Where MM Rates

[straycat113]

After re reading the whole MM is not worth it post I am a bit baffled. I know I live on the same planet so I would like to clear somethings up. I spend about close to $100 a month on guitar publications, and because my favorites are from the UK they cost like $15 each. But the most talked about guitars in those mags are EBMM, Fender, Gibson and PRS hands down, and their are always adds or stories for Balls in all of them.

In fact I feel like they may have the edge over some of the bigger companies across the pond as they seem extra popular over there. Anyone who reads Guitar and Bass knows the players collection article, and about 9 out of the last 13 collections showcased the guitarist all owned a few EBMM guitars, and I did not even get the new issue which will showcase Jamie Humphries guitars.

The last issue of Vintage Guitar with Albert Lee had a huge add for the Reflex besides Aberts interview which was very heavy on MM.

Guitarist Magazine and the new Guitar Player mag both had sparkling reviews on the Sterling Models.

On both Harmony Centrals forum and The Gear Page Forum which are neutral sites their were recent post asking what players thought about MM guitars ,and both were long post with very solid and positive reviews on the quality and guitars.

Also on ebay they are a pretty hard guitar to get a steal on as they hold their resale value much better than some of the companies I mentioned earlier.

So thinking it over I really do not find it a bit puzzling with about 200 guitar makers out their that EBMM ranks right up their with companies that had a 30 year head start or are much larger.

Kbaim was also saying that after gigging the younger guys checking out his gear never even heard of Luke, Lee, Morse or Petrucci but dig the guitars. This is what I meant when I said Sterling did a great job with the artist he made signature guitars for, as they are players players and young guys must look at EBMM guitars the same way we did a Les Paul as he was before my time when he recorded and I associated the guitar with players of my day.

So to me it would seem very strange for someone today to not be familiar with these guitars as I have to believe they are right there at the top and getting more popular every year. Truthfully does anyone come across anyone that is not familiar with the companies guitars?

I said all this not as a fanboy but as a fan, besides I am no ones boy.lol

 

[Big Poppa]

I don't choose to use print unless I get a steal on it. The international distributors use it extensively. If you advertise you get editorial coverage. The mags pretend that there is separation between sales and editorial and preach journalistic integrity but that part of it is a joke.

 

[fogman]

...and that's in all industries.

 

[Big Poppa]

Can I point out that I don't read certain threads as I usually piss someone off...imagine that? But the music man is not worth it has nearly 2500 views and really unique special threads are lucky to get 500. It never ceases to amaze how strong the negative and tabloid mentality has infected most people. Give a negative title and you will get a super high view count....

 

[Sosomething]

I don't choose to use print unless I get a steal on it. The international distributors use it extensively. If you advertise you get editorial coverage. The mags pretend that there is separation between sales and editorial and preach journalistic integrity but that part of it is a joke.

I don't care.

There is no such thing as an objective impression of a guitar. Even the best-intentioned reviewer is filtering his perceptions through his own preferences, biases, and schemas...

I don't read guitar mags because I think I'm getting unbiased information on gear from the perspective of journalistic integrity, I read them because I freaking love guitars.

In all honesty, I probably spend as much time drooling over the ads as I do reading the articles. One sexy picture of a guitar does more to make me want it than 1000 words by some famous player...

 

[Gio_Force_One]

Can I point out that I don't read certain threads as I usually piss someone off...imagine that? But the music man is not worth it has nearly 2500 views and really unique special threads are lucky to get 500. It never ceases to amaze how strong the negative and tabloid mentality has infected most people. Give a negative title and you will get a super high view count....

when I started the thread of music man not being worth it my intention wasn't a negative one. I was just saying that after I had traded my les paul for a Y2D no one around here was remotely happy for me whatsoever. I was happy i traded , I received some good advice from the people on this forum so i traded. But everyone I knew and had talked to kept saying why would you trade for that guitar and then someone saying it was a step above a dean and so on and so forth. I since impressed a lot of people with it. Since a lot of my friends work at GC I brought it in to them and said plug and and try it , thats when all the heads turned and people had changed their minds. I really appreciate all the people on this forum and love my guitar and all my ernie ball products. I am a bartender at a restaurant and brought the guitar in and showed my regular customers and peoples jaws just drop when they see it.
I even put most of my other guitars on consignment at a local shop so i can purchase another Y2D with the floyd rose on it.
So im sorry if it was a negative thread or people perceived it as one , but all you guys on this forum have been great to me and i really like being here.
and since i have a EBMM guitar now ,you have a EBMM player for life.
thanks to all at EBMM for making an incredible guitar.

