Saw my first BFRs!

[Lance Romance]

Was at the MIAC (trade)show in Toronto yesterday and The Glensterr had managed to find a couple of BFRs, which will shortly be coming to our store. One was a Petrucci in Trans Black flame, which looks really elegant on that broad pickguardless expanse. The second was a Luke in Trans Ruby, with a gorgeous popcorn quilt. Weight was great, nice acoustic ring, but no place to plug in and rip. Really looking forward to giving both a testdrive when they arrive, but was very impressed with fit and finish. I can only imagine what something like an Albert Lee BFR would be like...another story. I'd been waiting to see how EBMM had raised the bar on themselves, and I must say I'm really impressed.
More in a couple of days when we get them at the shop and have some time to really put them through the hoops, but first impression is...OUTSTANDING!-Eric

 

[Spudmurphy]

Nice one Eric. Let us all know what you think after you've played them - and please don't scratch them

I'm looking forward to seeing the BFR AL's hit the shops too.

Not wishing to hijack this into a "what I'd like to see different on an EB" .... ... ... ...
but ... .... losing the pickguard on the AL would release more "real estate" to show off theBRR grains/patterns. - it would look awesome.

So not wishing to hijack this I won't say it!!

 

[robelinda2]

I can only imagine what something like an Albert Lee BFR would be like...another story.

There are many of us AL fans waiting patiently for the BFR AL!!!!!

 

[Big Poppa]

DId the tops suck sufficiently?

 

[Ripper]

Hey BP - still traumatized by the earlier issues? Or is that a post-production QC statement?

 

[Big Poppa]

it is now a running joke whenever we see a bfr the top sucks

 

[73h Nils]

I went to the MIAC show last year and didn't see a single EB guitar

and to think I could've gone this year!

*Stabs eye

 

[kbaim]

Was at the MIAC (trade)show in Toronto yesterday and The Glensterr had managed to find a couple of BFRs, which will shortly be coming to our store. One was a Petrucci in Trans Black flame, which looks really elegant on that broad pickguardless expanse. The second was a Luke in Trans Ruby, with a gorgeous popcorn quilt. Weight was great, nice acoustic ring, but no place to plug in and rip. Really looking forward to giving both a testdrive when they arrive, but was very impressed with fit and finish. I can only imagine what something like an Albert Lee BFR would be like...another story. I'd been waiting to see how EBMM had raised the bar on themselves, and I must say I'm really impressed.
More in a couple of days when we get them at the shop and have some time to really put them through the hoops, but first impression is...OUTSTANDING!-Eric

I'd have to guess not quite as dramatic as the Pet or Luke simply because the AL has the pickguard that will obscure a portion of the body.

(oops--just saw Spuds comments).

 

[brasco68]

BP...any chance of a lefty BFR Luke down the road?

 

[Big Poppa]

yes

the al bfrs look mighty fine

 

[koogie2k]

Does the AL have to have a pick guard? Curious more than anything

 

[robelinda2]

yes

the al bfrs look mighty fine

 

[mesadualrec]

this thread should have been named......

My first glimpse at the reserved balls

 

[lumberjack]

Does the AL have to have a pick guard? Curious more than anything

+1000 Koogs. It'd would be cool if the BFR's with pickguards could be rear-routed to show off the flamey and quilty beauty.

 

[Lance Romance]

Hmmm, see it in my minds eye right now...BFR flametop Trans Black Albert Lee, no pickguard, 3 X MM90s, trem...I'll take one right now.-Eric
...and the same gold hardware as my 2006 Limited

 

[Big Poppa]

lance youd find someway to bastardize it......you are the psyicpetof the guitar!

 

[pjc812]

DId the tops suck sufficiently?

I laughed out loud at that. That rarely happens. Still chuckling...

 

[darren]

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.

 

[darren]

So they've got a blue quilt JP7 BFR hanging on the wall, right at eye level in the Burlington store now.

I'm sad to say it's the same story. There's a bit more of the "3D" aspect to the quilted maple, but it was hanging on a wall with some other guitars with the name of a guy with three initials on the headstock, and i'm sorry, but the finishes on their tops absolutely kicked ass, on guitars that were 2/3 the price of the BFR.

There was a Fender Showmaster hanging nearby... it's about 1/3 the price of the BFR with a finish on it that showed an impressive quilted top way better. And a few Ibanezes for even less.

I found i had to really squint at the BFR to make out the grain, and this is a fairly well-lit store. But again, this guitar was hanging next to some guitars with very comparable quality wood tops, and it looked dark and lifeless, which confirmed for me that the finishes on the BFRs are just way too opaque, which makes them look inferior, even though the woods themselves may not be.

I love my JP7. But would i sell my Lava Pearl JP7 for a walnut quilt BFR? Before seeing these in real life, i would have seriously considered it, as that may be very close to my ideal guitar.

Now?

Probably not.

 

[Big Poppa]

Darren..feel free to say you dont like something but to attack the quality is crossing the line. Please post a detailed bio of your experience as a finisher or any experience you may have in finishing.

If you saw a PRS that was 1/3 cheaper with a better top that sounds like a killer deal.

Stating personal preference is fabulous. Stating fact with zero basis is hogwash.