and Big Al is now online at TheBassWhisperer.com

 

[NorM]

While I have not read Ed's review, I have met him in person and I can honestly say I did not see him suck eggs. I can honestly say (even though my opinion is strictly subjective) I found him to be a good person.

 

[Rano Bass]

If you'd like to compare and contrast, my review of the 25th and Big Al is now online at TheBassWhisperer.com

That's a very respectable and credible source if you ask me
I always enjoy Ed's reviews.

Bass Player magazine has some new guys doing reviews and i don't think i can trust them like i trust Ed Friedland.

 

[Big Poppa]

Out of one side of the mouth is journalistic integrity...out the other is the rate card. When was the last time you read a bad review? If you go back and see how many products that got the editors pick are still around after 5 years you will chuckle

 

[Sterling_Bass]

I haven't had time to read the review. My magazine came yesterday. I'm not surprised the review was positive. Has an EBMM bass or product ever received an Editor's Choice award?

 

[Manfloozy]

If you'd like to compare and contrast, my review of the 25th and Big Al is now online at TheBassWhisperer.com

Ed, love the review. Concise but a great description! (I can only assume the difficulty with such a word limit... but you did a wonderful job IMHO)

 

[Sting]

So Ed, when do we get to see the full Big Al video review?

 

[laneline]

If you'd like to compare and contrast, my review of the 25th and Big Al is now online at TheBassWhisperer.com

Ok Ed I was going to say I compared the 2 reviews but there isn't any comparison, you get my Consumer Appreciation Award. GP doesn't even mention the other pickup choices on the 25th. And you never said words like :
compelling, tad, and grok. Your review makes me go pick up my 25th and GP's makes me want to go to Starbucks. I can't wait to pick up the mag for the disc. great job, Thanks, Rick

 

[EdFriedland]

Thanks, keep in mind my intent was not to show off my review as being "better" than BP (the magazine, not the guy). They have always had their own thing when it comes to reviews. In fact, I never wrote a single gear review for them in 12 years.

Anyway... at GW I am so constricted by space, it's usually all I can do to get the features mentioned and add a few comments on how it sounds based on testing. The videos are usually more to the point, but with these two basses, it was all I could do to get all the sounds represented in ten minutes apiece!

Sorry to say the 25th and Big Al videos did not make it on to this month's CDROM, and so I feel like I should wait to release them on YT until they are "on the 'stand". (That's real journalist talk for you...) Sorry to keep y'all waiting.

I've been lucky not to have to review much crap. Since Guitar World only reviews one piece of bass gear per issue, it's usually something worth talking about. When you have to fill an entire mag with bass stuff... you take in all sorts of stuff. Although, there have been times where I passed on an item, or chose not to do video for one reason or another (no names please).

The reviews I do for Bass Emporium are definitely intended to help get people interested in those basses. They are more like informational showcases. Are they un-biased? Not really. I get to pick any bass I want out of their amazing inventory... there are no dogs there, and having the freedom of choice, I pick stuff I like! So, you won't see a negative review there either!

I will be doing some reviewing for Bass Gear Magazine soon, Tom Bowlus and Co. have asked me to contribute. I look forward to having some space to write, and I like their two review setup. The player reviews the bass, then the luthier (Phil Maneri) gets his say. I like his stuff, he does tell it like it is. Many luthiers (the ones that do repairs anyway) tend to have a jaundiced eye toward things. He says things most magazine ad reps would cringe over.

Keep an eye out for that, I'll be starting in the 5th issue of Bass Gear.

 

[Basscake]

Who pays the piper calls the tune.

Like here.

That's why we don't boast HERE how awesome all our F*nd*r's, S*d*wsky's, W*rw*ck`s, L*kl*nd's and K*n Sm*th's are.

 

[Sting]

Who pays the piper calls the tune.

Like here.

That's why we don't boast HERE how awesome all our F*nd*r's, S*d*wsky's, W*rw*ck`s, L*kl*nd's and K*n Sm*th's are.

... but we do talk about how much better EBMM basses are than those other brands.

 

[cellkirk74]

Well,

con: none

what else should one say....