Sterling by Music Man Info

[kbaim]

Just wanna mention that I wore my black sterling t-shirt I got at the eb booth at NAMM to the Laker/San Antonio game this past weekend.
Thanks Mike Reiland for hooking me up!

 

[TimSz]

Left handed: Pt II

Being that I am left handed and for some reason have left handers flocking to me all the time, I've been able to learn a few things about the left handed market. I suppose it all boils down to this:

Do left handed guitars not sell because there's no market, or is there no market because left handed guitars don't sell?

It's a goofy conundrum, but fits well. I've spoken with a few in my time in the music business and everyone complains that there isn't a selection to choose from, so they get stuck buying the Epi or Squier type left handed instrument that really sucks. It turns them off because it's horrible to play and then they either give up, go right handed or are stupid enough to plow through until they can move up to a more expensive Epi or Squier/Fender... which also sucks. Now, I'm not knocking the companies. They all do what they do, and it's great for them. Truth is though, that I've only ever been satisfied with two companies for their left handed products: PRS and MM. PRS is no longer in the market for it, because they were too damned expensive... and I hate to say it, but every PRS is ridiculously similar to the next.

Anyways, I'm getting off topic. It seems that there is such a little market for lefties because no one has been willing to put their neck on the line to say "You know what, this is what we'll do for you, now help us keep it going". MM did that with the introduction of the left handed Petrucci. Talk about the biggest news in left handed history. No longer will players that have suffered through those Epis and Squier/Fenders have to end up with a three thousand dollar Les Paul that has less build quality than the Epi they started with (I say it out of experience) or an Ibanez that is less than middle-of-the-road... all these other companies only offer "good" lefties to players that have a boatload of money, or are famous... not the MM team though!

It may take a little extra money and some time to get a strong left handed following, but we are all out there, and were there a way to not have to get suckered into a Epi or Squier, and know that we could upgrade to something amazing, then we would be encouraged to speak up! When's the last time you saw a left handed guitar advertised? The market is virtually untapped! Sterling threw out a figure that only three percent of players are left handed. Is that by choice, or because they get steered clear of the lefty market by salesmen, companies and players alike?

I worked in a music store that offered lessons to over four hundred students? How many were left handed? Answer: "You should play right handed because it's easier". That's just plain unfair.

It could be a great market if people knew. Not a person at the Canadian mega-chain Long and McQuade knew that the JP6 is now being offered left handed. Believe me, I asked.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I doubt if you will offer it, but a green AX20 would be splendid!

 

[patpark]

Pat Park and the whole crew at Praxis are really top-notch! It was fun to meet you at the show and see all the cool Sterling instruments, Pat!

Thanks Beth and you are a real sweetheart yourself. Thanks for your help with the international distributors and your guys hospitality at the show.

Pat in Indonesia.

 

[Pittman75]

I'm so anxious. I want to see how the first run comes out, and if they are good, as soon as a Sterling Silo w/ trem comes out, I will jump.

 

[whitestrat]

Pesonally, I cannot see the Silo Spec in the Sterling line working as a product. Who plays single coils these days? Old farts who like to jangle blues around the fireplace. What do the kids want these days? 22/24 frets, locking trems, humbuckers. Shredder material.

We like the Silo Spec because it's an awesome alternative (actually, once you've tried one, you'll never go back) to the strat. But for them kids who can't afford an EBMM, they'll simply want a CIJ or MIJ Fender, or MIM Fender. At that level, the name is more important. I don't see kids moving from Fenders to Sterlings. But once they're older, and have more money, yes, you'll get them.

I think the best way for the Sterling line to progress is to address the younger crowd. The A7x/My Chemical Romance kids... hit that crowd with the Ax20, and JP50. Then you've got their attention. The business will grow from there.

 

[Eilif]

I hope I'm not ruffling any feathers by asking, but I'd like to ask (Pat or Poppa) if the Parks made the SUB1 pickups. (Which are very nice.)

 

[Big Poppa]

no they didnt...white strat saying people dont play single coils...tell fender that

 

[TimSz]

There's that whole John Mayer/Brad Paisley/Keith Urban following of young guitar slingers that are getting into single coils, you know.

 

[Big Poppa]

lionel you are a genius...when are you going to change your handle nobody plays white strats anymore....hehehehe

 

[douglasspears]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say the demand for pink EVH/Axis guitars is so high because there were so few made....not because so many people want a pink guitar, haha.

Hey Kids....
......understand that P{ink axis nedver sold....they are worth more because they were failures and therefore scarce

haha, not to pat myself on the back......but, "pat pat"

Simple supply and demand. Pink guitars = haha!

WhiteStrat....man, turn off MTV and dig a little bit. There are some young-uns out there absolutely RIPPING UP some fantastic music....single coil and beyond.

Check out the "McLovins" here...15 year olds absolutely raging!!!!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-hXEtjTMMs]YouTube - You Enjoy Myself "Phish" (McLovins cover) LIVE[/ame]

also, check out their take on Sissy Strut, Cliffs of Dover, as well as some Weather Report, Average White Band, BB King and other songs. Incredible.

 

[sloshep]

Great to see you posting here Pat.
You said in an earlier post that the pickups on the guitars would be slightly different from us models. Will this be the case with the basses as well?

I am looking forward to trying the new line when it hits the states.

 

[Quarter]

I'm looking forward to checking the Sterling line out, if is BP approved, you know its going to rock!

 

[OLPlayer]

Single coils are great for clarity. Having just been bought an Axis Super Sport i am seriously considering a Sterling Silo. Going to LIMS, hope there will be some there to try out.

 

[patpark]

Great to see you posting here Pat.
You said in an earlier post that the pickups on the guitars would be slightly different from us models. Will this be the case with the basses as well?

I am looking forward to trying the new line when it hits the states.

the bass pickups will be much closer to the originals. we spent alot of time in dialing in the bass pickups and the active 3 band preamps to be close.

 

[paranoid70]

So does a dealer have to carry Music Man to carry Sterling by MM guitars? Our local shop dropped EBMM a few years ago (just before I ordered my 1st one - d'oh). I brought my acoustic in for some work yesterday, and I was thinking of passing on the the brochure of the new SbMM guitars when I pick it up. The SbMM guitars/basses sure look a lot better than the mid range guitars they currently sell.

 

[patpark]

So does a dealer have to carry Music Man to carry Sterling by MM guitars? Our local shop dropped EBMM a few years ago (just before I ordered my 1st one - d'oh). I brought my acoustic in for some work yesterday, and I was thinking of passing on the the brochure of the new SbMM guitars when I pick it up. The SbMM guitars/basses sure look a lot better than the mid range guitars they currently sell.

If your shop has no MM dealers in the immediate area, have them contact Mike Reiland at 714-532-6659 and he can discuss it with them.

Thanks
Pat

 

[e.mate]

i would make a request for a purple ax40 and trans black hehe.

Just to revive this...

AX in Trans black, definitely!
JP in Sterling Silver
Silo in White .....to spark that discussion again

And what about reviving the 12string shallow body Axis based piezo acoustic like OLP offered before they f***ed up? Maybe in Trans Blue or Trans Teal I'm pretty much aware that nobody spends a thought on this for the EBMM line, but if made in Indonesia and sold for a decent price under SBMM would be a good Alternative for the youngsters....maybe even for me

 

[telemike]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd5mcZSwJnI"]YouTube - Chitarre Sterling by Music Man[/ame]

Some great jams at the end of the video

 

[jadaxis]

more demo's

Why are there no other video demos of the Sterling instruments? Someone, please make more!