- Thread starter Dargin
- Start date
- Status
Big Poppa
Well-known member
I think there were over 600 roasted sold in a shorter window.
Let me try to take this a different direction...maybe some business insight.....
Balance...its everything.....How do you figure out what to make? How much weight do you give the uninterested? The mildly interested....the really into it customer....and then the obsessed customer? Which one of these delivers the purchasing velocity?
Forums especially specifically tightly focused ones will put you out of business....You cannot run a factory catering to the junkies....not possible. I have said maybe a hundred times that you are cayenne pepper in the manufacturing recipe...You are super important but if I put too much emphasis on the cayenne..the recipe is too hot for all but the pepper crazed. Go to a pepper forum≥..Im sure there is one.... and you will hear all about the exotic peppers and if you made a salsa with it only you and uncle charlie could eat it.
So you try to figure out how to create a business model that will give you the best chance of making payroll and at the same time feeding your passion. You fight at least 30 government agencies, employees, lawyers, supplier hassles, material problems, environmental issues, shipping companies, dealers who dont care, dealers who dont pay, other countries that make stuff a fraction of the cost, and angry forumites who believe that its a simple deal....I like it....so it must be easy and everybody must like exactly what I like! There is more to business survival that making a die hards day. You want to do it but if you chase that goal I promise you will be toast.
It is a cocktail....you have to strike a balance....I make over 120,000 different combinations...do the math...and I have a newbie posting yesterday about how much we suck because he cannot buy exactly the bass of his wet dreams.....
Let me try to take this a different direction...maybe some business insight.....
Balance...its everything.....How do you figure out what to make? How much weight do you give the uninterested? The mildly interested....the really into it customer....and then the obsessed customer? Which one of these delivers the purchasing velocity?
Forums especially specifically tightly focused ones will put you out of business....You cannot run a factory catering to the junkies....not possible. I have said maybe a hundred times that you are cayenne pepper in the manufacturing recipe...You are super important but if I put too much emphasis on the cayenne..the recipe is too hot for all but the pepper crazed. Go to a pepper forum≥..Im sure there is one.... and you will hear all about the exotic peppers and if you made a salsa with it only you and uncle charlie could eat it.
So you try to figure out how to create a business model that will give you the best chance of making payroll and at the same time feeding your passion. You fight at least 30 government agencies, employees, lawyers, supplier hassles, material problems, environmental issues, shipping companies, dealers who dont care, dealers who dont pay, other countries that make stuff a fraction of the cost, and angry forumites who believe that its a simple deal....I like it....so it must be easy and everybody must like exactly what I like! There is more to business survival that making a die hards day. You want to do it but if you chase that goal I promise you will be toast.
It is a cocktail....you have to strike a balance....I make over 120,000 different combinations...do the math...and I have a newbie posting yesterday about how much we suck because he cannot buy exactly the bass of his wet dreams.....
Last edited:
Well, there's some food for thought.
The difficulties of keeping a manufacturing business alive in the US, when labor costs and environmental standards abroad can be so insanely low, should be on everyone's radar. And one of the weird aspects of some of the prior TB threads was the second-guessing on the costs and processes involved in producing a 19mm 5-string.
But overall, one of the primary takeaways for me is the gap between Internet posturing and reality. And also the realization that while the 19mm campaign is new and novel for me, EBBM has been down the "why don't you make a #####???" road many times before.
The real kicker is the notion of "balance." I think about balance a lot, in how I deal with career, family, idealism/gotta make a living, keeping music in my life...and also in striving to find one axe that pretty much gives me everything I want. It's frustrating because I'm so, so close to striking that balance with my SR5HH, but for the neck-width issue. Which is where this whole thing started for me in the first place. Too bad it's been distorted by a lot of rhetoric coming from folks with no real skin in the game.
drTStingray
Well-known member
This puts it in perspective and I think most reasonable people know and understand where you're coming from (a lot already did anyway). Too bad that for the real fans (seemingly only a handful) the 19mm string spacing special doesn't look like happening.
