whitestrat
Well-known member
What's the point? The legions of kids can hardly afford EBMM. A Sterling siggy on the other hand? Look at what Fender did with Avril Lavigne? They put out a Squier... Tha'ts better sales tactics...
- Thread starter musicmankixazz
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What's the point? The legions of kids can hardly afford EBMM. A Sterling siggy on the other hand? Look at what Fender did with Avril Lavigne? They put out a Squier... Tha'ts better sales tactics...
Astrofreq
Well-known member
definitely.
ShaneV
Well-known member
What's the point? The legions of kids can hardly afford EBMM. A Sterling siggy on the other hand? Look at what Fender did with Avril Lavigne? They put out a Squier... Tha'ts better sales tactics...
Really? Hadn't heard that, but it made me chuckle for a few reasons.
Coffeemug
Well-known member
The one thing I like by far most about any of EBMM's signature models is that those are very special instruments following the needs of the sig artists. What's the use in a signature guitar being nothing more than a production model with a signature paintjob or pickup configuration (which happens to be what the two big ones like to do with quite a lot of their signature models)? That would be 100% pure sales tactics without giving the buyer something special and probably one of the reasons why nobody here is all over the Benji...
Endorsements are a completely different question...you can't go wrong with getting some guy or gal who's currently big to play EBMM. Helps both spreading the word about the guitars and supporting young and promising artists.
But signature models should be well deserved, which definitely is the case with the current signature artists.That -at least to me- is a big part of the EBMM magic...
Endorsements are a completely different question...you can't go wrong with getting some guy or gal who's currently big to play EBMM. Helps both spreading the word about the guitars and supporting young and promising artists.
But signature models should be well deserved, which definitely is the case with the current signature artists.That -at least to me- is a big part of the EBMM magic...
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Astrofreq
Well-known member
Because it sells alot more guitars. I'm just playing the Devil's advocate here. The strat and Les Paul are great body shapes that are instantly recognizable. If Fender of Gibson can create a signature guitar time and time again without having to redesign anything, that's pretty brilliant actually. I'm not against redesign by any means. Ibanez redesigned their whole look and made itself a HUGE name by picking the right endorsers.
koogie2k
Well-known member
There is quite a bit of things when it comes to artist endorsement as I have found out recently. My band has been "offered" a few.
One is for my drummer as he will get some free swag, but, has to pay "artist price" on any drums or hardware. Not a bad deal really for him.
We got one with a sticker company and they are making us our stickers for free as long as we do some photo shoots for them. Whatever...sounds great to me.
I have been offered a couple. Strings and basses. I turned them down. I won't get into who, but, I politely told them I am loyal to EBMM and to Big Poppa. I will not play another bass and I will not play other strings. The next question asked is..."Do you get Free gear and merch from them?" Keep in mind...this was one string company and two guitar/bass companies. I told them why Yes I do, merch wise. I also get to go to some great places where there is a party thrown for us regular joes. We get custom T-shirts, strings, picks, food, drinks and the whole nine yards. The look on their face was priceless.
The string one kinda killed it for my guitarist. They wanted us to play their strings exclusively including me. It was a "package" deal. Well....I told them to pack sand. My guitarist told them the same thing. I was not really impressed with their artist relations guy. Seemed shady to me...
EBMM endorses many many artists. Some even get their own siggy axe. There is a lot that EBMM does before they endorse someone. I know...I have been in contact with Kevin. He laid it all out for me. Of course, I am going to try to get one...but if not...no big deal to me. I will still play the instruments and strings that I like....not because they are free. I endorse them...and so far so good.
One is for my drummer as he will get some free swag, but, has to pay "artist price" on any drums or hardware. Not a bad deal really for him.
We got one with a sticker company and they are making us our stickers for free as long as we do some photo shoots for them. Whatever...sounds great to me.
I have been offered a couple. Strings and basses. I turned them down. I won't get into who, but, I politely told them I am loyal to EBMM and to Big Poppa. I will not play another bass and I will not play other strings. The next question asked is..."Do you get Free gear and merch from them?" Keep in mind...this was one string company and two guitar/bass companies. I told them why Yes I do, merch wise. I also get to go to some great places where there is a party thrown for us regular joes. We get custom T-shirts, strings, picks, food, drinks and the whole nine yards. The look on their face was priceless.
The string one kinda killed it for my guitarist. They wanted us to play their strings exclusively including me. It was a "package" deal. Well....I told them to pack sand. My guitarist told them the same thing. I was not really impressed with their artist relations guy. Seemed shady to me...
