Not a Rant. Observations from a guitar desiger

[Gio_Force_One]

I had to leave my last cover band because they just progressivly got meaner and meaner. their jokes werent funny just cruel and things they said were just down right wrong. I have a girlfriend who is very into 50's hairstyles and she came to a show and the drummers girlfriend and friends were taking pictures of her hair and laughing. then they were posting to their social media accounts and making fun of her too. I said something and no one seemed to care. Social media has given the wron gpeople a voice and its just sad. Also the fact that i was friends with them before all of this is sad too , I just don't understan how you can do that to a friend. so i finally had to leave the band and have been much happier since. there are good people out there unfortunatly you have to weed through the bad to get there.

 

[xjbebop]

I know the game...its not my first rodeo...its just the crowds are meaner...Its like watching tennis crowds turn into rugby crowds... I have nothin against rugby

This is awesome!!

The world would be such a better place if more people would practice my favorite 2 words (and their meanings...)
RESPECT
RESPONSIBILITY

 

[Norrin Radd]

Rather than quote all the prior posts so far, I will just say:
I CONCUR!!

I'm an old guy now (mid 50's), and the state and current direction of our society is discouraging. And sometimes downright embarrasing.
However, I'm often reminded that in spite of the dirt and trash that 'the media' promotes as popular, there are still a lot of intelligent and caring people in this world. (There's an older Mike Keneally song called "Beautiful" that illustrates this point very well...)

The fact that Stirling, the top man of EBMM, is willing to post on this forum and speak freely about his personal feelings (which he often does), impresses the heck out of me.

Get 'em Stirling!!!!

^^^^^^^ All of this. So many of you are right on the money. But don't lose hope!

 

[alf cockle]

Sterling.tx for sharing your feelings to us knuckleheads.I totally concur,that we are living through a very nasally,pretentious time..maybe we lived thru the best of times..the 60s..no offfence guys..geezers are ok.I have many musicman guitars..25plus,and love them all..there*s a certain karma that I get..it may be what,you do,at EBMM,Sterling,that we get out here..number one..the instruments are excellent..number two..you GIVE a damn..Carry on my man!

 

[Razzle]

I'm so sorry you feel that way BP, but I totally understand where you're coming from.

I love your guitars. I believe them to be the best on the planet.

 

[Sweat]

Nice BP and well stated and the TRUTH!!! The internet is really a negative place full of opinionated people who think only their thoughts and opinions count. Society as a whole has me very discouraged and I retreat from it more and more each day.

While we do not have to like everything EBMM does or any other company for that matter we can show a touch of respect and not just be negative or haters. There is a thread on the Cutlass on TGP and such negative posts, a few good but mostly smart azz negative chit. Hell Mike posted his new Cutlass there and it got buried in a day no one cared. Thats why I rarely post there, wheres the fun, happy times

I for one love whats being done and the classic series is awesome, my Stingray moved to number one and will have a Cutlass as soon as it's in stock.

Keep doing what your doing because it rocks.

 

[mikeller]

Nice BP and well stated and the TRUTH!!! The internet is really a negative place full of opinionated people who think only their thoughts and opinions count. Society as a whole has me very discouraged and I retreat from it more and more each day.

While we do not have to like everything EBMM does or any other company for that matter we can show a touch of respect and not just be negative or haters. There is a thread on the Cutlass on TGP and such negative posts, a few good but mostly smart azz negative chit. Hell Mike posted his new Cutlass there and it got buried in a day no one cared. Thats why I rarely post there, wheres the fun, happy times

I for one love whats being done and the classic series is awesome, my Stingray moved to number one and will have a Cutlass as soon as it's in stock.

Keep doing what your doing because it rocks.

Exactly- I mostly avoid TGP anymore because of that - but I am proud of my EBMM guitars and the new Cutlass is fantastic and decided to use the opportunity to show it off.

 

[ksandvik]

When I see postings of someone complaining about a new guitar of some subjective reason or two, it reminds me of a Frank Zappa album title: Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar.

 

[Big Poppa]

the amazing thing is they havent played it, felt it, or heard it....but they have an informed opinion.

 

[Gio_Force_One]

the amazing thing is they havent played it, felt it, or heard it....but they have an informed opinion.

That is impressive. Seems like that usually is the way

 

[QuietSpike]

Sterling,

Thank you... For the guitars, the innovation, and the artistry.

The scariest phrase in business, IMO, is "this is the way we've always done it." I can tell this is not uttered a lot in San Luis Obispo. Again, just thank you.

 

[John C]

the amazing thing is they havent played it, felt it, or heard it....but they have an informed opinion.

Sterling - I just got to play the Cutlass and the StingRay tonight at the local GC. These are really great guitars! The Cutlass is a great S-type - very comfortable to play, great Stratty tone, and dead silent in the store environment. I think the neck is a very nice shape. The StingRay is a great guitar also - but reinforces that I'm not a humbucker guy (but I think the guitar would be great with some kind of single coil pickups - like what I suspect the Valentine bridge pickup is going to be). These are going to be real home runs for you; I'll be getting a sunburst/rosewood board Cutlass once I can come up with the cash. I'll be finding the thread over on the Gear Page to post this mini-review.

