WTF Ernie Ball?

[TSJMajesty]

Also, to add...

When I bought my 20th Majesty, I hardly played it until it was out-of-warranty. My mistake. But, once I discovered the issue, I contacted EBMM, sent them pics of both my Majesties for comparison, as well as pics of other Majesties that had the issue, in both directions- towards the high e and low e.

They were willing to swap out a new "body/neck", I think they called it, at no cost to me, but only if they determined it to be a factory flaw. And, I would have no way of seeing the wood grain, or how the wood took the stain, beforehand. I didn't want to take either of those chances, as I partly chose the guitar I bought based on how certain parts looked. And I didn't like the idea of shipping my guitar across the country and back, w/o them agreeing beforehand, based on the pics I sent them, that it was a factory defect.

In my mind, I felt like they should have an actual tolerance for this sort of thing, that could be defined with a measurement. But they wouldn't provide that. It was basically, "We'll look at it and decide."

 

[TSJMajesty]

I have 4 very recent EBMMs and none of them have these issues. I repair many guitars every week and there are issues with all of the brands out there.

With that, you would think someone would maybe take a look at what is being posted on their site and say….yah, maybe not the best view?

One of our members here bought one that did have it, I noticed it (in the pictures!), and he was able to improve it by adjusting the neck, since it was a bolt-on.

So, just like with anything, just because one hasn't experienced it firsthand, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. And just because there are examples out there, doesn't mean it's an issue on a high percentage of guitars.

It's just that since I unwittingly experienced it myself, I now look closer at the pictures, and because of that, I see it on many of their guitars.

It's an issue people need to be aware of, and it's not simply explained by, "It's the camera."

And to be clear, EBMM is still my favorite brand, and I'll buy more. But I'll steer clear of any with string centering issues.

 

[paisleywookiee]

I couldn’t find those examples on their website, but here’s what lens they’re using:

View attachment 40890

CRAP! My Nikon kit lens is better!

 

[TSJMajesty]

With that, you would think someone would maybe take a look at what is being posted on their site and say….yah, maybe not the best view?

Yeah, but see, if the strings are centered, no one should have to reject a certain photo angle. Which is going right back to me saying, it's NOT the pics.

What if it had a bowed neck? "Hey, don't upload that photo that looks down the neck, because it magnifies that bow."

No.

 

[Eagle]

Yeah, but see, if the strings are centered, no one should have to reject a certain photo angle. Which is going right back to me saying, it's NOT the pics.

What if it had a bowed neck? "Hey, don't upload that photo that looks down the neck, because it magnifies that bow."

No.

It would not have that effect. It’s the pictures.

 

[TSJMajesty]

It would not have that effect. It’s the pictures.

You've given your opinion already. If you're just going to keep saying the same thing, just save your effort.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Is this the picture?

 

[Warmart]

One of our members here bought one that did have it, I noticed it (in the pictures!), and he was able to improve it by adjusting the neck, since it was a bolt-on.

Uh, huh, you said "member".

 

[TSJMajesty]

Uh, huh, you said "member".

Well, "Richard" is being used elsewhere.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Uh, huh, you said "member".

Uh, huh, he said "bolt-on."

I got it- "Bolt-on MEMBER." Huh huh

 

[Warmart]

Uh, huh, he said "bolt-on."

I got it- "Bolt-on MEMBER." Huh huh

Feel like a strap-on joke would be "fitting", somewhere in this thread.

Maybe a specific EBMM employee had a "run IN" with one?

 

[PBGas]

One of our members here bought one that did have it, I noticed it (in the pictures!), and he was able to improve it by adjusting the neck, since it was a bolt-on.

So, just like with anything, just because one hasn't experienced it firsthand, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. And just because there are examples out there, doesn't mean it's an issue on a high percentage of guitars.

It's just that since I unwittingly experienced it myself, I now look closer at the pictures, and because of that, I see it on many of their guitars.

It's an issue people need to be aware of, and it's not simply explained by, "It's the camera."

And to be clear, EBMM is still my favorite brand, and I'll buy more. But I'll steer clear of any with string centering issues.