The newbie is surely a communication issue (he can only have got the view from one of the general internet forums from people who really should know better) or maybe it's just someone trying to wind us up??
As Joebone has said, the extent of the internet rhetoric and BS from people who run to the hills when offered what they asked for in the first place is really quite an eye opener, although something says to me it shouldn't be a surprise!
Last edited:
Big Poppa
Well-known member
You have to look at the positives..If two people get a better understanding of our challenges to stay solvent and relevant and I learn something then its all good.
Movielife
Well-known member
Well, the offer is there, and the 'buy one in a New York Minute' never seemed to come to fruition, only from a few.
I totally understand where BP is coming from. Most of my bass playing friends love their equipment and they know that, for example, a Stingray is 'it' when it comes to quality and 'that' tone that bassists love. BUT, they dont go on forums, they use their own ears and just buy what they like.
Ive started to pay less attention to others and more attention to what I want. The internet is a powerful powerful tool, but even talkbass is a small community compared to how many people actually play bass at a fairly serious level.
Id like to see this go into production after such a good offer.
Id also like to get a rare EBMM like a Roasted/Dargie etc, so im watching to see what next.
And...lets face it, buying a Musicman bass/guitar is basically the same as a custom instrument almost anyway....SO many options. Enjoy
I totally understand where BP is coming from. Most of my bass playing friends love their equipment and they know that, for example, a Stingray is 'it' when it comes to quality and 'that' tone that bassists love. BUT, they dont go on forums, they use their own ears and just buy what they like.
Ive started to pay less attention to others and more attention to what I want. The internet is a powerful powerful tool, but even talkbass is a small community compared to how many people actually play bass at a fairly serious level.
Id like to see this go into production after such a good offer.
Id also like to get a rare EBMM like a Roasted/Dargie etc, so im watching to see what next.
And...lets face it, buying a Musicman bass/guitar is basically the same as a custom instrument almost anyway....SO many options. Enjoy
BP,
I have the bass of my wet dreams. It's the Stingray Classic. I had a tonal epiphany last night at rehearsal. Every time, I only need to plug it in, dial in the tone in for the cab configuration, close my eyes and ride the groove all night. It's a very special thing getting to play a neck that feels this nice, and to have a tone this fat and easy to dial in; thumpy clarity is my best description. Thank you to everyone at EBMM for knowing what musicians want before they ask, that speaks volumes to your knowledge base as a player first and a CEO second. Good lookin' out!
Now regarding the 19mm thing, "He will build it, if you come". So get on ordering those if you must have 'em.
I have the bass of my wet dreams. It's the Stingray Classic. I had a tonal epiphany last night at rehearsal. Every time, I only need to plug it in, dial in the tone in for the cab configuration, close my eyes and ride the groove all night. It's a very special thing getting to play a neck that feels this nice, and to have a tone this fat and easy to dial in; thumpy clarity is my best description. Thank you to everyone at EBMM for knowing what musicians want before they ask, that speaks volumes to your knowledge base as a player first and a CEO second. Good lookin' out!
Now regarding the 19mm thing, "He will build it, if you come". So get on ordering those if you must have 'em.
Rick Auricchio
Well-known member
BP, your "balance" writeup was superb. Clear, concise, and definitely on point. Finding the business balance is probably the hardest thing you do in your job.
And I agree that you've shown the patience of the Pope in this whole ugly morass. Thank you for that.
metalarch
Well-known member
I will unfortunatly for me, I'm an international customer and don't have the chance to buy one...I don't understand why (And I don't nead an explenation) so...no 19mm for me, at least in a MM bass...
Big Poppa
Well-known member
I cannot answer the export thing again I have exclusive contracts for each country...I cannot ship direct to customers directly Expecially since I am donating the money to charity.