 

[MJK28]

Innovation, boldness, evolution and tolerance...it's what makes the mind of this and future generations change and adapt to the inevitable passage of time and guarantees our survival...it takes place in every aspect of life...and music and instuments do not escape this law of nature...I'm on board with EBMM and the evolution of music and art...keep up the great work...and to the haters open your eyes, hop in and enjoy the ride this time...

BP thanks for making guitars so much more interesting and exciting for us

 

[peterd79]

please let me preface this with i'm not sucking up or kissing up to the big man... being 100% transparent...

I grew up in a musicians family, mom, sister, uncle, grandpa, etc. all very musical and inevitable that i too would pickup the "bug". It hit me at 5 years old with a sears guitar and amp in the back of my dads flatbed pickup truck. I was very lucky to get introduced to music so very early...
From the time i consciously decided to pick a guitar string on my own it was Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys (i was probably 9 or so at the time) and haven't changed brands since that day at Jacks House of Music. I was a player of the mainstream 3 single coil F branded guitar and was left uninspired to really push myself.
Fast forward having a dozen or two of these guitars in various combinations I never really found my own... just the average guy who could carry a rhythm on the guitar. The very first moment i got my first EBMM i knew it was my brand and my feel... haven't looked back. Sold off the stock of "Fs" and have been growing leaps and bounds because of the EBMM guitars I own, play and have played at stores. They inspire me... and helped me rediscover my love for the instrument.
This year has been hands down the most exciting for me... to see the new guitars come out and then to actually get my hands on them at NAMM i reserved my comments... but let me say having played the St. Vincent, the Valentine, The Cutlass, The String Ray... they continue to get more and more inspiring as the years go by. The subtleties of these guitars is incredible.
I spent 10-15 minutes early one morning at NAMM talking with James about his guitar one on one... the guy was giggles and grins the whole time because of the inspiration of this guitar. Thats how i feel when i pick up my guitars... just inspired and love them.

BP... thank you for being who you are and continuing to share this forum with us and know the years of as many sneak peeks are behind us... but man THANK YOU for the instruments that inspire me to grow and remind me every time i pick up my guitar why i fell in love with the craft and instrument called the guitar.

 

[Jim Warnstedt]

Everyone is a critic. Ernie Ball and Music Man have been on the leading edge when it comes to all things guitar and bass for decades. Sterling, you continue to move the industry forward and your brand has an incredible reputation in all musical genres. You and your entire team deserve all the success that comes along with the hard work you put in. Thanks for making THE BEST tools of the trade!

 

[Eilif]

The way I see it, if BP is getting flak -- and it sure seems like he often gets shot at -- it can only mean that he is doing something right, meaningful, and maybe even influential.

It's just like Toto getting stomped on by critics for years and years. But the fact is, if Toto really sucked, nobody would care.

If not for innovators like BP and PRS, the state of the guitar would be poorer. Hurray for thick skin!

In modern society, disrespect, cruelty, and arrogance rule the day, encouraged by the anonymity of the internet. It's easy to be a coward and bully someone when you don't have to look him in the eye.

 

[luiscesaripad]

This is what the system of this world is leading the people to. It even happen with the personal stuff. How many times we have looked at somebody and thought: "oh, this man looks so full of himself", or many other pre judgements . But when we get to know the person, it is totally different of what we were thinking about. It does not matter, EBMM makes the best guitars in the world, and we will keep buying then. And to you BP i say "the tree is only stoned when it is bringing forth good fruits", so, do not worry about the haters.

 

[Monster212]

i know its been said alot already but i will also say we got your back, i love that you are company that care about its guitars and trying to fill the needs of all players and not just one style, i love all the new models and guitars that you showed at NAMM this year and cant wait to see whats in store for next year, while some of the guitars don't appeal to me, i am not wont to complain about it or be rude about it. we all have different styles and wants or needs in a guitar, that is whats great about EBMM and SBMM you have so many options and styles to choose from, thin necks thick necks etc etc.. the guitar is not what makes the music speak, its the player and the guitar together and finding that perfect fit between the musician and the guitar, so Keep doing what you are doing, i love how the company thinks and works,

keep on rocking Big Poppa,

 

[Astrofreq]

Sterling, you are the best. I love this company not only because of the guitars, but the family spirit it still has. EB still has tons of class and outshines everyone in this endless sea of Chinese everything.

Sure, I don't like all the guitars EBMM makes, but the ones I do like, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. Keep up the good work and keep innovating. I'm pretty certain I'll be hugging my purple hardtail axis in my coffin.

 

[lock-ny]

BP Ive actually seen a lot of praises over the Cutlass, played one today and was blown away...looking forward to what else you have on the table that might suit my needs...I think MM guitars either reeaaly speak to you and they are beautiful instrumets or your stuck in the G and F thing for Life, I like the fact that MM improved what F got wrong with his original designs as did other manufacturers improve on the LP style guitar, Im not doing the books there but like Bob Taylor said...you may not like the way my guitars look or sound but you all going to agree they play well, same with MM, great great playing guitars..and when I was a senior in college in Wisconsin I saw my first MM, a pink EVH, 1994, had to have one eventually and have been playing MM since...