Any chance to specify top on BFR?

[PeteDuBaldo]

Yeah I know...

Well, there isn't much either of us can do about that I don't think.

I'm supposed to just be happy about it too.

You'd also better hope that if they do pre-sell before they get here that they weren't quilt - Don't worry I will make sure and post pics

 

[robelinda2]

i promise to not ask one question about the tops on the BFR Alberts, i'm sure they will be BRILLIANT!

 

[jeffrey]

You'd also better hope that if they do pre-sell before they get here that they weren't quilt - Don't worry I will make sure and post pics

Well if I don't get'em, I don't get'em.

That's just the way it goes.

I'll just have to stick to my standard JP7's.

 

[Krell]

there's that whole "dont post street prices" rule 'round these parts... but more important is the unwritten rule which goes something like "dont tell pops how to run his shop"

honestly guys, c'mon.

Nowhere did I say anything about how to run his shop. Nowhere. I simply made an observation. You can't tell me that EBMM, or any other company wouldn't do backflips if they could manufacture more product to meet demand while maintaining quality.

C'mon is right . . . .

 

[roburado]

Jeffrey, you'd better hope that they don't sell before they get here - that's what the deposit is supposed to be for

Yeah I know...

Jeff, why do you think I asked what colors you ordered?

 

[roburado]

Headaches they may be, but if some of us aren't happy, the customer in the street is going to be more likely to just place an order with another maker, as they won't have the enthusiasm and ties that the fans have.

Well, those customers have to be savvy enough about the way EBMM does business to know to order one from them in the first place. Personally, I had no idea that this was the surest way to get what I want (i.e., exact configurations, colors, etc.) from them until I came here to this forum.

 

[Rossie]

My last attempt at explaning this.

Rossie......the public wants both. Period. All polls show that. You, Dizzy and Jeffrey suggest that we shouldnt do that because it makes it had for you to order one.

I say make both and let the dealer do his job and give the players both choices. The dealer gets a big margin to Stock, service and promote our guitars. Most dealers are lucky in that you are bringing exactly what you want and they place a phone call and hand you a box when it comes in

The threads are that we are trying to be rigid when we are doing what we are doing to assure that the most possible Knuckleheads will be able to get the figured wood of choice.

Here is why we cant do what you want us to do....

We break our production in to weekly "buckets". We have to plan our purchasing well in advance with very little cushion as far as inventory goes. If March 23rd's bucket calls for flame BFR's and we only have quilt we have nothing to make.

The way we are able to offer over 90K combinatons is our ability to forecast what we will be able to make. With normal woods and opaque finishes it works great, with specialty wood it really hurts us. Case in point we didnt make all of the 30th StingRays that were ordered due to the Mahog not passing the weight test, and we are still making 20th silo orders from last year because when their bucket came around there wasnt enough of the right figured wood available because we gave them the choice of Quilt or flame. This backs up everything and affects the number of instruments we can produce which translates into production delays for those patiently waiting.

I could do something similar to what you want me to do with wood and say that BFR's are not custom orderable. But that hurts the people that really have no preference as they like 10 tops either way.

If you are dead set on a certain wood please dont order one. Wait for Pete or uyour dealer to get one in that you like.

The problem is most international dealers don't stock them. They will only stock EBMMs by order. And if they will stock extras, it's usually a basic model, and so far, I haven't seen a fully loaded JP in stock in my local EBMM dealer (Singapore), but I've seen some fully loaded Lukes. The greatest stumbling block is the price. I've asked them to bring in some fully loaded models, and a JP7, as they are catching up locally, but they said no, because it's just too expensive, they are afraid that it will just not sell. They are saying it's too expensive to bring in fully loaded JPs, I can't see them bringing in any JP F-1s.

Therefore, for us international buyers, it's impossible for us to choose/bu from inventory, the only option for us is to pre-order ours, with a deposit.

No offence BP, but hope you understand us international buyers' position.

 

[jeffrey]

No one anywhere around here will stock them, and I live in one of the top 10 largest cities in the US.

If I find one I like it'll probably be from Pete or Bass Central.

 

[jeffrey]

Jeff, why do you think I asked what colors you ordered?

Bastard!

Well maybe the gods will be nice to me and I'll at least get a Walnut Burst in quilt.

 

[Ali]

I can't believe how quickly this forum goes from "I love MM" to complaints ... seriously guys!

You know they're going to make a top notch product. I don't think all this nagging or telling Sterling & co how to run their shop is going to help in the long run.

There will be dealer stock and there are going to be a ton of these babies on eBay. You'll have to pay more that way but you'll get to pick your top.

I see it as giving customer feedback. Painful as it may be at times, it pays to listen to your customers. If this is a major issue with us, its going to be a bigger issue with people that don't have any emotional link to the brand.

