• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

Why do you play EBMMs?

  • Because of EBMM Endorsees

    Votes: 11 7.1%
  • Because of fit/finish/construction/tones

    Votes: 128 82.6%
  • Because I like the designs

    Votes: 10 6.5%
  • Because my friends got me hooked

    Votes: 3 1.9%
  • Because I inherited one from my dad, and I didn't have a choice

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • I dunno... I just buy balls...

    Votes: 3 1.9%

  • Total voters
    155

sith

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Feb 27, 2008
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EU, Slovenia
At friends place I once played ASS , he had painted neck with nitro and guitar was also set up poorly... than I pluged it into my ENGL Powerball:eek: I couldn't belive the definition and clarity of sound even on a very dirty channel... I prefered it's sound over a 4000$ PRS.

Three things bothered me though... I found neck hard to acces on higher frets, no floating trem and a little too hot output...

Then I tried JP6... then I visited Ebay... then I took a loan in a bank :):):)
Being die hard fan of John Petrucci also helped a bit ;)
 

candid_x

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Joined
Jun 26, 2006
Messages
3,272
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.

Thank you for saving me from having to type all that. Our reasons are identical, especially your "playing geometry" comment.

In a way I feel almost like it's cheating to play a Silo Special - like a Strat that you don't have to work hard at playing or setting up.
 

gerry d

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Joined
Dec 31, 2005
Messages
389
I play guitars from a few different builders and they all are good, EBMM guitars are consisently great, and priced very well considering the quality... I use my Luke for a LOT of the work I do and it's a great tool... if it didn't perform as well as it does it would be outta there believe me... but I need a few more EBMM's..:) I'm currently thinking about an Albert Lee with MM90's.... their is a sound I'm after and I'm pretty sure this would do it... solid professional guitars.
 

brasco68

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Joined
Nov 18, 2006
Messages
2,632
Location
Los Angeles, Ca
#2

I've wanted an Axis since the early 90's, but being a lefty I had to admire from afar for years...until the A.S.S. Once I was able to buy a Super Sport...I knew I had found a musical home the very moment I played it...just the best built guitar I've ever played. My love an admiration for EBMM guitars only increased when I got my Luke...they are the perfect guitars for me.
 

whitestrat

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Aug 13, 2007
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Location
The Little Red Dot
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 :)

The closest to that would be the "because my friends got me hooked" option...:D
 

RocketRalf

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Joined
Dec 10, 2007
Messages
1,119
Location
Sydney
#2. The moment I bent my first note on the silo trough a tube amp, I knew it was coming home with me. Like someone else said, it's like cheating, so easy to play... I immediately had one year of experience worth on guitar just from grabbing a silhouette instead of any other guitar.

And of course the quality/price ratio. I'm getting a better guitar than Vai's for one third the price! :eek:
 

spychocyco

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Joined
Feb 16, 2008
Messages
800
For me, it's all about the neck. I discovered EBMM by accident when I went into a local music store to buy a closeout Peavey Wolfgang. I waffled so long on it that they sold it, but it turns out, that's good news. :p The salesman pointed me toward an Axis Sport that was also a closeout. I fell in love with the neck, but didn't care for the configuration. It took me about 2 1/2 years and a generous wife to get my hands on one, but it was worth it.
 

Spudmurphy

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Joined
Aug 23, 2005
Messages
12,037
Location
Cardiff, United Kingdom
The AL fits like a glove.
My Les Paul is banished to it's case and I gave my custom built Dearnaley Tele to my son.

The AL can do it all - it's a fantastic guitar and I wish I had one 30 years ago!!
 

TonyEVH5150

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Joined
Feb 6, 2006
Messages
1,558
Location
Nashville, TN
The poll should have allowed for more than one reason.

I gotta agree with that. I had more than one reason. A former endorsee is what drew me to the brand. And the fit, finish, feel, and tone are what keep me with them. The Axis is a freakin' masterpiece!!!!
 

DavidOfOz

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Joined
Nov 8, 2007
Messages
584
Location
Melbourne, Australia
I voted for option #2, but I could have picked any of the first four options!

My interested in MusicMan began when the "Luke" model was developed. I figured that if a talent like Lucious chose MusicMan, then it was logical to assume that the company made a damn fine product. And EBMMs certainly looked good. A few years ago, I discovered that the son of a good friend was learning guitar from a local MusicMan addict. My friend's son indoctrinated me with reasons for why EBMMs are better than everything else. All this gave me the confidence to buy a Luke without ever playing one.

From the moment I played my first Luke, I lost interest in playing anything else. Such a pleasure to play, and it sounded better than the rest of my guitar family.
 

Sweat

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Joined
Dec 31, 2006
Messages
7,345
Location
Texas Finally!
Easy answer was number 2, I bought my first one a CBP Luke and it was the most awesome guitar I had ever picked up, since then I have been on a wild ride buying and selling EBMM's they have all been fantastic but looking for my perfect matches.
 

whitestrat

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Aug 13, 2007
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The Little Red Dot
Ok, the main reason for this thread was to try to determine whether in EBMM's case, is it the brand? or is it the product that draws people to it.

Question: If another brand were to give you exactly what you'd get from an EBMM, would we switch and own both? or stay with EBMM?

Is EBMM viewed as a "brand" or just a name of a bunch of well made guitars? Does the EBMM brand sell?

Looking at how many responses we get on this forum on how we constantly have to justify the usual "you bought a what?" sort of question would lead me to believe that EBMM is in need of brand building. Am I right to say that?

Because i think a strong brand in time translates to good resale value. Like what PRS has been trying to do for the past few years and what Fender and Gibson currently exhibit. In their cases, the brand is the strong one, and they have shoddy products. Yet people still buy Fenders and Gibsons. Ibanez is beginning to exhibit that too, though they are more careful when it comes to product quality these days.
 
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dannymusic

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Joined
Sep 8, 2005
Messages
1,076
Location
MINNESOTA
and next would be:

Jp6 neck
JP6 bridge
flawless construction
top shelf materials
JP6 tones
AL shape
AL tones
cool headstock
Family owned/cool people/small operation
Price/resale
forum

...should i keep going??
 
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