BFR bass wish list

[adouglas]

Okay, campers...the fact that EBMM not only has a forum but actually pays attention to what goes on here (unlike some companies) gives us an opportunity.

We know that there will be Ball Family Reserve instruments. Naturally, exactly what gets produced is entirely up to the Ball family, which is as it should be.

But methinks we, those who enthusiastically part with our hard-earned dollars and who are ultimately responsible for BP's killer Hawaiian shirt collection, should at least put a bug in his ear about what we want to see. He's been known to listen to us from time to time (no doubt in moments of weakness, insanity or inebriation).

So this thread is all about our fondest BFR wishes. Just what do you want to see?

I respectfully request that we try to keep this sane and realistic. No Mr. Horsepower Bongos, please. No Stingrays with a Bongo preamp. No basses made of unobtanium...you get the idea. Your wish should fit in with the company image and philosophy. Try to come up with something that might actually see the light of day.

To kick things off, here's my BFR dream, only with 5 strings and a piezo (and maybe a single pickup):

I am debt-free and it will take a LOT to change that. I challenge BP to put me back in hock. The glove has been thrown down!

 

[cybersnyder]

Spalted maple top SR4 HH. No pickguard. Rosewood fingerboard and an Ebony covered headstock. Comes with an inflatable woman because I would need that after my wife kicks me and my bass out of the house. (Just kidding, she's actually supportive of my hobbies.)

 

[bassmonkeee]

Maybe this thread would be better off called "What custom, unavailable Musicman would you build?"

Too many assumptions for anything productive to come out of this BFR-wise. One of the things BP mentioned was that a BFR might be born simply because of the availability of certain woods--ie rosewood necks in blanks big enough for basses. I'm sure they'd love to do that, but the wood isn't there.

I'll cut/paste what I wrote in the case thread regarding a BFR like pictured above:

Not to pee in your cornflakes, but I doubt the first BFR bass is going to be a dead ringer (red stain over mahogany with a birdseye neck) for the 30th Anniversary SR. I think BP's reaction would be something like, "Been there, done that, Knucklehead. Look forward, not back. Still tastes exactly like club soda."

 

[Figjam]

Going along with the 'what custom musicman would you build' I would have a sterling, single H, piezo, with a wenge neck and fingerboard (MTD style). Natural ash body would probably look swell.

 

[adouglas]

Maybe this thread would be better off called "What custom, unavailable Musicman would you build?"

Hence the request to keep it sane and try to come up with something that might actually see the light of day.

Regarding the "been there, done that...."

The quote refers to an SR, not a Bongo, right?

While the Open House Bongo REALLY floats my boat and I'd buy one in a nanosecond, I see your point about it being basically the same concept as the 30th SR. It's just my idea of the perfect bass, the one that I REALLY want...it does it for me, but if the "been there done that" thing is an issue, well, so does the estimable Mr. LaRue's Mahongo. And there's only one of those, right?

The point here is to suggest some ideas that are realistic and desirable to us, the group of consumers most likely to actually buy these things.

 

[TheDirtyMoocher]

hawaiian shirt print, maybe with a bottle opener integrated into the back, possibly made out of palm wood

 

[Big Poppa]

Have fun but dont count on much from this thread.

 

[fogman]

Have fun but dont count on much from this thread.

Ha!Ha!
I think some forumites think they're giving you great ideas, or that someone will spill the beans!

I don't expect to see any BFR stuff until 2007.

 

[adouglas]

Have fun but dont count on much from this thread.

A guy can hope, can't he?

Worry not, Boss, some of us have our heads screwed on right. No failure to communicate here.

 

[phatduckk]

im actually looking forward to the BFR's as a surprise. i cant wait to see one announced and start thinking "woah!! time to check the account balance"



its gonna be fun especially w/o knowing when theyre coming. its gonna be like a bunch fo random xmas' throughout the year

 

[Dr Stankface]

I want a brown bass and a purple bass.

Lots of woods are a brown color. Shouldn't be too hard to please me.

Any purple wood?

 

[tkarter]

In my mind it is the Ball family that gets to decide what it is all about.

If I could tell BP and family how to build a bass I wouldn't work on computers for a living.

If we were all considered family because of this forum imagine the tax deductions BP could take.



tk

 

[maddog]

I wish I had a fretless Bongo4H in egyption smoke with a python pg. Oh wait, I do....

 

[Sigmunds Couch]

Any purple wood?

It's called Purple Heart or Tropical Purplewood. I have no idea if it's any good as a tone wood.

 

[TheDirtyMoocher]

people use it for fretboards i think

 

[Psycho Ward]

BFR, in a lefty... that's all for me.

 

[bdgotoh]

My dream is a single H Bongo in lightweight ash with an oil finished neck.

 

[Oldtoe]

I want a brown bass and a purple bass.

Lots of woods are a brown color. Shouldn't be too hard to please me.

Any purple wood?

LOL

 

[nashman]

I had a hard time thinking of a good response. A lot of folks are likely thinking different colours, finishes, necks etc..

I thought, maybe a different bass versus some modification to an existing model. I had a hard time because between the Ray, Bongo and Sterling, there are already lots of options.

Different colours, different woods, 4,5,6 string ... well, that's already being done.

Different neck, maybe, but the necks on all three models are already different and really nice.

What I was thinking was 1. innovative electronics - improvements in sound control and sound options, versus just/mostly look and feel. and 2. small things that solve wide-spread, everyday problems and annoyances ...

• An EQ/output off/mute button to allow you to pull the cord out without concern, perhaps with an "auto-off" feature to stop the battery from leaking power so you don't have to pull the cord out.
• Digital controls, lit by LED.
• Digital effects, built in.
• Digital input from the bass to the amp.
• Cord holder to keep the cord from coming out if stepped on.
• Touch-up kits for nicks.
• Strap-locs standard.

I can think of several configurations I would like to have with what is already available. Features that solve common issues would have mass appeal. Innovative electronics that impact sound control and function ... something that truly impacts sound versus just look and feel. Digital versus analog controls and output, like current digital home theatre optical versus analog ...

 

[Figjam]

Andrew, many people use Purple heart, most commonly used as a fingerboard, but very common in neck laminates as well, and sometimes for tops. It has a pretty beefy focused tone.