New Ernie Ball bass design on the way

Doctor J

Looks like they're making a Stratobass. Interesting idea with the pickups ***rubs chin, must try that*** and that body isn't the shape they'll go with. Hopefully they'll break with EBMM tradition and come up with a decent looking body shape.

Parsley

Ooooh, could be very interesting!

Darkstrike

I think it looks awesome as is, shame they won't do that body.

Dord

It's not really a new concept. Landing Bass make basses with this configuration. Pretty damn cool too. :cool:

SuperGrover

Looks nice but what don't you like about the EBMM shape?

unclebill98

Looks good to me.....

I'm looking forward to testing the Bongo6!!

Doctor J

SuperGrover wrote: »

Looks nice but what don't you like about the EBMM shape?

Ernie Ball have never put out a body shape I've really liked, they always look somewhat ungainly, somewhere there's something slightly odd looking. Every single bass.

That's the Albert Lee guitar body shape on that, I believe it won't be used when they put it into production.

Dord wrote: »

It's not really a new concept.

Yeah, a fella by the name of Leo Fender used it almost 60 years ago

Sergio

Doctor J wrote: »

Ernie Ball have never put out a body shape I've really liked, they always look somewhat ungainly, somewhere there's something slightly odd looking. Every single bass.

That's the Albert Lee guitar body shape on that, I believe it won't be used when they put it into production.

Yeah, a fella by the name of Leo Fender used it almost 60 years ago

Yes but did you know the late Ernie ball and leo fender worked together that many years ago too so i wont credit Mr Fender with all the praise;)

Dord

Doctor J wrote: »

Yeah, a fella by the name of Leo Fender used it almost 60 years ago

I meant on a bass.... :rolleyes:

Doctor J

Yes, he was a tester of the Stingray and his Earthwood basses are still held in high regard.

It's a strat pickup layout, hardly a light bulb kinda idea in the 21st century but should be interesting nonetheless. Then again, Fender did that on a bass too long, long ago



PRS had a three pickup model too for a while. It's been done countless times on cheapo basses too.

FWIW, here's one of the original Sterling prototypes from the early 90's which is where a lot of the inspiration for this new bass is coming from

punchdrunk

Doctor J wrote: »

Looks like they're making a Stratobass. Interesting idea with the pickups ***rubs chin, must try that*** and that body isn't the shape they'll go with. Hopefully they'll break with EBMM tradition and come up with a decent looking body shape.

thats a fanyc lookin bridge,anyone know which model it is?

Doctor J

The bridge? It's just their standard bass bridge.

punchdrunk

ah cool,i thought it was some type of leo quan badass bridge,
i'm building a P-bass,haven't settled on a bridge for it yet

Dord

punchdrunk wrote: »

ah cool,i thought it was some type of leo quan badass bridge,
i'm building a P-bass,haven't settled on a bridge for it yet

Badass II fo' sho' mofo! :pac:

Dord

Doctor J wrote: »

FWIW, here's one of the original Sterling prototypes from the early 90's which is where a lot of the inspiration for this new bass is coming from

Damn that's hot. I'd rock it, moreso because of the colour, it looks cool! :cool:

The main thing I dont like about EBMM's is the lack of finish on the neck. They get so dirty so quickly.

Doctor J

That's actually one of the things I like about the Stingray. It just feels so much better than a thick layer of plastic. If the dirt bothers you, clean it every now and then. Me, I like it durrrty :pac:

Darkstrike

Doctor J wrote: »

I have a feeling the final body shape will be quiet close to this.

This looks good, but damn' the Albert Lee body looks awesome on a bass.

Doctor J

That shape is already in production. I think, given Sterling Ball's attitude, they'll go for something non Fenderish. Maybe not as out there as the Bongo (thank ****) but something definitely a bit different.

fish-head

Doctor J wrote: »

Looks like they're making a Stratobass.

Stratobastard?

Darkstrike

Doctor J wrote: »

That shape is already in production. I think, given Sterling Ball's attitude, they'll go for something non Fenderish. Maybe not as out there as the Bongo (thank ****) but something definitely a bit different.

I dunno, in his own words, "Familiar, but slightly different." So I guess it won't be far from their usual shapes.

Doctor J

It could be a Bongo

Darkstrike

Doctor J wrote: »

It could be a Bongo

Nah, the Bongo I wouldn't call familiar, crazy mabye, awesome proably.......

Doctor J

You'd call it familiar if you'd been making it for five years though.

Darkstrike

True enough.

Doctor J

They'd be ****in nuts to do it though. They could make a killing if they put the Bongo electronics package in a more... let's say conservative looking instrument.

And for those who never saw it, here's the old PRS bass with three pickups



They don't make em anymore though.

Darkstrike

Doctor J wrote: »

They'd be ****in nuts to do it though. They could make a killing if they put the Bongo electronics package in a more... let's say conservative looking instrument.

Damn' straight, though if the used the Albert Lee I can guarantee my wallet would be lightened.

