Need a laugh, BP?

[candid_x]

Candid,

MusicMan licenses the trademarked 4+2 and 3+1 headstock design to OLP.. thus making them legally 'available' on a brand other than MusicMan. This allows 'copy' makers like OLP to use the design and MusicMan gets to make a buck from the copies rather than having their intellectual property stolen.

Gotcha. So then, making sure trademark tuners are available, as in licensed to OLP. I was thinking, available as in having enough inventory or supplying the actual tuners to OLP, which I didn't understand.

Thanks for clarifying.

 

[SteveB]

Anytime, my friend.

 

[Big Poppa]

it has nothing to do with the actual tuners.

When you plug away in a situation like us and have zero interest in getting into the importing and warehousing of generic versions...guess what? SOme other barnicle siezes the opportunity and makes cash off of your hard work becasue we left that market segment open. IF we dont offer a cheap stingray..someone else will.

With OLP we were able to control the distribution and quality of the guitars and basses without having to do the work

There are many people here who would have never ended up with a usa MM if not for the OLP

 

[grumpyoldman]

There are many people here who would have never ended up with a usa MM if not for the OLP

You've got that right BP - my first MM styled guitar was the OLP double neck, great guitar with all the details I needed, including 12 adjustable and intonatable saddles and a wide fingerboard on the 12 string side, and full switching capabilities. So when I needed to get a guitar with a Floyd, it was a logical progression to check out the actual EBMM. I considered an OLP with the Floyd, but fortunately I found this forum first and the rest is history.....

(I would make a comment about addiction, but I can't find a nickle anywhere....)

 

[candid_x]

BP, I’m curious how you manage quality control all the way to China. All the reviews I’ve read on the OLP line have been super impressive, even or especially the necks, considering the price point.

As an aside, I was a one guitar Charlie when I had to send my first Sil Sp in on a warranty repair. I was about to squeeze the trigger on a new OLP Sil Sp to have something to play while my axe was away, and mentioned that to my CS rep, Dan; who btw is a hellava good guy. He convinced me to pop for the extra bucks and get the real deal. I have nooo regrets for taking his advise.

 

[Smellybum]

Question for ya poppa....

The 4 & 2 Tuner setup (and the bass one too) - are impressive - is there such a thing as a patent on them and is it a ebmm patent???

Just wondered, I've had an idea about tuner arrangments and wondered who I'd register it with before putting it to guitar companies for a thought.... if you PM me I'll tell you what it is!

 

[Big Poppa]

4 +2 and 3+1 are registered trademarks in the USA

 

[Astrofreq]

It was a smart move on BP's part to sign Benji...simple as that. Funny how those over there complaining don't realize it is a Silo....lol...

AGREED. Signing a known artist who ALREADY uses their product is a completely logical decision. I don't even know who Benji plays for, which probably says that there is a whole market of other guitarists out there to reach. Chances are, some Benji fans have never heard of Eddie Van Halen, much less Albert Lee. BP knows what he's doing.


Disclaimer: I realize EVH is no longer associated with EB. I'm just saying that many of my guitar students would have never even heard of EVH if I had never mentioned him. Certainly not someone more obscure like AL.

 

[candid_x]

Imo, it isn’t that Benji was signed by MM that makes it a great move, but that the Benji OLP is perfectly targeted to that price point demographic. There's just not a lot of investment there, using the already tooled Sil body, outsourced manufacturing and distribution, etc. I don’t see very many Benji USA threads on this board, and I’m guessing that Mr. Poppa could really care less. The check is in the mail.

 

[DaveB]

When I visited Strings & Things recently Alan showed me an OLP Axis.....I have to say it had the vibe of the US version down. Felt good - decent maple neck - Ok the hardware was cheap and the pickups not top notch - but at the price point it was a superb guitar. Funnily enough the OLP Petrucci - wasnt as good IMHO - the unique hardware of the US model means is hard to copy and the rosewood board was a little scratchy - but again I'm used to buying the top US models, for that kind of money they are great instruments and hold up very favourably to any equivalents from other brands.

People need to remember marketing and endorsements are there to make sales. Eddie still has that gold EBMM in his studio!

DaveB

 

[robelinda2]

you know, its funny, i actually liked the neck on the OLP JP better then the real one, it was a little fatter. it was the one thing i liked about it however!