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MN246

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I'm thinking JP needs to have a talk with Paul Gilbert to see if he'd like to come over to EBMM from Ibanez. I'd love to see a Gilbert model Music Man. What's everybody else think?
 

glockaxis

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That would be cool but I think Gilbert is comfortable w/ Ibanez now and has been for years.
 

MN246

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I suspect you're right, and I also know that BP doesn't actively try to lure artists away from their existing endorsment deals. I was just thinking that if he and the guys at Music Man got together they could come up with another awesome axe. I guess it was just a random thought.
 

puppyonacid

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I agree. But there are so many players I'd lvoe to see playing music man. Andy Timmons and Nuno Bettencourt spring to mind. But not everybody will, or wants to. You know, there are actually people out there that don't like MusicMan

I know!!!!!!!!!...........I can't believe it either!

I'm being sarcastic I know. But I often think that perhaps maybe the reason MM isn't bigger is because people think they know them. It's funny because I parallel MusicMans popularity along the same lines as Dream Theater. Alot of people have heard of them. Of those people there's a significant % that only think they know what they're are about. The amount of people I've played DT to that are blown away and can't understand why they never gave them a real try sooner, even after professing to dislike them because a song they heard 1 time. And I know there are people here who have let others play their musicman, aonly to find said player stunned at having their preconcived notions dashed at the quality.

To be honest, when I was younger I used to think "What makes a string manafacturer think they know how to make guitars just because they make good strings?" Then I saw Morses number 1 in guitarist back in 1990 or 91 I think and I though "Oh! That's how"

What was the question again?
 

Junior

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I'd also like to see Timmons, but my biggest guitar hero comes to mind first. Richie Sambora. Man, that guy can rip it! Plus, he's in a weird period now, his signature Fender was discontinued a few years ago, his signature Gibson was supposed to start production, but has been postponed / turned down, he now plays Floyd Rose and custom guitars, aswell as vintage Gibsons and Fenders. I'd love to see him hold a MM.
 

puppyonacid

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Good call Junior. I was never a huge Bon Jovi fan. But I always liked Samboras playing, especially live.

Its been what like 7 years now since they designed an instrument from the ground up for an artist. I gotta wonder who'll be next.
 

Paul Warren

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so was JP. look what happened. it's good to know people on the inside.

The difference is that John was looking for a change. He wasn't unhappy with Ibanez, but definitely ready for a change to a US guitar maker. These bigtime players get gear waved in their faces all day long, but they have to be looking for a change most of the time to make a move. I think Gilbert has too many Japanese ties to leave Ibanez now. They completely support and promote him much like EB/MM totally supports JP.

I think Bumblefoot would be the ultimate guitarist to move to EB/MM and Big Poppa would freakin' love him. He's just the most entertaining clinician you could have for your products. However, Ron is a very loyal guy and has no intention of leaving Vigier. He's very thankful for what they do for him and most signature artists tend to be that way if they stay for years and years. Timmons is another great candidate, but yep, he's happy with Ibanez right now. I was able to spend a couple of days with him recently and he's definitely cool with what's going on gearwise, although his sig models are hard to come by in the States.

paul
 

CudBucket

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It may be a while, but if I had to guess I'd say a Tyler Texas Special sig is a real possibility.

Do you think that would sell though? Not many folks know of him yet. If it wasn't for this forum, neither would I. Since we're on the topic, I'd say a mainstream artist would make more sense.

Sambora would be a good mix, even though I can't say I'm a huge fan. He's got uber-visibility and would be a great vehicle for EBMM. Let's face it, they're in the business of making and selling guitars.
 

wired

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I think Sambora could be a good pickup for EBMM. Bon Jovi has escaped the whole hair band stigma & is enjoying a lot of success as an "adult" rock band.

I don't know if he'd need a signature model, though. I think a Silhoutte Special or Axis SS would suit him well.

A big drawback with a guy like Sambora, though, is that he'd probably be looking for a lot of $$ because of his visibility. Might not be the best financial deal for EBMM.
 

CudBucket

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A big drawback with a guy like Sambora, though, is that he'd probably be looking for a lot of $$ because of his visibility. Might not be the best financial deal for EBMM.

I thought so too but didn't want to say since I'm not sure. It wouldn't surprise me though. That's probably why he's had so many sigs in the first place. It seems he may just go with the highest bidder at the time.
 

Junior

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Interesting observations! :cool:

Though, one thing also comes to mind. Most all of the EBMM endorsers only play their signature EBMM onstage, as their main guitar. Sambora, on the other hand, even though he had many signature models over the years (Fender, Ovation, Taylor, Martin, Kramer, etc.) and still is endorsed by a lot of companies (Anderson, Floyd Rose, Martin, Fender, etc.) always plays several other guitars publically.

Of course, it's probably made clear in all his endorsment contracts, but I just thought it'd be an interesting remark to make, in contrast to some other EBMM artists.
 

roburado

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I think Sambora could be a good pickup for EBMM. Bon Jovi has escaped the whole hair band stigma & is enjoying a lot of success as an "adult" rock band.

I don't know if he'd need a signature model, though. I think a Silhoutte Special or Axis SS would suit him well.

A big drawback with a guy like Sambora, though, is that he'd probably be looking for a lot of $$ because of his visibility. Might not be the best financial deal for EBMM.

Maybe, but EBMM wouldn't pay him anything. None of the EBMM artists get money for playing EBMM. They might lose out on guitars that they provide to him if he leaves for "greener" pastures, but they would have had some exposure with him for a while. That might be worth it.
 

kissmyaxe

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I know this didn't work with the Benji but I think it needs to be a guitarist that gets play on mtv and fuse or whatever other channels there are. Look what happened to Shecter with Avenged Sevenfold, there company skyrocketed after they got their sponsherships. The difference between them and Benji is that kids actually look up to them as guitar idols. In fact it is crazy, they are like todays freaking Slash.
A very popular metal hard rock band guitarist would be the best. I know Herman Li wouldn't do it but Sam Totman doesn't really care about Ibanez from what I have read. All he cares about are the Evo pickups. I am not sure if Ibanez has some sort of right to those pickup since they are Steve's but Sam would draw SOOO much new attention to EBMM. Now I would take Andy Timmons over him anyday but that would not open up to a new group of people. If you look at it besides the classic companies the ones that do the best are ESP, Dean, Shecter and Jackson all which are stereotyped as metal guitars. I think JP has done soo much for EBMM, in fact I wont lie that is why I got my Silo. Unless it is a guitar god like the guys that have been mentioned, IMO the next endorsee should be a guitarist in mainstream rock that kids seem to love, seems like it would only help EBMM grow. Just my opinion I am no marketing genious.
 

Astrofreq

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Steve will never budge from Ibanez. He's a huge part of why Ibanez is so big right now. I'm sure he owns part of the company. It wouldn't surprise me a bit.

As far as Paul and Satch, not likely. Those guys along with Steve are just "built in" to Ibanez. They can pretty much get anything they want and I'm sure they are perfectly happy or they would switch to someone else. Any other brand would love to take them on.

Timmons is an amazing player and an even nicer guy. Truly a class act and would never say a bad thing about anyone. I would love to see him over at EB.
 
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