Blackmachine Guitars - WTF????

[Doughboy]

I got to spend a couple of hour playing a Blackmachine B6 through my own gear on the weekend & I have to admit, I DON'T GET IT!!!!

It was a quality instrument for sure, but the wait time, hype & price for these things is astronomical, & imo, it wasn't anywhere near as good as the price tag suggests.

I have a few custom built instruments that cost 1/4 of the price that I think look, play & sound much better.

I think it one of those instances where the luthier charges a very high price, limits the production & thus an urban myth is born about how incredible these guitars are.

Am I missing something?

 

[neilli]

I've never had chance to play them and they do look cool. But that sort of price for an unfinished, bolt-on neck guitar without even fancy woods or inlays seems crazy to me..

 

[spguitar]

Would rather have one of these beasts.

http://www.cyanguitars.com/
Mr Blackmachine himself playing one.

 

[cardinal]

At that price, you're not buying a guitar. You're buying art, brand, and hype. Nothing wrong with that. More power to him for doing what he wants and good on anyone with the spare cash for it.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

I have a few custom built instruments that cost 1/4 of the price that I think look, play & sound much better.

What do you have? I GAS for more GAS

 

[Doughboy]

I have a few custom built instruments that cost 1/4 of the price that I think look, play & sound much better.

What do you have? I GAS for more GAS

Here are a couple of my custom jobs. Both, imo, are better looking, sounding & playing than the Blackmachine. But I'm biased so disregard what I just said.

 

[MrDowntown]

Man they are both awesomely stunning pieces...but, that Tele.... No words man. That neck!

 

[VC4Ever]

After buying both expensive and cheap guitars I have come to the conclusion that you can get amazing sounding guitars that don't cost an arm and a leg. To be honest most of my expensive guitars just sit in their cases because they don't sound that good to me. If I could start again I would have saved a lot of money.

To me, buying a good amp is more important to my sound than a $15,000 guitar.

 

[Doughboy]

After buying both expensive and cheap guitars I have come to the conclusion that you can get amazing sounding guitars that don't cost an arm and a leg. To be honest most of my expensive guitars just sit in their cases because they don't sound that good to me. If I could start again I would have saved a lot of money.

To me, buying a good amp is more important to my sound than a $15,000 guitar.

I totally agree. Fancy tops look great, but imo they add nothing to the tone. The big bucks come from the fancy logo on the headstock & the myth attached to those names.

For under $1000, you can order order a great neck, body & parts from Warmoth & have a guitar that's better than 90% of the ones out there.

I was just shocked how ordinary & underwhelming the Blackmachine was for any price, let alone $15,0000.

 

[technomancer]

After buying both expensive and cheap guitars I have come to the conclusion that you can get amazing sounding guitars that don't cost an arm and a leg. To be honest most of my expensive guitars just sit in their cases because they don't sound that good to me. If I could start again I would have saved a lot of money.

To me, buying a good amp is more important to my sound than a $15,000 guitar.

I totally agree. Fancy tops look great, but imo they add nothing to the tone. The big bucks come from the fancy logo on the headstock & the myth attached to those names.

For under $1000, you can order order a great neck, body & parts from Warmoth & have a guitar that's better than 90% of the ones out there.

I was just shocked how ordinary & underwhelming the Blackmachine was for any price, let alone $15,0000.

Anybody that paid that for a B6 was high... they're ~$3k new and are built for Blackmachine by Feline Guitars. The B2s are built by Doug and are now fetching the outlandish prices.

I agree that they're massively expensive for what they are, but get your facts right when ranting

I also give it a day before the fanboys and marketers are in here saying it's totally worth it... unless the guys I'm thinking about are no longer doing internet marketing for Doug.

 

[mooncobra]

I have a few custom built instruments that cost 1/4 of the price that I think look, play & sound much better.

What do you have? I GAS for more GAS

Here are a couple of my custom jobs. Both, imo, are better looking, sounding & playing than the Blackmachine. But I'm biased so disregard what I just said.

who made these?

