No BFR for ME.....

[Smellybum]

Guys -
I know this doesn't matter and I know that EBmm is a great company I just wanted to share a few things with you..


1. BFR Guitars look F(&*(*G mega! - but due to the price in the UK (Thanks to Ali & Knox for the RRP PM's) - there is no way I can justify that kinda cash - I don't know if EBmm are aware but the UK rrp is almost double a good US deal price?? - I know that there have been comments in the past over US/UK pricing but it's simply too rich for me...... I know there have been thousands of orders and my tiny rant won't make any difference to final sales but EBmm is a company that listens to it's customers so..... I love buying balls but a high percentage more for a premium top counts me out.


2. - On a slightly different note - just got the new guitarist mag (March) Namm coverage - lots of........ but NO Balls (only looked at the pics) - Would have thought that they would have had at least 1 pic for something that nice looking.

Congrats to all those buying BFR's - very nice peices indeed and I am not attempting to debate the pricing structure..... just wanted my say.

Thank you!

 

[robelinda2]

hey Smelly the BFR's have only just begun, plenty of time for things to change for you! The price is steep here in Australia too, but it is what it is, still cheaper than a PRS or Custom Shop Gibbo or Fender here.

I will buy a BFR for sure one day, but i'll wait to see what happens after the JP and Luke, surely some cool stuff ahead!

 

[threeminutesboy]

smelly I must admit that I'm sharing you thought on this one ...BFR it's just a fantastic instrument and it's great that EBMM can offer us this option

But having a BFR new from EU will be a luxurary . I will try to grab one from Ebay...maybe...if any...one day ...

 

[Bungo]

Hey Smelly

I think we just have to accept that this is unfortunately the state of our nation and move on.

The nice thing is at least with the wonder of the interweb and telephones and things there are ways around, especially when some do inevitably start popping up on US ebay.

BTW - OT - I hope all the UK readers have signed the petition on the No 10 website to oppose the introduction of black box telemetry in all our cars and charging by the mile you drive! Cheeky sods!

Big Bloody Brother is well and truly here!

 

[Smellybum]

I totally agree that we're British so we're shafted - but - the price just seemed a little higher than "normal"

i've signed up!

 

[Big Poppa]

smelly you guys have to get over it. I m really tired of trying to explain international business. There is nothing I can do. IMPORTED PRODUCTS COST MORE

 

[Smellybum]

I know boss and I'm sorry - got the Saturday blues or something, If only I could get an ATM in my house!

It's your fault really -your making these guitars so bloody adictive that everybody wants them yesterday and for low $$$$'s..... - I will have to start selling some kids or something!!!!!

Sorry - please feel free to delete.

Smelly out...... and off to dream about my dargie!

 

[roburado]

Guys -
I love buying balls but a high percentage more for a premium top counts me out.

Smelly, that's not all it is. Just reminding you, Smelly, that it's not just a top. The back is alder. The top is maple, as premium as it gets. I'm sure that as long as BP, Dargin, & Co. have blanks big enough, the tops are going to be one piece, not a book-matched pair. They have the mahogany tone block as well.

In the case of the JP F-1, the guitar is a completely new design. Okay, maybe, not the neck shape, but the neck composition is mahogany too.

 

[Big Poppa]

smelly no problem just a few of your fellow dental patients have beat this thing bloody.

 

[Norrin Radd]

smelly no problem just a few of your fellow dental patients have beat this thing bloody.

You know those Brits:

It's not bloody, "'Tis just a flesh wound!"

 

[KennethB]

Haha, "fellow dental patients"! Classic!

 

[brentrocks]

smelly, send me the $$$, i'll buy one for ya and ship it to you!!!

 

[Astrofreq]

Yeah, but isn't the pound worth twice as much as the dollar? Isn't that why the UK still hasn't gone Euro (understandably). Anything over there I want to buy costs twice as much to me. They have to have different pricing over there, otherwise, stores would just buy all the balls from U.S. stores and sell them for twice as much in their store, which companies can't allow. That's just my understanding.

 

[puppyonacid]

Actually, you make a good point radrock. If we pay twice as much here for the guitars I suppose it's a bummer, but perhaps relatively speaking we aren't paying any more than you guys since dollar for pound an American isn't making as much. Not a jibe, just saying that if I converted my bank account into dollers and someone in the states in a comparable situation did the opposite, I'd be better off!

