Armada Talk

[RocketRalf]

I love it. Regarding the internet reaction, the negative BS was to be expected, but I was surprised by how many openly "I Love it!" comments there are in the middle of those hate threads. The polarizing aesthetic is definitely great for its popularity.

 

[jvh]

I contemplated posting this, but I'll go ahead. I like the guitar and I like the reflex. With that said I'd rather see musicman focus making custom shop guitars for artist for everyone. I think that's their niche. Most people here like it, but who knows what the rest of the guitar community likes. They tend to get into their old pair of sneakers and walk away happy. It seems like everytime a new design is released it's hard for people to accept. However, release a guitar in conjunction with a skillful guitarist and instant hit. I doubt the axis would be the hit it is today without some momentum behind it...

 

[NickLee]

It's definitely more difficult to try out some EBMM models, as they produce on demand and we dont always get the latest stock here in Canada. I tend to scoop up the ones that show up, though

The Armada, in the looks department, really fits in with the rest of the line-up. I find it has that 50s/retro look, like the Albert Lee. There's a video on the EB youtube channel about the making of the Armada. Pretty cool.

Honestly though, once you've realized this company makes extraordinary instruments when you play them, do you really need to wonder about the new products? #Rheteorical

 

[balance]

I like it. A good change from the S, T, and LP shapes that dominate the market. I'm sure the Explorer and Flying V looked awkward to people at first as well.

 

[Big Poppa]

actually the endorsement model you mention is broken...there are 500 sig guitars and only 4 or 5 sell...

What everyone has to try to grasp is that you cant move forward without moving forward. If the Armada is a hit for some it is a home run for us. It doesnt take anything away from what we are doing it is adding our take on a different sector of the market.

Only a few companies can make it big riding two models...There is that school and then there is the copy school where they get a buzz and then ultimately fail because they havent brought anything new to the market and then there are guys like us and suhr and a few others who make a variety of useful and great guitars...it takes the number of models that we make to survive.

You know we are getting close to an amazing milestone....in 2014 we will have been making and creating American made guitars for 30 years. Not many can say that and if we weren't inspired to create new and fun stuff we would be done.

 

[jbliguori]

Love the uniqueness of this guitar, the MM quality and attention to detail, hope the neck is wider than the Reflex, anyway I can't wait to try one. Companies that Take risks with these kind of products makes me fell I can have a real and different choice and coming from MM it's great!, again well done! MM

 

[GoKart_MoZart]

If you dont want to be criticized then dont do anything create anything or say anything...

So true, and it's been true forever. Aristotle: "Criticism is something we can avoid easily-- by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing."

My vote for what it's worth: cool looking guitar, and I can't wait to play it.

 

[straycat113]

I did not like the first color combo that was shown which made the guitar not to my liking, though I have a feeling looks aside it is a killer guitar. After seeing the Black on Black finish I found that guitar attractive and one I would definitely like to own, the only thing left is to play one. Keith I have seen the same threads on the forums you have mentioned and others and the buzz is not going away and seems to be getting stronger as their are weekly threads especially on The GP. At first their was no grey area as guys either loved or hated the design but with the release of the new color combinations it is around 60-40 in favor of those who like it. The GP has a lot of corksniffers that are heavily into mainly vintage builds and this guitar has slowly been picking up steam with each new thread posted. Also no matter what side of the fence guys are on EBMM has been given kudos for having the balls to come out with something totally different that does not look like anything seen before. I also find what Sterling said to be on the money and though some of EBMM's way of doing things used to puzzle me as well as others, I have no experience running a guitar company. But what opens my eyes and makes me realize their are some very smart people running the show goes back to the EBMM EVH model.Keeping things real they landed the biggest fish in the pond at the time and it was a huge boost for the company besides producing a hell of a guitar. When Eddie left and went over to Peavey who never had the respect of the guitar community and was known for building blue collar US budget guitars, they now had the golden goose and respect! What I find really interesting about all this is that when Eddie bailed on them they sent 95% of their guitar building operation to Asia and lost all the respect they garnered by having the big fish, and today their whole guitar operation is based in Asia building budget foreign guitars that no one cares about and are basically obsolete as far as guitars go today. On the other hand EBMM which was a much smaller company as far as gear in the beggining is going stronger then ever, and whatever players think of them you will always see posted that they build top shelf, high quality, US built guitars on par with anyone. I really find this seriously interesting and the difference between running a business the right way and running it wrong! That is also why even though some things may not seem to make sense I do not questions Sterlings way of doing things =anymore lol.

 

[jvh]

But what opens my eyes and makes me realize their are some very smart people running the show goes back to the EBMM EVH model.Keeping things real they landed the biggest fish in the pond at the time and it was a huge boost for the company besides producing a hell of a guitar. When Eddie left and went over to Peavey who never had the respect of the guitar community and was known for building blue collar US budget guitars, they now had the golden goose and respect! What I find really interesting about all this is that when Eddie bailed on them they sent 95% of their guitar building operation to Asia and lost all the respect they garnered by having the big fish, and today their whole guitar operation is based in Asia building budget foreign guitars that no one cares about and are basically obsolete as far as guitars go today. On the other hand EBMM which was a much smaller company as far as gear in the beggining is going stronger then ever, and whatever players think of them you will always see posted that they build top shelf, high quality, US built guitars on par with anyone. I really find this seriously interesting and the difference between running a business the right way and running it wrong! That is also why even though some things may not seem to make sense I do not questions Sterlings way of doing things =anymore lol.

