Question EBMM Custom Guitars? (BP Don't Hate Me :)

[Smellybum]

If this were a court room drama, the judge would say - "Asked and answered" - (Probably with Denzel as the lawyer...)

we get to see cool stuff here, we get to see special 25th's made for Steve Morse, or 2Hb AL's made for Blues Saranceno, and we think we should be entitled to that too..

Yes in an ideal world we could all get pink axis' with single coils a bigsby and LED fingerboards, but unless you wanted to pay $8k per guitar it's not worth anyone doing it. (Even before you'd get it to it's destination you've got tooling, design, consults, testing etc. etc. etc. $ $ $ $ $) - we need to wakeup accept what we get here and to be blunt shut up and be greatful - I'm not wording this as a backseat mod or a BP fanboi - it's just how I see things here now, these guys are going out of their way to show us stuff and we're basically saying "yeah that's ok, but I want mine to be green with spots" - it's a bit like going to an art gallery and asking if you can have the one on the wall in a different set of colours...

The cool thing (For me) is that you can get either what you want or pretty close to it off the shelf (By that I mean that you have to order it and wait but you don't need to see plans first!!!)

Look around this forum, with the exception of Knobs, tuner covers and pickup covers - there's next to no modding goes on here, why is that ?? - 'cause out of the box the product does what it needs to do -

Only a mental patient would want to mess with that.

 

[the24thfret]

I have to ignore most of these and really understand jacks blimp comment...Whats the point and would you really buy it or just put pressure on me to offer it?

Yeah only a small shop charging super premium prices ($5000+?) and making only a few hundred guitars a year would possibly be able to do this as a sound business model.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

I thought all the EBMM guitars (except the bari) are 25 1/2"?

That's true, but the necks and bodies are not mix and match. If you put a Silhouette (24fret) neck onto a Silo spec body, you'd end up with something longer than 25 1/2".

 

[bkrumme]

That's true, but the necks and bodies are not mix and match. If you put a Silhouette (24fret) neck onto a Silo spec body, you'd end up with something longer than 25 1/2".

And Vice Versa. If you put a Silo Spec neck on a Silhouette body, you end up with something shorter than 25 1/2". Just because the scale length is the same it doesn't mean the actual length is the same. That can be made up for with bridge position.

 

[m7b5]

i voted yes thinking like OMG this is the greatest idea ever. but after reading BP's and some other people's comments i kind of understand why that would probably never (or maybe it will one day) happen.

i voted yes because i've always dreamed of having one of these two guitars: A Silo with a JP trem or a JP with a Silo neck. the pickups i know can be changed pretty easily.

actually i just thought of something. is it possible to take a silo neck and put it onto a JP model? are the neck pockets and the number of bolts the same?

 

[bkrumme]

is it possible to take a silo neck and put it onto a JP model? are the neck pockets and the number of bolts the same?

Why in the world would you want to do that in the first place? I guess if the Silo neck is more comfortable to you, that's cool, but I guess at that point you could just play a Silhouette and put a CruchLab & LiquiFire in it...

 

[sixtyfour]

And Vice Versa. If you put a Silo Spec neck on a Silhouette body, you end up with something shorter than 25 1/2". Just because the scale length is the same it doesn't mean the actual length is the same. That can be made up for with bridge position.

Ah - gotcha. This explains why all my home carpentry projects look like ****.

 

[m7b5]

Why in the world would you want to do that in the first place? I guess if the Silo neck is more comfortable to you, that's cool, but I guess at that point you could just play a Silhouette and put a CruchLab & LiquiFire in it...

i actually do find the silo necks a bit more comfortable. the JPM necks are just a bit too thin. not extremely thin though. i guess i could deal with it if i had one. but everything else about that guitar is absolute bliss

 

[Grand Wazoo]

I have to be honest if you compare what EBMM offered to the public 10-15 years ago, to what is available today, from a bass player point of view, you only really had the Stingray, and at that time, it only came with one pickup! Things like 3 band eq were considered state of the art, that Stingray was and still is a P bass or J bass killer, end of story, but then the company moved with the times superbly and completely broke the mould, in fact nowadays the Stingray as well as all the other current production models have evolved in H, HH and HS. Multiply those variants for 5 different base models, Stingray, Sterling, Bongo (available in 4,5 & 6 strings), Big Al and the 25th Anni. And you will realize that the choice you are faced with is HUGE.

For me at least it would be a tough decision buying the "next" ultimate bass, I say for me because I am not wealthy enough to be able to afford one of each, or more of the same model in different p/up combinations.

