Question Are pre-BFR guitars of lesser quality than BFR's?

[Moot]

I was just thinking about PRS back when "10" tops were first offered - the 10's were just as good as the pre-10's, but the "normal" tops went down a notch.
Then, when PRS offered "artist" tops they were as good as the 10's had been, but now the 10's went down a notch, ...etc.

Is that kind of what EBMM did when they offered the BFR options? Had they really just been sitting on their best woods that whole time? I have a stunning pre-BFR Albert Lee with wood every bit as nice, or better, than most of the BFR's I've seen online. Maybe I was just lucky. But is the wood really that much better as to demand such a high price?

I only have the one EBMM (the best, most comfortable solid-body I've ever played! Yeah, I'm talkin' to you, Fender), so I'm hoping those of you who have both, or more, could chime in.

 

[Roubster]

Definitely no such thing as lesser quality on anything EBMM does. As an example, I just got a Y2D which is not a BFR and no upgraded top, and it is one of the nicest quilt tops I've seen out there. Now my 20th Anniversary Silhouette had an upgraded quilt top and it is also insanely nice...the only difference is that on the BFRs you can choose flame or quilt. All the other instruments (non BFRs) with maple tops are luck of the draw, but all still highest quality.

 

[agt]

All EBMMs are of the highest quality. IMHO, the decision to buy a BFR or not has to with whether the features and finishes offered on the BFRs or the non BFRs are what you are looking for. The BFRs are more expensive because they have features and finishes that are more costly to produce.

 

[Headstock]

All EBMM guitars are top notch stuff. I have been buying/playing them since 1996 and the BFR's have been around since 2007(?)ish

The BFR's take some thing(s) up a notch, that tends to vary from instrument to instrument. Its really a denotation of something special though.

 

[Slingy]

I've havn't seen one I didnt like yet. But they used to have a premium upgrade option that also gave you a custom made neck plate. BFR's have different tonewoods too though, not just the tops.

 

[TNT]

moot,

It's interesting you said that - I hadn't really considered that as a marketing strategy. It seems like a pretty good one (I guess so?) if that's what you're up too.

Not the case here as far as what I've seen and followed over the years. The std tops are fantastic, always have been!

 

[straycat113]

What EB offers on a standard guitar is on par with most companies CS axes, but I do understand where the OP is coming from. The BFR guitars I have seen have that extra WOW factor, and I do believe that the best tops and necks are used on them which only makes sense as the higher price point is not for the plate and certificate. Yes we all have seen standard models as heavily figured as can be which is just the luck of the draw sometimes. This is where Sterlings non desire for a CS is fine by me as automatically you will expect the CS guitar to be the end of all means, and then every upgrade has an up charge. Then one day you notice the non CS guitars are not what they used to be and someone will say you have to go CS then. For what we get at the price we get it for I seriously believe it is hard to beat, I read numerous threads on neutral forums that pertain to EBMM guitars and the one constant factor by players out there be they fans or those who feel they are not for them (mostly really tall and big guys) is quality, as no one denies the quality of the guitars. I think everyone knows the saying -Watch what you wish for.

 

[lukeuser78]

I tried a BFR Luke and felt 50% different to my Luke 2, felt alot more solid and didnt feel like a bolt on, but still prefer mine for some reason, prob as its played in. The pre order True Gold is doing my head in, just about to buy a house and the temptation to blow £2000 is imense!!!!!

 

[paranoid70]

I guess the question of 'better' in terms of the wood is completely subjective. Is a birdseye maple neck 'better' than a plain neck? Is a quilt top better than flame?

 

[Moot]

I hadn't noticed that the features were different on the BFR's. That would explain the price-point difference.

Please don't think for a second that I think EBMM's quality control is anything other than the best in the biz.
As I mentioned, my AL is perfect. I don't even want to replace the pickups, which is rare for me.

Mostly I was just curious if the whole BFR thing was anything other than a sales decision; there seems to be a significant number of folks who have both GAS and money, and will happily pay more just to have something newer/cooler than everybody else (PRS Private Reserve, anyone? Zamaitis, Gibson CS, Fender CS.) And I've been in that group a couple of times myself, don't get me wrong.

I just can't imagine any room for improvement on my AL. Next time I get out of this frozen territory I can't wait to track down a BFR! Who knows, maybe I'll just have to have one!

 

[mesavox]

I bought the BFR JPs because I like the more aggressive shape better. At first I was really nervous about the painted neck. There are some applications where I prefer the basswood body and maple neck sound, but overall, the mids in the alder and mahogony combination have come to suit me better overall. People will debate for years which wood is better. But, is basswood going to make a guitar less QUALITY? No.

Is the BFR built any better than the regular JP7s I've had? Nope. They're both built fantasically and feel solid as rocks. No quality difference in construction that I can see. And that is the REAL question because materials are debatable depending on what people want.

Think of this... does the BFR Axis look all that much different than the regular Axis? Fancier dots, different color options, and the bfr logo, and tone block (I think, not sure on that) are the only differences. The price of the BFR Axis isn't as much more than the regular Axis as the BFR JP is than the regular JP. That's because the Axis already has a maple top.

So, no... they're not lesser quality. They may have less expensive appointments, and less expensive woods (some expensive woods sound like crap), but they're still built the same way.

 

[ScoobySteve]

Yeah, the BFR as many people said is just a thing of different strokes for different folks. The BFR's often times have "unique" features such as mahogany tone block, all RW neck, roasted neck, etc. etc. which is more than likely the reason for the difference and cost (and the coolio tweed HS case) but it really is different strokes for different folks.

During my JP6 time, I really preferred the basswood body. The painted neck was almost a selling point for me, but at the end of the day, I just liked the way my standard JP6 sounded better.

BP has come forth a few times about keyboard warriors patrolling the internet and devaluing basswood with nothing but archaic and elitist supersitions. He insisted that basswood players, (such as EVH and JP, as well as those involved with the Bongo)shaped and chose basswood by ear. I couldn't agree more. Basswood sounds divine when done right.

You got other guitar manufacturers such as Mr. Suhr, saying that basswood with a maple cap is a monster tone combination.

People say the same thing on tele/strat forums about poplar bodies too, when it comes to the alder/ash debate. Saying Steve Morse chose poplar for anything other than his desired tone is ludicrous.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Moot]

I bought the BFR JPs because I like the more aggressive shape better. At first I was really nervous about the painted neck. There are some applications where I prefer the basswood body and maple neck sound, but overall, the mids in the alder and mahogony combination have come to suit me better overall. People will debate for years which wood is better. But, is basswood going to make a guitar less QUALITY? No.

Is the BFR built any better than the regular JP7s I've had? Nope. They're both built fantasically and feel solid as rocks. No quality difference in construction that I can see. And that is the REAL question because materials are debatable depending on what people want.

Think of this... does the BFR Axis look all that much different than the regular Axis? Fancier dots, different color options, and the bfr logo, and tone block (I think, not sure on that) are the only differences. The price of the BFR Axis isn't as much more than the regular Axis as the BFR JP is than the regular JP. That's because the Axis already has a maple top.

So, no... they're not lesser quality. They may have less expensive appointments, and less expensive woods (some expensive woods sound like crap), but they're still built the same way.

Well said.