Custom music man guitars?

[Norrin Radd]

My EBMMs are custom made - I mod every one of 'em I get my hands on!

Actually, I do. The truth is they are the best platform (for me) to tweak into exactly what I want. My EBMM custom shop is in my basement (and once it was in a paint shop in another state out east somewhere! ).

 

[Bil Carson]

Long time lurker, first time poster reviving an old thread here, with a simple question regarding the BFR guitars...

if these guitars are indeed "made to order" then shouldn't it be possible to order one of these in a "discontinued" color? I've been trying to track down an emerald burst Axis with a quilt top for quite awhile now, and even when it WAS a current color i couldn't find one anywhere. I'm not an advocate of buying guitars sight unseen, which is why i never special ordered one, i didn't want to be committed to buying something if i didn't like the way it played or if i didn't like the top on it. Then about 6 months ago i decided to cave in and just order one, and now all the dealers tell me "no, can't get it anymore".

I have no problems shelling out a couple extra bucks to get the color i want.

I don't think this is asking to get something "custom" made, just asking the paint guy over there to dust off the can of emerald paint to paint 1 "made to order" guitar. Is it that unreasonable?

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Good points. There are a couple of custom shops (so to speak) in old, California companies. One, everyone knows. I've seen the custom shop guitars. I can walk into Guitar Center and in a couple minutes find one that's so close, it's not even funny. So someone paid $4k for a guitar they could have gotten off the rack for $1500.

The other company only does guitars by order. I've seen a few in used guitar stores. Some are truely bizzar. They also resell for truely bizzarly low prices.....because nobody in their right mind would have ordered that combination of things.

 

[DrKev]

I don't think this is asking to get something "custom" made, just asking the paint guy over there to dust off the can of emerald paint to paint 1 "made to order" guitar. Is it that unreasonable?

I actually it is a little unreasonable. Here's why, though remember that I'm not speaking for Music Man, - I'm not an employee, I have no knowledge of their factory or production line...

No matter what industry you look at, some companies will set themselves up specifically for custom orders - maximum flexibility in everything, which means minimum efficiency - a lot of stock and parts and paint sitting around doing nothing, which has to be paid for, just in case an order comes in. The extra storage space for all that costs money too. And there is time taken to change tooling, programming, paint etc, which can limit how much you get done in a day. It's part of the reason that custom-made anything is so damn expensive. Other companies go for more efficiency, which necessarily means limiting flexibility, perhaps doing large batches of one design or colour at a time for example. And of course same factories might manage for a mix of efficiency vs flexibility in certain parts of the production line.

In some cases, you might be able to stick in just one small odd-job, it's just a one-off minor inconvenience. But when you offer that to everyone, it'll seriously screw everything else up.

So, in company that is trying supply how many different 42 different guitars and basses, multiplied by how many options, multiplied by how many colours, to how many thousand stores in the US, and to distributors in over 70 different other countries, it is unreasonable for just one person to want somebody to dust off one can of paint for just one guitar.

At the very least, it's common sense to say "sorry, we cannot offer that facility to the public".

 

[Bil Carson]

points well taken DrKev. I guess I was applying the jack in the box mentality to building guitars which is a lot more complex then making a made to order hamburger.

just saying that there should be a lil more leniency with a made to order guitar, considering the price tag.

Guess I'll just wait till NAMM and see what 2013 has to offer. Otherwise it's off to ESP to wait 8 months for one of their custom shop guitars. Just thought it would be cool to use an Axis in the black/death metal genre that's dominated by V's and whatever BC Rich of the week is cool.

 

[DrKev]

Just thought it would be cool to use an Axis in the black/death metal genre that's dominated by V's and whatever BC Rich of the week is cool.

Totally agree! Our own Dean Wells recorded the new Teramaze album with Lukes and is now doing all of their gigs with a Reflex and 25th, and their rhythm guitarist is using a Luke now too. No reason why an Axis, or a Morse, or even an AL HH, couldn't do some seriously heavy stuff either.

And welcome aboard Bil!

 

[Bil Carson]

thanks!

yeah i'm just sick of the cliche within that genre that you MUST use specific guitars/amps otherwise you're not "metal", and wanted to do something different.

Always been a big fan of the EVH and the Axis, just never really liked the color options they had until i saw the trans emerald and now i can't get it haha.

I had this idea for a custom shop guitar for years but didn't know if it would look ridiculous or not until this guy stole my idea and made it with a bass. Transgreen burst with a quilt top and a maple neck stained to match with pearl inlays. I just may end up going the ESP custom route if i can't get my hands on the emerald axis. Although i'd do satin black hardware and a Kahler trem (way underrated design and far better than a Floyd IMO, but that's an argument for another time hehe).

