Music Man Guitars: Yay or Nay?

bellg124

As the title suggests, I want to know what you guys think of Ernie Ball Musicman Guitars. A little hard to get over here although Xmusic has some in stock. Where do they fit in the cannon of existing guitars i.e. Fender, Gibson etc?

Dord

I would say that you should try one or two out yourself. Not everyone likes them.
Me personally, I'm not mad on the finish (or lack of) that they use on their necks.

The Musicman fanboi's should be along soon.... :pac:

Doctor J

I'd rate the build quality as above that of standard US Fenders or Gibsons, but personally I think they're overpriced as a brand. Yes, they're a low volume/high quality builder and they're fine instruments just nowhere near worth what they're priced at new. Second hand prices are still a little high here for what you get, IMO. If you want one, buy second hand from the UK before Sterling (the currency ) starts to increase in value again.

Rigsby

I think there's one for sale on "adverts" (looking for around 900 E I think ).

bellg124

I've seen that one on adverts. I've got a Les Paul Standard and and Eric Johnson Strat but I kind of want something between the two, with a decent trem. I've owned Ibanez and don't particularly want to get another. Yeah prices over here for New Musicman are really steep considering you can get a new axis in guitar centre for around $1500.

Patricide

Savage guitars(and basses for that matter), insane prices. Like the good Doctor says, if your interested the second hand route from england.

fortuneg

Have the MM Petrucci 6 string (with none of the bells & whistles). As someone already said the necks are quite different to your standard Gibson/Fender fare in that they're treated with gunstock oil, personally I love this & always find it quite a chore going back to my other guitars.
As mentioned the build quality is top notch but they are quite expensive, I bought mine second hand in the states a few years ago for a very reasonable price.
If I could find an Axis Super Sport at a good price i'd snap it up straight away, my old guitar teacher used to have an Axis & a Luke & they are beautiful to play.

Sergio

Here comes the first MM fanboy lol.

I pride myself at being the first in the country to own a BFR JP model.On the BFR model they have the neck finished and ive tried playing most of the MM range last year whilst at the guitar show in london.
They are expensive to buy in europe,that i do agree but i know a dealer in the uk that offers very competitive prices on MM guitars.

Let me know if you want anymore info???

-=al=-

if there bass reputation is anything to go buy id go on an educated guess that they're half decent

Ravelleman

Colinboy wrote: »

They are expensive to buy in europe,that i do agree but i know a dealer in the uk that offers very competitive prices on MM guitars.

And that is?!

-=al=-

Ravelleman wrote: »

And that is?!

gonna guess cause they're made in america!?

Ravelleman

I meant the dealer...

Gaspode

I've heard nothing but good things about them, but personally I didnt like the headstocks on any of the lefties I've ever seen.

bellg124

I've played a couple of EBMMs in Xmusic but it can be hard to tell if a guitar is worth the moolah when it hasn't been given a proper set up etc

-=al=-

well the JP models are the bees knees,


ask karl he has one, says its the best thing since sliced guitars

Sergio

Ravelleman wrote: »

And that is?!

Heres the link to his store on ebay.He had better deals afew weeks ago but i think you can haggle with him.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Envy-Guitars

darrenw5094

Musicman Axis is a great piece of kit. Expensive, but still super quality.
I would have to say they are a higher standard than the average Gibson or Fender. The 'Birds Eye' maple neck is a bit unique and feels special. Finish on it is super.

If they are good enough for Edward Van Halen and Johnny Petrucci, they are good enough for me.

Karl Hungus

Staggering guitars, truly. They're far better than Gibson and Fender, and I'd say they're ever worth the price. I'd recommend picking up a secondhand one from the states if you can though.

Demeyes

From what I've heard they are supposed to be really great guitars, the John Petrucci 7 string one is something I really want to get to try sometime. The closest I've been was an OLP 6 string model.

darrenw5094

Demeyes wrote: »

From what I've heard they are supposed to be really great guitars, the John Petrucci 7 string one is something I really want to get to try sometime. The closest I've been was an OLP 6 string model.

That's not close enough to be close, chief.

fortuneg

darrenw5094 wrote: »

That's not close enough to be close, chief.

Not even nearly!

yevveh

If they're good enough for Petrucci...

I'd certainly consider one if I had the cash.

68 lost souls

They are a bit expensive alright but they are great, the Steve Morse signiture in particular is amazing. Definately try out an axis anyway.

darrenw5094

Probably great guitar.....but looks a bit naff.....

