Interesting Call with EBMM...

[Smooth_bass88]

No EBMM doesn't. The Sterling By Music Man company is not a Music Man company. Simple as that.

So, Sterling by Music Man is NOT a Music Man (or Ernie Ball) company even though it's called Sterling BY Music Man, they have models called "StingRay" and "StingRay5" AND there are direct links at the top of every page of the Sterling by Music Man website to Music Man and Ernie Ball? If it's not related Music Man company, than what the heck is it?

 

[nnnnnn]

This is correct. In my country the two brands are distributed/sold by two different stores. I spoke to the owner of the store that has the exclusive distribution for EBMM. He was very...passionate... in letting me know the two are separate business entities.

I'll bet if the distribution deal changed and he could sell both lines he probably wouldn't be so keen to point out the difference, at least, not to customers who can only afford the cheaper option.

 

[Maxdusty]

Hi folks







A Sterling by Ernie Balls Music Man is not a Sterling by Music Man!

We all know the difference!

View attachment 3409875

Maybe rename it "Music Man" and "Music Mom" => problem solved!

may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

Times have changed, perhaps time to change it altogether. besides - wouldn't it be "Music Men" as there were two guys on the original logo?

 

[Cardsfan_69]

Times have changed, perhaps time to change it altogether.

View attachment 3409906

Holy maternal life unit of an unspecified higher power, it's the PC bass!
MusicPeople.... Sterling....

 

[Maxdusty]

So, Sterling by Music Man is NOT a Music Man (or Ernie Ball) company even though it's called Sterling BY Music Man, they have models called "StingRay" and "StingRay5" AND there are direct links at the top of every page of the Sterling by Music Man website to Music Man and Ernie Ball? If it's not related Music Man company, than what the heck is it?

Part of the problem is the way it's named.
You have Ernie Ball Music Man.
Then you have Sterling by Music Man. So it's easy to make the assumption that if Ernie Ball owns Musicman, then Sterling "by Music man" must also be owned by Ernie Ball. It's not - it's a brand used by a licensee. Praxis.
Really I think it should have been this - "Ernie Ball Music Man" and "Sterling Music Man" OR "Music Man by Sterling"

 

[LowRick]

Times have changed, perhaps time to change it altogether.

View attachment 3409906

Do they come from a village?

*Humms ymca*

 

[Maxdusty]

Holy maternal life unit of an unspecified higher power, it's the PC bass!
MusicPeople.... Sterling....

Well, in the original logo they were kind enough to be inclusive of left handed guitar players.

 

[B-Mac]

They have three new lines being introduced in the next eighteen months:

Sterling by Sterling
MusicMan Sterling by Sterling
Sterling Sterling MusicMan

Apparently there are no other names available. Odd, that.

What about the man by music sterling and the music by sterling man and the man by sterling music and and and....aaaaagggggghhhhhhh

 

[BigBigGuy44]

I miss the days when the only options were the Stingray, Sterling and Bongo and they were all under $1,500 new.

 

[DDXdesign]

The musical instrument manufacturing brand Sherwood might have a complaint about Musicman using the name Sherwood. David.. David Eden might object as he's used Eden and David Eden. So Nova would have been the best choice after all. Or Ernie.

Oh, I wasn't recommending Sherwood be the new brand name (in case that's how it sounded; I only italicized it because of the pun it made in the sentence)

If it's not related Music Man company, than what the heck is it?

It's related by the licensing of the names and designs. Not much different from fender/squier for you and me at street level, but EBMM's reaction to the OP makes it sound like the backoffice operations are 100% divested and EBMM treats SBMM like an unwanted stepchild.

 

[B-Mac]

So where does the SUB Series fit in?

Sort of in between EBMM AND SBMM?

Don’t jump on me too much because my head is still spinning on this.

 

[92aceshigh]

So where does the SUB Series fit in?

Sort of in between EBMM AND SBMM?

Don’t jump on me too much because my head is still spinning on this.

SUB is below SBMM isn't it? At least here in the UK, SBMM's go for £700-£1000 new, SUBs are in the £300 range.

 

[LowRick]

So where does the SUB Series fit in?

Sort of in between EBMM AND SBMM?

Don’t jump on me too much because my head is still spinning on this.

O.....m....G....!!!! you oughta know these things!!!

Sorry, couldn't let that slip ;P

and now serious: What i was told is as follows:
EBMM = the real deal. (cost about €2400,- new here)
SBMM = EBMM stuff built under licence in indonesia (cost about €800,- new here)
SUB = SBMM built stuff also in indonesia more or less as a replacement for the OLP stuff

Correct me if i'm wrong (which i'm sure yall will )

 

[Maxdusty]

O.....m....G....!!!! you oughta know these things!!!

Sorry, couldn't let that slip ;P

and now serious: What i was told is as follows:
EBMM = the real deal. (cost about €2400,- new here)
SBMM = EBMM stuff built under licence in indonesia (cost about €800,- new here)
SUB = SBMM built stuff also in indonesia more or less as a replacement for the OLP stuff

Correct me if i'm wrong (which i'm sure yall will )

there's the discontinued Ernie Ball Music Man Sports Utility Bass later renamed the Ernie Ball Music Man SUB which is slightly below the Ernie Ball Music Man but above the Sterling by Music Man which is above the Sterling by Music Man SUB which is now known as the Sterling Ray4 or 5 SUB series.
I didn't bother to abbreviate anything because, well...I'm being sadistic to myself.

Also should you get to meet the CEO of the company, make sure to refer to him as Mr. Sterling Ball by Ernie Ball.

 

[LowRick]

I didn't know about that "other" Sub that also is. Thanks for that.

About adressing the CEO...knowing me, in that situation, i'll probably speak an "s" between "Ernie" and "Ball"

 

[India_Sierra]

My brother and I were just commenting on this the other day, as I remarked at what a confusing mess EBMM find themselves in with a multitude of products at different price points, sharing the similar branding or even the same name. Not only has it diluted the brand it has confusion and a loss of confidence with customers.

Warwick aren't much better now that they're flogging cheap basses made in the far east under different 'tiers'.

 

[LowRick]

Agreed, but what about Fender? MIA, MIJ, MIM, MIC, not talking squier here, but price ranges vary hugely in those...

Basically saying: "i want a Fender Jazz Bass" means nothing at all lol

 

[japhy4529]

Hi Cardsfan_69

Cool story!



Looks like you had a nice and competent Lady on the phone!



Try to call John and ask to service your Chickenbacker!



Let' s see, they already have: Player, Modern Player, Limited Player, American Player…

And of course all the other models that aren' t players

I don' t think Fender needs Sterling 's help to find confusing names!


may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

Nice? Perhaps. Competent? Not so much if it took her that long to realize (or even ask a clarifying question regarding whether the OP was talking about an EBMM Sterling or Sterling by Musicman bass). Just sayin'

 

[japhy4529]

I wonder what people get out of constantly saying that EBMM doesn’t own SBMM. What’s the outcome of always saying this? Certainly doesn’t make the situation any less confusing. And mostly seems like a micro-aggression type correction to me. The type of tick that would seem rather on-the-spectrum in real life but runs rampant on forums.

Because. They. Don't? And this was one of the main points raised by the OP in that it causes confusion (even, apparently with EBMM custom service reps)...

 

[B-Mac]

Agreed, but what about Fender? MIA, MIJ, MIM, MIC, not talking squier here, but price ranges vary hugely in those...

Basically saying: "i want a Fender Jazz Bass" means nothing at all lol

This to me is much easier to follow than the conundrum with MM