JayDawg
Well-known member
Hey BP, if around 600 Roasted necks were made, I am very proud to say I am one of those 600 people. Is there any chance of finding out how many Bongo 4H BFR Roasted necks were made? I only know of myself and 1 other guy that ordered one. Originally, I was going to go with the HH set up but went with the Single H off of your recommendation. While I still love the HH set up, I was also very pleased with the single H setup I went with and am glad I made that decision.
davidjbass
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2008
- Messages
- 278
With the deadline fast approaching it seems that this 19mm spacing Stingray is not going to happen. Which is sad because I would like to see it be made. I have been quitely sitting back and reading all the posts about this subject both here and on TB and I have to give BP high praise for putting up with all the crap. Especially seeing how he was going to donate the proceeds to charity. If money wasn't so tight for me right now I would have gladly ordered one. It just wasn't the right time. I hope that the opportunity will be made again in the future when I have a little more cash to deal with because then I will order one. It's a great idea and thanks BP for thinking of us 19mm bass players.
2ndBassGuitar
Well-known member
Nobody order #8 yet? I would laugh if BP actually filled the orders amd the 19m spacing became real collector's items.
Big Poppa
Well-known member
Dont hold your breath Gear!
2ndBassGuitar
Well-known member
I am starting to turn blue....
2ndBassGuitar
Well-known member
BTW Albert Lee sounded pretty good picking on his Music Man guitar last night up here at our local music festival!
lorino
Well-known member
Well said Sterling. This is the same for all businesses - especially when you make a product that people are passionate about and use it for their work or as a hobby.
I am in the beer business - I work for MillerCoors. The Beer Geeks think everything we do (pretty much) sucks and our beer is garbage. I've said before here somewhere, and you've done so eloquently below - the high end doesn't exist without the low end (or velocity sellers), and you don't pay the rent with the boutique stuff.
Miller Lite and Coors Light pay the bills - as does Milwaukee's Best and Keystone, et. al. Yes, we make Blue Moon, Henry Weinhard, and Leinie's, etc. And, they are great - and make a nice margin - but they won't keep the lights on.
Most 'fans' forget that their hobby (passion - for most, some professionals) is a business for the company.
I've followed these threads and discussions with much interest because very few understand the what the real issues are - it's not about 19mm spacing or delivering what the marketplace wants. It's about production / capacity planning and portfolio management.
I am in the beer business - I work for MillerCoors. The Beer Geeks think everything we do (pretty much) sucks and our beer is garbage. I've said before here somewhere, and you've done so eloquently below - the high end doesn't exist without the low end (or velocity sellers), and you don't pay the rent with the boutique stuff.
Miller Lite and Coors Light pay the bills - as does Milwaukee's Best and Keystone, et. al. Yes, we make Blue Moon, Henry Weinhard, and Leinie's, etc. And, they are great - and make a nice margin - but they won't keep the lights on.
Most 'fans' forget that their hobby (passion - for most, some professionals) is a business for the company.
I've followed these threads and discussions with much interest because very few understand the what the real issues are - it's not about 19mm spacing or delivering what the marketplace wants. It's about production / capacity planning and portfolio management.
metalarch
Well-known member
Hello BP, don't want to get you mad about this...I understand contracts and all that...I just made my offer to Scott, that I will gladly go and pick the bass, but he said no and that's it...
I was wondering if there were sold 600 roasted neck basses is there a chance that this will become a regular option?
A little story...This weekend I went to a music store here in Mexico, the one that is the dealer for EBMM...I went to buy strings, wonder wipes and strap locks for my Bongo 6, and saw there a Sealth Sting Ray 5...I ask to the seller if I could try it, and the answer was no, they only let you try it if you say that you are going to buy it...so my answer was, how do I know if I want it if I can't try it first....so the seller said "yes I know it's stupid, but my bosses said that EBMM are very expensive to let anyone to touch it" and that's another reason why I always have to travel to the US to buy my EBMM basses...
Big Poppa
Well-known member
Hijack...lets stay on topic...obn second thought how about those yankees?
- Status
