Sterling by Musicmans on GC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Andy Brown]

Well in any respect, I don't like the name either. I probably would have named it "The Balls"

 

[Baird6869]

I really could care less but Sterling should NOT be the name of this LINE/BRAND for the simple reason that they have a MODEL named Sterling.

I personally think the GC people are idiots for even suggesting this. Not that Sterling is a bad brand name... but to name this line of instruments the same as a model of bass in current production by the same company? That is what defies logic IMO.

In essence, this is EXACTLY the same as Gibson releasing an Epi-like line of instruments (that look the same as the high end ones but made overseas) called Les Paul. Or Stratocaster by Fender.. or even a Steve Lukather by Music Man. Strange indeed.

I love my 3 EBMM basses, but this naming still confuses me.

Nice looking basses in any case and I'm sure they will do well in the marketplace.

 

[rapturebass]

You know...Fender super-budget Cosco line is called Starcaster by Fender, and the Starcaster used to be one of their guitars (albeit the Starcaster ran only a few years and never was that popular

 

[kaiser_sosea]

and i will probably never own a Starcaster... not to mention a Sterling Sterling by MusicMan, makers of the Stingray and the Sterling did I mention Sterling?

You know...Fender super-budget Cosco line is called Starcaster by Fender, and the Starcaster used to be one of their guitars (albeit the Starcaster ran only a few years and never was that popular

 

[king_biscuit]

I personally think the GC people are idiots for even suggesting this. Not that Sterling is a bad brand name... but to name this line of instruments the same as a model of bass in current production by the same company? That is what defies logic IMO.

Of course this is just my opinion, but I find it hard to believe that Sterling Ball, who stood up to Microsoft, agreed to this name because GC or any other dealer insisted. I actually find it hard to believe that a dealer would actually insist on something like this from a big time player like EBMM. Why can't Sterling just admit that he has a huge ego and likes to name stuff after himself? Personally, I think the name is dumb, but I don't think it will cause all that much market confusion; and even if it does, the Sterling model is not exactly the bread and butter model for EB. As long and the Stingray and Slinkys are ok, EBMM will survive.

 

[MMcC]

I'm holding my breath for a Precision by Fender Jazz Bass, but I'm putting a Fender Precision neck on it.

 

[fettbass]

I can see these basses turning craigslist and ebay into a bit of a living hell a couple of months down the road. Can't you just see the ads now? "Musicman Sterling $ 350." Or "Sterling By Musicman Sterling for sale, $900 OBO." It's one of the most confusing branding decisions I've come across in a while. This is almost as bad as when Chevy sold the Nova in Spanish speaking countries ("No va" means "doesn't go" in Spanish).

 

[Johnny Alien]

Of course this is just my opinion, but I find it hard to believe that Sterling Ball, who stood up to Microsoft, agreed to this name because GC or any other dealer insisted. I actually find it hard to believe that a dealer would actually insist on something like this from a big time player like EBMM. Why can't Sterling just admit that he has a huge ego and likes to name stuff after himself? Personally, I think the name is dumb, but I don't think it will cause all that much market confusion; and even if it does, the Sterling model is not exactly the bread and butter model for EB. As long and the Stingray and Slinkys are ok, EBMM will survive.

I don't really buy the whole story either.

And the Microsoft story is one of my favorites. He was basically breaking the licensing policy and then got upset that they cracked down on him. He made it look like he was completely innocent while he was running many many PC's with duplicate and reused Microsoft licenses. I feel bad for him but Microsoft was not the bad guy in that story at all he was totally doing something illegally. What he should have done is gotten mad and fired his IT people who should have known better even if he didn't.

 

[spideyjg]

Of course this is just my opinion, but I find it hard to believe that Sterling Ball, who stood up to Microsoft, agreed to this name because GC or any other dealer insisted. I actually find it hard to believe that a dealer would actually insist on something like this from a big time player like EBMM. Why can't Sterling just admit that he has a huge ego and likes to name stuff after himself? Personally, I think the name is dumb, but I don't think it will cause all that much market confusion; and even if it does, the Sterling model is not exactly the bread and butter model for EB. As long and the Stingray and Slinkys are ok, EBMM will survive.

Bingo.

First thing to go on the mods will be that dumb name and logo. Got a plot to replicate my Sabre from one of these.

Jim

 

[jebersole]

Good decision, bad decision... I've read enough remarks about the "Sterling by Musicman" line to not care anymore. What makes me sad is that I agree with a previous poster about the future of the original Sterling bass.

I fear the "plan" is to associate the new budget line with a familiar name; with the (maybe not so) long term plan of eventually discontinuing the Sterling bass.

The Sterling is my favorite MM bass, and I hope to have another one (the HS model) again some day. I hope it remains in the USA-made lineup of offerings...

 

[qroon]

The premise that the name Sterling by MusicMan will cause confusion is nothing but a storm in a teacup. Purist/Elitist/Whatever are just too egoistic that their oh so precious Made in the U.S. of A. bass will have a similar product name that is made somewhere else.

 

[BobXboB]

I don't completely agree. Anyone in the market for a "professional" US made quality instrument is going to know the difference between the budget brand and the higher quality one. No one will be thinking "oh, doesn't that $1500 bass have the same name as the $600 bass?". Anyone looking to spend $1500 on a bass knows the difference.

I disagree with your disagreement

Just look at the threads in this forum, it is filled with people with $1500 or more asking what is the best bass (code for what bass will make people think I'm cool) that have no clue whatsoever and seem completely incapable of judging based on playing the instrument.

This whole thread is about people thinking that $1500 dollar bass has the same name as the $600 one.

