• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

Bob123

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Mar 25, 2012
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227
very novel approach to the single cut. Guitar is getting a lot of criticism on the net for its strange paint job though. Any chance on it coming out in just a "normal" top, or is the "V" shape mandatory? If so, its not my cup of tea.
 

Big Poppa

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Feb 9, 2005
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Coachella & SLO, California
Bob it is what it is and its also getting a lot of praise...I can tell you one thing....after almost 30 years...ANYTHING new is met with one part acceptance 2 parts apathy and a whole lot of not liking it....This time we actually have more that like it than dont...

The JP Bfr was the biggest bitch fest when we introduced it and it is now one of the all time greatest selling music mans...WIl this be? who knows.
 

Bob123

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Mar 25, 2012
Messages
227
Bob it is what it is and its also getting a lot of praise...I can tell you one thing....after almost 30 years...ANYTHING new is met with one part acceptance 2 parts apathy and a whole lot of not liking it....This time we actually have more that like it than dont...

The JP Bfr was the biggest bitch fest when we introduced it and it is now one of the all time greatest selling music mans...WIl this be? who knows.

Im ASSuming by your signature line that you are Mr. Ball himself? If so, very cool of you to be active on the forums like this, and I appreciate your time sir.

It's not "apathy" per say. I have LOVED every EBMM I've touched and I imagine this one would be no different, however, I'd be remiss to say it looks like Id imagine it should. As this is a prototype, there is surely going to be some tweaking involved. I would love to see a solid flamed top over the neck-through, or even a two part with a burst, but as it stands, it's simply not my cup of tea.

I am just one person, I am usually brutally honest, and I hope you can appreciate that. You have certainly accomplished more in guitars then I ever dare to dream, so I understand it's merely my 2 cents being casually thrown around.


All in all, its DEFINITELY novel, and unique. And definitely 100% EBMM (well, its not, but you know what I mean haha). Good to see you guys stepping out of your comfort zones a little bit!!! I hope this means more innovation on the manufacturing front ;) (Neck-through JPxii? :p)
 

mesavox

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Mar 4, 2004
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723
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Guymon Oklahoma
Bob it is what it is and its also getting a lot of praise...I can tell you one thing....after almost 30 years...ANYTHING new is met with one part acceptance 2 parts apathy and a whole lot of not liking it....This time we actually have more that like it than dont...

The JP Bfr was the biggest bitch fest when we introduced it and it is now one of the all time greatest selling music mans...WIl this be? who knows.

RE: new things met with 2 parts apathy etc.... I remember when the EVH came out. It seemed like people either loved it or loathed it. It was so radical... part Tele, part Les Paul, part Kramer... there just seemed no middle ground, and I recall a lot of discussion about whether or not the thing could ever really sell. Now, that shape is iconic, classic, and sales seem as solid as ever 21 years later. This new guitar may indeed not catch on, and may not do well at all, but how does anyone ever stand out from the norm if they don't do something risky and radical? I'm kind of an 80s shred type of guy, so the JP BFR is something much more my speed for the bulk of what I play. But, at the same time, this guitar seems to me to be exactly what any guitar builder should be doing to further strengthen the diversity of their line. What amazes me about it is that you already make so many different guitars with so many options... You mentioned that it is going to be branded differently, will you be hiring builders and marketing folks for that brand, or will it be treated like a limited run MM product?

Not everyone can like every design, but even designs I've not favored over the years are still designs I find exciting. I would never design Brian May's guitar for myself... but it is a guitar that gives me goosebumps for many reasons.

Some really great designs have failed in the market over the years. Some really great designs have succeeded. No one can know which will be the fate of their design when releasing it, but not releasing it because it is radical, or a few people might talk about not liking it is a guaranteed failure.