This is way off topic, but I don't think you can compare Ed leaving musicman to Ed leaving Peavey. I would say musicman was already established as a guitar company. Peavey not so much. Also, for the most part musicman kept the original design of the EVH model(smart move on musicmans rights to the design.) So it was a win for customers wanting the EVH guitar, because they could still get it. I believe peavey did not own that design they had. They completely changed the guitar(pickups, shape, etc) and didn't market it well.

I'm just saying there are a lot of "golden gooses" out there that I think would be great for musicman. If I was big I would probably only look to musicman to design my guitar. Most of the other companies are flooding the market with cheapy signatures and I'd want something custom with quality. All I'm saying is throw a signature name on this guitar and people would be lining up at the door for it.

One thing I never realized until recently is that musicmans guitars are purely market driven. They only make it when the music stores make a purchase. I think this is the greatest thing I've heard, because a lot of manufacturers bully the music stores into buying a lot of their guitars. That pretty much has put a lot of music stores out of business. So back to the Armada it's nice that is purely speculative or customer driven. I'm sure there's a bit of R&D that goes into it, but if Big Poppa says it's a hit for some then it's a win for them I can dig it.

 

[Sweat]

Nice to see this Armada discussion and glad many realize how innovative it is

Now the wait is harder

 

[GWDavis28]

Keith, I take it your getting one? Have you ordered it and what color combo, just curious.

Glenn |B)

 

[Sweat]

Keith, I take it your getting one? Have you ordered it and what color combo, just curious.

Glenn |B)

Glenn,

Not 100% on getting one, it depends on trying one out live, which I am assuming I have the chance at the DIGF in April, nothing ordered.

If I get one it will not be any of the black combos

 

[alf cockle]

I originally compared the Armada to an Edsel....I am dating myself,but the 50 and over crowd will know the car,and maybe see the comparison.Having said that,I think the Edsel is uber cool..the more I see the Armada,especially with the various colour combos,the more I like it...a test drive will tilt me one way or the other...I am right on the fence.I am glad somebody has the guts to come out with something really radical...Tx EBMM!I hope it does well.

 

[NickLee]

I guess some have it in their heads that a new design for a company is like a new movie release; it's either a hit or a flop. In reality, it's just a new tool that's out there.

 

[mtrejo]

Originally I was in the camp of not fully embracing the radical design. I own a couple of LPs and they work very well for me, dig the scale length, so I was pumped to check it out at NAMM.

At first sight, I immediately thought photos just don't capture the essence and cool factor of this guitar. Picking it up felt like a substantial instrument.

The details are impeccable and make many high end models seem a bit primitive. Having plugged it in to the sound station, I knew it was on the list of MUST have. Sounds killer, plays/feels killer and now my opinion is that it looks killer.

The Albert Lee is my favorite model MM makes. For me, the Armada is going to give the AL a serious run in competition.

 

[straycat113]

If Mario played it and gives his stamp of approval that is all I need to know lol! All jokes aside we like the same guitars and all I was waiting for was to play one-Black on Black for me. What about you Mario?

jvh- Not to go off topic but I think you have to brush up on your guitar history a bit. By 95 EBMM had 5 guitars out and Peavey had over 60 models- Wiki is great because I sure as hell could not name more than 3 lol.

 

[Big Poppa]

when evh came to us we made nine instruments a day. case closed

IN 1984 when I bought music man at 29 I said to the industry that I would not build inventory and only make what the dealers and players wanted. THey said I was crazy....Michael Dell came along and said he wouldnt build inventory ....thats our only comparision...he is a billionaire.

 

[mtrejo]

If Mario played it and gives his stamp of approval that is all I need to know lol! All jokes aside we like the same guitars and all I was waiting for was to play one-Black on Black for me. What about you Mario?

jvh- Not to go off topic but I think you have to brush up on your guitar history a bit. By 95 EBMM had 5 guitars out and Peavey had over 60 models- Wiki is great because I sure as hell could not name more than 3 lol.

Lol, Uncle Mike, consider the Armada approved with my official seal of awesomeness. The black on black will be the one I order, hopefully nice and quilty.

 

[Spudmurphy]

That's an interesting analogy BP - here's another for you.
Toyota have no inventory. They started over 50 years ago using SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Die). They built cars that were demanded by the customer and pulled their work through based on demand. Their raw materials are delivered just in time and not stored in a warehouse (that would probably not be appropriate in some ways to guitar manufacturing as wood has to cure etc)
They went from being bottom of the pile to becoming top of the pile using this and other LEAN techniques that strip out waste from their 100's of car manufacturing processes.

 

[Warg Master]

I'd love to PLAY one then I can decide!