No love for the Reflex?

[Trem]

Judging by all the pictures from 2012 NAMM and the threads on the board, it appears that there's little love for the Reflex. While introduced in 2010, it does not appear to be very heavily promoted. A shame really, as I think Music Man's on to something with the Reflex. The innovation with the tone block and the larger, more comfortable body and classic look make it a winner in my book.

So Music Man, how about it? Why not add some snazzy colors? Today's options are positively bland, IMHO. Sky Blue would look killer on the Reflex w/ maple neck, with those chrome pickup covers, cream binding. Or True Gold with a Rosewood fretboard. Or perhaps a beautiful Deep Red? Even a nice cherry burst with regular maple top would be nice. Not everyone wants a heavily quilted maple top, as those add to the price of an instrument. Personally, I'd rather have an understated instrument that sounds killer, like the Reflex.

While you're at it, do give us lefties the opportunity to enjoy your innovations. Why can't we enjoy what Music Man offers to others, since we pay extra for a left-handed model to begin with?

Does anyone else feel that the Reflex is not getting the attention it deserves?

 

[Big Poppa]

we are promoting it the best we can. Retail has rejected it like all of our best designs. We only offer the gamechanger in it currently and will add to the colors but the colors they are offered in currently were dictated by guitar center.

 

[Trem]

I guess retail would only wake up from its slumber and cobwebs if popular artists were seen playing the Reflex. Has EBMM considered changing the switching system to a more classic LP configuration, 2xVolume, 2xTone, with toggle switch in the horn, as to appeal to the conservative guitar public? I noticed the toggle switch in the horn on a video with Steve Morse/Dave LaRue on Youtube.

 

[roburado]

Personally, I think the Reflex is great! I have it in 25th Anniversary guise, which I think is a lot prettier, but I guess Guitar Center and John Mayer preferred black. I still can't understand why more people don't dig it. Heck, your choice of 10 different pickup selections with the 5-way and the series/parallel switch? A guitar that does everything? What's not to like?

Looking forward to a Gamechanger HSH, which will do even more of everything!!!

 

[Gerry]

Judging by all the pictures from 2012 NAMM and the threads on the board, it appears that there's little love for the Reflex. While introduced in 2010, it does not appear to be very heavily promoted. A shame really, as I think Music Man's on to something with the Reflex. The innovation with the tone block and the larger, more comfortable body and classic look make it a winner in my book.

So Music Man, how about it? Why not add some snazzy colors? Today's options are positively bland, IMHO. Sky Blue would look killer on the Reflex w/ maple neck, with those chrome pickup covers, cream binding. Or True Gold with a Rosewood fretboard. Or perhaps a beautiful Deep Red? Even a nice cherry burst with regular maple top would be nice. Not everyone wants a heavily quilted maple top, as those add to the price of an instrument. Personally, I'd rather have an understated instrument that sounds killer, like the Reflex.

While you're at it, do give us lefties the opportunity to enjoy your innovations. Why can't we enjoy what Music Man offers to others, since we pay an extra for a left-handed model to begin with?

Does anyone else feel that the Reflex is not getting the attention it deserves?

Just look at the threads on this forum that are about birds eye necks and flame or quilt tops. At around the 2k mark in Europe you are in a pricing territory that most manufacturers do put some bling on their guitars. Flame tops, fret board binding, mother of pearl inlays etc. If you had to blindfold test guitars the Reflex would without any doubt be one of the fastest moving guitars out there as for pure playability and sound it comes second to none IMHO. From the players stand point it is excellent value for money, sadly from the looks department it becomes a hard sell.

I honestly believe a good salesman could sell these however it is a hard sell and oh so much easier to sell a guitar that has all the bells and whistles in the looks department. Time is money and most sales staff will push an item that they know they have more chance of closing the deal on and quickly.

Guitarist Magazine review was spot and the verdict sums it up "Some might see the Reflex as a bit plain for the rather hefty price-tag. But while it may not be cheap, the guitar's performance is certainly right on the money."


Evidence is that the first sentence of the verdict is somewhat prophetic and if they want to sell these in any numbers some form of compromise on finish options will need to be looked at. More color combinations would certainly do it no harm but possibly getting the outlets really aware of how good this guitar is may help. Another thought that crosses my mind is that the GC is possibly seen as a Reflex replacement or if not has put the Reflex on a back burner for potential buyers.

In either case its a fabulous guitar and one they will have to take from my cold dead hands.

 

[mikeller]

I absolutely love my 25th...