 

[BobXboB]

They could have called it the "manta ray" line or something fishy like that.

I like that, similar and related but obviously different.

 

[Elchupacabra]

Well, this seems like a pretty good idea, and now these Sterling by MusicMan basses are now cheaper than Fender Mexican Basses. Wow, I thought I'd never say those words. However, groon, in response to your comment, although you make a good point, I have played Fender Mexican basses, and they cannot compare to the sound of my American one. In my opinion, the MusicMan HH Stingray is the best bass on the market (not including the $2,000+ basses), but we'll soon see how these perform in the masses. A good idea, though.

 

[hentor]

The moral of the story is that name or no name, this is what folks have been asking for ever since the OLP deal was done. As I recall there are a few threads looking forward to the new "budget" line of EBMM-licensed instruments.

Does the similar naming of the new line to an existing instrument run contrary to common sense? Yes indeed.

But discounting the instruments because of the naming is ridiculous because they could be some really nice instruments. We won't know until we ACTUALLY PLAY ONE!

When I bought my first guitar (yes I double on guitar), I had enough money to purchase a US Fender, but the Japanese Strat played and sounded better than all the other guitars there. The guitarist in the band I played with sneered at it until he played the damn thing. It is the one instrument back from the early days I still have and maintain in playable condition.

The moral of the story is we won't know if these are valid instruments until they have been played. "Unusual" marketing strategy or not. I'm looking forward at getting my hands on a 5-string and checking it out and then doing something I might not do to an EBMM - consider mods to it if it is a solid instrument. Until I have my hands on one, I'm going to shut up and play my (bass) guitar.

 

[BobXboB]

I'm starting to wonder if Sterling has a master plan of "any press is good press - get the people talking". Between the Bongo, Big Al, and the Sterling line, it seems that every decision he makes creates passionate debate. I don't recall any consistent buzz like this with other manufacturers.

I still think it's a sacrifice play. The overwhelming majority of bass sales are in the under $1k group and the high end stuff, while pretty, is just a tiny fraction of overall bass sales. NAMM does reports on this kind of thing. Even if he totally ruins the upper end name he can make a ton more money by taking a bite of Fender's market and laying off some U.S. staff replacing it with Indonesians.

I would bet 1/4 of GC's MIM Fender sales is more money than the entire gross of EBMM. I would make the sacrifice if I had GC backing me. And if GC is making EBMM's marketing decisions it would appear they are doing this.

 

[BobXboB]

Well, there were at least three companies involved, including the Sterling's sons. Sterling said many times, he didn't like the name...why would he lie about something simple as that?

Yeah, people never lie in marketing

 

[Deleted member 5551]

Here we go indeed. I'm going to write this in case anybody at Ernie Ball is reading this. If anybody knows such a person, please forward this on.

My "day job" is in branding and brand marketing. I won't go into detail about what I do, but I will simply say that while there's lots and lots of people out there who claim to understand this space, I do this for a living at a high level. I have worked in top marketing capacities at a few different top tier Fortune 500 firms known to have effective marketing. I'm not bragging, I'm just laying my credentials on the table.

Rarely have I seen a decision as poor as this. Beyond confusion, Ernie Ball is going to effectively destroy a marque premium brand (Musicman Sterling Bass).

Now perhaps their plan is to discontinue the USA Sterling Bass. I doubt that's the plan though as its a great, reasonably popular bass that fills a need. My concern is, once the Sterling name gets associated with "budget" - I don't know how on earth they're going to collect $1500 - $1700 for a Sterling USA anymore.

Very very poor branding decision. Stunningly bad. Hard to believe. Ernie Ball - if you are reading this I strongly urge you to adjust this plan by more explicitly separating out the budget line (ie: call it something else for goodness sake).

+1.

I'm a huge fan of EB instruments...and one of my biggest interests [my college major] is marketing. This branding move was pretty bad in my eyes.

The guys using the Precision by Fender are saying what I am thinking. If EB was using a name that wasn't already associated with one of their current product offerings, I would not care. I'm still interested in this line of basses, but I think the name is less than ideal.

 

[BobXboB]

Maybe Gibson will drop Epiphone and start calling all their budget instruments "SG" or "Les Paul"

That would be a great marketing move!

From what I understand Epiphone was a quality brand before Gibson got it and they used the name to market lower end stuff. This is basic marketing. Buyers may refuse to admit this but brand name will influence a purchase decision more than differences in value or quality will as long as the product meets a minimum level of quality. Marketers spend billions of dollars of money researching this and it's well documented.

We see this all the time with high end no name customs having no resale value while a lame '80's Fender covered in thick goo for a finish sells for twice the price... as long as the headstock decal hasn't been removed.

 

[bovinehost]

Well, this certainly is an interesting thread about the instruments.

Or about the name of the instruments.

Or about certain personalities in the musical instrument business.

Or about how twitchy some people get about a certain brand.

Or something. Damned if I know anymore.

I haven't had any 'horse's mouth" conversations about the naming of the line, but I guess I know the boss purdy good and doubt that GC twisted his arm and MADE him do anything. Sure, they're a big customer, but the top guys at GC are good friends - family, you might say - with the top guy at EBMM. This was no "hold a gun to his head" ploy. Trust me, that won't work. Ask Microsoft. In the end, he was obviously convinced that it was workable. And people who are interested enough will figure it out, and the instruments will probably do well.

You guys can go on about whether or not it was a good decision. Me, I don't know. I tend to think the boss at Ernie Ball kind of knows what he's doing. You might not, and that's okay, but it's a done deal. *shrugs*