MusicMan Endorsements

[Smellybum]

There's worse out there than the Jonas Brothers, 15 years ago you had MC Hammer and New Kids on the block, at least the JB's play instruments,

How about some less obvious choices, maybe people who've had deals with other companies in the past, or people who've had their own iconic image and need to re-invent themselves.

Brian May
Neil Schon
Andy Summers
Even Hank Marvin playing an AL hybrid?

Just sayin'

 

[buckethead777]

EBMM GOT TO get Guthrie Govan!

 

[DrGonzo5150]

EBMM GOT TO get Guthrie Govan!

It has actually come up before - Beth commenting on it previously...
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/general-music-discussion/17538-guthrie-govan-album-available.html

 

[ShaneV]

It has actually come up before - Beth commenting on it previously...
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/general-music-discussion/17538-guthrie-govan-album-available.html

I keep hearing people talk about this guy and I feel like I am seriously out of the loop on this one. I'll have to check him out.

 

[mesavox]

There's worse out there than the Jonas Brothers, 15 years ago you had MC Hammer and New Kids on the block, at least the JB's play instruments,

How about some less obvious choices, maybe people who've had deals with other companies in the past, or people who've had their own iconic image and need to re-invent themselves.

Brian May
Neil Schon
Andy Summers
Even Hank Marvin playing an AL hybrid?

Just sayin'

I'm not following you... Brian May and Neil Schon need to reinvent themselves? LOL

 

[zombi]

I don't know if he insists on the king v or not, but I know he insists on a quality American made guitar. Dave Mustaine. I think he's made his mark...

I've said it before, but as a personal preference I play nonsignature models. The problem with up and coming bands is they're are here today, gone tomorrow. Half the time by the time the product is set up to build the fanbase would be dwindling, the band would be broken up doing some other project.

The other problem, I'm assuming, can be exclusive contracts. Someone who might be interested in signing on might not legally be able to. There must also be consideration of whether or not the endorsee will be someone with the right image for the company. A family business like this probably wants to avoid the highly unpredictable and controversal artists that could bring negative attention to the company's positive ideology. Going with the long shot is a lot riskier than going with the sure bets, you know. And when it comes to guitars in this quality and price point, building a completely new model with all the tooling and set up that might flop is a big enough loss to question whether or not it is a worthwhile endeavor. Even the Madden wasn't as big an issue since it was just a modified silo.

If anything, I'd like to see a couple new non signature models. I don't really play signature models so all I'm left with are silos and axis...

 

[ShaneV]

...and axis...

Started its life as a sig, stay away!

 

[DrGonzo5150]

I'm not following you... Brian May and Neil Schon need to reinvent themselves? LOL

+1 Haha.

(Besides doesn't May have a guitar... that he built... from wood... from his fireplace - Besides the fact that he was in QUEEN, that is proabably one of the coolest things ever. )

 

[buckethead777]

I keep hearing people talk about this guy and I feel like I am seriously out of the loop on this one. I'll have to check him out.

Mate, just check him out on youtube. I love my Vai, Gambale, Garsed( the list goes on), but this guy just tops it.
He's outta this world!
I have both of his books, and am studying em avidly.
My fav guitarist atm...And an overall nice guy.

Sorry for the thread hijack

 

[mesavox]

I don't know if he insists on the king v or not, but I know he insists on a quality American made guitar. Dave Mustaine. I think he's made his mark...

I've said it before, but as a personal preference I play nonsignature models. The problem with up and coming bands is they're are here today, gone tomorrow. Half the time by the time the product is set up to build the fanbase would be dwindling, the band would be broken up doing some other project.

The other problem, I'm assuming, can be exclusive contracts. Someone who might be interested in signing on might not legally be able to. There must also be consideration of whether or not the endorsee will be someone with the right image for the company. A family business like this probably wants to avoid the highly unpredictable and controversal artists that could bring negative attention to the company's positive ideology. Going with the long shot is a lot riskier than going with the sure bets, you know. And when it comes to guitars in this quality and price point, building a completely new model with all the tooling and set up that might flop is a big enough loss to question whether or not it is a worthwhile endeavor. Even the Madden wasn't as big an issue since it was just a modified silo.

If anything, I'd like to see a couple new non signature models. I don't really play signature models so all I'm left with are silos and axis...

again... what does endorsements in general have to do with signature models?

I for one don't have a rule I go by as for playing signature or not signature... I don't care if the guitar says puke on it if it's the guitar that meets all my needs. LOL The Petrucci models have done that for me since I first played one of the um, old ones... lol... and the MM JP does even more so with the piezo, better build, and smaller tastier neck.

 

[mesavox]

+1 Haha.