In the meantime, if anyone decides to sell a BFR Axis in emerald green, you know who to ask first!

 

[koogie2k]

My Dargie JP is used for Black/Death metal. Works just fine for me.

 

[Jorge ven]

Rosewood necks and fretboards
Birds eye maple necks and fretboards
Ebony fretboards
Curly maple and flamed maple tops*
Amazing colors like;
Dargie Delight*
Pearl tangerine
Mystic dream
Bahama blue burst on maple tops
Purple sunset
Pink burst ....*
Should I keep going??

*How much more "custom" can we ask for??
*

 

[Bil Carson]

haha I'm not really asking for anything custom... just an old color.

 

[JCottle]

Adding options to a production line, it seems, is not a custom shop. I like stainless frets. A custom shop would give the opportunity to get ss frets OUTSIDE of what number options are EVER offered. And of course the manufacturer would not be expected to offer these frets for what the cost of a production instrument is offered. It seems that you could charge me for what it costs to make my frets ss and add a little and hey...profit. Should you even need a custom shop in order to give someone ss frets, or Luke II neck on a AL.

Sterling has done, and continues to do everything he can to separate his company from all the rest of those companies. Everything he can to make his company unique. Right? If I would like to take advantage of those innovations, I have to buy a MusicMan instrument because Sterling as worked very hard ensuring that only his company makes guitars like these. To say if "you want a guitar with ss frets, because there are so many other companies that will offer you ss frets on there guitars, you should go to one of them." and to still say "because of the way we do things, you don't need an EBMM custom shop" is odd. Most people aren't saying "I want a guitar with ss frets" or a "left handed neck". They are saying "I want an EBMM with ss frets" or " EBMM with a left handed neck".

I think it's safe to say Apple make some pretty darn good products. Do I own Apple products? Yes. Am I happy with them. Yes. Could I be more happy with them? Yes. Why? Because I can't change what few things there are about them that annoy me. Some wouldn't change a thing and are just happy to be part of that family. HOWEVER, I contend that as soon as I change it, I really don't have an Apple anymore.

I think that if the addition of a custom shop meant that I would have to pay a bit more for my production instrument, then it doesn't seem worth it since it may lump EBMM in with all of the others. One of the best things about these instruments is the value. All those other manufacturers offer great products. The Ball family offers great products at a better price point.

 

[Pablo]

I use Hybrid Slinkies exclusively and LOVE MusicMan guitars and recommend them whenever I can... Would I love to be able to order my own signature EBMM? Sure - and I would have no problem paying Suhr-money for it! Will I complain that my preferences are opposed to EBMM's business model? Absolutely not - I greatly respect what EBMM does and the choices made to run a production business from a 1st world country (no small feat these days).

I sadly no longer play EBMM as my excentricities grew wilder than any production maker's pallette. Essentially, I was done with insoles and compromise and went to a local shoemaker to have my perfect fitting shoe made... My wife actually understands my guitar fetish, when whipping out a few shoe references ;-)

Cheers

Eske

 

[Big Poppa]

Gosh I guess that I can hopefully try to explain this again...you guys notice Im not here as much/ Customer service threads and getting lectured on how we should do things just takes too much time and energy....I try to give an unvarnished no pun intended view and I end up getting killed for it.

I am a musician....I love guitars, ukes, basses and mandos...for Christmas I bought myself a custom shop martin....my son gave me an electric mandolin...I understand deeply that wishes and wants...so Iwalk in your shoes....I really do

Now I own a factory. I bought a guitar company that went broke and didnt have a factory. It was 1986....It was knee deep in graphics, pointy shapes and angular headstocks. I did what I liked....I did a 180 from the fashions and trends....it was sooooo hard. Then Keith Richards came along for awhile, Steve Morse, Albert Lee...even eddie for awhile too...Luke and Petrucci.

Please understand that there is much more to making instruments than staring at one in the case and saying "If only " "It cant be too hard" It is please trust me.....we are getting damn close to 30 years of continuos production in america...It has been so hard you have no idea.

 

[JCottle]

Gosh I guess that I can hopefully try to explain this again...you guys notice Im not here as much/ Customer service threads and getting lectured on how we should do things just takes too much time and energy....I try to give an unvarnished no pun intended view and I end up getting killed for it.

