So long, Fender. It's been fun.

[Spudmurphy]

Great Post Greg.
I know what you mean when you find a guitar that "does it for you" and you break away from the "Kings new clothes followers" by ditching the Strat.

The LUKE111 looks a great option and I swore that I am happy with my guitars right now as I save for my retirement project - a Delorean!! - but heck, they are kind of appealing.

Oh and if it was me I would have EADGBE as a number plate on it, but we can't have things like that in the UK.

 

[Greg Suarez]

Great Post Greg.
I know what you mean when you find a guitar that "does it for you" and you break away from the "Kings new clothes followers" by ditching the Strat.

The LUKE111 looks a great option and I swore that I am happy with my guitars right now as I save for my retirement project - a Delorean!! - but heck, they are kind of appealing.

Oh and if it was me I would have EADGBE as a number plate on it, but we can't have things like that in the UK.

I was under the impression that EBGDAE was technically correct. That's how I was taught, at least. Easter Bunny Gets Drunk At Easter.

The reverse (EADGBE) was already taken as a license plate in my state. I used to have "22 FRETS" as a license plate because when I first got personalized plates, "EBGDAE" was already claimed. I never really liked 22 FRETS because it's not representative of all guitars, and I wanted something a little more general. I put way too much thought into this...

 

[jzeijen]

I was under the impression that EBGDAE was technically correct. That's how I was taught, at least. Easter Bunny Gets Drunk At Easter.

The reverse (EADGBE) was already taken as a license plate in my state. I used to have "22 FRETS" as a license plate because when I first got personalized plates, "EBGDAE" was already claimed. I never really liked 22 FRETS because it's not representative of all guitars, and I wanted something a little more general. I put way too much thought into this...

Cool license plate! For me it would also be EADGBE, which in dutch lessons is explained as Een Aap Die Graag Bananen Eet. Which translates into A monkey that likes to eat bananas... Will never forget that. The easter bunny phrase is a more adult approach.

 

[colinboy]

Im itching for a Luke III too at the moment only problem is i will have to sell my 25th to fund it something im not 100% certain on yet.
Theres always the Lottery LOL!

 

[decreebass]

Yep. Once you go EBMM, you don't go back; other than kicking and screaming because some unexpected expense came up and your EBMM guitars are the only valuable thing you have left in your life (or is that just me?).

I plan to have as many Kenji20022 someday

 

[ksandvik]

My plan is to wear down my No 1 (Y2D) and No 1 (Luke) with as many gigs as possible so they look like Steve Morse's No 1 .

 

[Greg Suarez]

Im itching for a Luke III too at the moment only problem is i will have to sell my 25th to fund it something im not 100% certain on yet.
Theres always the Lottery LOL!

I have not played a 25th, so I don't know what the differences in tone would be. Doesn't the 25th have mini humbuckers?

I would think the 25th is considered a collector's item.

If I hit the lottery, I would show up at BP's house with a blank check and let him know, very politely, that we're going to the factory.

 

[Greg Suarez]

Yep. Once you go EBMM, you don't go back; other than kicking and screaming because some unexpected expense came up and your EBMM guitars are the only valuable thing you have left in your life (or is that just me?).

I plan to have as many Kenji20022 someday

If anyone ever came after my assets, the guitars would be hidden away at my brother's house. ;-)

 

[Edgarallan]

All hail Music Man.

View attachment 25363

Hail Music Man!!!!!!!!

 

[Benji Peterson]

Man, this is as good as posts get! Congrats on finding a home with such a great guitar brand.

 

[Greg Suarez]

Man, this is as good as posts get! Congrats on finding a home with such a great guitar brand.

Thanks. MM guitars have really rejuvenated my passion for the guitar. I feel like I did back when I was 15 years old and first started playing. When I play the three that I have, I can hear details in the tone I never heard in my other guitars. It must be the build quality and electronics, because I set them up and maintain them like I do any of my other guitars. I also play them through the same systems. I know this sounds really stupid and unbelievable, but it's the honest-to-God truth.

The Majesty roars with the bridge pickup, sings at the neck pickup, has richer harmonics and sustains better than any guitar I have ever owned.

The Luke III HSS out-Strats any American Deluxe Strat I've ever owned.

The StingRay HH makes my American Deluxe P-Bass sound like a wimp. A plain and simple wimp.

Hey, check your PMs...

 

[Movielife]

Ok, the Bodhi Blue can be ordered in the UK pretty quick...arghhh! I think I'd opt for HSS...need to give this some thought this weekend.

 

[spkirby]

Movielife you have PM.