The problem is just that we are taxed out of our backsides in this country and everything is extremely expensive here. It's not just things like guitars. It's pretty much everything. The price of a new car here is a joke!

But if you think about it, I doubt the EBMM charges distribution companies here much more, if any more, to actually get a guitar over here than a retailor in the states. But they still have shipping and import taxes and what not to pay. I could be wrong but I can't see why EBMM would. So griping at the company (which I know you essentially weren't doing Smellybum) is a bit fruitless. It's just a bummer.

Am I right on that BP? Perhaps a sticky explaining it all may help because this subject has cropped up a heck of alot in the year and a bit I've been coming here.

 

[DrBob]

smelly you guys have to get over it. I m really tired of trying to explain international business. There is nothing I can do. IMPORTED PRODUCTS COST MORE

BP, I think this is totally fair comment, and for what it's worth I think that the EBMM product still represents comparatively great value for money when compared to other U.S. import guitars. Did you U.S. kiddies realise that a new P*S Custom is best part of $6000 for us ? and the neck on that as we know is no match for the one on my Axis

But equally I'm down with Smellybum at the end of the day.
I'd ask all you U.S. forumites how you'd feel about paying the equivalent of 3000 US $ for a new Axis/ AL/ Silhouette.
It's not that I don't think they're worth it. Given the choice I'd always pay the $3k for a Silhouette Special over an equivalent F****r because the SLO made product is a country mile in front but there's always that little devil voice in the back of your head that's pointing out that the same guitar is available over the pond for $1500.

And do you know what is perhaps the biggest slap in the kisser ?
The last time I looked, It works out cheaper to buy a Marshall amp, Celestion speaker , or Triumph motorbike in America and have them shipped all the way back across that not insignificant body of water to the the U.K. than it is to buy all of these indigenous products (none of which is made more than 200 miles from my house) here in England.

I think this all points toward our own economy being the source of the problem. I don't know I'm no economist

If it wasn't for the whole Aluminum/Color thing I'd probably have to leave England

 

[SteveB]

Nobody has explored the other side of this:

EBMM guitars could be UNAVAILABLE in your country at ANY price!

Kinda like trying to (legally) buy a Cuban cigar in the USA.

So yeah, your situation sucks compared to ours in the USA, but at least you can still get new EBMM guitars with a complete support network behind them.

 

[Astrofreq]

Just another reason why America is the greatest country on the planet!!!

Back on topic: I've been to Europe a couple of times and my money didn't go anywhere. From your side, you can go just about anywhere in the world and your pound goes further than any other currency.

>>I'd ask all you U.S. forumites how you'd feel about paying the equivalent of 3000 US $ for a new Axis/ AL/ Silhouette.

Are you saying a new Axis costs $6000 pounds? I know it doesn't. I did a UK Music man search and the first guitar I found was a new Silo for 1029 pounds. So you're playing about the same in regard to your money's value.

 

[bovinehost]

I've been to Europe a couple of times and my money didn't go anywhere.

Isn't that the truth.

My crazy wife had to go to Italy to buy a purse and Germany to buy kitchen knives (I'm not making this up) and I was amazed at how far my money didn't go.

Jack

 

[spkirby]

Just another reason why America is the greatest country on the planet!!!

Back on topic: I've been to Europe a couple of times and my money didn't go anywhere. From your side, you can go just about anywhere in the world and your pound goes further than any other currency.

A little uniformed there rad, the average uk salary for 2006 was £23000 pounds (approx $43000 dollars) versus $40000 taking the US as a whole. So while the UK earns a little more on average the difference is not as substantial as you'd believe however these figures are essentially meaningless as the income tax structures are vastly different. What is a little more indicative is the Gini index which rather than comparing earnings it compares purchasing power...i.e what you get for your money. This is where things look worse for Europeans...

HOWEVER, like Big Poppa I am tired of all this "grass is greener over there" BS. Some stuff just costs more in the UK/Europe, especially imported USA goods. I dont need to delve into the economics of why, please just try to accept things as they are...

Now have you seen the price of a cadburys chocolate bar in the US....

 

[Bungo]

If it wasn't for the whole Aluminum/Color thing I'd probably have to leave England

Me too, except I'd miss my dentist too much!

I've been to Europe a couple of times and my money didn't go anywhere. From your side, you can go just about anywhere in the world and your pound goes further than any other currency.

This is true. I'm planning on selling off a section of my back garden so I can buy Ohio.