Why do we play EBMMs?

[whitestrat]

Why do we play Ernie Balls? is it because of endorsees? Fit and finish? Construction? Tone? Design or simply because we were influenced to by friends?

Lets hear it. What made you pick up your first ball?

For me, it was the JP6. I had heard of it obviously, but never had a chance to try it. I had the Ibanez version of the JPm previously, and liked the tone. I did stumble across one in Japan, and a tried it. I was hooked. The tone came back to me... And I thought I found my perfect guitar. JP6 mystic dream fully loaded. What more could you want? The guitar was so well built, I couldn't believe it!

Then along the way, I began to realise that the neck was a bit thin for my liking, so I tried a Silo. It came a bit old and grimey, so I got rid of it. I like the wear in the guitars myself.

Then I got my first 20th... it blew me away like no other guitar, and the rest is history...

And now I'm thinking of a Silo Spec in SSS cos I like single coil tones, and I like EBMM construction, and the Silo neck shape, so why not a Silo spec? heheheh...

So lets hear it! Why do you play with balls?

 

[Slingy]

It must be fate. I didn't intend to buy my first, was there to get something else. Just saw it and it felt good. Even with the new Luke I was intending to buy an Axis or Silo after alot of research. But there was that jet black Luke with a tiny ding that abled me to get it down to my price range, calling my name. I've almost never went to a store and bought what I intended to.

 

[kompressaur]

I'd narrow it right down to the neck. I like them for the necks. the guitars look great,sound great,have character,are terrific build quality and arent just clones but the neck is any MM's crowning glory.whatever the model and profile the quality is astounding and shows a real understanding of great guitar building

 

[RobW]

I'd narrow it right down to the neck. I like them for the necks. the guitars look great,sound great,have character,are terrific build quality and arent just clones but the neck is any MM's crowning glory.whatever the model and profile the quality is astounding and shows a real understanding of great guitar building

This is really the bottom line for me too. The neck is where it's at. This is what first roped me in.

 

[DJ.]

fit/finish/construction/tones
#2 says it all......

 

[Jonny Dubai]

Because I like the feel and the tone.

J

 

[Ripper]

Unconventional designs yet looking a bit mainstream. Thats what I like. Furthermore, rare in wher we live, you know what I mean bro.

 

[fogman]

I don't know.
I just like the forum and pics!!!!

 

[robelinda2]

I came across a Luke first and an AL, fell inlove with the feel and sound, became addicted soon after. Seriously, its not hard to love these wonderful guitars, they stand out in the market so much compared to other brands. I absolutely love my EBMM's. The pics are addictive too!

 

[poj]

This is really the bottom line for me too. The neck is where it's at. This is what first roped me in.

Me too.
I still go out to try other brands such as Tom Anserson, Fender, Gibson, PRS etc. Nothing can compete with EBMM. Music Man is the Best guitar for me.

 

[augustyn]

#2 says it all.
and this community here also has a part of it...

 

[marduke]

well the option i would have selected is not on there.. which would be the people on this forum.. the way this forum is more like a family where everyone LOVES their balls, and the fact that i dont think ive read a negative comment about EBMM guitars on here. i really bought my first EBMM through word of mouth on this very forum.

but now i own 2 of them id have to go the finish/construction/tones option

 

[fsmith]

Fit, finish, construction, price point. Nothing else comes close for me.

 

[JMB27]

#2 - fit, finish, construction, tones

 

[candid_x]

The poll should have allowed for more than one reason.

 

[Smellybum]

How weird is this, I was out last week and we got talking about this......so there were 5 of us, all guitar players, none of us pro - (1 semi pro but not gonna go any bigger)

Anyway we're talking about our gear and who plays what and why, one of the guys is a solid fender man, two are gibsons, 1 gibson and prs 50/50 split, my self now with a 60% majority of balls in my collection and the last builds his own...

So were talking about each others guitars as we've all played each others and who's got the best kit... after loads of beer, a ropey cheeseburger and some mystery desert we came to the conclusion that the balls were best...

(why?? I hear you ask) well - the general concensus seemed to be that you could pickup 2 balls and they'd be pretty much the same where as if you were to les pauls, you'd maybe want to take one home and not be bothered about the other or one would look nice but the other would be a better player....

so I guess what we agreed on (before we moved on to polictics and prostution) was the the balls were consistent, although all the balls in my colleciton were varied you still knew what you'd be getting and they were a safe bet in terms of ordering one off the internet where as with the others it was a bit of a gamble or an unknown......

 

[guitarman23]

Well I Voted But If There Was More Of A Choice I Would Say "Balls Are The Best!"

 

[koogie2k]

I simply picked one up at Guitar Center. I said, EBMM????...I thought they only made strings. I expected a low grade instrument (I did not know anything about them) and was completely floored! I bought an Axis.....then I picked up a JP and was blown away yet again. Simply put, I have played nothing else since....

 

[francric]

I wanted a JP, so endorsee for me, initially, then #2. But what really put me over the edge was customer service. I think cs should be added to the poll.

 

[John C]

The poll should have allowed for more than one reason.

Agreed.

I voted for #3. For me it's the design of the Silo Special. I love Strats, but there were a lot of things that nagged me about them. As I've aged, I've started having issues with my hands. I found the design of the Silo Special is far more comfortable for me than a typical Strat - the body puts the neck at the perfect playing geometry for me. Frankly, if I liked V-necks I would probably also have a Luke as the feel is similar.

However, #2 is a very close second - the fit, finish, construction of the EBMM is far closer to boutiques that curn out 200-800 guitars per year than to other companies of EBMM's size. The oil-and-wax neck finishes and everything else just seals the deal. I also don't know if you can separate "tone" from either #2 or #3 - it comes from the synergy of superior design, fit, finish, construction, etc.

I don't know that you can really separate option #2 and option #3 - they really go hand in hand.