What was your earliest exposure to EBMM guitars?

[candid_x]

It took me a long time to discover EBMM guitars. My earliest exposure and impression was seeing them set up to play in a club. I traveled quite a bit, and though I didn’t frequent the night club life, I did pass through or have dinner there often. Based on this impression, I always categorized MM guitars (and amps) as being for the working musician. There wasn’t much prestige involved with owning one, you just had to be a smart guitar player. The guitars played on, night after night, gig after gig, they were easy on the shoulder, and they covered a boat load of tones: perfect for a working cover band.

That’s still my first impression. Yes, some are beautiful to look at and fondle, but more than any of that ----- they work!

 

[Spudmurphy]

I first came across them when a bass player bought a 5 stringer - fantastic instrument.

I got back into playing after a LONG time away from the guitar and decided I would treat myself to a new one - I'm not one for chopping and changing guitars all the time.

I've only owned a handfull in over 30 years of playing - a watkins rapier followed by an SG and then the Les Paul I have now.

A friend started up in business making guitars and I had a Tele made by him which I still have and he's gone from strength to strength making sought after hand made guitars for not a lot of money.

I saw Albert Lee and loved his tone on that "strange looking" guitar. After trying one I just had to have one and hopefully I'll have another in the not too distant future.

Strange isn't it that I'm the same as you - never really paid attention to EBMM guitars until late in life!!

 

[Jimmyb]

The first EBMM that I played was a Stingray 4, 2 band EQ. It was about 16 years ago and my friend was buying it.

He was too scared to play it in the shop, so he made me play it. Despite the way I made it sound, he still bought it!!!

I can remember seeing pictures of Keef with a silo and thinking 'I want one of those' (not happened yet though)

The I saw a review of the Sport and knew I had to get hold of one. I ended up ordering from the same place that my friend had got his SR from a few years earlier.

I still can't play though...

 

[SteveB]

My first exposure to an EBMM guitar was at a Steve Morse clinic in the 1980's (at Specialty Guitar Shop in Dormont, Pennsylvania which no longer exists). Steve had his #1 with him.

 

[NorM]

Tom Hamilton on an aerosmith poster but that didn't stick. Steve Morse at a clinic. It took and I was done. "Not just any volume pedal, but an Ernie Ball Volume pedal" was a quote.

 

[augustyn]

beeing a steve morse fan i always wanted a SM model but they are too expensive in EU. on my honeymoontrip 1996 to USA i wanted to buy a SM in florida but they didnt have one and silo wasnt my choice.
it took till beginning 2004 on my next USA trip where i purchased my JP6 w/piezos (cause theres was again no SM on stock).
now i have 3 (JP, Silo and SM) and look for an axis SS w/piezo and maybe a luke II.
i learned to buy MMs private cause dealers are difficult to trust.
but here is a great forum where you can mostly trust people.

 

[Smellybum]

A hard tail EVH in the music shop I used to work in..........played the SH!t out of it... then it sold.

They were around £1500 back then in the shop I could only raise around 750 so I had one built by a local builder..... nice guitar but didn't get the real thing until around 2002........been growing the EBMM love field ever since.

 

[GWDavis28]

In magazines seeing the EVH's and seeing them in music video's. Loving the Trans Purple and thinking it was the coolest color I had ever seen.

A trip to GC and having my first hands on experience with a Pearl Red Silhouette Special SSH configuration and thinking that it was the ballz!!!!!!!

Glenn |B)

 

[adouglas]

I think I first saw one in Steve Morse's hands sometime in the early 80s, playing for the Dregs. Didn't really register. Actually I'm not 100% sure it was a MusicMan. I do recall it being blue and having four pickups, so I'm assuming it was.

I kind of knew about MusicMan ever since the brand first appeared but never paid close attention. Beyond my budget in those days.

I first started really paying attention to EBMM basses when I discovered who Tony Levin is, largely because of the excellent Peter Gabriel Secret World Live concert video.

Then I got to see Tony and hear the tone.

Then I tried a Bongo.

End of story.

