25th Anniversary Surprise

[Nitrix]

The surprise is on me!

It's been a while since I posted. I was trying to control my GAS and hold back on purchases because I am insane. I have a stupid number of guitars including about 15 Music Man's. Guitars and basses. I bought the Petrucci BFR Koa earlier this year and yikes! What a beautiful beast (I'll save that for another post when I get a chance). I thought I had self actualized and wouldn't feel the need to purchase any more Balls. Had all my bases covered and then some. (As a side note, I played a small gig with the BFR Petrucci and I even had non guitarist's asking about the guitar because of how gorgeous it is)

Surprise on me. My local store gets a 25th Anniversary in and asks if I want to be the first to try it. Being a Ball addict, of course the answer is yes. I didn't think there was any danger of me buying it considering how much I love the Petrucci. They open the case and out pops a flawless red flame pattern with a maple board. Holy crap! I took it home to "try" on the spot. I played about one and 1/2 chords and.. sold!

The surprise is not that I like a Music Man. That goes without saying. One would think that any Music Man would interest me. Not true. I had absolutely no intention of adding to the stable as I had every one I could want. What blew me away is just how cool this axe is.

I am not surprised by the fact that a Music Man instrument is flawlessly made. I about 15 Music Man guitars and basses and every one of them is top notch. What really did surprise me is how truly unique this guitar is - and I mean that in the best way possible.

I was really kind of expecting a "prettier than usual Axis Super Sport". Boy was I wrong! The resonance of this guitar really took me by surprise. The conbination of series/parallel is more useful than I anticipated. From a really fat sound to a more open and bright sound at the flick of a switch. The bass is very balanced in the fat mode and doesn't get flabby. The brighter sound doesn't get ice pick in your ear either.

It rocks! You can get a controlled feedback at manageable volume ( I surmise that this is due to the chambering). It is light but has oomph! It has a bright attack w/o the bottom falling out. I could go on forever here.

If you haven't tried one, please do! It really is everything people are saying it is. Thanks again for pushing the art of guitar further ahead.

I'm afraid to try the bass!

 

[Astrofreq]

Please post pics of all of your Music Man guitars. We all want to see them.

 

[fogman]

Please post pics of all of your Music Man guitars. We all want to see them.

+1!

great story.
let's see the 25th!!!
I'm hungry for one!

 

[DJ.]

Congrats!
They are great guitars. I can't put mine down and I have not played any of my others since I got it.

 

[Big Poppa]

Thanks so much this guitar was the realization of alot of what we all dream about in a guitar in the factory....Its music to my ears to read and hear people that absolutely get what we hoped to nail....

 

[Nitrix]

Pix!

I will try to get some pix up. I have been remiss in doing this. Robelinda asked quite a while back but I just haven't had the time. I will as soon as I get the chance.

Thanks

 

[Whymsical]

Reading all these great reviews is just making the anxious wait to get mine all the more harder....

 

[Colin]

Reading all these great reviews is just making the anxious wait to get mine all the more harder....

not far away Craig

 

[gerry d]

I have a question..

will the 25th design be continued after the cut off date to order..?

I won't be in a position to order until next year and I'd love for the guitar to be available then.. I know it won't be the 25th but with the same chambered design and such.

 

[Colin]

I have a question..

will the 25th design be continued after the cut off date to order..?

I won't be in a position to order until next year and I'd love for the guitar to be available then.. I know it won't be the 25th but with the same chambered design and such.

yes but not in the current colour and name

 

[fogman]

yes, next year it'll be called the 26th! (no. i know nothing once again)

 

[Trev]

Man, I have just GOT to play one of these.

 

[bkrumme]

Great story. The 25th is an absolutely amazing guitar. The tone is so well balanced you can hear everything, even with extremely high gain settings. Fat & Warm, but not muddy. Bright & Shiny, but not harsh. And every combination of tones you can think of.

The 25th is a piece of musical art and deserves a spot in every musician's arsenal whether you play pop, rock, metal, or anything in between. It's the most versatile guitar I've ever owned.

 

[Eilif]

Awesome story. I had a similar experience, which led me to buy a 20th Anniversary Silhouette. (Which I wasn't planning to get.)

I've tried the 25th. It's a hands-down winner! Sounds great, plays great, very comfortable, nice balance. Too bad for me I can't afford one now...

 

[Shoewax]

After seeing all Youtube vids I found, I'm starting to love 25th! I'd love to try one of these.. Altough the contour style - it's not my style (I don't feel comfortable having gibson les paul or axis on my laps). But the sound (even on those vids) is totally awesome! Hope I'll have a chance to play it one day :]

 

[bkrumme]

After seeing all Youtube vids I found, I'm starting to love 25th! I'd love to try one of these.. Altough the contour style - it's not my style (I don't feel comfortable having gibson les paul or axis on my laps). But the sound (even on those vids) is totally awesome! Hope I'll have a chance to play it one day :]

One thing to remember about the 25th. It has a contoured body. So your arm is resting on a flatter surface, rather than on a sharp edge. I find it very comfortable as opposed to a Les Paul or Axis. Comparing it to either of those guitars is a bit unfair, anyway. It's a completely different animal. Even though it looks like an Axis, it's definitely not. Definitely has its own feel and its own mojo.

 

[Shoewax]

One thing to remember about the 25th. It has a contoured body. So your arm is resting on a flatter surface, rather than on a sharp edge. I find it very comfortable as opposed to a Les Paul or Axis. Comparing it to either of those guitars is a bit unfair, anyway. It's a completely different animal. Even though it looks like an Axis, it's definitely not. Definitely has its own feel and its own mojo.

Wow, good to know...

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I would love to have one in my collection, but its sadly out of my price range....

 

[robberns]

New 25th Anniversary owner

Love the guitar (flamed top, rosewood fingerboard, vibrato), just experiencing some oddities with the volume control. I'd be curious to hear if anyone else out there is hearing this.
I am used to the normal treble drop-off that you get when you turn down the volume. But this guitar has a real severe drop case of this, and I noticed that when the volume is full up, the pickups sound very strident/ice-picky. Once you roll down to 8 or so (on a 0-10 scale), I notice a huge difference in tone.
It happens in all pickup combinations, parallel or series.
Anyone else notice this?
I've tried different cables, amps, straight to the amp, etc...

 

[bkrumme]

Love the guitar (flamed top, rosewood fingerboard, vibrato), just experiencing some oddities with the volume control. I'd be curious to hear if anyone else out there is hearing this.
I am used to the normal treble drop-off that you get when you turn down the volume. But this guitar has a real severe drop case of this, and I noticed that when the volume is full up, the pickups sound very strident/ice-picky. Once you roll down to 8 or so (on a 0-10 scale), I notice a huge difference in tone.
It happens in all pickup combinations, parallel or series.
Anyone else notice this?
I've tried different cables, amps, straight to the amp, etc...

I have not noticed this with mine. In fact I get the opposite. The volume control is very musical as is the tone control. You might make a call to Customer Service.