 

[jvh]

I kind of thought the gamechanger would naturally replace the reflex since they are the same. Gotta get some endorsers on this guitar so it can evolve more!

 

[OU812]

Didn't BP state the Reflex was secretly used in a lot of top players studios? What could be cool is maybe do something like Gibson style block inlays/fret markers. I'm trying to picture it and I think that would look kickass on that guitar cause its already really classy looking.

 

[Barny]

I have given up trying to rationalize why everyone who plays guitar is not buying MusicMan guitars, let alone Reflex models. For a long time I have been wanting to write something about how much I love my Reflex(s) but Gerry posted pretty much exactly how I feel recently and I didn't want to go over the same old ground!

I currently own a Roasted Hardtail Reflex and a Maple Neck,Trem Gold version.

The reflex is hands down my favorite guitar, it is light, resonant, the neck is as comfortable and "easy" to play as any neck I have ever touched (o.k fine, the Axis profile is my favorite contour, but I prefer the larger frets and and flatter radius on the Reflex) and o.k sure, the Gamechanger now makes the series/parallel switch seem redundant, I can say that the current Reflex gives me every tone I want (of course until I get a Gamechanger at which point I will have access to sounds I couldn't have dreamed of and therefore didn't know I wanted!!). For me I don't like flame/quilted tops (I know, whats wrong with me!!) so the solid colors are fine (as above, more selection would be cool). Any reservations about the lack of figuring on the neck is easily dismissed the minute you start playing one, the oiled neck is like silk and the finished neck on the roasted is pretty stunning too.

BP, I will always put my money where my mouth is, I want a HSHp Gamechanger, but there is no way on earth I will buy another black guitar, so do you think we will ever see a Red Gamechanger? (Classic Candy, Candy, Hot Rod, Rad Red I don't care) I would put money down RIGHT NOW for one.

 

[guitarp77]

mmm...interesting topic.

When I went to GC, and bought my Silho, I did see some reflexs hanging there, but none grabbed my attention like the Silho did...maybe because it´s look.

But I seriously regret not playing one of them, it seems like a very cool guitar, and having the MM brand, you can´t go wrong.

 

[kimonostereo]

I'll pickup a Reflex when BP releases a trans quilt or snazzy metallic color.

IMO Reflex is too good for just black, white and gold.

 

[TSHOW]

I am debating picking up a 25th anniversary......Nice collection of guitars, Barny!!!!

 

[Barny]

Nice collection of guitars, Barny!!!!

Thanks!

Two years ago the list would have had nearly 20 guitars on it and not one MusicMan, now in addition to my sig list I only own an acoustic and one "F" brand guitar which I never play and keep for sentimental reasons. The funny thing is that in the next few months I will be reducing my sig list down probably by about 4 or 5 guitars simply because the Reflex is my goto for everything, and since I got my non-Roasted Reflex the other guitars rarely get touched now. Yes the Reflex is really that good.

 

[threeminutesboy]

I'm still in the honeymoon part with my 25th but must admit I got really nice sound during my rehearsal this weekend.

This guitar can scream and sing and whisper and ...

 

[ily]

Saving money for one
It Would be perfect if i find one with figured top and maple fretboard

If i don't find i'll go for a white
This guitar is simply the best EBMM that i've played since the Silo 20 th

 

[Big Poppa]

Im not going to me too and try to make it a les paul thanks for the design help but ......

 

[OU812]

Im not going to me too and try to make it a les paul thanks for the design help but ......

haha yea sorry fair enough, its what popped in my head when I pictured the Reflex cause I've always liked block inlays.

 

[Trem]

Im not going to me too and try to make it a les paul thanks for the design help but ......

I like the Reflex as it is, with all its options, just wondering if this had been considered during the design process. Even with that volume/tone pot configuration it wouldn't be anything like a Les Paul. It can't be easy to innovate and face the dogged refusal from retail to accept something new and refreshing.

 

[Big Poppa]

yeah we considered the obvious first! hahahah

 

[jvh]

Sell them direct discounted! j/j That would sure stir things up. You know I first bought anniversary and ended up with the reflex, because I bought it at a discount compared to the anniversary. Most people just don't know what they are missing. You have to put some bling on guitars these days to sell them!!! j/j BP you have fantastic factory setups... I don't know what method your guys use, but every guitar I've received lately is setup to shred... That's what makes a guitar super fantastic is when you can pick it up at the store and it's easy to play... should sell itself! So my brown nosing is done, but can't say enough about the reflex!