I am a musician....I love guitars, ukes, basses and mandos...for Christmas I bought myself a custom shop martin....my son gave me an electric mandolin...I understand deeply that wishes and wants...so Iwalk in your shoes....I really do

Now I own a factory. I bought a guitar company that went broke and didnt have a factory. It was 1986....It was knee deep in graphics, pointy shapes and angular headstocks. I did what I liked....I did a 180 from the fashions and trends....it was sooooo hard. Then Keith Richards came along for awhile, Steve Morse, Albert Lee...even eddie for awhile too...Luke and Petrucci.

Please understand that there is much more to making instruments than staring at one in the case and saying "If only " "It cant be too hard" It is please trust me.....we are getting damn close to 30 years of continuos production in america...It has been so hard you have no idea.

Good enough for me.

 

[musikarero]

Gosh I guess that I can hopefully try to explain this again...you guys notice Im not here as much/ Customer service threads and getting lectured on how we should do things just takes too much time and energy....I try to give an unvarnished no pun intended view and I end up getting killed for it.

I am a musician....I love guitars, ukes, basses and mandos...for Christmas I bought myself a custom shop martin....my son gave me an electric mandolin...I understand deeply that wishes and wants...so Iwalk in your shoes....I really do

Now I own a factory. I bought a guitar company that went broke and didnt have a factory. It was 1986....It was knee deep in graphics, pointy shapes and angular headstocks. I did what I liked....I did a 180 from the fashions and trends....it was sooooo hard. Then Keith Richards came along for awhile, Steve Morse, Albert Lee...even eddie for awhile too...Luke and Petrucci.

Please understand that there is much more to making instruments than staring at one in the case and saying "If only " "It cant be too hard" It is please trust me.....we are getting damn close to 30 years of continuos production in america...It has been so hard you have no idea.

For what its worth from a little ole guy in Alabama I appreciate and thank you for your persistence!

 

[kimonostereo]

Gosh I guess that I can hopefully try to explain this again...you guys notice Im not here as much/ Customer service threads and getting lectured on how we should do things just takes too much time and energy....I try to give an unvarnished no pun intended view and I end up getting killed for it.

I am a musician....I love guitars, ukes, basses and mandos...for Christmas I bought myself a custom shop martin....my son gave me an electric mandolin...I understand deeply that wishes and wants...so Iwalk in your shoes....I really do

Now I own a factory. I bought a guitar company that went broke and didnt have a factory. It was 1986....It was knee deep in graphics, pointy shapes and angular headstocks. I did what I liked....I did a 180 from the fashions and trends....it was sooooo hard. Then Keith Richards came along for awhile, Steve Morse, Albert Lee...even eddie for awhile too...Luke and Petrucci.

Please understand that there is much more to making instruments than staring at one in the case and saying "If only " "It cant be too hard" It is please trust me.....we are getting damn close to 30 years of continuos production in america...It has been so hard you have no idea.

Thanks for creating Gear Lust for me since 1989. Although I couldn't always afford the instruments I wanted as a 20 something, I own all of the ones I want now that I can. They're all EBMM.

 

[siloaxis]

I own 4 ebmm fiddles, jp6, axis, silo spc. and a Morse, trust me when I say these are custom shop quality guitars. Keep up the great work guys.

 

[Benji Peterson]

When I lost my COA for a custom shop Gibson in the Joplin tornado last year I called Gibson customer service and was treated like crap. The guy didn't give a damn about how and why I lost my COA. The answer was no and he didn't want to take any more than thirty seconds to get me off the phone. I put in a call to his supervisor, left a message, and NEVER heard back. I thought I could deal with the LACK of craftsmanship in my $5k guitar but after that phone call I decided I'd had enough of Gibson. I sold both Gibsons that I had and spent a lot of that cash on EBMM guitars.
It isn't just the impeccable craftsmanship that goes into each and every EBMM guitar that motivates me to be loyal to the brand. It's also the small family at EBMM in SLO. It's Sterling's drive to pay everyone a working wage and oversee production as he deems fit (which is a damn high standard). QC is in a league all its own. Lastly, look at their relationship with artists. These guy have NO contract to play EBMM guitars. It's because the product stands on its own merit and because they're treated with respect and love that they continue to rep EBMM.
I buy EBMM guitars not only because in 15 years of running a music store I've NEVER played a guitar that's better but also because in some way, having EBMM guitars makes ME a part of this awesome family.
We're in good company here guys. We are loyal because we appreciate those 100 details that makes these guitars better than the rest. That alone is more than any of us could ever ask for. So from me to the stellar team at EBMM, Happy Holidays. Keep doing things the way you're doing them and I'll keep playing the best guitars on earth.
-benny

 

[agt]

Well said, Ben!

 

[Big Poppa]

thank you so much Ben....