Question BFR Vs Standard

[Jamie M]

Hi All

As the BFR's are the Musicman flagship guitars so to speak what are the main differences. I understand the woods used are the best of the best but what about playability? Do they put the regular ones to shame

Thanks in advance

 

[Jack FFR1846]

It really depends on the specific BFR that you're comparing. BFR refers to a lot of things from an all rosewood neck to completely different body size and contour. The necks do tend to be more figured than standard guitars and the tops tend to be spectacularer. (since even regular EBMM's can be pretty spectacular)

 

[brokenvail]

The answer is no. The don't play "better" but do they sound different. BP just post a tour of the EBMM factory and they talk about how tight they are about setups, fit and finish. They are also extremely consistant from piece to piece. Every MM guitar or bass I have played that is set up correctly played great!

 

[Jamie M]

Thanks gents for your comments and you ate right it would be hard to improve to much on a Musicman as they are awesome

 

[Smellybum]

Don't think of it as Vs....... it will break you mentally! - they share the same shape - tonally I would say (from my AL experience of having regular and BFR) it's a diferent tonal zone. - The BFR has a big -ass tone block (Not the real name you know) and has tonnes more sustain than a regular one -but don't get me wrong not a damn thing wrong with a non bfr model. - This probably makes little sense, best to try it and AB - I see you're in Englandshire - I don't know the geography but there are several dealers in england shire with BFR and non BFR stock - it's a day out, it's an adventure!

 

[lukather101]

I was thinking of Selling my BFR Luke to fund my True gold Luke but when i realised it didn't have the tone block i decided to keep it becuase i think it's going to have a very different sound .

Plus i think any BFR looks a million dollars.....

 

[kneeoh]

To echo what Smelly is saying, I don't view my BFR JP's as being "better" than my Standard JP's, they complement each other. To me they are different flavors of the the same thing... an amazing instrument built by a great company.

Let me us an analogy from the food world... chocolate. You have dark chocolate, milk chocolate, semi-sweet, etc... all tasty, all unique, each serves a slightly different purpose but all derived from the same pod.

 

[ScoobySteve]

BFR and Standard. Just different strokes for different folks. I myself prefer the standard JP to all the other models. Including the JPX. Though my favorite JP was a standard JP with a BFR all rosewood neck.

 

[nathanhny]

Same. I love the tone blocks in the BFR's and the awesome tops. But i'll still play my mk1 Luke just as much as the BFR's.

 

[Hoffmann]

Since the BFR Albert Lee has both a tremolo and a mahagoni toneblock (which might be heavier than the same volume of wood when it's Ash) - is it heavier than the normal Albert Lee model?

 

[straycat113]

Well the bottom line is it is the premier Ball and you get what you pay for, you look and the figuring on a standard issued EB guitar and you drool with a Ball Reserve you need a bib lol. Seriously I feel playability wise not much of a difference but cosmetically especially the body there will be and the Tone Block will adhere to the sound. On the other hand a lot of guys like the tone of there standards over there BFR's. I never heard an EB that did not sound to my liking on the other hand I have seen standards I liked better look wise than some BFR's. Stick around and sooner or later you will have both in your arsenal and then you can decide.

 

[Hoffmann]

I'm just asking myself how the tone differs between hardtail and trem - especially in case of the Albert Lee SSS model...?

 

[straycat113]

It is just that no matter the guitar company it is sometimes brought up that a hardtail will have better tuning stability and be a little more solid on the tone end, and a trem will suck a little tone out. The trem that is accused of being the biggest culprit is a Floyd, then again Vanhalen probably has the largest number of tone hounds still trying to copy his till this day, For me personally all this borders on serious nit picking and guys with radar ears like Eric Johnson who swears that removing the back plate on his Strat enhances his tone.You can look at some of the most sought after tones in history and will find Stoptails, Floyds and Standard Trems used so just get the model you want and let your fingers ,guitar and effects create your own tone that kills.