Despite having been pro-custom shop when I first joined this forum, I later realized, that in true facts we've never had it so good, with the vast choice of woods, models, strings and pickup variants, and now with this break-through "game changer" I don't really see the need for a custom shop instrument. It's difficult enough to choose between a Big Al and a 25th Anniversary for little old me.

I am more than content with what the EBMM company offers today, 18 years ago when I bought my first Stingray 5, it was a no brainer, I didn't want another Jazz bass I didn't like the shape of the Wal's and I thought Warwick were gay! Stingray 5 was the easiest and more worthy option. lol

Which is why I didn't vote on this poll.

 

[douglasspears]

we get to see cool stuff here, we get to see special 25th's made for Steve Morse, or 2Hb AL's made for Blues Saranceno, and we think we should be entitled to that too..

.....we need to wakeup accept what we get here and to be blunt shut up and be greatful - it's just how I see things here now, these guys are going out of their way to show us stuff and we're basically saying "yeah that's ok, but I want mine to be green with spots"

weird you say this....here's some of your recent posts....

BP,
I clocked the sig and removed my request, but how about setting up a 'become a fan of BP page' - that way the friend requests can pile in and get accepted and you still get to have a life?

I've had an idea, how about an app for the iPhone???

I'm thinking of tickling Henry to find out what this is, or maybe go down the patents office and camp out???

C'mon BP just a little clue Please?

It needs a patent????, oh man this is gonna be good, popcorn ready......

New trem system? Magnetic string ends? Bolt on tone block?? In built amp,
tuner? Inter-changeable premium tops! - now this is getting silly. Partnership with Fyrette? Or maybe another EBMM pedal? - The EBMM Wah is live changing, maybe a new area of expansion??? upcharge to get photographs of your guitar being built during all the stages or Videos of each model (and possibly the one you're buying?) or Silent Circuit 2???

Don't suppose you need any 'tester' people for these BP??? - I have a very quiet surrounding area and would give you objective feedback??

Look around this forum, with the exception of Knobs, tuner covers and pickup covers - there's next to no modding goes on here, why is that ?? - 'cause out of the box the product does what it needs to do -

Only a mental patient would want to mess with that.

even weirder....another from you....

An older beater is probably the way to test...We'll see, Spud I'm with you too! - Guitar customising is always my last plan, but I think I'm possibly there...

haven't you seen the threads about the Sublouette, single coil Axis, re-paints, etc?

Just giving you a hard time....cause it's so easy.

 

[rickjohns]

Carvin? Seriously? That made me crack up out loud. Hey, I see his point about wanting a different profile on a guitar he otherwise loves, but hey, they just can't do it. Look at F*****R, how many variations of that same boring guitar do they have? I have to laugh at that, all those "special" models, and they all play and feel like crap. You get an ErnieBall, and it feels great right out of the box. Sometimes exclusivity is a great asset, and it makes it cool. I could see if BP got bombed with a million request for a silo shaped guitar with the neck profile of a Luke, the obvious choice would be to make a new EBMM model, if they thought it could sell. I like that quote earlier, if you need a custom shop then your standard models must suck, or something like that, that was great too. It is so true. I can say without a doubt that most of us forumites are completely satisfied with the way things are now. I wouldn't change a thing, except maybe to have the money to buy one of everything they make, that would kicks ass.

 

[B2D]

Since I'm a product manager by trade, I always think about how to re-use existing products and technology without additional costs to the co. and in the end give your clients more options for potential revenue growth. With that in mind, I thought that it would be really cool to pick the neck you want with the body and hardware + pickups you want as a custom order from the factory via an on-line EBMM order form. For example, I love the Luke body, electronics and hardware but, I can't get into the V neck (my first EBMM was a Luke 1 back in the late 90's that I ended up selling, I got back into EBMM when I fell in love with the Axis necks). So the custom order option should allow you to select a production Luke body, hardware and electronics (although the pickups can be active EMG or passive Dimarzio with silent circuitry) with an Axis or even an Al neck. The usual color/top and fretboard options can be selected too.

So basically, have a custom shop option via a retailer or on-line where you can select from a list of in-production necks, bodies, electronics and hardware. The headstock would have the usual EBMM logo with the word Custom on it (instead of Luke, Axis, or an Artist Signature). Since everything is still based on production models and parts there shouldn't be a need for additional routes or major wood working changes. What does everyone else think?

Slav

The parts to many of EBMM's guitars and basses are not interchangeable like Strats and Teles are, so this idea really doesn't work.

EB really only builds instruments that differ from their regular production orders as Limited Edition runs like the 25th or the Dargies OR they'll do customized jobs (what i define as a TRUE custom guitar) for their artist endorsers (i.e. Bonamassas doubleneck).