 

[Big Poppa]

Greg thanks so much. I have such a deep respect for Fender and actually all of the other makers. It's really hard competing with them....I believe that there is room for all of us....or at least I hope there is still room for us. The guitar market has not been real receptive to many things that arent just strat or les paul clones....and as a matter of fact I dont know if we would still be able to do what we do without the success of and support of artists like Luke and JP Morse and Albert

 

[Greg Suarez]

Greg thanks so much. I have such a deep respect for Fender and actually all of the other makers. It's really hard competing with them....I believe that there is room for all of us....or at least I hope there is still room for us. The guitar market has not been real receptive to many things that arent just strat or les paul clones....and as a matter of fact I dont know if we would still be able to do what we do without the success of and support of artists like Luke and JP Morse and Albert

I still have a lot of love for Fender. I just think the "old guard" has now been surpassed. They really haven't innovated much over the decades. In a way, this is a strategy in itself: stick with your classic designs and continue to provide what your base customers love. When it comes to guitars, I gravitate toward the companies that innovate. I think most of the MM superfans do, as well. I don't read a whole lot of comments on this board about how the company is on the wrong path and needs to stop offering new designs, finishes, etc. MM fans get excited when things change, which is how it should be (as long as the "old" stuff is still obtainable, too). I think MM fans are a different breed.

You can't deny the influence that Gibson has had in the past (but I still believe Fender made more of an impact). However, Gibson's current operations are terrible. Internet boards are filled with people buying USA-made Gibsons that are rife with problems. And it seems corporate simply doesn't care. I read an interview with Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell several years ago where he very publicly made his displeasure with Gibson Artist Relations known. He implied they were uncooperative and disinterested in providing support. And this is a guy on stage with one of the top-selling bands of all time. Sure, Vivian Campbell is not Slash as far as name recognition, but I'll bet more people see Vivian Campbell play live every year than they do Slash. It's all about exposure. I saw Def Leppard live in 2008, and Campbell spent the entire set with Les Pauls strapped to his back.

I'm not as familiar with Steve Morse and Albert Lee as I'm sure many others are. Steve Lukather is a name I have known for decades now, and I have always admired his diversity, among his many other attributes. When it comes to JP, the only other guitarist I respect as much - from a pure musicianship aspect - is David Gilmour. I simply trust JP's opinions about guitar more than almost anyone else because he is so damned intelligent. His level of knowledge surpasses 99.999% of all other professional guitarists - not just his ability to play, but his understanding of the science of music. To me, he is the wise man on the top of the mountain. If a new JP guitar model were introduced, and it were nothing but an empty coffee can with a stick attached to it, I would probably still give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[KEOKI]

I respect your tenacity in the market and have to believe that the quality you are producing at your price point will continue to find market share. I regret that it took a breakdown in quality and customer service for me to turn anyway from a very respectable ( and not cheap) brand which led to discovering Music Man guitars late in my musical life. I play a great variety of music and I find these guitars are extremely versatile as well as being good players. I'm trying to express something here without having adequate words. I guess simply put, I would have been very happy playing Music Man guitars all my life. Having these guitars in places like Guitar Center allowed me to discover how great they are. Pardon the ramble.

 

[FarOut5150]

Hi, all.
Very first post for me - so I apologize if this has already been covered.

The title of this thread is what brought me here - I am considering the purchase of a MM Majesty.
One of the things I was wondering is if this instrument can re-create a "Fender" type of tone (i.e., Hendrix, SRV, etc).

I'm primarily a rock / metal type of player, but as of late - I have been into the "vintage" type of tone, too.

At any rate - thanks for the input.

Take care!

Scott

 

[Greg Suarez]

Hi, all.
Very first post for me - so I apologize if this has already been covered.

The title of this thread is what brought me here - I am considering the purchase of a MM Majesty.
One of the things I was wondering is if this instrument can re-create a "Fender" type of tone (i.e., Hendrix, SRV, etc).

I'm primarily a rock / metal type of player, but as of late - I have been into the "vintage" type of tone, too.

At any rate - thanks for the input.

Take care!

Scott

Not really. If you're looking for more Fender-like tones from a MM Petrucci model, go with the JPX.

 

[FarOut5150]

@ Greg: dang! I was hoping somebody would tell me yes. I like the tonal options that I have heard so far, but hadn't heard any of the tones which I mentioned. Thanks so much for taking the time to reply.

Take care

-Scott

 

[jff]

Greg, I totally agree. I've had my L3 for a few weeks and all the things u said are accurate. I was close to getting a strat w/ hss, but then saw the L3. Strats are great instruments, but the attention to detail in MMs is unrivaled. I've been playing a long time and have owned many Les Pauls, ES 345s, Tellies. Never owned a Strat. I may still purchase a cheap one and gradually upgrade it, just to have the iconic creature, but I probably won't play it much. I went to my local shop the other day and played one just to see how it compared. I'm glad I chose the MM.