I guess we're rule breakers...

[zombi]

So, anytime I'm around a guitar store, or I'm talking to a fellow musician, the inevitable question always comes up. "What kind of guitars do you have?" And I always eagerly respond, "ernie ball musicman!" but despite my obvious pride and eagerness to share, they look at me and ask, "why do you play that?" It's like clockwork. I even had one guy tell me I was playing the wrong guitar for my type of music. I must have missed the part in Sunday school where they informed us that the 10 commandments had additional text at the bottom that said, "if that shalt rock, thou shall only use an lp through a Marshall.". Maybe I am mistaken but I was under the impression that as a musician, a hunt for our own tone and style was one of the purest of endeavors. Does anyone know the reason for this situation? Are people just so afraid of the new or unknown? Why do so many people think it has to be this or that guitar? Have any of you found yourselves in a similar position? Sorry to vent, but I just don't understand it. Why do I play musicman? Probably because I LIKE them. I respect the theology behind the product. I like a compact guitar that is steadfast in it's commitment to clarity and tone. I've sunk good money into my rig and I expect a guitar that won't ruin that for me. Anyways, I just wondered if anyone else had this problem and what response they gave or got...

 

[josheyre]

People really lack imagination... That's all there is to it. And, I don't see that changing any time soon.

 

[dstockden]

People really lack imagination... That's all there is to it. And, I don't see that changing any time soon.

exactly and guitarists don't like change, hence why fender and gibson have been at the top for so long, otherwise surely there would be more Parker type 'weird' guitars?

 

[Grand Wazoo]

We live in a pidgeon box society, people will see you as "odd" if you don't fit in their ideal box. There is very little room for individualism, and what they consider as unconventional. I am wondering how many decades will it take Ernie Ball Music Man to be on par with the same "mentality" of these fools that think only Les Pauls + Marshalll = Rock.

Planet of the Idiots is where we live in.

Peace

 

[TwAn]

I get the same questions... Until they hear my MM90 ASS through the DR.Z... Always does the trick...

 

[edrod]

I agree,

I had a drummer (extremely good) who did not want to play for us because he taught our equipment was cheap. We had a show with his band and he told me he loved my playing and tone. WTF

 

[Smellybum]

Who the hell wants to be normal!?!?

I buy balls because the normal stuff is alright, but this is different, who wants to be the same as the next guitar player...

some things you have to conform with but you can do it differently - I bought a mercedes - but I got one in FLAME RED - becuase I don't want to be the same as all the other merc drivers,
Same with balls different but good.

 

[Spudmurphy]

I recently experienced the opposite reaction when I called into a music shop in Swansea.
I asked whether they had any EB guitars/basses in stock. Regrettably they didn't but the shop assistant (not owner) was a bass player and spoke very highly of them.

A friend of mine is a luthier of 30 years experience - always been a Gibson/Fender man but he speaks VERY highly about EB guitars.

A drummer with attitude huh?

 

[balance]

If you look at some of the general gear forums on the net, you tend to find 2 camps. In camp one are the "it must say Fender or Gibson on the headstock" and then the "ultra-boutique" camp two. That's too bad really, because there is some great gear out there if you'll open you ears and your mind. EBMM to me still represents one of the best values on the market. How many other companies can give you the quality craftsmanship, great playability, and consistency of EBMM at the price they go for?

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Zombi, you need to stop talking with sheep.



I just signed up on a general music forum (as if I need to be going through more forums) and found a thread on the introduction of the Sterling by Musicman line. I had to respond to a comment from a die hard sheep who commented "I don't like the way they look but have never played one".

My comment was essentially my story of how I came across the first Ball I ever played (great guitarist at GC....put down the guitar, I picked it up and was able to play better than on any other guitar....it was an Axis SS) and went on to describe how I always wanted to like the sheep guitar because my heros all played it (Eric Johnson, Clapton, Gilmour) but that my playing style had me turning down the volume with every strum, so I'd get to play about 10 seconds, then have no volume.

Crib Notes: Stop talking to sheep. We know what's best.

jack

 

[Big Poppa]

where there is limited supply there will be limited exposure....and enlightenment

I just spend an afternoon with a fellow named Mike Joyce...he is one largest seller of super high end acoustic guitars. I have 18 Collings and think he hung the moon but played guitars by makers I have never heard of that were just outstanding...


Luthier's Collection: custom made and acoustic handmade guitars check it out

 

[luv]

I'm fine with people not knowing what my guitars are. I don't really care. I'm into it for what I like and what feels and sounds good to me. I tried to be a Strat guy for awhile....didn't work for me. It took me five Strats to realize that it wasn't each individual guitar, but "the" guitar in general. I've learned my lesson and I've chosen my brand, and I'm comfortable with that. Obviously I wish the most success for BP and the company, but I like the fact that they are more in the shadows instead of the limelight.

If you look at any industry, there is a company just like EBMM that does it better than the others (my opinion) and doesn't get the recognition. It's business and it's life..some get it...some don't.

I think there would be a lot of better guitar players out there if more people tried EBMM's. Personally, they inspire me to play longer and more creatively...translate to better.

 

[MikeVt]

I think I've mentioned this before, but I have yet to meet any guitar players in my area that even knew that EBMM made guitars. I spend half my time educating... I guess I'm fine with that because it makes my guitars all that much more unique.

Mike

 

[jamminjim]

Ditto

I'm like Luv, I play EBMM guitars cause I like them alot. I too went through I don't know how many different F's and G's and I's and even some others until finally I saw this Silo Special on the wall downtown. Looked at it, held it, played it and now I don't need to search around anymore.....cept for more balls. I like promoting them to folks as well. But you know the saying, you can lead a horse to the trough.....

What the other makers are doing..... it's not really important to me.

 

[zombi]

Yeah, I do like the somewhat limited accessibility. It makes each one special and has helped build a community such as this forum. It just seems odd to me that people seem afraid to give them a shot. I do think we might see more buyers soon now that the big 2 have yet again raised prices effective April 1st. It seems, to me, that ebmm is putting out a superior product for a cheaper price point. Thank god for that...

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I started playing EBMM because Eddie played one.

These days, people either have no clue what kind of guitar I have, or they ask me how I like my Peavey guitar.

 

[73h Nils]

"Music Man makes guitars?!"

That's my number 1 reaction.

 

[petruccirocks02]

When people ask me why I play Ernie Ball guitars, I pull out my Koa JP and go "thats why". End of story. Haha.

-Phil

 

[azazael]

I tend to laugh as most folk I've met don't know anything about them and just assume its some piece of crap made in crapistan. Simply because it doesn't say F or G on headstock.
Of course deep down I feel like I have been let into a secret that only the select few know. Big Poppas cult.

 

[roburado]

I live in an F & G kind of town. More F than G. Do I care? Not really. Do I think I have a guitar that I like better? Yes. Do I think that I buy from a company that cares more about me and my patronage than the F & G empires? Yes. Has EBMM earned my undying loyalty? Yes. Do any of these F & G people who question my EBMM allegiance deserve my time spent enlightening them? I don't think so, but I usually give it something of a shot. If they can't tell from picking up the guitars and from playing them, well... what more can I do?