Someone please tell me what the deal is with Blackmachine?

[engage757]

I have owned some really nice guitars over the years but i never came across a blackmachine.
I must say i am curious but i am not willing to pay the prices people are asking.
Im sure they are very nice guitars and sound great, i cant imagine it can be better built than my kenneth lawrence explorer but i guess its a different style and feel. Maybe someday i will meet somebody that has one and i can see what the hype is about.

Are all blackmachine guitars bolt on???

Yes, they are brother. Different from a KL, but close to on par. I am a little biased with Ken's builds, as I truly think, in my opinion, he makes the best guitar around.

 

[H Golf Sport]

How much were these new?

 

[engage757]

IF you can get them now, which you really can't. They are 6800 GBP for a no options, standard spec'd B2. That's currently $11,312.48. Give you an idea, I got one of the ten build slots released almost two years ago and they haven't even started. Despite what most people like to think, Doug does not build guitars for a living.

 

[H Golf Sport]

Wow! If this was a friedman or cameron people would be screaming for blood.
Never heard of blackmachine before.

 

[engage757]

Wow! If this was a friedman or cameron people would be screaming for blood.
Never heard of blackmachine before.

They are cool man. EXTREMELY popular in certain circles, but people like to create drama because the builder chooses to just build what he wants, when he wants anymore, as it is not his main job, and put them up for best offers. Mostly the hype is from people that can't afford one, have never played one, or lie about owning one. BM owners are a tight knit group for the most part. Most BM B2/B7/B8/F8's move behind the scenes to other BM owners, because, when you put one up for sale publicly, fanboys go nuts and it becomes a huge fiasco. Selling a BM publicly makes you an asshole, because people that want one can't afford it and can't wrap their brains around the idea of an expensive guitar. THis is why you don't see many, because they are passed within a select few that have the money and don't care about what some 15 year old on ss.org thinks is too much money for a guitar he couldn't afford if it was $3k.

 

[Anonymous]

I am always amazed at the responses garnered by certain topics… But I have to say, the most intensely negative responses I see are reserved for high end, high dollar gear like BM. I don't get the negativity, and as I've said before, I don't understand why people have to bag on people who spend large buckets of cash for gear. Obviously, they can afford it, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it, right? Who cares what other people do with their cash? Is there cheaper stuff that can get the job done? Sure, but once you are talking much over $3K, it isn't about just getting the job done anymore. Is hype possibly responsible for the high prices? I'm sure that factors in on some gear, but I don't see what that matters. If something is worth it to someone, it's all good with me.

Of course, I laid out a pile of cash and and still have 1.5 years to wait on a Bartlett guitar, so maybe I'm a bad guy to evaluate the situation…

Steve

 

[animal]

3) emo core bands (in this case namely Periphery and that Misha guy) that want to be unique pick up one of his instruments and say they are the be-all-and-end-all of guitars (for this month/year)
4) hype is created
5) fan-boys, especially on SSO (many of whom believe tone-woods concept is a myth) go head over heels for them
6) hype goes crazy
.

Pretty much this

I've played a bunch of black machines and they are killer guitars.
I was thinking about picking up one years ago before the price went thru the roof. (insanity)
If you look at the guys playing on them some are only using one string and a few frets lmao

I swear there is profits to be made if you know how to market to guitar players (especially in the high price range and giving a feeling they are being exclusive)
I saw a thread on SSO recently where some guy bought a custom and literally got raped in the quality when a $800 ESP LTD would have probably done the same job if not killed it in this case.

Here is another example
http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/sevens ... y-7-a.html
The combination of Swamp Ash and Tasmanian Blackwood as well as the body chambering meant that this guitar was really resonant.

Seriously how the fuck would he know what that wood combo would sound like!?!? Is he some kinda of wood connoisseur!!?

These djent guys are the kings for using all sorts of woods that have never been used before in a guitar, but seem to be experts on knowing why it makes them sound that way.
They love to use crap like "oh it has very defined yet aggressive mids and a rounded but not flabby bottom end" lmao

 

[JimmyBlind]

Try not to use 'lmao' too often in posts. It makes you sound like a cunt.