 

[thiswaythatway]

I have a few custom built instruments that cost 1/4 of the price that I think look, play & sound much better.

What do you have? I GAS for more GAS

Here are a couple of my custom jobs. Both, imo, are better looking, sounding & playing than the Blackmachine. But I'm biased so disregard what I just said.

Forget blackmachine, let's talk about these customs.

 

[Bloodrock]

The cork isn't smelling so good in this thread... Glad to see more guys realizing this.

 

[Steinmetzify]

Anybody that paid that for a B6 was high... they're ~$3k new and are built for Blackmachine by Feline Guitars. The B2s are built by Doug and are now fetching the outlandish prices.

I agree that they're massively expensive for what they are, but get your facts right when ranting

I also give it a day before the fanboys and marketers are in here saying it's totally worth it... unless the guys I'm thinking about are no longer doing internet marketing for Doug.

Haven't seen anybody pimping em lately. You think they gave up? They haven't sold any lately either...LMAO @ 'internet marketing'....how many people you think bought one based on those guys' testimony alone?

 

[webrthomson]

Played some of James Leaders Blackmachine guitars when I was testing out my Herbert - they were okay, thought his Nic Huber was way better though!

Still prefer my Manson customs over both!

 

[JimmyBlind]

Played some of James Leaders Blackmachine guitars when I was testing out my Herbert - they were okay, thought his Nic Huber was way better though!

Still prefer my Manson customs over both!

Ha! So did I! You go round his house? I played the Huber & the BM Tele.

 

[Ventura]

I collect [and carefully play] vintage Lesters.

I play and beat the shit out of ESPs and contemporary Lesters.

There's no need for an "exotic" in my music world.

 

[webrthomson]

Played some of James Leaders Blackmachine guitars when I was testing out my Herbert - they were okay, thought his Nic Huber was way better though!

Still prefer my Manson customs over both!

Ha! So did I! You go round his house? I played the Huber & the BM Tele.

We went to a studio somewhere in London with all the Diezel amps - but yes that was the BM and the Nic in question!

Also saw more of James Blacakmachines at the British Guitar show he was at too - still thought they were nice but I'd not drop the money on them that they go for used!

 

[technomancer]

Anybody that paid that for a B6 was high... they're ~$3k new and are built for Blackmachine by Feline Guitars. The B2s are built by Doug and are now fetching the outlandish prices.

I agree that they're massively expensive for what they are, but get your facts right when ranting

I also give it a day before the fanboys and marketers are in here saying it's totally worth it... unless the guys I'm thinking about are no longer doing internet marketing for Doug.

Haven't seen anybody pimping em lately. You think they gave up? They haven't sold any lately either...LMAO @ 'internet marketing'....how many people you think bought one based on those guys' testimony alone?

I suspect they've already flipped theirs and moved on to other marketing contracts. And BTW it is a business, they sell their services as social media and internet marketing consultants. The ones I feel bad for are the guys that buy in and spend money thinking those guys are sincere and not just trying to make a buck.

 

[Steinmetzify]

Anybody that paid that for a B6 was high... they're ~$3k new and are built for Blackmachine by Feline Guitars. The B2s are built by Doug and are now fetching the outlandish prices.

I agree that they're massively expensive for what they are, but get your facts right when ranting

I also give it a day before the fanboys and marketers are in here saying it's totally worth it... unless the guys I'm thinking about are no longer doing internet marketing for Doug.

Haven't seen anybody pimping em lately. You think they gave up? They haven't sold any lately either...LMAO @ 'internet marketing'....how many people you think bought one based on those guys' testimony alone?

I suspect they've already flipped theirs and moved on to other marketing contracts. And BTW it is a business, they sell their services as social media and internet marketing consultants. The ones I feel bad for are the guys that buy in and spend money thinking those guys are sincere and not just trying to make a buck.

Interesting. Never knew, thanks for the clue. Never bought anything from them or bought anything because they influenced me, but nice to know.