 

[threeminutesboy]

Can I point out that I don't read certain threads as I usually piss someone off...imagine that? But the music man is not worth it has nearly 2500 views and really unique special threads are lucky to get 500. It never ceases to amaze how strong the negative and tabloid mentality has infected most people. Give a negative title and you will get a super high view count....

so true unfortunately...

 

[Big Poppa]

Gforce Im not upset at you and Im very happy that you love your guitar...

 

[Gio_Force_One]

Gforce Im not upset at you and Im very happy that you love your guitar...

I didn't think you were upset just wanted to explain the thread a little more. There really is enough negativety in this world I really didnt want to put any here. And yes i do love my guitar. Its surprising to me around here , I have never seen another guitarist with one.
And BP if for any reason you happen to be in Rhode Island just tell me your coming before hand and you can come into my bar anytime , I'll get you some drinks and lunch.

 

[threeminutesboy]

your bar?

I guess you have no problem to play live with your band

 

[Gio_Force_One]

your bar?

I guess you have no problem to play live with your band

its bar but not that kind of bar ,its more of a family restaurant plus no room to play anyway. customers always say why dont you play some songs.
And sadly I havent had a band since January , I just bounce around and fill in for people here and there. I cant seem to find people that want to do the same music as me. One day i will though after 15 years of playing almost non stop in a cover band the last 9 months has been kind of nice , but I'm itching to have a regular band again so hopefully soon.

 

[andynpeters]

My impression is the same as Mr Ball's....pretty much EVERY PRS & Fender gets reviewed, even if it's only a cosmetic change and in the Spanish edition of "Guitarist" Cort & Stagg appear many more times than one would expect.
What is also very obvious is that every time an EBMM is reviewed it's given a very high rating, so it's not just our opinion!!

 

[zombywoof]

What if MusicMan guitars popularity (and sales) doubled?
You have a company that makes excellent quality guitars to order.
with a 3-4 months wait I wonder what they would have to do to answer the demand!
I like the fact that these guitars are not as widely known as we'd expect given the quality.
It kind of tells me they are not only made for profit...

 

[kbaim]

I didn't think you were upset just wanted to explain the thread a little more. There really is enough negativety in this world I really didnt want to put any here. And yes i do love my guitar. Its surprising to me around here , I have never seen another guitarist with one.
And BP if for any reason you happen to be in Rhode Island just tell me your coming before hand and you can come into my bar anytime , I'll get you some drinks and lunch.

Thats whats kinda cool in a way. I remember a few years back i went to see Satriani in Reno NV at a hilton (now the Grand Sierra i think). After the show let out there was a bar band playing inside the hotel and the guitarist was playing a Luke! Had NEVER seen anyone play one live other than us here and Luke himself. Would have loved to talk to the guy but they were in the middle of a set and i was wiped.

 

[dusty fretz]

I don't choose to use print unless I get a steal on it. The international distributors use it extensively. If you advertise you get editorial coverage. The mags pretend that there is separation between sales and editorial and preach journalistic integrity but that part of it is a joke.

I can understand your cynicism Sterling and it's certainly well-founded, although not in all cases. Magazine content and advertising frequently do go hand-in-hand, usually based on benefit to both parties, but this mutual back-scratching should never extend to influencing actual opinion of a product. I've been writing about and reviewing guitars for over 30 years and I can honestly state that not once have I been asked to make 'improvements' to keep an advertiser sweet, nor would such pressure have any effect, as I value my unbiased viewpoint and personal integrity too highly.

 

[Big Poppa]

sure Dusty Im sure you are as Ed is....Im just choose to not base our marketing solely on print

 

[Sweat]

EBMM rates numero uno with me ( insert any fanboi comment here) nuff said

 

[Colin]

I'm looking at advertising in the Australian mags in 2011. Any advice?

 

[straycat113]

I will say as a longtime reader of guitar mags that the reviewers today give more of an honest review these days than back in the 80s or 90s when just about every guitar got a very fluffy review. These days you will see some guitars get knocked pretty good for bad fret work, finish issues,tone problems as well as if they are deemed over priced. I really respect the reviews in the UK magazines and Premeir Guitar where they actually consider themselves journalist and state they are their to print the truth, I love that attitude. Though I always dismiss the factory set up knock on any guitar, as I deem it unfair that a guitar could of traveled acroos the country or world for that matter through many climates and be expected to come out of the box perfect.

So Dusty what model Ball lights your fire.

 

[Colin]

Having worked in the media I can give this angle, albeit a very brief angle. Every media outlet will have these two basic sides (be it print, radio or tv) sales and programming. Both sides are vital for that outlet to survive. For example, you need the content so people will listen, they are the magnet. You also need the advertising as that's what pay's the bills and the magnets (announcer, story etc), it's a real balancing act. From my experience sales pretty much always win as that's how the revenue comes in. I am yet to see a bad review of a product in print.