I won't be surprised if this design is iconic in 21 years.
 

fbecir

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Jul 3, 2005
Messages
2,992
Location
Paris, FRANCE
It's always nice to see a new design.
Shape and colors are the first things we see, but in fact when you play a guitar they are the least important things ... (you don't see your guitar when you play, just your fingers !).
For me sound and ergonomic aspects are the most important things ... that you cannot test without playing the guitar. The AL is a good example : a lot of guitarists say that the shape is strange, but it seems that all the guys who test one are impressed and find this shape very ergonomic.

With this new Music Man, my only reservation is the position of the volume and tone knobs. They are not "Morse approved" for tone and volume swells ! Or you need to have a very long pinkie :rolleyes:

But let's try one, that's the best way to judge a guitar !
 

Big Poppa

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Feb 9, 2005
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Bob123

My point was general and not directed at you..but to explain that as a designer and part of the design team...you always like what you bring...Nobody thinks their baby is ugly....SO it hits the market and at first you have people you hate it....I mean violently....especially in the internet age. There are keyboard warriors...there are keyboard fanbois...

How many times has a car came out that you really didnt get the design only for it to become one you like....or the reverse the car you see and say "Wow I love that" only to tire of the design quickly.

My point is that we expect rejection, apathy, and praise when trying something different. You should have seen how Dudley and I were laughed at for the Silhouette.....brutal and there was no interweb.......then Keith Richards played it and we were cool...I was 30 then and it hurt.

By the time I did the Bongo I sort of enjoyed scraping the chalkboard of the critics minds.....

On the internet...read comments on you tube and other sites.....some just so mean and off point and personal....Im talking about anything not us....I have friends that are artists that have been deeply hurt by these....I have one friend that was talking to a friend of his who was a shrink and the shrink said he had patients that were coming to him because by day they were normal and at night they would leave horrible mean cruel comments randomly to people they didnt even know on the net and were seeking help for this.....I thought that was funny. I still would love to see an internet where things you said had consequences....
 

MrJJoncas

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Joined
Oct 18, 2011
Messages
193
I'm glad that EBMM team have jump outside their comfort zone: the neck thru, the shape, the desing, the angled bridge. I think it's really cool to have a company like that on the marcket who's always bringins new things: cobalt strings, game changer, etc. I just have a lot a congradulations for you !!! But, in my honest opinion, this guitar is not for me, I'm not saying it's ****, 'cause it's false, but it's not a guitar for me, for the king of stuff i'm doing. But I can see the work inside that guitar and I just have congradulations to do for the EBMM team !!!
 

Harable

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Joined
Feb 8, 2010
Messages
52
Location
Minnesota
how about another tease?
Image2.jpg

Well, I, for one, think this is damn sexy...

I think another tease.....

SCL2naturaltop.jpg

LOVE this...
 

acwild

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Jun 27, 2006
Messages
855
Location
Hillsborough, NJ
One of the pieces of advice I have given that Febcir has echoed...is play it first. It really is ok to not like it....its ok to love it....

Is this going to go on a production run and will generally be available? I'd really like to try one. The thing that I learned about Music Man guitars is just what you said, "play it first." You guys seem to be very much in tune with what guitarists want in their instruments feel, balance, tone, and uniqueness. Yep, I'm in the fanboi category but I had to be won over at first.
 

Roubster

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Aug 20, 2005
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2,639
Location
Crooklyn, NY
I think it's pretty damn cool to try new and different things especially when it comes to the shape and different ergonomics. I would most certainly love to try this guitar to see its tonal capabilities and the way it feels. As a picture it looks strange, but there is no way of telling whether it is uncomfortable or insanely comfortable.
 

PeteDuBaldo

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Jul 16, 2004
Messages
10,192
Location
Central Connecticut (Manchester) USA
This axe, while non-standard in terms of looks that are all based on 1950s designs, catches your eye and is intriguing to the point of wanting to try it, whereas something like the Pontiac Aztec grabbed your eye because it was so horrendous no matter what good light you tried to view it under and you just wanted to X your fingers and scream at the top of your lungs "GET BACK YOU DEVIL CREATURE, GET BACK!"
 
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