Silly me

[elvisdog]

Three years ago I had never owned a Music Man, then a Cutlass crept into the fold and became #1 pretty much instantly. Then along came a StingRay, more or less by accident -- it was hugely cheap and I had to have it. Took forever to get set up & sounding the way I like but now it's interchangeable with #1. And as of this morning I have a shell pink Valentine on the way. Where does it stop?

Not actually complaining. At one per year I ought to be able to collect another 20 before I'm dead.

 

[xjbebop]

Welcome to the family! Music Man instruments are super high quality, solid and dependable. And they make plenty of different models, so there's something for everybody.
And the company / family are great people... another reason to feel good about giving them our business...

 

[beej]

It always starts with one ... then another ...

 

[NickNihil]

EBMM guitars are definitely a kind of drug. I've gone through a number of Fenders, Ibanez's, Reverends, a stellar Gibson Firebird, a lot of great guitars. But none of those companies had me wanting to try almost everything in their lines, they never made me feel like "I need two more of THESE." Only EBMM. Outside of a couple of stray Gretsch's I don't want to play anything else.

 

[loocnmad]

Same thing happened to me. A Cutlass RS mysterously showed up at my house a few years ago. Within the next year it was joined by a Valentine and Axis SS.

Funny thing is I've wanted a Silhouette for over 20 years. I also now have a Stingray Special bass and another Cutlass (the first one is now my daughter's). The current Silo colors aren't mt thing so here's to hoping this year sees some new hues with roasted maple and SS frets, hint...hint...please...please

 

[NickNihil]

Got my first STV Stealth Black hhh 3 years ago, last year wound up adding a Goldie and an Albert Lee HH. Really, I probably don't need another guitar. Except for maybe a Valentine, or an Albert Lee SSS. Oh yeah, and of course an STV HH. Even though it's not my kind of guitar, back when I was in a Prince tribute band I was seriously considering one of the purple Majesty's. I had a Silhouette HSH for a minute but returned it in favor of the AL. I don't get on with 24 fret guitars but damn if that Silhouette didn't play as well as any of the others. Why I never wound up with that Majesty-that and the Prince tribute band is no more.

 

[racerx]

Got my first STV Stealth Black hhh 3 years ago, last year wound up adding a Goldie and an Albert Lee HH. Really, I probably don't need another guitar. Except for maybe a Valentine, or an Albert Lee SSS. Oh yeah, and of course an STV HH. Even though it's not my kind of guitar, back when I was in a Prince tribute band I was seriously considering one of the purple Majesty's. I had a Silhouette HSH for a minute but returned it in favor of the AL. I don't get on with 24 fret guitars but damn if that Silhouette didn't play as well as any of the others. Why I never wound up with that Majesty-that and the Prince tribute band is no more.

I love them all too. I think I've run the gauntlet of just about all the major models now. I'd recommend checking out the Valentine if you can. The Luke 3 is my favorite of favorites, but the Valentine often comes close/beats it when I get into clean stuff. I guess Maroon 5 isn't generally known as the sexiest guitar endorsement, but JV's guitar is absolutely killer. Very comfortable to play and the sounds are divine. I get tons of compliments on it and everyone wants to know what it is when I bring it out!

 

[Astrofreq]

I know the feeling. I bought a green EVH in 1993 and have loved this brand ever since. I only have three EBMM’s now, but they are well loved.

 

[jlf599]

EBMM has captured me in a big way. I started with an Axis in early 2020 after I got a Peavey Wolfgang...and now almost all of my collection is EBMM. There really is nothing like their necks.

 

[NickNihil]

I love them all too. I think I've run the gauntlet of just about all the major models now. I'd recommend checking out the Valentine if you can. The Luke 3 is my favorite of favorites, but the Valentine often comes close/beats it when I get into clean stuff. I guess Maroon 5 isn't generally known as the sexiest guitar endorsement, but JV's guitar is absolutely killer. Very comfortable to play and the sounds are divine. I get tons of compliments on it and everyone wants to know what it is when I bring it out!

Yeah I've never been a fan of Maroon 5 but that guitar sure looks attractive. I've never really listened to Albert Lee, either, but that guitar is phenomenal. I am, however, a BIG St. Vincent fan (but that's not even really the reason I wanted the STV's, they just happened to check all the boxes in a guitar I was looking for: minihumbuckers, 5 way pickup selector, whammy bar, unique shape). I run counter it seems to a lot of other players in that my main sonic judgment of a guitar is its neck clean tone (I think a lot of players look more for bridge tones, clean and dirty). I was also never too keen on signature guitars for a while but the market seems to have improved, probably largely due to EBMM making and selling guitars to actual artist spec as opposed to slapping a name on a slightly tweaked standard model. But also because more and more players I think need/want a more streamlined setup as modern rock/pop isn't really based on turning big amps up really loud anymore. Amps are smaller, budgets are smaller, sound systems are better. Less gear brought on tour saves money, so a lot of modern guitarists are looking for more versatility in their guitars. So a lot of these signature models now are built much more with gigging/touring versatility in mind. Plus even though I'm not a Maroon 5 fan, they're all really talented. James Valentine is a hell of a player, so good for him for getting a signature model and putting out what looks like a really great, unique, useful one.

 

[elvisdog]

Not at all sure that I have ever heard Maroon 5, no idea how good or not-good James Valentine is as a player, but I am a Telecaster fan and the Valentine seems to be about as close to a tele as you can get in the EBMM lineup. Will know a lot more Monday!

 

[loocnmad]

I liked the first M5 album when it came out but I never had any strong opinions either way about James Valentine. That's why I was a little surprised when I heard he had a sig model coming out. I've had mine for a few years now and I'm still impressed with how thoughtful all the design choices were. They really hit on a great formula with that one.

 

[QuietSpike]

Don’t listen to maroon 5 and usually stay away from signature models. Owned 3 JP’s and whenever I picked them up I played DT. Owned a Jem and only played Vai on it….

But the Valentine is a sublime guitar and a mainstay/go-to for me. Since I don’t listen to M5, couldn’t care less about it being a signature or not… it’s an amazing guitar and makes me respect Valentine as a player if he came up with it.

 

[NickNihil]

Yeah at this point if I like the way it sounds, feels, and looks I don't care whose name is on it. Though I do also like it when companies endorse artists that don't fit the traditional guitar hero molds. And I think it's both really sad and really cool that the STV's were apparently the first customized artist signature for a feel guitarist. Cool because an Annie's awesome player/writer/artist, EBMM is a great company, and the guitar is amazing. Sad because it took this long for a woman to get this kind of guitar endorsement.

 

[Sweat]

James Valentine is an awesome guitarist, I like the first maroon 5 album but after that they went in a direction I don't like but he is still a great guitarist.

Never had the opportunity to try a Valentine but maybe someday. Like the looks and idea of it.