Regular Joes like yours truly are left with modifying stock instruments, which I personally have no qualms with doing. EBMM guitars are 95% of the way there for me, I have to take it upon myself to get that extra 5%. Yields an awesome instrument either way.

 

[douglasspears]

I was at a seminar about a month ago where one statement that stuck with me is "You need a custom shop when your regular production sucks".........

I like that quote earlier, if you need a custom shop then your standard models must suck, or something like that, that was great too. It is so true.

I have two production EBMM's, and love them, but ::cough, cough:: isn't the BFR essentially the same as other's custom shop stuff? ::cough, cough::

[/devil's advocate]

 

[Mike Y]

I have two production EBMM's, and love them, but ::cough, cough:: isn't the BFR essentially the same as other's custom shop stuff? ::cough, cough::

[/devil's advocate]

I agree with that statement (and it actually crossed my mind at the seminar)......

But have you ever played a Jackson production model vs their custom shop?

IMHO, The differences there are far more pronounced than the EBMM production vs BFR in terms of build quality and fit and finish......

 

[Astrofreq]

Look at F*****R, how many variations of that same boring guitar do they have? I have to laugh at that, all those "special" models, and they all play and feel like crap.

That's your opinion though. Some Fenders play great and some don't. They do have a million "special" variations of the stratocaster, but they also SELL a million variations of the stratocaster. Dude, it's all marketing. If they can throw a humbucker in a strat and rename it the Fat Strat, are they stupid for doing so? That's pretty smart actually.

I like that quote earlier, if you need a custom shop then your standard models must suck. It is so true. I can say without a doubt that most of us forumites are completely satisfied with the way things are now.

Having a custom shop is just another way Fender can sell more guitars. BP offers plenty of choices in the variations you can order on their guitar. It's a funny quote, but it isn't true actually. Over half the people that checked the poll would order a custom EB guitar, so most people aren't completely satisfied, but we are more so here than at another company.

Bottom line is, the reason I play EB and is that EB gives me the closest guitar I can get to my perfect guitar in sound, feel and price. That's why I prefer them. But to say All fenders or all gibsons suck is just silly.

 

[bkrumme]

I have two production EBMM's, and love them, but ::cough, cough:: isn't the BFR essentially the same as other's custom shop stuff? ::cough, cough::

[/devil's advocate]

They aren't built to your specifications, hence not "Custom Shop" guitars.

You get the options they come with, which is exactly like the standard series guitars. This has been argued before as well. They are limited run production models with some added options the standard guitars don't come with.

 

[petruccirocks02]

I totally disagree with the "if you need a custom shop, your standard models must suck" thing. Thats the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard and its far from the truth. For example, sometimes people would like gold hardware or black instead of chrome that every company uses on everything, or an ebony fretboard instead of rosewood or maple. I think shops that allow you that choice are just giving you more freedom to have the perfect instrument and its not a bad thing at all. I love my EB's, but at the same time, I sometimes wish ebony fretboards or gold hardware was an option that you could pick.

-Phil

 

[rickjohns]

That's your opinion though. Some Fenders play great and some don't./QUOTE]
My point is that they make crap. maybe some of them are good, but not many anymore. And mainly it is due to the factory setup. Every one I have played lately in any store seriously needs a setup. Grab any EBMM as it comes in, and it plays great. No setup needed, it comes that way from the factory. Hey, if you like Fenders and Gibsons, great. I don't, that's why I'm here.

 

[rickjohns]

Phil, I see your point. Point taken.

 

[bkrumme]

My point is that they make crap. maybe some of them are good, but not many anymore. And mainly it is due to the factory setup. Every one I have played lately in any store seriously needs a setup. Grab any EBMM as it comes in, and it plays great. No setup needed, it comes that way from the factory. Hey, if you like Fenders and Gibsons, great. I don't, that's why I'm here.

EBMM is the exception when it comes to factory setup, but that doesn't mean the Fender or Gibson is crap. It just means it wasn't set up. It takes a couple minutes to make adjustments on a Strat or LP, and that's not so bad. The idea that it's crap just because they cheap out on the setup is a bit of a narrow view if you ask me.

Besides that, the big stores let everyone play the guitars. For all you know, that Fender or Gibson got screwed up by some idiot who decided to tune it way too high and bend the neck, or it was restrung with the wrong gauge of strings because it had been played so much the original strings rusted off. The sales people aren't going to do a proper set up...they've either got a sale to make, or they're too busy jacking off with their buddies.