EBMM endorses many many artists. Some even get their own siggy axe. There is a lot that EBMM does before they endorse someone. I know...I have been in contact with Kevin. He laid it all out for me. Of course, I am going to try to get one...but if not...no big deal to me. I will still play the instruments and strings that I like....not because they are free. I endorse them...and so far so good.
Big Mike
Well-known member
Shame, I thought that a GREAT guitar...never had the cash when one presented itself. I'll snare a green one someday.
morsecode
Well-known member
Certainly if that is one's mission...to sell as many guitars as possible. The reality is that it is entirely a marketing gimmick to only sell more product. On the other hand, EMBB only makes signature guitars that are unique in their line, and that the artist had considerable input into its design. They are not "rubber stamped" guitars.
EBMM is a "small" family owned business which they take pride and in turn it shows in the quality of the instruments. Fender, Gibson and Ibanez are huge marketing machines. With that comes significant investment, perhaps a requirement to a take one's company public. With that comes shareholders who are trying to get their slice of the pie every year or even quarter. With that comes pressure from those same investors for the company to continually "reinvent" themselves by investing huge dollars in a their marketing dept. and in overseas production facilities, often foregoing quality and service. EBMM has a solid reputation for quality at a very reasonable pricepoint, and has a real nice niche carved out.
lenny
Well-known member
What's the point? The legions of kids can hardly afford EBMM. A Sterling siggy on the other hand? Look at what Fender did with Avril Lavigne? They put out a Squier... Tha'ts better sales tactics...
yip i got one for my Daughter ..shes a big fan ....i did a little setup on it ...but its JUST decent for the money....a few sharp frets and a few screws not lined up ...definately put together with no care or Quality Control...the grommets where the strings come through are the worst ...they actually slope from left to right then back up again ....so you really get what you pay for guys ....this isnt a guitar that i would own ....but for a 12 year old it was great...
Astrofreq
Well-known member
How is it a gimmick if Eric Clapton wants the standard Strat shape for his signature guitar?
Again, I realize that the designs are original, and that's awesome, but my point is that kids for the most part don't care. They just want to play what their favorite rock stars do. You have 4 JP guitars. Just out of curiosity, did you ever own one of the JP Ibanez guitars?
bkrumme
Well-known member
Same Strat as any other...with the pups, finish, etc. Clapton uses and a bigger price tag.
Sounds like a gimmick to me. Just a Strat with his name on it, which is like the Strat with SRV on the pickguard.
At least Yngwie's siggy is different in some way (scalloped fretboard). But it's still a Strat!
I gotta be honest - i think Strat and Les Paul sig models are a joke.
Why?
Well, Les Paul being a legend in his own right..the Les Paul is HIS signature guitar - so to have an additional signature on the headstock is just a cop-out by Gibson to make even more dosh (without necessarily paying attention to quality control.........
It's like MusicMan producing the all new Ernie Ball MusicMan John Petrucci Steve Morse BUT using the same tooling, same p/ups etc etc etc.....weird - and people keep buying it.......
As far as Fender and Gibson goes - they both just offer generic modifications on already recogniseable models - I don't even consider them true signature models - the artist did not have a hand in designing them.
Whereas MM offer genuine signature models designed with the artist in collaboration.
I guess at least Ibanez - despite being as corporate as Fender and Gibson have tried to forge ahead with their/the artistes own designs in the most part...Vai, Satch/ Timmons etc etc.......
Sorry for drifting off topic slightly, it's one of those things that really wind me up! lol
Why?
Well, Les Paul being a legend in his own right..the Les Paul is HIS signature guitar - so to have an additional signature on the headstock is just a cop-out by Gibson to make even more dosh (without necessarily paying attention to quality control.........
It's like MusicMan producing the all new Ernie Ball MusicMan John Petrucci Steve Morse BUT using the same tooling, same p/ups etc etc etc.....weird - and people keep buying it.......
As far as Fender and Gibson goes - they both just offer generic modifications on already recogniseable models - I don't even consider them true signature models - the artist did not have a hand in designing them.
Whereas MM offer genuine signature models designed with the artist in collaboration.
I guess at least Ibanez - despite being as corporate as Fender and Gibson have tried to forge ahead with their/the artistes own designs in the most part...Vai, Satch/ Timmons etc etc.......
Sorry for drifting off topic slightly, it's one of those things that really wind me up! lol
Astrofreq
Well-known member
bkrumme
Well-known member
This was exactly my point.
On to the original subject, though. I think there's at least one Music Man endorsee who is the "big face" of Music Man. John Petrucci. He's more popular than he's ever been because Dream Theater is more popular than they've ever been. He's a living legend just like the rest of the MM signature endorsees (Morse, Lukather, Lee). I see more JP model guitars out there than any other MM signature guitar. There are other MM endorsees who play HIS signature (The Human Abstract), though this is true of other signature endorsees. He's played G3 a handful of times. That has to count for something, right?