Oh believe me, I get it!
You would be shocked if you saw the swill of the 2 Fender Custom Shop tele's with Floyds that I sold last year after I fixed them. I got them at a very deep discount from Zoo because of the issues. Took me quite a bit of work to get them to where they should be. Never should have left the factory this way. This was one of them. Notice something familiar? There was much more wrong with it as well.

 

[Eagle]

Is this the picture?

View attachment 40897

Yes and it’s not my opinion it’s just counting.

 

[Eagle]

Oh believe me, I get it!
You would be shocked if you saw the swill of the 2 Fender Custom Shop tele's with Floyds that I sold last year after I fixed them. I got them at a very deep discount from Zoo because of the issues. Took me quite a bit of work to get them to where they should be. Never should have left the factory this way. This was one of them. Notice something familiar? There was much more wrong with it as well.

View attachment 40905

Never seen a Fender that the neck pocket doesn’t have some slight movement in . Easily enough to account for this. They don’t leave the factory like this , a slight movement happens in transit. Can easily occur in the case .

 

[TSJMajesty]

Yes and it’s not my opinion it’s just counting.

Nope.

 

[Eagle]

Nope.

You have not addressed any of my points about photography. Lens distortion. The effect of subject to camera distance. The parallax difference when viewing two strings with different actions at an angle even if everything was perfect and lens distortion didn’t exist. Add all these things together and unless you actively choose to place the camera in a position that makes the strings appear central ( this would not be perfectly aligned or perpendicular) they never will. I could even find you a tech reading of that lens to show the extent of barrel and pincushion distortion but then you would also need to know the exact compensation applied by the R5 body and lens firmware not to mention the exact focal length, position, precisely the camera angle and if any editing software was used. I have been through this with my 5150 replica. The stripes are all positioned using a projector but the actual image used was heavily corrected for all these things or it simply couldn’t line up with the body .
The final image was an amalgamation of around 20 photos applied to a 3D model;

All this was required just to accurately position the stripes on a body that was CNC cut from the same 3D model.
You need to explain why you expect the photos to look like the strings are central accounting for all these things above.

 

[norminal]

 

[TSJMajesty]

You have not addressed any of my points about photography. Lens distortion. The effect of subject to camera distance. The parallax difference when viewing two strings with different actions at an angle even if everything was perfect and lens distortion didn’t exist. Add all these things together and unless you actively choose to place the camera in a position that makes the strings appear central ( this would not be perfectly aligned or perpendicular) they never will. I could even find you a tech reading of that lens to show the extent of barrel and pincushion distortion but then you would also need to know the exact compensation applied by the R5 body and lens firmware not to mention the exact focal length, position, precisely the camera angle and if any editing software was used. I have been through this with my 5150 replica. The stripes are all positioned using a projector but the actual image used was heavily corrected for all these things or it simply couldn’t line up with the body .
The final image was an amalgamation of around 20 photos applied to a 3D model;
View attachment 40909
View attachment 40910
All this was required just to accurately position the stripes on a body that was CNC cut from the same 3D model.
You need to explain why you expect the photos to look like the strings are central accounting for all these things above.

I don't care about any of that.

That pic was my guitar, and the strings are not centered, just like the pic shows. You're once again talking outta your ass. You think you know more than you do, but you've just proven you don't.

 

[Eagle]

I don't care about any of that.

That pic was my guitar, and the strings are not centered, just like the pic shows. You're once again talking outta your ass. You think you know more than you do, but you've just proven you don't.

I didn’t say they are straight I said you can’t see this accurately in a photo. Maybe your guitar is a Friday afternoon pos but they are likely to be as intended. Perfect equidistant from the edge is not what most companies aim for. Everything in my post is physics and physics doesn’t care if you believe it or not but you can’t escape it.

 

[FuzzyAce]

The thing about bolt-on necks is they're manually put on. To put one on and expect it to be perfectly aligned every time is dreaming. I don't care if it's cnc or not. And some guitars have shallower horns in the pocket location making for a less stable coupling, and there are those that may even have looser fitting pockets. Yes, they should make sure and align properly at the factory -- but it's not totally uncommon for a bolt-on to shift in the pocket over some time either. Unfortunately with set or neck-thru designs you're at the mercy of bridge and nut alignment.