Thoughts on EBMM guitars?

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I like them, but I don’t like pickup switches on upper horn of a superstrat
 
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I have the Albert Lee HH and like it a lot. Great sound, and the oil/wax finish on the back of the neck feels wonderful in my hand.
My one complaint is the neck profile - it's not just small overall, but also very narrow.
I'm told the St Vincent model uses the same profile or something very close. Both designed for small hands.
My fingers are not unusually thick, either. Wish they made a wide/fat version.

Have even thought about ordering a bigger neck for it from Music Man.
I've never encountered an EBMM model with a neck that's actually chunky; I imagine they could make one though.
Don't even really need fatness - an average profile would be fine for me, as long as it isn't tiny.

There are chord forms I can't execute when playing this guitar, anything with an open string in between two fretted notes.
This includes the regular C cowboy chord, and my often-used F add9 with the G string open.
It was a signature model, so the profile is part of the package.

Every once in a while I consider selling the guitar. But I like the thing too much to part with it.

 
WANT!!!

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I feel that they lack punch for some reason.
 
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Great guitars, really good quality control based on the 2 I had. The pickups are good as well. I sold an early Petrucci to get a JP16 edition, but ended up landing a spur of the moment amp purchase that cleaned those funds out and I still have not gotten it.
I will though...
 
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Every time I try something else, I ALWAYS find myself back to EBMM.
It's funny about the punch comment. I find they (or at least the guitars ive played) have a ton of punch. It's part of the reason I like them so much. 🤷‍♂️
 
I used to have an early 90s EBMM stingray bass that I very much regret trading. Best player ever. Had a late 70s (pre EB) one too, but it had neck issues 😥. A couple of their modern ones have been growing on me like the Kaizen, which I would have bought by now if it came in an 8 string. I really like the purple one. I'll probably wait until a good deal pops up on a used one though.

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Best guitar on the market. I have two of the old EBMM EVHs and three Axis. They are flawless in quality control and consistency. If I were a big rock star, I would not endorse any other brand for any amount of money. I have a few other guitars just because, but EBMM is my home.
 
eclecticsynergy said:
I have the Albert Lee HH and like it a lot. Great sound, and the oil/wax finish on the back of the neck feels wonderful in my hand.
My one complaint is the neck profile - it's not just small overall, but also very narrow.
I'm told the St Vincent model uses the same profile or something very close. Both designed for small hands.
My fingers are not unusually thick, either. Wish they made a wide/fat version.

Have even thought about ordering a bigger neck for it from Music Man.
I've never encountered an EBMM model with a neck that's actually chunky; I imagine they could make one though.
Don't even really need fatness - an average profile would be fine for me, as long as it isn't tiny.

There are chord forms I can't execute when playing this guitar, anything with an open string in between two fretted notes.
This includes the regular C cowboy chord, and my often-used F add9 with the G string open.
It was a signature model, so the profile is part of the package.

Every once in a while I consider selling the guitar. But I like the thing too much to part with it.
Click to expand...

I too have an Albert Lee HH and agree with everything you said. I absolutely LOVE that sparkle finish on yours. I've been half tempted to get one with p90s as I love the design, but I too wish it had a slightly bigger neck.
 
I have really mixed feelings about EBMM. Being an unapologetic JP fanboy, I own 5 and they are some of my favorite guitars - a JP6 Autumn Redrise, a JP6 BFR Cherryburst, a JP16, a Majesty in Glacial Frost and.a Steve Morse Y2D in Purple Sunset. They're pretty much all forever keepers for me. Precision built, sound huge and the finishes are crazy good.

That being said, I've had issues with some of their guitars in the past. I've rejected two brand new Petrucci's that should have never left the factory - my first BFR in Bahama Blue Burst had a twisted neck, and my JPX had a badly botched bridge mount. GC refunded me on both of them and my guy there was shocked that those guitars were ever shipped to begin with.

I remember reading a story about someone that had to return his Petrucci 3 times, and on the 3rd the factory contacted him through the dealer and promised that they would have "the guy who builds John's guitars" build him a new one. He got an incredible axe and was happy. What bugs me about that is for guitars in that $3K+ price range, every single one should be held to an artist standard. I know every brand has slips at some point, but I can't ignore the fact that I've personally gotten two lemons out of the 7 I've purchased.

