Saw my first BFRs!

[www.lamusic.ca]

I think the BFRs are on the right road, but I will say that they certainly shine much nicer in the proper lighting environments. I mean, I've got 12 on order, lol.

 

[darren]

I can definitely appreciate the black bursted edge, since the "recipe" of tone woods in the BFRs is something you don't want to reveal. It's likely a huge part of why they've been getting such rave reviews for their tone, so i can understand why you want to keep that a closely guarded design element.

You guys should definitely be proud of ALL the instruments you put out. They're among the best instruments available today, and they put to shame other American companies who trade on their name and their heritage only.

And any misgivings i may have about the BFR finishes aside, they're still impressive instruments.

 

[leftyguitarblue]

I haven't read all the posts in this thread...it's like a dang book!

I believe the critiques I've read are unfair. Let me offer a different perspective...When we were picking finishes for BFR's the goal was to create something rich or elegant. We decided to go with the black stain and not sand it off as much to make the red darker and more "Ruby" than our standard trans red (like what we do on the Axis). Keep in mind there are other design elements that we went with, and that so far all BFR's have bursted to black. I guess we could have gone with the normal trans red, but how is that any fun?

And the future possibility of a left handed model has got me excited.

 

[PBGas]

I have 2 BFR models. What I love about them is the complete uniqueness of each finish. They all have their intricacies and being that it is a wood grain, they all are different as with any guitar with that kind of top. My rubyburst is fairly dark but when the light hits it, oh my! My blackburst is actually quite stunning, even in a darker room.

However, having had both the regular and the BRF models.....the tone is what REALLY stands out. Both guitars totally ring clearer than their basswood versions. Someone once told me that the choice of wood you use makes no difference whatsoever.....that person was wrong. You can clearly hear it without the amp plugged in. They've nailed it on these models!

YES......many of those guitars you see in the main thread are actually darker in person. You may have been expecting a bigger POP on the finish.....It is in how the lighting is applied to the picture but in essence, the sheer beauty of the instrument is there regardless.

What I would like to know is....how many other companies put up their specialty axes (ie. the exact guitar you'd be buying...not just a model) into a thread so that potential customers can see them. This would be the first company I've ever seen do this.

Kudo's to them for making some of the most incredible and desirable instruments in the world!!

 

[PBGas]

I saw my first BFR today. It was a red quilt Petrucci 6-string at Long & McQuade in Burlington.

It was a beautiful-looking piece, for sure. And i hope my comments aren't going to be taken the wrong way, but, well... the top was not as good as i would expect from Music Man. (Note that i did NOT say that it sucks!)

It was a very nice piece of quilted maple for sure. But the finish simply did not do it justice. The "three dimensional" quality of the figure was completely killed by what appeared to be too much black dye in the grain and too dark of a tinted clearcoat.

I have to be totally honest, guys (and blackball me on the forum if you must... no pun intended). This was not the quality of finish i'd expect to see on a guitar in this price range. I've seen photo-flames that looked as good, and veneers that had more of that chatoyance that makes figured maple so magically deep and exotic-looking.

Sorry, but i have to say i was VERY disappointed. Nice wood, but the finish absolutely killed it.

Ahh......that would now be MY guitar. I brought the 7 back to them as I wasn't happy with it at all. No further comment needed here. Something just wasn't right about it. I verified by having a pro check it out as well. I had the 30 day exchange policy and I exercised it and am so much happier!

By the way.....please have your vision checked, immediately .
I'll post a few pics of it at some point soon. That Burlington store is dark as night inside. The idea isn't to have a veneer that looks like everything else. I love this guitar because it plays like nothing else.

 

[Sweat]

OK I was not going to post to this, but after reading through it, just had too, everyone has a right to there thoughts and opinions, but to question the quality of the finishes is well just absurd, plus besides being beautiful the tones well they are out of this world, the 20th is the original BFR, and the new Luke and JP BFR just continue that superior quality of looks and tone. I love my 20th, my Luke BFR just reaffirmed that these are tone monsters, and after palying a BFR JP I have sold my JP to fund a BFR JP, enough said, call me fanboy or whatever but I know looks and tone and well BFR is where it is at.

 

[73h Nils]

Hey, fing, you mean the LE07 in your sig? What colour'd you go for?!

 

[Sweat]

Hey, fing, you mean the LE07 in your sig? What colour'd you go for?!

Yep, Like the BFR that much, sold the LE 2007, if it all works out going to get a ruby burst

 

[Big Poppa]

ok the only guitar that uses a colored clearcoat is ruby red...the rest are clear...the only non black that uses black is ruby red the rest are color rubbed stain with clear. so our tinted top coat doesnt really apply

 

[Sweat]

ok the only guitar that uses a colored clearcoat is ruby red...the rest are clear...the only non black that uses black is ruby red the rest are color rubbed stain with clear. so our tinted top coat doesnt really apply

BP you could use colored clear coat, stains of whatever, elfen magic, wizards potions, I realy do not care, all I know is they are fantastic guitars and I am glad you are making them

 

[greenwizard]

BP you could use colored clear coat, stains of whatever, elfen magic, wizards potions, I realy do not care, all I know is they are fantastic guitars and I am glad you are making them

I agree in principle, but there are some stains I'd rather they didn't use.....
Elfen magic would be cool though!

 

[DavidOfOz]

I believe the critiques I've read are unfair. Let me offer a different perspective...When we were picking finishes for BFR's the goal was to create something rich or elegant. We decided to go with the black stain and not sand it off as much to make the red darker and more "Ruby" than our standard trans red (like what we do on the Axis). Keep in mind there are other design elements that we went with, and that so far all BFR's have bursted to black. I guess we could have gone with the normal trans red, but how is that any fun?

In my highly subjective and personal opinion, the Ruby Burst is a rich and elegant finish. Goal achieved, EB. I am yet to open the case to show off my Ruby BFR Luke without getting the following response:

"<gasp> OOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo....that's gorgeous!"

I make people stand at least a metre away so the drool doesn't land on the guitar.

 

[brasco68]

OK I was not going to post to this, but after reading through it, just had too, everyone has a right to there thoughts and opinions, but to question the quality of the finishes is well just absurd, plus besides being beautiful the tones well they are out of this world, the 20th is the original BFR, and the new Luke and JP BFR just continue that superior quality of looks and tone. I love my 20th, my Luke BFR just reaffirmed that these are tone monsters, and after palying a BFR JP I have sold my JP to fund a BFR JP, enough said, call me fanboy or whatever but I know looks and tone and well BFR is where it is at.

Fanboy or not is irrelevant...my friend your BFR Luke has one of the most beautiful tops I've ever seen!

I've said it before...BFR's are modern classics.