BFR Luke with sparkle back (GC) w/ pics Take A Look!!!

[martyhk0]

I would like everyone’s honest opinion on this top. I am thinking of turning this one back and waiting for more bfr’s to come out so I have a better selection. I am just not sure about this top. I am used to a straight flame. I am not sure that I like this top with its “curly” frame for lack of a better description. Also I took pics showing a kind of vertical waviness in the grain which I am not too fond of

Please let me hear your opinions.

The guitar plays like a dream, the neck is silky smooth, and the guitar has a nice balance and weight to it. I think earlier descriptions I got of the sound were spot on. It’s a Luke alright, but there is a little more clarity to it, and separation of notes.

Look at the pic I took of the upper left top of the body. See those little cloudy circles, esp, by the fretboard. They look like airbubbles or something in the finish.

Here’s the pics:

 

[fogman]

I think if it plays like a dream, then who care about the flames!
I do understand they cost more, but there wasn't much in the way of choices in the first place and those are extra limited with the sparkle back!
If you return it, you will be named crazy for now on!!!!!

KEEP IT!!!!

 

[martyhk0]

I hear your Fogman. Thats what I want. Everybody's honest opinion. I am a little confused at the moment.
keep in mind I can get a later bfr and have more of a choice when they are in the shops. I just won't have the sparkle back.
I admit I have a very high standard when it comes to my EBMM's cause they are of such a great, high quality.

 

[GWDavis28]

Marty, what are you high??? That's a great looking top and if it play like a dream that is really all that you should care about. You have 1 of 10!!! That in itself is something very cool.

I'd give my left nut for that top it's excellent. Keep it.

Glenn |B)

 

[fogman]

No doubt everyone want that little piece of perfection, but there's the risk of not getting what you want at all.
If anything the sparkle back might be your key to trading for a nice flame.
I think I know the flame pattern you're after, but I haven't seen that pattern too often. Thin lines correct?

 

[wired]

I think the top is amazing. I'm not crazy about the sparkle back, though. As far as the flame not being perfect, I think the beauty of maple tops are the little imperfections that distinguish them. My quilt-top EVH has kind of a swirl on the top horn & I love that there's no other top that looks exactly like mine. You should be able to see it in this picture.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/eguilherme/EVH2.jpg

 

[martyhk0]

yes, Fogman, I think you know what I mean.

I appreciate everybody weighing in. Like i said, I'm a little confused.
I usually just pick a guitar for how it plays. Except with more expensive guitars with figured maple tops, I have to consider looks. Isn't vanity one of the 7 deadly sins?

 

[martyhk0]

Thats nice wired. Here's my axis quilt.

 

[fsmith]

I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for but here's mine for comparison if you haven't seen the pics already... These are pics both with flash and without to try and get a feel for the top. They are very tough to get great pics of. Just remember 1 of 10. I doubt you'll see too many of these on the used market unless someone is looking to flip one for a profit down the road when they are all spoken for.

good luck!
fred

 

[GWDavis28]

Marty if you have issues with the finish, you need to contact GC and work that thru them. One of the biggest hang ups that EBMM has is people not letting their dealers and them handle this.

I was really just kidding in my last post. It's a great looking guitar, but if you are gonna have regrets, bring it back man. If you don't care about whether it's 1 of 10 or 1 of a 1000, then don't worry about. In the end you need to be happy with your purchase.

I can say that I haven't met an EBMM that I didn't like, they all play great to me.

Contact GC and go from there.

Good luck, Glenn |B)

 

[martyhk0]

Thats a nice flame top. I guess there is nothing wrong with variety. I am starting to appreciate the uniqueness of each top.

GWDavis, I hear you. I didn't post this to bitch. I posted it cause I wanted everyone else's opinion first before I would choose to contact CS cause I think I may be acting a little too obsessive compulsive over this.

p.s. the 1 of 10 thing is nice, I admit, but I have never bought a guitar based on that.

 

[martyhk0]

So Fred, how do you like the way it plays? sweet, isn't it?

 

[GWDavis28]

Marty, I hear yah man and I know you not bitching. But of the finish, if you have problems with it talk to GC first and then go from there. It's your purchase man, you can be obsessive, if it's warranted.

Think of it this way, you buy a new car. You drive it home and notice that there's a defect in the paint job. You don't contact the manufacturer first, you bring it back to your dealer and say what are we gonna do about it. The dealer works with the manufacturer to assure that your happy. Same thing with your giutar man. You bought it from GC, give them to chance to handle the problem first.

From my point of view the 1 of 10 thing is pretty cool, but that's me.

Good luck in your decision. Glenn |B)

 

[leftyguitarblue]

Marty,
ultimately, you must be 100% happy with your purchase. Look at the pros and cons. You have a very collectible guitar that could one day sell for a ton more than you paid which would enable you to buy even more guitars. But, if you aren't happy with the look of it, you may not be jazzed about playing it. As a lefty, I don't get many choices, I usually just buy something because I never know when another one is gonna come around. I did that with my Luke and now my other guitars haven't even been touched in a month. Either way, you have a top notch guitar made by a top notch company with the best customer service known to man, with the best man (Big Poppa Sterling) running the place who may answer you personally. Does it get any better than that?

Good luck, any choice you make will be a good one.

 

[fsmith]

So Fred, how do you like the way it plays? sweet, isn't it?

Love it. Clean cleans, and some great humbucking crunch. It sounds really nice through my rig. I'm very happy with it. I like sparkle finishes, but prefer a really nice looking trans top so this is the best of both worlds for me.

 

[martyhk0]

Thanks for the advice Lefty.

 

[leftyguitarblue]

No problem, I'm here to help!

 

[Big Poppa]

Marty
Please dont take this wrong but that top is as good as it gets. This is why I hate the whole graded top thing. It is subjective. But I paid a fortune for that top and I wouldnt kick it out of the sack.

From a builders standpoint it is as near perfect as I have EVER seen. The angle and bookmatiching is fabulous. I dont know that I can make you happy if this one doesnt.

Adamrogo wasnt happy with his either and I thought his was fabulous too. He didnt like his bookmatching and it was as good as you can do....his lined up perfect in the center and it is wood that has been sawed.

I think you should take it back and get an opaque guitar and pocket the money.

This is also why we want the BFR program to no be a preorder situation. We want the dealer to stock them and have the customer select the right one for him.

We really want everyone to be happy with their choice of the BFr and am sorry that this fell short for you.

 

[leftyguitarblue]

See Marty, personal attention from BP. Unbelievable.

 

[martyhk0]

BP, first, thanks for taking the time to respond to my thread.
I thank you for your feedback and opinion on the top as the GuitarMaker.

I totally agree with your ideas about having the bfr's being stocked by your dealers.
Its very much an individual choice. part of my problem is don't normally bother with fancy tops. Like I said before, i buy a guitar generally for how it plays.

On the one hand, i love the sound and feel of this bfr. On the other hand, I like the standard luke also. Part of me wants to just keep this guitar, and part of me says, hey buy a std. luke and use the leftover cash to go towards another EBMM. Decisions, decisions.! Either way, I come out a winner.
I am a staunch supporter of EBMM. The quality of your guitars, as well as your quality control blows the big guitar makers out of the water!