EBMM actually saved me money. In my endless, random, stumbling search for the right tone I was starting to seriously consider buying an MTD 535. New, those are over $3k. Used they bring about $2.5k.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

In 2001 while I was gigging my Kramer with Soul Structure my friend Erica introduced me to this great band she knew called "Dream Theater" - she said it would be right up my alley. Sure enough, the band was, and we've since gone to see them in concert several times. In September 2002 my father and I took over DuBaldo Music, and in late 2003 Erica talked me into opening an account with EB for strings (and a 7 string JP for her). The first EB guitars I ever played were the Graphite Pearl Silhouette & Trans Red ASS that arrived in June 2004. I liked them so much that now I push the guitars on everyone I know! (I'm the pusherman).

I'm sure that I'd seen the guitars before, but that was before I really "looked" to see what people were playing - all I knew was that I didn't like Strats.

So - first exposure was in 2003 when she told me that she wanted me to order a 7 string John Petrucci model for her. I guess it was a good experience?

 

[fbecir]

Steve Morse !!!
My first Steve Morse CD was High Tension Wires. You can see a photo of Steve (with short hair ! He still had the airline pilot haircut !) with a nice blue guitar ...
Needless to say that my musical life changed completely after hearing such a masterpiece.
The sound was incredible so I had to investigate. I was listening to a lot of guitarists (Satriani, Vai ...). For me, they were all very good but Steve had definitely a better sound. So during years, the Music Man Steve Morse was my dream guitar.
This dream came true five years ago (for my 30 birthday).

Thanks again Steve & Big Poppa !

 

[Jonny Dubai]

Working as a part time Saturday guy in a shop called the guitar store glasgow in the early 90's( not the one that is there now). We got in a bright green/yellow sillo with locking trem and black decal of the EB eagle.....Woner where that guitar is now. STUNNER.


Jonny.

 

[edensdad]

I played a used Axis Sport in a local guitar shop and loved it. I didn't think about much after that - still planning on buying a new Les Paul. After JP converted from Ib*n*z I took another look.

I played another Axis and a Luke. Then I went on a mission to try a JP. Once I did, I bought one.

>^..^<

 

[fsmith]

EVH back in '91... saw the pink EVH from the first row and thought hmmmm, damn cool looking guitar. It took me another 10 years or more though to finally have my wife talk me into going for it. I've always wanted to play guitar, but never did it until way late in life. I was really into Dream Theater at the time (still am) and she bought me the Petrucci for Christmas 2003. It's been all downhill since. In a good way.

I think she realizes she created a monster. The 20th will ship out next week and the 2007 LE (JP7) is on my radar for next year...

 

[spkirby]

EVH again...from magazine ads. Loved the look of the guitar but way outta my price range back then. Took a few years but I eventually got an Axis and then the addiction started...4 in the stable right now.

As much as Ed is berated on this forum he did, and I'd guess still does, bring a lot of interest and business in for the SLO boys...

 

[w34payton]

EVH, probably the Poundcake video with the camera mounted on neck of the MM, guitar magazine covers when I saw the trans red one and the VMA's that year with the drill Poundcake opening. I remember him describing the EBMM as something that he wanted to be across between a Les Paul and a Fender Strat and that is was real balanced and easy to play. 15 Years later, I'm sold as I have an Axis on order.

 

[robelinda2]

seeing EVH use his on the Right here right now dvd, and seeing his ad in guitar mags in the early 90's, you know the one, red quilt axe, with the old "the difference is I designed this one" crap. cool pic though!!!

2nd would be years later when i bought an Albert Lee book and he was playing the Albert Lee Axis. cool

 

[threeminutesboy]

EVH in the magazines back in 91' and had a chance to try one in July 97' it was a pink one that I almost purchased but was missing some cash at that time so I had to give up

Took me six additional years to get my first EBMM the Sunburst Axis, that I have just sold to a forumite to purchase the ASS with hardtail

 

[Music Man]

I had seen them before in some ads, but it was not until I bought my JP that I was formerly introduced, and then it was all downhill from there! Financially that is, Three guitars later I am Broke But Happy!

 

[lock-ny]

As mentioned its taboo to talk EVH here, but he introduced me to musicman and it led to others as well. I was in college and the local store in wisconsin had an EVH, i loved the look of the guitar and the playability was inbelieveable, when I moved to LA after college guitar center had silos and silo specials and I got into them, now they are my favorite but I still have 2 axis, one hardtail for sale to fund another silo!