So tell me ...

[izzy]

... does the 25th anniversary warrant all the fanfare? It appears to be a beautiful designed and built guitar, and folks here seem to love it, but I've not found any clips or vids that showcase it well aside from the Travis Larson vid. Are all the pickup tones actually useful, e.g. coils 1 and 2 (bridge pickup) running in parallel? Or should I opt for super sport with it's more modest 5 tones? This is genuine inquiry as I'm on the verge of ordering one, I'm not trying to stir anyone up or be disrespectful. Thanks folks.

 

[mb99zz]

Here is a review from Guitar World.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oQc0zVXmXk"]YouTube - Music Man 25th Anniversary[/ame]

 

[lenny]

wow that thing S.F.T!!!!Hey thanx for that ...hands down best demo of what that beast can do.......Its got me hankerin now.....before seeing this i wasnt salivating ......but now ...mmmmmmm

 

[tornandfrayed]

Any questions!

 

[edrod]

I'm speechless

 

[ScoobySteve]

I've had mine for well over a few months now, and it's official, the thing is a beast.

I remember reading Premiere Guitar's review of the Guitar and said the only drawback was that it couldn't offer any true single coil tones (duh its a HH guitar) but the split position in parallel mode is insanely close and has plenty of twangy goodness.

The parallel mode REALLY lets the clean channels shine, but lets not overlook how incredibly balanced the 25th is. Sometimes how well the 25th handles gain is overlooked because of the pristine clarity offered in clean modes in parallel, but let me tell you, with the chambered body, tone block and hard tail, the resonance and sustain on this baby is incredible. I stopped using my Keeley TS9 for my dirt boost because I really didn't need it. So serious.

The 25th is amazing. Period.

 

[Big Poppa]

OK maybe Im warming up to guitar magazines

 

[colinboy]

Great video demo of this guitar.It really is an absolute monster and im only just getting to know after having mine over a week all the different sounds it can produce.

 

[Dante]

OK maybe Im warming up to guitar magazines

wow, GW did a review of an EBMM... that's like the second, ever!

edit: double wow, he was really loving it...

 

[browndog]

I subscribe to Guitar World so I watched this on the CD months ago. If you were on the fence as to your decision to buy this guitar or not, that video should make your choice easy. It is by far the best video demonstrating the 25th’s versatility.

 

[izzy]

Great responses folks, THANKS. The vid does indeed showcase the tone ranges pretty good mb99zz, damn. Thank you for posting it. Did I hear him say "almost 10 pickup combinations"? What does he mean almost? There are 10 different combinations.

Speaking of pups, I'm assuming these pups are more classic sounding, i.e. in PAF land. Hard to tell from that compresssed vid but they don't sound like they're wound particularly hot, and I don't mean that in a pejorative way. Classic is good in my book (I'm an old coot).

Thanks for sharing your experience scoobysteve, dumping your ts9? lol, that's crazy talk. Sure makes it sound interesting/capable/unique.

So ... I'm thinking, because I'm more a finger picker than picker, tho I will occasionally use a pick under duress, that a RW neck might sound a bit muddy and that the brightness of a maple neck would be best to compensate for the reduced high end from using the fingers and ante up better definition -- even the RW is prettier to my eyes.

Amiright or amidaft?

Also ... has anyone had the privilege of playing a hard tail AND a wobbly? Is there any appreciable difference in sustain? Not being familiar with the MM trem and assuming it's spring based ... if you broke a string will all the tuning go to hell like a strat?

Finally, and I ask this question respectfully ... if there is so much love for this instrument why are 18 guys willing to part with theirs? Or am I misinterpreting POST #102?

Thanks for all your help so far, really appreciate it.

 

[Dizzy]

Finally, and I ask this question respectfully ... if there is so much love for this instrument why are 18 guys willing to part with theirs? Or am I misinterpreting POST #102?

Thanks for all your help so far, really appreciate it.

I think that's 18 EBMM's total (ALL models.)

Whilst there's a lot of talk of a 25th -the way I read it, Smelly was going bonkers to buy all the EBMM's he could if his job thingy all worked out, and invited all options....

 

[DrKev]

If the MM trem is set up floating, it will go out of tune if you break a string, just like any trem that's floating. It's part of the 'laws of physics' deal that comes with floating trems, no matter who make 'em, and the EBMM trem is quite possible the best of the lot. Besides, I think it's a silly reason for not buying a guitar when changing your strings as often as really required solves string breakage problems anyway. I can't remember the last time I broke a string on stage, but I can assure you, I knew I should have changed my strings before hand.

As for what seems like a lot of people selling off their newly acquired 25ths, you'd have to ask them! But in the current economic climate a lot of people are shifting a lot of instruments to make ends meet, some people buy when realistically they probably shouldn't have and need to recoup funds, and of course there is no accounting for personal taste.

Of course, I can't understand why anyone would ever consider putting that much money down on a guitar without at least trying an example out first. That will always be your best guide - suck 'em and see!

 

[dmullen]

WOW...Great demo! Man I want one of those axes...just like that one..hardtail & maple neck. Now that thing is really something special.

 

[izzy]

I think that's 18 EBMM's total (ALL models.)

Whilst there's a lot of talk of a 25th -the way I read it, Smelly was going bonkers to buy all the EBMM's he could if his job thingy all worked out, and invited all options....

Can't say I read every post in the thread but I thought Smelly was looking specifically for the anniv. model thus my deduction.

Besides, I think it's a silly reason for not buying a guitar when changing your strings as often as really required solves string breakage problems anyway.

Whoa there Nelly, don't put words in my mouth -- I'm just trying to determine if I'd be happier with a hardtail. I too can't remember the last time I broke a string (I change strings frequently because my sweat is caustic and destroys strings fast), I merely used the example because it's what everyone relates too.

As for what seems like a lot of people selling off their newly acquired 25ths, you'd have to ask them! But in the current economic climate a lot of people are shifting a lot of instruments to make ends meet, some people buy when realistically they probably shouldn't have and need to recoup funds, and of course there is no accounting for personal taste.

point taken

Of course, I can't understand why anyone would ever consider putting that much money down on a guitar without at least trying an example out first.

I don't have that luxury -- I've not seen one in town and one won't be brought in unless it's paid for, ergo my attempt to research the guitar first -- I've little else to go on.

Thanks for the responses guys, greatly appreciated.

 

[beej]

It's a phenomenal guitar. Really resonates beautifully ... hard to believe you're playing an electric when you strum it acoustically.

The pickups are a great match. They're hot and middy and sound great in series. For me they really shine in parallel. In particular, the bridge p'up in parallel has got some great chime to it- just perfect.

 

[bkrumme]

It definitely deserves the praises.

And don't underestimate it for metal. This guitar was built for rock, but for metal it just plain smokes. It will melt your face off...I promise.

 

[DrKev]

Whoa there Nelly, don't put words in my mouth

Sorry! And I'm not suggesting you're 'silly'. Quite the contrary you seem to know when your strings need to change. Obviously, any floating trem on any guitar won't pose that particularly problem for you.

And I do understand not being able to try guitars out, it's a bummer. It may also explain why people seem to chop and change their guitars so often?

 

[Big Poppa]

Fing has bought and sold two due to health reasons...I dont see man of these on resale

 

[DJ.]

For me it is the perfect guitar. It has great comfort, playability, and the tones you can get with it are just as amazing.