Doctor J

Just looking at the new Big Al bass... 2 grand and they won't bother making a neck pickup sized so the pole pieces go under the strings? :eek:

Patricide

Doctor J wrote: »

Just looking at the new Big Al bass... 2 grand and they won't bother making a neck pickup sized so the pole pieces go under the strings? :eek:

But i still bet itl sound like the rumbling of the gods!!

-=al=-

shabby

Doctor J

Patricide wrote: »

But i still bet itl sound like the rumbling of the gods!!

Provided you play don't need to use the G string

bellg124

yevveh wrote: »

If they're good enough for Petrucci...

I'd certainly consider one if I had the cash.

I bought an Ibanez PGM on the basis that they were good enough for Paul Gilbert... and found out fairly quickly that there's a reason Les Pauls have been the main staple for hard rock and so forth for the past fifty odd years. The PGM couldn't come close to my LP standard but having said that maybe I was looking at the PGM all wrong. It's not trying to be a Les Paul killer but more of a mix of a strat and a Les Paul and I was trying to get it to do something it wasn't really made for.

I'm always a bit sceptical about moving out from the Gibson/Fender safety net but Axis(eseses?? Axi?) seem really cool.

darrenw5094

The quality build of Paul Gilberts Ibanez's guitars are probably a higher spec than the signature model available to buy. Even the Vai Jem range is not a patch on the Ibanez J Custom range.

boycey

Played the Axis and Silo, Slihuo, Sillhoute (how the F*%K do you spell that:mad:) in X-music yesterday. The Axis was so tiny I felt like Hulk Hogan playing a ukilele, the other unspellable one was nice though. Not sure about those oil-fininshed natural necks, you could see they were starting to get grubby looking already from shop wear & tear. The brown oil finish on Doc's Duke looks and feels better TBH.

darrenw5094

boycey wrote: »

Played the Axis and Silo, Slihuo, Sillhoute (how the F*%K do you spell that:mad:) in X-music yesterday. The Axis was so tiny I felt like Hulk Hogan playing a ukilele, the other unspellable one was nice though. Not sure about those oil-fininshed natural necks, you could see they were starting to get grubby looking already from shop wear & tear. The brown oil finish on Doc's Duke looks and feels better TBH.

The Birds Eye maple necks are a bit unique. The idea of the Axis is to be small and compact. Designed by EVH himself, for himself.

As for the grubby thing.....my Axis is clean, no problems. Maybe those mofo's playing guitars in music stores, should wash their hands first.

feylya

boycey wrote: »

Played the Axis and Silo, Slihuo, Sillhoute (how the F*%K do you spell that:mad:) in X-music yesterday. The Axis was so tiny I felt like Hulk Hogan playing a ukilele, the other unspellable one was nice though. Not sure about those oil-fininshed natural necks, you could see they were starting to get grubby looking already from shop wear & tear. The brown oil finish on Doc's Duke looks and feels better TBH.

If it was the Silhouette with the weird green and purple burst, did you look at the frets?! 1-2mm gaps between the bottom of the fret tangs and the wood! Looked awful.

68 lost souls

This one? That would be the steve morse. Lovely guitar in my opinion, havent played that particular one myself though so dunno bout the fret tangs. Sound is awesome.

feylya

Yeah, that one with a floyd. Lovely guitar to play but the middle pickup being jammed against the neck one kills the sound in the middle position.

-=al=-

that guitars grogous

stick a trem on it and id be sold

Dord

feylya wrote: »

Yeah, that one with a floyd. Lovely guitar to play but the middle pickup being jammed against the neck one kills the sound in the middle position.

Jeez, thats awful. I think the best sound on a strat or strat type is the middle positon.

yevveh

bellg124 wrote: »

I bought an Ibanez PGM on the basis that they were good enough for Paul Gilbert... and found out fairly quickly that there's a reason Les Pauls have been the main staple for hard rock and so forth for the past fifty odd years. The PGM couldn't come close to my LP standard but having said that maybe I was looking at the PGM all wrong. It's not trying to be a Les Paul killer but more of a mix of a strat and a Les Paul and I was trying to get it to do something it wasn't really made for.

Yeah, sure even Gilbert's using the Fireman these days. MM's mightn't suit me but I love Petrucci's tone so I'd give em a shot. probably more to do with his amps than the guitars though. plus clearly playability isn't an issue