Can I get factory modified electronics?

[AnthonyD]

Consider my selfish need... For my next bass I have decided on an EB, lined-fretless, w/piezo option. I continue to go back & forth between a Sterling and a Bongo. I was thrown by the FIVE knobs on a piezo Sterling - way too busy for my tastes. Bongo uses stacked controls - hides the complexity nicely.

This got me to thinking - I almost never mess with the on-board EQ. I would prefer to eliminate the mid control on a Sterling to make room for the pan and keep it to four knobs.

Most of these basses are made when they're ordered, right? Why not offer the opportunity to personalize the electronics (within reason, of course)? Seems like an easy way to further cater directly to the player needs and improves the "custom-like" quality of an otherwise production instrument.

Thoughts?

 

[MingusBASS]

Sorry bud, It's just not gonna happen. We can all dream, but I think that's a little much to ask for. I don't think it's as "easy" as you make it out.

Andrew

 

[bovinehost]

What he said.

 

[AnthonyD]

And the Bongo fretless w/piezo takes the lead...

Seriously, though...

I expect I'm no pioneer with this idea - and I certainly don't presume to understand the amount of effort or ease with which it may be addressed. But need some help here here... From my purely non-electrical engineering point of view it's just the guy with the soldering iron that needs to make a few "changes".

And not more complicated work, just different work.

 

[bassmonkeee]

And the Bongo fretless w/piezo takes the lead...

Seriously, though...

I expect I'm no pioneer with this idea - and I certainly don't presume to understand the amount of effort or ease with which it may be addressed. But need some help here here... From my purely non-electrical engineering point of view it's just the guy with the soldering iron that needs to make a few "changes".

And, the changes to the tracking system, and the options list, and the entire prodcution schedule....

It's not simply a matter of "hey, don't wire this one like that."

And not more complicated work, just different work.

And, this point is completely irrelevant. You want custom--go to a custom builder. EB is NOT a custom builder. Period. Their business model is not based on doing custom work like you are asking for--heck, you can't even get a bass without a pickguard from them.

 

[AnthonyD]

...heck, you can't even get a bass without a pickguard from them.

Ah, the "help" I was looking for... Now this puts it in perspective for me...

 

[bassmonkeee]

Ah, the "help" I was looking for... Now this puts it in perspective for me...

How about this--

"Crap in one hand, and wish in the other, and see which one gets full faster."

 

[AnthonyD]

I'm going for the wishes... I tend to avoid foul odors...

But back on topic - Bassmonkee makes good points, in that of course there is impact expected based upon implementation of a suggestion. Process and workflow, marketing communications - there is going to be very basic change in response to every new feature introduced to an established product line.

My point was specific to the manufacturing effort. I do not believe we're looking at re-working the assembly line, we're not talking about re-working the routing templates, we're not talking about changing the body design, we're not talking about introducing new materials to the process.

Easy is a relative term...

 

[bovinehost]

But we've had this conversation before, and Sterling weighed in along with other people from the company, and the basic response was "Nah."

When you look at the options you can order from EBMM, it basically IS a custom shop already. But what you want is something only Tony Levin can ask for.

I'm not trying to crush anyone's dream here, but believe me when I tell you we've been down this road before.

Jack

 

[AnthonyD]

No dreams crushed - just looking for good discussion...

And I searched - really I did!



BTW - Anyone have Tony Levin's telephone number...

 

[bassmonkeee]

When you look at the options you can order from EBMM, it basically IS a custom shop already. But what you want is something only Tony Levin can ask for.
Jack

And, even when he DOES get his 3 string Stingray, the EB/MM gods set his damn barn on fire and turn the thing to carbon.

Dave LaRue gets Bongos without pickguards, and what does he do? Has EB/MM put pickguards on them.

There's some spooky Ball family voodoo influence that I'm going to do my best to stay on the good side of...

 

[SteveB]

BTW - Anyone have Tony Levin's telephone number...

I'm sure Big Poppa has it.. but he ain't talkin'!

 

[skabassist13]

actually, i dont think it would really be all that hard. you could basically take the stingray 2 band eq with a piezo(assuming there is such thing) and throw that in a sterling. obviously eb/mm will not do this, just for the sake of pointing it out is why i have said it. if you really wanted that configuration it would be possible, but you would have to do it yourself.

 

[NorM]

There's some spooky Ball family voodoo influence that I'm going to do my best to stay on the good side of...

 

[phatduckk]

screw all that ... you can totally get EB to make that bass for you ... just go 5x platinum a few times

good luck

 

[Franky]

Obviously you COULD get factory modifications done to your bass, because pretty much everything has a price on it. Is it worth it for you making a 50 bajillion dollar hand shake for that bass

 

[MingusBASS]

You can't get a 2 band Ray with piezo. Even if you could, they would never drop it in a sterling, unless your initials are T.L. or D.L.-Although they have made a passive Bongo for the guy from The Tragicly Hip.

Andrew

 

[Franky]

You can't get a 2 band Ray with piezo. Even if you could, they would never drop it in a sterling, unless your initials are T.L. or D.L.-Although they have made a passive Bongo for the guy from The Tragicly Hip.

Andrew

money makes the world go round...

...thats why currently my world spins counter clockwise...

 

[jongitarz]

You can't get a 2 band Ray with piezo. Even if you could, they would never drop it in a sterling, unless your initials are T.L. or D.L.-Although they have made a passive Bongo for the guy from The Tragicly Hip.

Andrew

We also made a passive Bongo for Shivo(?) The bass player in System of a Down

 

[midopa]

It's Shavo. Close!

Re: The passive Bongo. Any pics?