 

[engage757]

I am always amazed at the responses garnered by certain topics… But I have to say, the most intensely negative responses I see are reserved for high end, high dollar gear like BM. I don't get the negativity, and as I've said before, I don't understand why people have to bag on people who spend large buckets of cash for gear. Obviously, they can afford it, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it, right? Who cares what other people do with their cash? Is there cheaper stuff that can get the job done? Sure, but once you are talking much over $3K, it isn't about just getting the job done anymore. Is hype possibly responsible for the high prices? I'm sure that factors in on some gear, but I don't see what that matters. If something is worth it to someone, it's all good with me.

Of course, I laid out a pile of cash and and still have 1.5 years to wait on a Bartlett guitar, so maybe I'm a bad guy to evaluate the situation…

Steve

Dammit Steve wake up will ya?

It's the internet's JOB to tell you what you should do with your hard-earned cash.

 

[Anonymous]

I am always amazed at the responses garnered by certain topics… But I have to say, the most intensely negative responses I see are reserved for high end, high dollar gear like BM. I don't get the negativity, and as I've said before, I don't understand why people have to bag on people who spend large buckets of cash for gear. Obviously, they can afford it, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it, right? Who cares what other people do with their cash? Is there cheaper stuff that can get the job done? Sure, but once you are talking much over $3K, it isn't about just getting the job done anymore. Is hype possibly responsible for the high prices? I'm sure that factors in on some gear, but I don't see what that matters. If something is worth it to someone, it's all good with me.

Of course, I laid out a pile of cash and and still have 1.5 years to wait on a Bartlett guitar, so maybe I'm a bad guy to evaluate the situation…

Steve

Dammit Steve wake up will ya?

It's the internet's JOB to tell you what you should do with your hard-earned cash.

Oh yeah… I forgot that!

Steve

 

[Stealthtastic]

I am always amazed at the responses garnered by certain topics… But I have to say, the most intensely negative responses I see are reserved for high end, high dollar gear like BM. I don't get the negativity, and as I've said before, I don't understand why people have to bag on people who spend large buckets of cash for gear. Obviously, they can afford it, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it, right? Who cares what other people do with their cash? Is there cheaper stuff that can get the job done? Sure, but once you are talking much over $3K, it isn't about just getting the job done anymore. Is hype possibly responsible for the high prices? I'm sure that factors in on some gear, but I don't see what that matters. If something is worth it to someone, it's all good with me.

Of course, I laid out a pile of cash and and still have 1.5 years to wait on a Bartlett guitar, so maybe I'm a bad guy to evaluate the situation…

Steve

Well said. Its not like you are blowing 10000-20000 on one wild night of partying like some people do. Its spending money on a heirloom quality instrument that you'll have with you for the rest of your life.

 

[metalmaniac93]

What did I say that was wrong?
Their worth is due to them being well-made, hyped up, then made in small numbers.
At the end of the day they are worth what people will pay for them.
Do I think that any guitar is worth more than 5k? Hell no. I don't give a damn if god came down to earth and built it himself. But that's just my opinion. No need to give yourself a hernia debating his.

edit: engage, you're a douche

 

[Aristocat]

I am always amazed at the responses garnered by certain topics… But I have to say, the most intensely negative responses I see are reserved for high end, high dollar gear like BM. I don't get the negativity, and as I've said before, I don't understand why people have to bag on people who spend large buckets of cash for gear. Obviously, they can afford it, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it, right? Who cares what other people do with their cash? Is there cheaper stuff that can get the job done? Sure, but once you are talking much over $3K, it isn't about just getting the job done anymore. Is hype possibly responsible for the high prices? I'm sure that factors in on some gear, but I don't see what that matters. If something is worth it to someone, it's all good with me.

Of course, I laid out a pile of cash and and still have 1.5 years to wait on a Bartlett guitar, so maybe I'm a bad guy to evaluate the situation…

Steve

Well said. Its not like you are blowing 10000-20000 on one wild night of partying like some people do. Its spending money on a heirloom quality instrument that you'll have with you for the rest of your life.

At what point? A lot of these spontaneous purchases (or premeditated) end up on the chopping block.

