A question about Finishes to Big Papa or anyone else that knows.

[MusicMan4Life38]

Wow, and here I thought that Translucent Teal was one of the more popular colors. (I love it, personally.) Thank heavens I bought a bass in this finish before it becomes unavailable.

It's kind of a bummer that six of the eight newest finishes didn't quite catch on. I thought many of them looked fabulous.

I like Trans Teal myself but to be honest it doesn't surprise me in the least that it wasn't popular. As I know of a couple of other companies that had teal and no one ever bought it. After all if any kind of option doesn't sell for an instrument then then there is no point in offering it anymore, especially since it ends up costing them a lot of money to keep it.

I am just looking forward to seeing what new color options MM will add to the list in the future.

 

[AnthonyD]

...We didnt post this yet because of the whining that accompanies it. Thanks for taking the lead here...

This really made me laugh!

 

[rizzo9247]

I like Trans Teal myself but to be honest it doesn't surprise me in the least that it wasn't popular.

IIRC Trans Teal has been around a very long time (i.e. a big seller). That was the really only color I could see on that list sticking around; but with that said, only a few of us on the forum actually see the sales numbers...

 

[oli@bass]

Over and over I am amazed about the enthusiasm for certain colours. It's nice to have all those options but the new options will probably be equally nice. And if I absolutely want an EBMM instrument in a colour not offered by EBMM then I'd order a standard one and have it repainted. It's really that simple.

BTW, car manufactureres do the same. Imagine your 100,000 USD BMW not being available anymore in the colour you wanted to order. It happens. And that's really a lot more aggravating than for a guitar.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I was hoping Olive Gold might be able to stick around to see it to the production of the Big Al 5.

There are a few surprises from the list, most notably Trans Red and
Trans Teal. Oh well, I guess most of us here are in the minority in liking the non-traditional colours.

 

[MusicMan4Life38]

I was hoping Olive Gold might be able to stick around to see it to the production of the Big Al 5.

There are a few surprises from the list, most notably Trans Red and
Trans Teal. Oh well, I guess most of us here are in the minority in liking the non-traditional colours.

Yeah Trans Red was a surprise to me as well, but like Big Poppa said they have to evolve. And they still have Black Cherry Burst which is an awesome color. I can't wait to see what colors they come up with next.

 

[Sonnyonbass]

An excerpt from "The Usual Questions and The Search Function" sticky up top:

8. Why did Ernie Ball stop producing my favorite finish?

A: Because you were the only person who really, really loved it. Okay, not really, but if a finish is popular and sells well, it will remain as an option. If it doesn't sell well, it goes the way of the dinosaurs. Yes, I know how many of you love sparkle finishes, but they simply didn't sell well enough when they were current.

I'm always intrigued by "what's next". (Yes, I also identify with missing some of the "old" finishes.)

Dargin is like a mad scientist!

Oh yes! Forgot about those..... What about those SPARKLE finishes?

Seriously though.
I presume this list is the same for our skinny stringers?

 

[RocketRalf]

I'll miss a few of those. But frankly I won't complain because EBMM has had us spoiled this past years with so many new models, so I accept the trade off. Look at it from the positive side, it makes choosing a color easier!

 

[Aussie Mark]

Imagine your 100,000 USD BMW not being available anymore in the colour you wanted to order. It happens. And that's really a lot more aggravating than for a guitar.

At least with a guitar you can hunt around and fine a used one in the colour you want, and it will still drive as well as it did when it was new (eg. my 1999 Pearl Purple), unlike used cars.

It's no biggie if your favourite EBMM colour gets discontinued - they pop up all over the place. Just look at the LE colours, they are always appearing in the For Sale sticky and on eBAy and at other places used in excellent condition (and at a considerable saving on the original new price).

 

[Big Poppa]

this points out the difference between the forums perception and the sales reality

 

[Mogee]

So was it a marketing decision that the Bongo would not do well in white? I have seen a couple of pictures.

 

[ekb16b]

On one hand I'm sad to see some of those finishes gone but also excited there's gonna be new one's coming out. That said, I'm just happy that the basses I own only came in one colour.

 

[Aussie Mark]

So was it a marketing decision that the Bongo would not do well in white? I have seen a couple of pictures.

That wasn't a marketing decision at all. From faded memory of some old threads here they were unable to accurately match the headstock and body colours.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

this points out the difference between the forums perception and the sales reality

I believe it! Black, white, natural, sunburst... I bet they outsell all the others by a long-shot (not only EBMM). I like those too, but it's nice to see the oddballs as well.

 

[bovinehost]

this points out the difference between the forums perception and the sales reality

We're cayenne pepper, baby. *sneezing*

Trans Teal was really getting long in the tooth, as they say. I know people who adored that finish, but I never joined the party.

Then again, I like Martini Olive Green, eh?

 

[oli@bass]

Finally! One other person on this planet who shares my view on colours. Time the rest of the world listens to us

 

[b-unit]

I am so freakin glad I got my order in for a True Gold Bongo5 a few weeks ago. I had no idea that so many of the new colors would not be big sellers. But it totally makes sense if the orders aren't coming in, it must be very expensive to keep these colors going for a very small number of instruments.

The "Trans" colors were all very cool in my opinion and I am so glad I have my Trans Orange SR5.

When you think about it, the current fender lineup of basses has a very limited number of finish colors. And if you're a lefty, you get precisely two choices. Sunburst or black. Not much variety at all.

My wife always laughs at what I think is a great color. She goes for very standard colors with vehicles and doesn't get spme of the crazy unique offerings that EB has graced us with.

I agonized over the color of my new Bongo as I wanted something bright and fun. I havent seen True Gold in person but I can't wait.

 

[Mogee]

That wasn't a marketing decision at all. From faded memory of some old threads here they were unable to accurately match the headstock and body colours.

I guess that means it would have to have a naked neck and non matching headstock like some of its cousins. Drool....

 

[Kristopher]

Definitely looking forward to the new list of colors! Out with the old, in with the new. Change is exciting, people!

 

[Freddels]

Well, it's been said that this forum is a very small percentage of the sales anyway. So, I guess that if the big retailers like GC don't order a certain color then it just doesn't do well in the sales percentages. There was a time that I only saw Graphite Pearl Bongos at GC and never any other color. Now, I don't even see any Bongos there anymore. I thought Orange Firemist and Ice Blue were fairly new colors and very nice too. I guess with the economy they didn't get much of a chance. Desert Gold was also another color that went away but I thought was a great color.