Will there ever be another "SUB"?

[Pittman75]

Hey Guys,

I was sitting in school not paying attention in my anatomy class and started wondering, what happened to the SUB? And then I thought, why doesn't something like it come back? The main reason I love my EB's - the fretwork and feel of the guitar. It doesn't come down to AAAA Flamed Koa for me- a hunk of wood with paint on it is cool for me, its all about feel. Can and will EB make a guitar somewhat like the Sub ever again, for a more cost friendly ball? I'm currently after a Blue Dawn luke for another ball, but I can't afford it, and I'm gassing for a ball. So what do you think? Perhaps Poppa could weigh in? Why did it go away, and will it ever come back? What would you like to see in a perhaps more mid-priced ball?

 

[Astrofreq]

That would be great. I hope it does happen in some sort.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

Nick, if "SUB" weren't too short to work in the search engine I would suggest that, it was just gone over a little while ago.

Here's a sum-up!

BigPoppa has stated that the SUB was built to show that an affordable, quality guitar could be made in the USA. When material costs later went through the roof a few years later it was no longer reasonable for MusicMan to continue producing the SUB.

 

[Pittman75]

OOPS sorry guys, I'm a big search button fiend. I went a couple pages (10ish) back but didn't see it, perhaps I'm poor and dumb!

So what your saying that even for a crappy piece of wood and parts just costs too much and doesn't offset the price for craftsmanship, pete?

 

[Big Poppa]

you are correct sir!

 

[Pittman75]

So there is no wood in the world you can get? That's interesting. Damn economy. Guess I'd better keep workin' for that luke then. Unless BP decides to give some stuff away. Cough.

So let's turn this into a fun thread somehow. What would you do to a Ball to attempt to make it more affordable?

No inlays, all sincle coils, no body contours, and I'd probably say flat black finish. Chrome vintage trems?

 

[pjc812]

you're very close to describing a silo special.

decent single coils cost every bit as much as decent humbuckers. EB uses mostly dimarzio stuff anyway and they're pretty consistent in their pricing. i don't see really how different hardware would help a heck of a lot. EB uses hardware that will last and hardware that does its job. If you go to generic stuff things don't work well. There would be precious little difference between a silo and other guitars of a similar body style which, by the way, are a bitch to work on because, well, the hardware sucks.

You know, I think EBMM have very reasonable prices considering what you are getting. I've seen some other quote "boutique" guitars costing five times as much and they simply don't wow me. They certainly don't sound as good and aren't as easy to adjust.

EBMM wouldn't be what they are by cutting the corners other mannies have cut to give a budget guitar. PRS made an amazing instrument in the 80's and 90's. They pretty well blow chunks anymore because they cut some corners that should never have been cut. They cheapened their name by bringing in imports (like Gibson and Fender did) it's just not a good thing. I like EBMM being more exclusive and special. Makes me feel special

check the for sale thread you can sometimes snag a decent deal there used.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

Unless I ever become a signature artist somehow, it is probably gone for good

 

[paranoid70]

Well wood has definitely got expensive that's for sure. I went to the store to buy some finger-joint pine moulding for our bedroom. Nothing fancy, but it still cost me $200! I still have to paint them and install them myself.

 

[fbecir]

The SUB is a great guitar. I fully agree with Pittman75 ! We need a working man EBMM with nothing fancy but just the typical high quality Music Man craftmanship.
The pricing is always is a very difficult question.
IMHO, I think the name "SUB" was not a good choice. It gives to the guitar a low image and it's a shame because it's such a nice guitar. Now we are in a world where all the products need to have a name like Premium, Excellium, Privilege or something like that ...
Perhaps if there are some marketing guys on this forum, they can find a better name.

The "Sub1 Zero Signature Model" is a great name indeed !

 

[Slingy]

I think there were only a few things about the SUB that made it cheaper, the poplar body, paint job, satin finished painted neck vs hand rubbed, and those mystery pick ups that sound so damn good. Definately not the craftmanship, because its as solid as they come. It really wasn't a cheap guitar by any means, the MSRP was like $1,000. Heads and tails above all those mid priced guitars.

If they decide to make a BFR SUB, I'll get one.

 

[Lou]

I passed on a used sub a few months ago. I had just bought a cheap 80s Charvel and couldn't commit to the extra dough. WHen I decided to go back and get it, twas gone.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

I've come to believe that poplar might be the perfect wood thanks to the SUB

 

[NorM]

If they decide to make a BFR SUB, I'll get one.

That's funny! But from what I understand, a BFR can be anything the Ball Family wants it to be. So It's not impossible. I really like my sub, I should get it back.(It's on loan)

I remember trash talking the sub in the past. I think that was a prejudice 'cause I hadn't played one and I really wanted the 20th SiLO to happen. Oh well, I've got one and I think it's cool.

I would like to see the Cinnamon color revisited.

 

[kompressaur]

I always thought a SUB with the Axis body shape would have been pretty cool - a SUB II. shame its not viable and wont happen

Komp

 

[paranoid70]

I've come to believe that poplar might be the perfect wood thanks to the SUB

It isn't the nicest wood for staining. You wouldn't make a cabinet out of poplar.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

Yeah it's an ugly wood, but that's not something I'm concerned with since I prefer solid colors

 

[DaveB]

Something that maybe we should think about....

Those SUBs were made in the SLO factory, taking up production slots that could be used for higher grade instruments.

I know some people dont like it but Musicman are like every other commercial venture and need to make money - ask yourself which guitar adds the most to the bottom line.

They were great guitars and I still hanker after one but reality has to kick in guys....

Dave

 

[Slingy]

I was only kidding about the BFR SUB. Poplar is a pretty soft wood that soaks up the highs, great for darker music. Aren't the Morse models made of poplar?

 

[NorM]

I still thought it was funny. I thought of it as an oxi-moronic phrase kinda like
Army Intelligence
or
NorM is Right

Yep, Morse's are Poplar. I have a SiLO that's poplar too. They both just sound great.