Review Demo - Ernie Ball Music Man St. Vincent Signature

Read the review: bit.ly/EBMMStVi...
It’s no secret that many “artist signature” guitars aren’t all that different from a company’s stock models. Jigger with surface cosmetics, maybe tweak the electronics a bit, and voilà - you’ve got a “new” model to sell at an upmarket price.
Music Man’s St. Vincent is nothing like that. Designed top to bottom by Annie “St. Vincent” Clark with help from the Ernie Ball/Music Man lutherie team, the instrument is as bold, imaginative, and thoughtful as Clark’s extraordinary guitar work.
The St. Vincent’s angular, geometric body is unapologetically Modernistic-and that’s upper-case “Modernistic” in the mid-20th-century-design sense. Guitar history geeks will probably flash on 1957/1958, when Gibson created the Flying V, Explorer, and Moderne. Designed by visionary Gibson honcho Ted McCarty, these instruments (along with 1963’s Ray Dietrich-designed Firebird) aimed to update Gibson’s then-stodgy image with a bit of Fender’s space-age panache.
Click to the continue reading the review: bit.ly/EBMMStVi...

[@myworstenemy680]

Respect for making something other than the same old Tele, Strat or LP clones. Don't get me wrong, I love all of them, but the market is saturated with knock offs from every company under the sun. Annie is a hell of a songwriter and her signature guitar shows off her eclectic, artistic side. That neck wood looks stunning btw.

[@mackslovelace]

One of the best looking guitars I have seen in a long time. Guitars are looking all the same lately.

[@Moskal91]

bc rich

[@dirklives1168]

wow you have terrible taste

[@stormnegele463]

@@dirklives1168 why you here then?

[@Marta1Buck]

I wouldn't say lately, it's way longer.

[@midwestpixiesyndicate8283]

Yeah, all strat style with two humbuckers 😔

[@ikkenhisatsu7170]

I’m a drummer, but a St. Vincent fan for years. It’s apparently a great instrument and it’s not like everyone else. I love it.

[@coltondillard1630]

I don't get the hate for the body style, i kinda like the look, very different but cool!

[@PJyrstinkangas]

+Colton Dillard I totally get the hate, but personally find it really good looking.

[@quasarpuffs]

+Colton Dillard It looks a bit like a "non-reverse" Firebird, but I think this has a more interesting shape.

[@DelScully]

+nahkxxx throw em in ! not that hard!

[@scottbookman]

+Colton Dillard i hate odd shaped guitars but this is very cool...i love it.

[@slimturnpike]

+locomotivebrain three minis

[@Tictac-s2e]

Thank God, a demo featuring a decent guitar player. I was just as entertained by his playing, as the actual guitar review.

[@SuzanneNuttall]

It really is amazing how many guys cannot handle that woman designed a guitar from the ground up with a guitar company. Please do us all a favour and go back to the caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaave where you came from! Saw St. Vincent live in concert last night and I was so impressed by her playing style!

[@soyborne.bornmadeandundone1342]

She is amazing. don't mind the nazis. It makes perfect sense they behave this way. I would probably be mad at women too if I was a kreep who's still a 40 yr old virgin that lives on the internet.

[@hihowareyouitsme]

One thing to note is that Annie Clark designed the guitar with a fashion sense in mind. She didn't like how most guitars were designed to fit nicely on a male body and felt a bit big on her. She wanted to have a guitar that better fit her body, so she came up with this shape, and she looks fantastic with it :)

[@DelScully]

im a guy and I'd buy this in a second either way! Just way to expensive tho haha

[@sheldonmontgomery2879]

Yea 2000 is way to expensive I could only afford maybe a 300$ guitar & 100$ amp lol

[@j_freed]

I want to buy it because 1) it's a successful innovation from a great, rare owner-run company 2) it is also IMO an amazing piece of art and modern design and 3) it represents a tremendous quality ethic that serves the goal of making music, based on my hearing the sonic integrity of the guitar in the demo. That pull-up on the chords towards the end of this video show a lot of harmonic color and very strong fundamental notes.

[@rhllnm]

She sort of joked that the design worked better for people with breasts (see the Vice interview). I think that was actually part of the design. Check out Tal Wilkenfeld sometime fro the breast "problem". It does look a little awkward.