 

[metalmaniac93]

3) emo core bands (in this case namely Periphery and that Misha guy) that want to be unique pick up one of his instruments and say they are the be-all-and-end-all of guitars (for this month/year)
4) hype is created
5) fan-boys, especially on SSO (many of whom believe tone-woods concept is a myth) go head over heels for them
6) hype goes crazy
.

Pretty much this

I've played a bunch of black machines and they are killer guitars.
I was thinking about picking up one years ago before the price went thru the roof. (insanity)
If you look at the guys playing on them some are only using one string and a few frets lmao

I swear there is profits to be made if you know how to market to guitar players (especially in the high price range and giving a feeling they are being exclusive)
I saw a thread on SSO recently where some guy bought a custom and literally got raped in the quality when a $800 ESP LTD would have probably done the same job if not killed it in this case.

Here is another example
http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/sevens ... y-7-a.html
The combination of Swamp Ash and Tasmanian Blackwood as well as the body chambering meant that this guitar was really resonant.

Seriously how the fuck would he know what that wood combo would sound like!?!? Is he some kinda of wood connoisseur!!?

These djent guys are the kings for using all sorts of woods that have never been used before in a guitar, but seem to be experts on knowing why it makes them sound that way.
They love to use crap like "oh it has very defined yet aggressive mids and a rounded but not flabby bottom end" lmao

Jeff Loomis plays Schecter!! Enough said!!

 

[stratjacket]

BM's are nice, no Kramer Pacer, but they're alright...

 

[animal]

Try not to use 'lmao' too often in posts. It makes you sound like a cunt.

I'm ok with that

 

[xzyryabx]

Try not to use 'lmao' too often in posts. It makes you sound like a cunt.

 

[metalmaniac93]

I am always amazed at the responses garnered by certain topics… But I have to say, the most intensely negative responses I see are reserved for high end, high dollar gear like BM. I don't get the negativity, and as I've said before, I don't understand why people have to bag on people who spend large buckets of cash for gear. Obviously, they can afford it, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it, right? Who cares what other people do with their cash? Is there cheaper stuff that can get the job done? Sure, but once you are talking much over $3K, it isn't about just getting the job done anymore. Is hype possibly responsible for the high prices? I'm sure that factors in on some gear, but I don't see what that matters. If something is worth it to someone, it's all good with me.

Of course, I laid out a pile of cash and and still have 1.5 years to wait on a Bartlett guitar, so maybe I'm a bad guy to evaluate the situation…

Steve

Well said. Its not like you are blowing 10000-20000 on one wild night of partying like some people do. Its spending money on a heirloom quality instrument that you'll have with you for the rest of your life.

At what point? A lot of these spontaneous purchases (or premeditated) end up on the chopping block.

But you will be part of that special group who owns a rare guitar!!! Oooooooh!!!

 

[Aristocat]

I am always amazed at the responses garnered by certain topics… But I have to say, the most intensely negative responses I see are reserved for high end, high dollar gear like BM. I don't get the negativity, and as I've said before, I don't understand why people have to bag on people who spend large buckets of cash for gear. Obviously, they can afford it, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it, right? Who cares what other people do with their cash? Is there cheaper stuff that can get the job done? Sure, but once you are talking much over $3K, it isn't about just getting the job done anymore. Is hype possibly responsible for the high prices? I'm sure that factors in on some gear, but I don't see what that matters. If something is worth it to someone, it's all good with me.

Of course, I laid out a pile of cash and and still have 1.5 years to wait on a Bartlett guitar, so maybe I'm a bad guy to evaluate the situation…

Steve

Well said. Its not like you are blowing 10000-20000 on one wild night of partying like some people do. Its spending money on a heirloom quality instrument that you'll have with you for the rest of your life.

At what point? A lot of these spontaneous purchases (or premeditated) end up on the chopping block.

But you will be part of that special group who owns a rare guitar!!! Oooooooh!!!

I'm confident in my manhood.

 

[maddnotez]

I have never even seen a guitar of this level in person let alone played one.

I would love to try but I will never be in the situation to spend that kind of money on anything other than a car and that even requires monthly payments.

While I am sure they may be the most amazing guitar known to man, I think 20k for any guitar is complete horseshit. Obviously others do not but I am sure you can find guitars almost as good for a fraction and I am ok with having one of those lol.