Plus, what about Shinedown? They seem to be pretty popular right now, though nobody will remember them in 10 years most likely. Rob Trujillo? Everyone knows who Metallica is.
mesavox
Well-known member
So the Zakk Wild Les Paul has the same pickups Les' did? It has different fredwood, different pickups...
So what if it's a gimmick to sell guitars? Isn't every advert just that anyway? And honestly, do you think Les Paul looks at the various Les Paul signature models and goes... "I wish those guys wouldn't put their names on that..." I seriously doubt it. I bet he's thrilled that he's part of something so legendary that a LEGENDARY + guitarist like Jimmy Page would play Les' guitar so long that he became also synonymous with it, and ended up with his own signature version based on his modifications of the original Les Paul.
Idealism is one thing... but not everything is all that bad.
Hmm who knows... the JP6/7 Kevin Wale models... maybe there will be a time where the JP is so legendary in its own right that John's name is the name everyone wants their name printed next to...
You can endorse me. Ill help design the JC model. Kinda like the JP models but with more djent to it. Then you can have the JC&JP concerts and clinics, which will be called JEPJEC.
2 hours of great prog metal music, blending into all different styles, special guest appearances from other great musicians, but the main focus being on two great guitar models made by the great guitar company ever!
Well also have some conversation on stages, little stories, being funny, kind of like an Opeth show, but more like an MTV special where they talk about a song or a small story about it, play the song, do some question and answers and make a very relaxing fun learning experience for all. Lots of insight.
Haha, its nice to dream...
But seriously, once I have my MM guitar, thats all people will see me using, (maybe a few times on my V, that thing is still one of my babys.) MM guitars are already the only brand I talk about. Cant wait to help spread the brand around. As one of the only prog metal bands in my city, the guitar and guitar work are always being noticed.
Anyways, I think EBMM is doing fine with how they do business. Could be cool to see some newer players on their list, but really I cant think of anyone who would be a huge improvement.
2 hours of great prog metal music, blending into all different styles, special guest appearances from other great musicians, but the main focus being on two great guitar models made by the great guitar company ever!
Well also have some conversation on stages, little stories, being funny, kind of like an Opeth show, but more like an MTV special where they talk about a song or a small story about it, play the song, do some question and answers and make a very relaxing fun learning experience for all. Lots of insight.
Haha, its nice to dream...
But seriously, once I have my MM guitar, thats all people will see me using, (maybe a few times on my V, that thing is still one of my babys.) MM guitars are already the only brand I talk about. Cant wait to help spread the brand around. As one of the only prog metal bands in my city, the guitar and guitar work are always being noticed.
Anyways, I think EBMM is doing fine with how they do business. Could be cool to see some newer players on their list, but really I cant think of anyone who would be a huge improvement.
Mate - It's just my opinion that a Les Paul is his own signature model and if Gibson want Zakk Wylde to have a signature model then maybe he could design his own guitar from scratch??? A Zakk Les Paul has EMG's and a paint job - but it's still a Les Paul.......not a Zakk Wylde. It just strikes me as bizarre.....
You mention Jimmy Page, however back then there was much less choice and a Les Paul was pretty much the only solidbody electric with humbuckers - so a lot of people from the time used them (Peter Green, Clapton, Page, Beck, Kossoff etc etc) to get that sound.....so it didn;t matter as these guys weren't choosing it because they loved Les Paul - they played it because there was next to no choice........the same cannot be said these days.
....plus I just don't like them...LOL!
Lol - Good post....
About your final point, the thing I love about MMan is that they don't just get the latest 'big' thing onto the roster......they have guys that are legends within the confines of the instrument and that maintains a lot of credibility for the brand. I have no problem that there is no Justin Hawkins et-al signature Music Man........that would damage the brand rather than enhance it.
However,because I'm now such a MusicMan snob - I simply cannot even look at other brands - they do nothing for me at all and no matter what guitar I pick up - they don't feel as nice as my Balls! Curse you MusicMan! Lol
Astrofreq
Well-known member
You think that Page used a Gibson because there was nothing else around? That's sort of ridiculous, no offense. Why is he still using them?
A signature guitar is a signature guitar because it has an artist name on it. Period. It has nothing to do with features or differences between other models. The Avril Lavigne Tele is every bit as much a sig guitar as a JP Music Man, whether or not anyone here likes it.
Music Man rules. Chili dogs for everyone!!!
bkrumme
Well-known member
Music Man rules. Chili dogs for everyone!!!
Ooh! Chili dogs!
In Cincinnati, we call them "Coneys"