Doctor J

You know, I kind of agree with you. I think the Albert Lee shape looks poxy as a guitar but, looking at Sterling playing it up there, it actually works as a bass shape... sort of like an angular Jaguar

Darkstrike

Yeah, its got that vibe alright, and with the three pickups, the whole thing has a Fendery(I invented a word!:D) effect, needless to say an odd Fendery effect. But thats alright, I like odd Fenders.:cool:

Doctor J

The scrachplate has to change though. Big time

Darkstrike

Hehe, yeah, espcially as the body's natural, though it might work with a little reshaping, and having the body matching that green headstock.

Doctor J

That's a Dargie Delight neck, they won't be making them again. Something to do with a bet that a green bass wouldn't sell. It was one of their limited edition numbers from a couple of years ago.

Darkstrike

I think they do 'em custom shop now, I know I've sen one of a kind's in it on TB.

Parsley

Darkstrike wrote: »

I think they do 'em custom shop now, I know I've sen one of a kind's in it on TB.

They don't have a custom shop!

Darkstrike

Parsley wrote: »

They don't have a custom shop!

Strange, I know I seen one of a kind Music Mans being posted on TalkBass.

More custom than custom shop!:eek:

Parsley

Darkstrike wrote: »

Strange, I know I seen one of a kind Music Mans being posted on TalkBass.

More custom than custom shop!:eek:

Links?! :pac:

Darkstrike

Parsley wrote: »

Links?! :pac:

I'd have to go searching, but I'm sure I saw a one of a kind Dargie Delight, can't quiet remember which model though.

Sergio

EBMM offered the dargie delight as a limited edition colour a few years ago which was available on a few of their guitars as well as basses!

Karl Hungus

Doctor J wrote: »

That's a Dargie Delight neck, they won't be making them again. Something to do with a bet that a green bass wouldn't sell. It was one of their limited edition numbers from a couple of years ago.

They did 'em in guitars too like so. I think I own the best looking green Music Man though.

Doctor J

Darkstrike wrote: »

Strange, I know I seen one of a kind Music Mans being posted on TalkBass.

Yeah, cos most of them were probably sold to talkbass users :pac:

If you're referrring to bovinehost, he's friends with Sterling Ball, they made a special Bongo for him. Other than that, they do limited runs of basses with non standard colours but no-one offs to paying customers AFAIK

DD Bongo for on talkbass if you want



Or a copperhead Stingray on basschat



Getting the rare stuff isn't impossible

Karl Hungus

Mmm, that looks nice as hell. Honestly, I don't get the hate over the bongo, it's different alright, but I like it.

feylya

Oh that Stingray does look very tasty indeed.

But perhaps someone can answer me this - who cares what an instrument looks like if it's never heard outside a bedroom?

-=al=-

im sure you could hear it outside a bedroom if the volume was loud enough

and the person inside could look at themselves in the mirrior

:cool: but it is a very very nice bass, i like

Sergio

Im sure a BFR guitar is as close to a custom shop instrument as you can get as myself and karl hungus can vouch for that.

EBMM also have the BFR,s available in basses now!

Darkstrike

Doctor J wrote: »

If you're referrring to bovinehost, he's friends with Sterling Ball, they made a special Bongo for him. Other than that, they do limited runs of basses with non standard colours but no-one offs to paying customers AFAIK

Thats quiet possibly what I was thinking of, he own's the pink Sterling too IIRC.

Karl Hungus wrote: »

Mmm, that looks nice as hell. Honestly, I don't get the hate over the bongo, it's different alright, but I like it.

I don't understand it either, I think they look wicked.

Doctor J

I think they're this decade's Kubicki X Factor, great instruments, but wtf were they thinking?

Dord

Here's the actual body shape they've chosen. They also downsized the headstock to alleviate neckdive.







Personally I think it's butt ugly and prefer the prototype body that Doc posted.

Doctor J

Agreed, I think the prototype was a lot nicer. If the top strap button wasn't so far back they mightn't have needed the ugly teeeny tiny headstock too. Last I heard they were trying out a new tuner design too, instead of the traditional flat knob we all know and love it was going to have four panels... like a + when looked at from overhead.

Dord

Yeah. I just looked at it again and noticed that it's basically an EVH Axis bass. Really badly executed though and I don't think the body suits a bass.

Doctor J

Nope, it's not happening for me either, just like the G&L ASAT, it's wrong wrong wrong... shame... another potentially interesting pickup/electronics package sheathed in an ugly body design.

Dord

Apparently that isn't the final electronics package though.

IMO, they should have just made an SSS Bongo.

Darkstrike

I dunno what to think, I kind of like it, and I kind of don't, the Albert Lee prototype was a far better design.

Here's hoping it'll look better with a layer of paint on it.

Dord wrote: »

Apparently that isn't the final electronics package though.

IMO, they should have just made an SSS Bongo.

I though I read on Talkbass that it would come with different options like HSS, SSS, and HH.