I just can't imagine guitars with such crazy issues passing QC and leaving PRS, Suhr, Anderson etc. PRS brags that Santana, Tremonti, Grissom etc happily just grab guitars off their regular production line and keep them, and I believe it

Other little things have also been kind of weird over the years. Like when the BFR's first came out, people preordering them weren't allowed to pick whether they would get a Quilt or Flame top. For that much fucking cash, you should not get stuck in a lottery to see whether you get the top you wanted or not.

Anyway, I get that I'm ranting a little bit. All that aside, I do truly love the axes I have that are "good ones". But I'm probably not going to buy any more (famous last words).
 
Funk'n Metal said:
I used to have an early 90s EBMM stingray bass that I very much regret trading. Best player ever. Had a late 70s (pre EB) one too, but it had neck issues 😥. A couple of their modern ones have been growing on me like the Kaizen, which I would have bought by now if it came in an 8 string. I really like the purple one. I'll probably wait until a good deal pops up on a used one though.

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Click to expand...
I'm interested in the Kaizen 6 Indigo Blue which is why I asked about EBMM here!

IIRC some models / colors are limited to 60 or 75 guitars. Apollo black is the standard color. Doesn't look like they are selling well, there are many brand new listed on reverb in all colors except the silver 7-string (limited to 75 guitars)


edit: ordered a new EBMM Kaizen 6 Indigo Blue; waiting for shipping info. From what I can tell, only 60 of these are available in each limited color: Indigo Blue, Chalk White and Mint. Not clear if they will continue to make models in Apollo Black which they call a standard color, or introduce new colors in the future.
 
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Music man axis owner here. I bought mine about a year ago from Willcutt music. The quality of the guitar is top shelf ! As previously mentioned the guitar neck has a very organic quality and the neck is on the small side when compared to the Charvel, Fender , Gibson models . If you’re interested in getting one try to get to a store and play a used model . I payed over $3 big ones for mine .but my only complaint is the roasted maple neck is very dark and visually throughs me off of my point of reference when playing . Other than that it’s a fantastic model 😋
 
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First time I ever fell in love with the neck on a guitar it was an EBMM EVH. I went to high school with Richie Castellano (dude in Blue Oyster Cult for the last 15-20 years and has the Band Geeks youtube channel, amazing musician) and it was the first time I ever played one. Mandolin Bros in Staten Island had a whole wall of them…..for under $2K back then! That gunstock oiled neck and it’s shape was fucking perfect.

Great guitars, but my cutoff point these days is $1500. If I can’t get it for that, I’d rather partscaster it, build it from random RG parts or find something used. Great quality on every EBMM I’ve ever put my hands on, but I don’t need anything that refined/finished to perfection to do what I do, as much as I’d love to have one. I’m still dying to play a legit Majesty.
 
I've been playing EBMM guitars since April 2000. That's when I bought my first MM guitar from a Pawn Shop. A '99 Silhouette Special.
I still have it along with a '97 Silhouette Special. I've had both guitars re-fretted with SS frets, bone nuts installed and thorough set-ups
ALL done by Pete Skermetta. Over the years I have a dozen or so EBMM guitars including a few JPs, Steve Morse (2), 25th Anniversary
and a few Axis Sport/Super Sport.

Currently have the 2 Silhouette Specials and 1 Vigier Expert Classic Rock.

But yes...I'm a big fan of the EBMM guitars !!
 
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They fuck


The Cutlass is my favorite strat I've ever played besides an actual vintage 60's strat
 
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The ones I have had have been great. 2 EVH's, 4-6 Axis, a Petrucci 7. I still have 2 Axis & the Petrucci. The Petrucci has too many features for me (should have gone without the piezo, but couldn't pass it up at the price it was scored at)
The neck finish is the best part of them.

There was a time where there were a LOT of issues with the Petrucci Monarchs & majesties.

Warning - if you hit the EBMM forum, they can get pretty rabid.
 
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