(Besides doesn't May have a guitar... that he built... from wood... from his fireplace - Besides the fact that he was in QUEEN, that is proabably one of the coolest things ever. )

now this time I agree with you. LOL

and... Brian is the coolest ever... If he didn't have a guitar as iconic as the concept of a guitar itself, he'd be perfect for MM. I can see him with an Axis 25th with three single coils and a zillion switches. lol

 

[DrGonzo5150]

... Brian is the coolest ever... If he didn't have a guitar as iconic as the concept of a guitar itself, he'd be perfect for MM. I can see him with an Axis 25th with three single coils and a zillion switches. lol

Great post. I agree 100%!!

Haha and I now feel super compelled to get a 25th.

And we are back again.. Sorry for the hijac.

 

[Big Poppa]

YOu guys are inclined to think signature guitars because that has what has happened the last generation instead of research and development. It is a surface no brainer....HMMMMM WE need to lock this guy up...we will stroke his ego and put his name on the headstock...we will make it unique by sanding some paint off in a few spots and put different frets...hell maybe even a different pickup. The artist will sign a contract that is favored nations...he gets the same percentage as the other guys....he is now obligated to play that guitar at least 60% percent of the time.....its ego driven handcuffs.

I really respect Joe Bonamassa's approach. He has a non exclusive deal with Gibson. He happens to be loving our stuff. We make him whatever he wants but he could be gone tomorrow or he could be still playing it. The bottom line is that when you go see Joe B he is playing exactly the tool that he needs for inspiration. Let me make this clear...we have a string deal with Joe and nothing on the guitars except he is playing a bunch of our stuff now...that could change but it feels really good and pure to me.

There is a market for that....maybe. The problem is that at retail if a dealer stocked all the signature guitars available from the multitude of players there would be no room for the regular stuff...and the regular stuff is what usually sells.

We dont chose signature artists by sound scan or people magazine...(but a jp was all over american idol!) The player has to be an iconic player within his or her genre and most importantly have a desire for a instrument that isnt currently out there for them to help perfect thier art. Seriously. Then we go from there. There are no contracts. Any of our artists can leave at any time.

The net result is that the Luke and JP are very cucessful guitars in their price point and the Albert Lee and the Steve Morse are very credible offerings with a very nice following.

DOnt confuse endorsements with signature guitars. As Ive said recently Hendrix edidnt have one

As mesa says...an endorsement is different that a signature model

 

[edrod]

Great post BP, that was very educational. I have learned so much through this forum and I thank you guys.

As far as endorsements for upcoming bands, The Human Abstract is on the list. I think they are many around but we don't look really look.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

New Young Artists? Hey, EB should put together a sort of play-off competition. Yah. That would be cool. Let me think.....call it......Battle of the new artists. Naaah.....not catchy enough. Mortal Combat of Bands. No....too brutal. I know...Battle of the Bands! I bet that would fly.


(in all seriousness....just keep making guitars like is now being done. Real innovation and quality and skip the hype and bandwagons that other companies seem to flaunt till we get tired of them. Work with artists in a way that they can do what they do.....which is what EBMM is now doing.)


jack

 

[Big Poppa]

Hey Im being a little hard on the comp to make a point...keep in mind that they could buy
me and keep me in theri back yards as a pet....Im sort of like a jack russel terrier that thinks Doberman's are wimps...(actually they are...I have two)

 

[bkrumme]

When a lot of younger guys I know think about endorsements, they think it's all about getting free gear, signature model, making them famous, etc.

When I think of an endorsement, I think of the artist putting his or her "seal of approval" on a product because it's the best tool to help them with their art. It's advantageous for the maker of the product because that artist has fans who want to be like their idol. Those fans turn around and buy the product the artist is endorsing. At the same time, it's the product maker's "seal of approval" for the artist. In a perfect world, this should help both parties.

For an endorsement to be mutually beneficial, though, the artist almost has to be an up-and-comer in their genre or an already established icon. BP said it already, but the music industry is a fickle beast. Here one day and gone the next is the way things have been working lately. I have friends who have gotten what they considered their "big break" who in a year are right back at home with their 9-5 job making a pittance.

Finding the right combination any more seems to be a really difficult task, at least in the genres I listen to and keep track of most often.

 

[BigMESA]

I think finding the right bands to endorse with instruments (not just strings) has to be tough. I really wish I knew some bands that would bring huge attention to Music Man products but I don't If it helps I'll be playing my Petrucci's in front of a crowd of approximately 4000 tonight

 

[Big Poppa]

thanks big mesa!

 

[dwells]

Well when my band produced the new album with Metal Legend Jeff Waters/Annihilator he insisted on me using other brands that he used, But i convinced him that ebmm guitars Smoke!!!
He eventually fell in love with my original pearl blue Luke! heheh
Ebmm win again!!
And they sound wicked on the album! cant wait to show you guys!!
D