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Passive Music Man Basses Update

#202
I hate to say it but to me the styling is horrible on those two basses. People complain about the stingray and SR5 pickguards but they look downright graceful in comparison. I love EBMM, have two now and have probably had another ten in the past. But I just can’t get over the fact that the caprice and the cutlass just look like cheap toys. That’s why I never considered one.....

Having said that I wouldn’t be surprised in the least that they sound and play fantastic. It’s just all about the styling to me.
 
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#203
Anyone who insists that discontinuing a product automatically equals failure is either mentally challenged or just an ignoramus who probably failed high school economics class.

The US-made SUB line was discontinued because MM could no longer manufacture it at a price point that they felt could sell. It was a decision that made financial sense to the owners. Was that a fail? Not in my book.

We don't know the reasons the Caprice and Cutlass are discontinued unless one of the Ball family tells us. Maybe sales were good but they lost money on every sale, maybe they made money but not enough for it to make sense to continue, maybe sales were way below expectations. You don't know.
 
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#204
Benko said:
I think we all agree it's a COMMERCIAL failure, but there is no need for spitting venom as from a product perspective EBMM has put up 2 fantastic instruments, arguably one of the best P on the market and something not quite a J but doing its wonderful own stuff. You HAVE TO respect a company that is not only trying but also executing so well on something outside of their standard area.

I think none of us here can really understand what happened (change in the market, volume sold, difficulty in marketing positioning, dealer refusing to push that product, production capacity, price point etc...), would love to have all the data and dig to where the challenge was but that's probably the MBA-Geek personal interest.

I have no anger neither bitterness against EBMM, actually on the contrary have now higher respect for being product-focus. I acknowledge that the guitar/bass market is currently under pressure and from a business perspective although they need to stay strong in their core skills (new stingray demonstrated this beautifully) they also need to explore.

In anycase my Caprice and Cutlass are here to stay, finally played my Cutlass outside of the home rehearsal and oh boy it delivered!
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I agree. I think the Caprice and Cutlass were outstanding designs and sound awesome, not a P or Jazz but a cool spin off. I like that EBMM tries new designs and who knows they may bring them back one day. As for owners of these great designs/instruments all I can say is “never sell” . $2,500 really isn’t that much for an instrument that will last a lifetime and if it’s coming from EBMM it’s going to real quality! I’ve owned several relatively higher ( I say this loosely) end instruments and MIA Fenders are not worth the money too me. I have played many and owned two MIA fenders ( still have one and it’s my main bass as I’m a jazz bass guy ) and you should get more for the price they command. Ok, enough hating on Fenders current QC. Before anyone gets offended just remember I’m just some guy behind a keyboard and just one opinion, doesn’t make me right .
 
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#212
Scott Ball said:
If something doesn't stick in the market then we move onto other things.
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consider releasing the Cutlass and Caprice ideas as passive Stingray variants....then you have both the aesthetics of your proprietary iconography mixed in with the newer wheel reinvention.....just sayin'

edit: and a J/J model would rock too :D
 
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#213
Scott Ball said:
If something doesn't stick in the market then we move onto other things. We should have two new basses in 2019...
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I like how we who know very little do go on and on and guess and theorize and you just show up and are like, "All done, working on new stuff now" and that's that.
 
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#214
rashrader said:
“Passive MusicMan”..... Yup. Oxymoron.
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Active / Passive Music Man.... Awesome, BIG AL 1 &2..jpg just saying
 
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#218
Lesfunk said:
I wonder how many of those silly St. Vincent signature six strings they sell?
I’ll bet it’s in the tens..
They still produce those.

Surely they could keep a few of the passive basses in production....
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I like the St. Vincent. I want to get one at some point. If you look at their BFR offerings, they have offered a ST. Vincent a few times. All those have sold out
 
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