 

[SteveB]

As the originator of this thread, I'm feelin really bad about the way it is going!

My initial inquiry was (IMHO) respectful and not intended to challenge the policy of SLO.. it was a question in earnest. Perhaps it would have been better than BP just said "I'm sorry but the answer is no". Instead, he suggested the poll.. not necessarily as a guide to reconsider the policy, but rather to show that perhaps we who wanted specific tops are not in the majority..

At any rate, let's try to wrap this thread up now... we can keep the polls going another day or two and talk there, so long as we keep it constructive.

Everyone's had a chance to vent at this point, so let's move forward.

 

[Dizzy]

As the originator of this thread, I'm feelin really bad about the way it is going!

My initial inquiry was (IMHO) respectful and not intended to challenge the policy of SLO.. it was a question in earnest. Perhaps it would have been better than BP just said "I'm sorry but the answer is no". Instead, he suggested the poll.. not necessarily as a guide to reconsider the policy, but rather to show that perhaps we who wanted specific tops are not in the majority..

At any rate, let's try to wrap this thread up now... we can keep the polls going another day or two and talk there, so long as we keep it constructive.

Everyone's had a chance to vent at this point, so let's move forward.

No need to feel bad.......... someone would have posted it.
What's the point of a forum if you can't express your opinions and views (within reason) ?
And this topic is surely within reason.

 

[Ali]

Steve, don't feel bad. I'm not angry , annoyed or turning away from EBMM. But I do think there are things the company needs to here. This thread allows that. From a purely personal stand point, I just can't spend that money and not get what I want, regardless of the quality, which I know will be exceptional. I'm not asking for custom colours, configurations etc. Just that it's possible for orders t oallow those of us who feel strongly enough to order the top style we want. Let's face it, not every BFR will carry a choice. Dealer stock probably won't be that fussy. If it's not widely known to the shops that you can choose then but the distrubutor knows then a few people wise enough to be aware can get what they want without headaches at the factory. :et me put in perspective what £4000 represents in the UK. That's about 20% the price of a Golf GTi or BMW 320i !!!

 

[jeffrey]

I see it as giving customer feedback. Painful as it may be at times, it pays to listen to your customers. If this is a major issue with us, its going to be a bigger issue with people that don't have any emotional link to the brand.

Exactly!

I don't think Sterling and Co. take it as negative feedback just for the sake of being negative.

IMO they have always been really good about accepting our praise and letting us air out our dislikes.

Bottom line is, it's all opinions anyway, but at least Sterling and Co. care.

 

[roburado]

Bastard!

Well maybe the gods will be nice to me and I'll at least get a Walnut Burst in quilt.

Well, it did cross my mind to try to nab one of yours if it came as a flame, and you didn't want it. I wouldn't touch one of your quilts. No way.

 

[Larry]

I think a lot of people get caught up in the beauty of the guitar and forget that no matter what type of top the guitars has it doesn't have any effect on the tone. Its just cosmetics. And isn't that what a guitar is all about? The sounds you can create out of it. Sure cosmetics are great flame and quilt are both beautiful to me. But when it comes down to it I'd rather have my guitar sound amazing rather than look amazing I bought my guitars to play, sure its great to stare at them and admire the figuring of the wood. But my instrument is just that a instrument not a museum piece. To me EB delivers on both grounds. They make the greatest guitars ever. The playability, finishes, quality, and support that no guitar company in my mind has touched. Never once have I seen a guitar made by EB and said thats ugly. I don't think anyone who ordered or will order a BFR will be disappointed.

 

[Big Poppa]

Guys Im locking this thread. I have responded till Im blue in the face.

Ali You cant afford the guitar because its imported. Duly noted ...you think it is a grevious error to not offer piezo duly noted. YOu think that us offering flame and quilt but not specifing on individual orders is wrong...duly noted. WE do make a guitar that you can afford that is available with piezo....duly noted. We also note that you are posting in numerous threads quite passionately about a guitar that you have no plans to aquire.

Jeffrey you bought a taylor and was able to get a wood upgrade...duly noted You feel that we dont have adequate sources for wood...duly noted...You would prefer if we only offered one kind of wood so you could pre order two...duly noted It is ok if we do that and deny players flame...duly noted

Krell you think we dont know how to manufacture after all of these years. duly noted.

I wish that some of you would understand that the forum is here and so am I but you cannot possibly feel that gives you carte blanch to continually beat a dead horse. I could not have explained even more than I have and sometimes you need to accept it and move on.

All of this because the special BFR's require a different path to aquisition. Change is bunching nickers left and right.

Please understand that any thread that tries to continue this will be deleted.