[D-EJ915]

They're probably the same quality as any custom axe from a small luthier.

[ibznorange]

Originally Posted by -Nolly-

Dammit, you quoted me before I edited that post!

What would you like to know?

That shits the worst, isnt it?

which Lacs did you play?
what do you like better about it vs the Lacs and Jp7?
neck profile? Body feel? weight? i know you prefer the tone of the BM, but could you try the hopeless, and attempt to describe the different tones and what you liked better? That ones damn near impossible, but you have to try lol.

[Edroz]

Originally Posted by -Nolly-

Dammit, you quoted me before I edited that post!

What would you like to know?

you pretty much told me in your edited post. which just like i thought, all boils down to personal preference .

[B Lopez]

Originally Posted by ibznorange

keep in mind the USD duder. i knwo it gets old hearing it (and dealing with it too ) but seriously, people keep saying ~4500 usd around here, so think if it from across the pond. is 2250 that bad for a custom shop guitar really? theyre honestly in the same price range there as a custom KXK is here

Even at that my point still stands

[-Nolly-]

Originally Posted by Edroz

you pretty much told me in your edited post. which just like i thought, all boils down to personal preference .

Yep definitely, I'm not going to pretend that they'll suit every guitar player.

Originally Posted by ibznorange

neck profile? Body feel? weight? i know you prefer the tone of the BM, but could you try the hopeless, and attempt to describe the different tones and what you liked better? That ones damn near impossible, but you have to try lol.

I can tell you that the neck profile is a mix of a Jackson Soloist custom shop and an JEM. It is quite flat-backed, but is very comfortable for chording as well as lead work. The fretboard is almost flat.
The body is very thin (mine is 28mm), so is very light, and feels almost non-existent when you play standing up. Despite the light body and rosewood neck, the guitar still balances perfectly.
I know conventional guitar-building dictates that a thin-bodied guitar should not result in good tone, but with Doug's guitars, don't ask me why, this is simply not the case. The response is incredible - it almost feels like notes jump out of the guitar before you pluck the string.

As you say, describing tone in words is near impossible, but I'll give it a try. The main thing that you notice first with any of the Blackmachines is the sheer clarity. Every note rings out of even the most complex-interval chord shapes, even under high gain. My guitar is quite bright sounding, but every note still has a weighty punch behind them, and doesn't get thin at any point.
Clean, the sound is very pure, for want of a better way to describe it. I have heard several people describe the tone as "piano-like". It is incredibly sensitive to picking dynamics, and really feels alive. Even the highest natural harmonics ring out very clearly.

As I thought might happen, I have ended up rambling. Hopefully there is something of worth in there, if not, feel free to ask more questions.

[ibznorange]

dont you go giving edroz credit for my questions

alot of what youre saying is preference based, but theres alot of stuff that is just indicative of quality construction, like how the harmonics ring out, and the fact that it just sounds pure acoustic. I dont care how nice the wood is or whatever, if its not built well things like that just dont happen as much.
its pretty much how nick describes his new vixen (which id also love to get some playtime on ), it just tells you its quality that cant be substituted by electronics or other equipment. Id love to try your blackmachine, its freaking gorgeous

[-Nolly-]

Originally Posted by ibznorange

dont you go giving edroz credit for my questions

.
.

Id love to try your blackmachine, its freaking gorgeous

Oops sorry dude! Fixed now.

And cheers man! Still gives me goosebumps to look at it!

[Stitch]

Originally Posted by Edroz

alright, now how many people who keep praising Blackmachines here have actually played one? i find it really hard to believe that so many people on this site have played one, along with a BFR EBMM and a LACS to make a fair judgment based on actual experience and not speculation to say that the BM smokes everything...

I have!

Originally Posted by ibznorange

i think that its largely based on stitch's constant saying its worth it, despite it not being an ibanez . he had the same exact reaction to whatever kxk he played (james'?) as he does to the blackmachines.

I played Shikaru's KxK, and it was absolutely incredible. I loved it.

...that said...Blackmachines still trump it. This is in no way at all whatsoever a disrespect to robs work - he clearly loves what he does and does it incredibly well - but something about a Blackmachine just feels inherently 'right'. They feel almost alive when you play them. Everything is clear and defined, so...crystalline...

Really, words don't do it justice.

Originally Posted by ibznorange

keep in mind the USD duder. i knwo it gets old hearing it (and dealing with it too ) but seriously, people keep saying ~4500 usd around here, so think if it from across the pond. is 2250 that bad for a custom shop guitar really? theyre honestly in the same price range there as a custom KXK is here

A six string piezo equipped Petrucci in candy red would cost $3200 here, and thats on the über-discounted online stores. Finding it in a shop for that price? No chance. Assuming you can find a seven string one...hardly worth the bother when there are better, home-grown models available.

Originally Posted by -Nolly-

Om nom nom.

[Uber Mega]

Originally Posted by NewLastJam

Hey, whilst searching for 7s online, I discovered a company called Blackmachine. Are they any good and do they stack up to the EBMM JP7 or the Ibanez RG 1527? Thanks.

I'm picking up my Blackmachine B7 on Monday (21st April).

It's the twin build of the B7 pictured on the site (but with a light binding rather than ebony): chambered brazillian Mahogany body and the last B7 to be built with all black hardware.

I've never been able to give a proper opinion on the guitars (apart from in regards to Doug's personal standpoint on guitar building, and explaining the UK economy countless times in response to all the "zomg $4000 for that!?" statements whenever BM are mentioned), having only played Pin's and Dez's B2s...but I will surely post an indepth review etc. when i get it home

Unfortunately the wait is big, very big, and probably much longer than he would estimate, and the price raises all the time (from £1750 to £2300 in the last year for a B7!) so that's worth considering aswell. They are (shock shock) excellent value for money for UK customers though, but for US customers, I wouldn't bother. Having owned a first generation EBMM JP I can vouch for them, they're awesome guitars and even better with the D-Sonic in, very fast and comfortable neck, very comfortable body, stunning looks (especially the mystic dream!) and probably one of the BEST floating trems you will find on ANY guitar! Petrucci had a hell of a lot of personal input on this guitar, he worked with them very closely and it was built exactly as he wanted at the time (obviously revised with the new BFR models)...i'm pretty sure most of the LACS artists don't have as much input in the guitar build. I've never played a LACS ibby though, some of them look like high-def porn though!

[-Nolly-]

Originally Posted by Uber Mega

It's the twin build of the B7 pictured on the site, chambered brazillian Mahogany, but with a light binding rather than ebony.

Dude, you are going to be blown away when you try it.