A large part of the cost with equipment is labor, unfortunately it costs a lot more to manufacture guitars here in USA. I want to support USA and buy local products, but then I pay for it. Anyway, looking at how it goes in the world where places like Indonesia and so forth will get more expensive labor force, it will all balance out at some point.
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Music Man basses: Why so expensive?
- Thread starter Chipsonfire
- Start date
Of course, you can visit the EBMM Forums. Here's the thing -
(1) Mr. Sterling Ball has a commitment to his employess to provide a 'living wage,' which means he pays decent wages (in SLO, coastal California!) to his workforce. (Strings are made out in Indio, CA - middle of the desert).
(2) Their QC is really amazing. Unlike "many competing brands," you don't have to try 3 or 4 or more - just order the specs you want or pick it off the wall. I have two "Balls," one off the wall and one special order. Both were perfect.
(3) They don't produce at huge volumes. It's not a huge company. You can call/email customer service and they answer right away.
(4) They invest in music (Warped/Battle of the Bands Tour, etc., etc...) and musicians.
(5) They're innovative. Even if you don't like the Bongo, that was a concerted investment & design effort.
(6) They're REPAIRABLE. And they service what they sell, just like Mercedes.
Personally I don't think $1300-$1600 for a US built, well made and well designed instrument is a lot of $. That might seem like a lot of money if you're young and starting out, but if I were playing professionally, I wouldn't consider my primary tool-of-the-trade overpriced. If I'm depending on the tool to work every time, I don't want to go too cheap. (Old joke was the two soldiers in the foxhole, reminding themselves that their weapons were made by the lowest bidder..)
There is a thread from last .. February? March? someplace..in the EBMM Forums where Sterling himself agonized over revitalizing a low-end line, like OLP, which were made overseas. (I believe they're relaunched OLP). He wants to have an affordable, entry level instrument, but the challenges are supervision of the overseas effort, brand dillution and of course, QC. Fender (and I own one) confuses the heck out of me with MIM, MIJ, MIA, Squier, Fender, etc., etc.
My $.02. I think EBMM is a great company, producing a great product. Even if you don't like the "MM Tone," I think most would agree that they are a very good "value for dollar paid."
Personally for the price the Stingray5 is one of the best basses you can get. Even better if you can find one used. They are extremely solid construction-wise. They have a great low B string and they sound really good, not too hi-fi sounding, yet not too Fender sounding. Look on Ebay, there are always stingrays on there for a good price. I got this one for $700
My two Rays are the finest basses I have ever played. I tried to make due with a Yamaha that I put of bunch of money into to customize. But it just wasn't what i wanted. My Rays are so simple, easy to play, sound amazing and ooze quality without being fancy or "boutique".
Ok, I exaggerated a bit, so shoot me
But with my budget, anything above $500 might as well be $1,000,000 because certain things take priority above bass, like food and rent and tuition. What I need is a good paying job, unfortunately those are harder to find than a Carl Thompson at a garage sale 
+1 Great post!
The quality consistency in a production instrument is unbeatable at EBMM. Their instruments really are second to none in that realm. I've got a friend in SLO, and EBMM is the company to work for in that town. Even the guys on the low end of the corporate ladder can live on their wage. It's a really good American company that's hard to find anymore.
Ok, I exaggerated a bit, so shoot me
Maybe look at an ATK if you want an MM type tone in your price range.
That's true (ATK), or look for a used MM, or an OLP. And save money for a new/real MM later, or a Bongo (what I'm doing, but I will not get it until I have good paying gigs each month...)
Ok, I exaggerated a bit, so shoot me
You can find those on ebay, GC website (used), and locally thru craiglist...made in the USA, and usually going for around $500...
Good advice, but unfortunately I'll have to save my money for the used ATK or the OLP, and just drool over the real MMs till I have a nice, solid, career-forming job after college.
And after reading all the posts, I have a better understanding of the company and it's basses and it makes more why they cost what they do.
oh, +1 on a SUB! i picked one up NOS at a local shop earlier this summer for $500. a fantastic bass!
If you are a U.S. citizen, and there is a bass that is made in the U.S. and has equal or better value than something made somewhere else at the same price point, I really think you owe it to yourself and your fellow citizens to make that purchase whenever possible. Not to sound nationalistic or anything, but everything I've read about the EB company reminds me of back in the day when U.S. companies still did business with integrity and Made In U.S.A. was a GOOD thing. There aren't many of those companies left and we need to do what we can to keep the ones that are still alive, in business. Now more than ever.
They are spot on in terms of quality control. Buy an American Fender and you'll likely have to set it up and get some fret work done. An EBMM comes off the shelf in pristine absolutely perfect playable condition. They also hold there setup together better than anything else. You can throw a Stingray across the room and the action, relief, tension and intonation will remain perfect and the strings will still be in tune! They are really nice basses but their sound was not doing it for me anymore so I made a switch. Their customer service is excellent as well and Mr. Ball pays ALL of his employees, regardless of their job, living wages which some might know if you live in California, it takes a whole lot of money to live out there.
Good advice, but unfortunately I'll have to save my money for the used ATK or the OLP, and just drool over the real MMs till I have a nice, solid, career-forming job after college.
And after reading all the posts, I have a better understanding of the company and it's basses and it makes more why they cost what they do.
I'd go for an ATK over an OLP. The ATK's are great basses for the money and sound close to a Stingray. Another option would be to get an MTD Kingston Artist. They have the bridge humbucker pickup too and are really nice basses for the money (approx. $650-$750 new).
Personally for the price the Stingray5 is one of the best basses you can get. Even better if you can find one used. They are extremely solid construction-wise. They have a great low B string and they sound really good, not too hi-fi sounding, yet not too Fender sounding. Look on Ebay, there are always stingrays on there for a good price. I got this one for $700
$700 for that!!! Man, that is a great price!
Personally, I don't know about this point. I took my Stingray to two luthiers in my town and they refused to work on it because of the proprietary nut (compensated nut) and the unconventional truss rod wheel. I know that sounds strange but these guys were afraid to work on it because it was a little different than the typical guitars. Rumor had it that the one shop had lost a service contract to the GC in our town and since GC is the only place you can buy a MM locally, they probably refused to work on it assuming I got it at GC.
Everything else you said is right on!
Honestly, there are very good deals on EBMM basses in the used sector. I got a great deal on mine from here and I've seen Sterlings and Stingrays come and go here all the time at really good prices.
Brand new, retail, they are expensive for an average white collar worker like me.
Brand new, retail, they are expensive for an average white collar worker like me.