[@georgesabitpol]

funny how male guitars will be curvy , and that guitar fitted for Annie is quite angular actually

[@andymorris15]

FINALLY a review that isn’t some dude power chording rock riffs! I just wanted to hear how the guitar sounds without distortion, thanks guys!

[@LizzieAnne]

so cool that she made something actually new and different that isnt just shit she made a whole new classic guitar

[@codeandroad3020]

My wife bought the cherry version of this. One cracking beast. And I get to play it. Since when I’ve replaced my Fender and Gibson’s with EBMM gear. Their Albert Lee guitars have the same neck as the St Vincent with the same oil and wax finish which just feels amazing. I’ve also finished other guitars like this after stripping their original neck finishes. The EBMM quality is top notch and most of their kit is original though not cheap. That said you need to go custom shop with both Fender and Gibson before you get reasonable quality. The only drawback on the St Vincent is, as John says, the neck offset when standing. I have a duff left shoulder. When playing sat on my butt, the neck is no problem. The full rosewood neck and fingerboard is the finest that I have played in over 50 years. What I really want is an Albert Lee fitted with the St Vincent electronics. That would be one hell of a guitar. I have two Albert Lee guitars. One SSS fitted with Suhr Michael Landau and one HH now fitted with Alegree P90s. There’s nothing wrong with the original pickups which will probably be refitted at some point, it’s just that I like to tinker. I also have a Stingray bass and had both the Stingray guitar and Cutlass. Great guitars but sold to pay for the ALs.

[@noi5emaker]

I wonder who reviewed the St Vincent guitar? Let it be John, Let it be John, Let it be John.....YES!!!!!!

[@daverice2426]

Ha, same here, wasn't sure watching the intro until he threw in a couple signature countryfied double stops. Always dig his reviews, and I'm not a country guy by a long shot

[@_o__o_]

Ace Ventura is back

[@HollowRick]

ALRIGHTY THEN..

[@davidkieltyka9]

Great review. Nice to see J.B. dressing neat & trim for the occasion too. IMO this is a *gorgeous* guitar! Sleek lines, angular but contoured where it matters, great fretboard access, that super cool blue finish. Sounds lovely. And it doesn't look like anything else around right now. I get that some folks can't hack this…I encounter 'em all the time in left turn lanes, refusing to move 'til the little green arrow gives 'em permission. Screw that…I turn as soon as conditions allow. So I'm in with the Annie Clark space guitar. It rocks (and so does she)!

[@Yahoomediaclub]

Love Annie's latest guitar design. Awesome sounding with cool pick up arrangements...100% ☠️

[@seanhornibrook]

Super nice. I really like it. Congratulations, Annie!

[@The10000lbGorilla]

How are you gonna review Annie Clark's signature and not even bring a single fuzz box?

[@ryboul]

+The10000lbGorilla how are we gonna review Annie Clark's signature guitar by playing blues licks...

[@potterman83]

+Oldzigz Wrzeczysamej I love Annie's playing and love this model but I wouldn't drop $2,000 on a guitar If i don't know how it sounds in non-st vincent situations.

[@Mumumumykul]

+The10000lbGorilla we all know how it sounds with a fuzz box lol

[@Jwstllc]

I agree. But he's getting killer drive with no pedals which is awesome. I'm sure whatever face digs vintage OD

[@kilgoretrout321]

The10000lbGorilla exactly. he didn't even bother to show off her style! on the other hand, he showed that this guitar is a jack of all trades that is well worth the money for any style of play

[@triplescale]

please Music Man, let this woman design more guitars!

[@the92project]

Looks amazing, sounds amazing. A new classic is born

[@JPTyler]

LOVE the look of this guitar! Pleased to hear the variety of switching options (for playing style variety) & yes....I would play metal on this as well 😉

[@deathbastardable]

Good review, I like this guy.

[@Chandler17447]

Annie isn't the type of person to just be given the opportunity to design something from the ground up and just make "another tele" if you catch my drift

[@Jwstllc]

🐯

[@bobbeckey6941]

Terrance Hill no she did . it was great. the wonderful part is she looks into your eyes the whole time. I think she was 27 a the time.

[@bobbeckey6941]

Terrance Hill why does bill cheat on hillary so much? I take it that you support hillary and yet her husband fucks other women. I wonder if hill gets off on that?

[@bobbeckey6941]

Terrance Hill you brought up trump so I thought you wanted to talk politics. but it is a good point what do you think of bill's constant affairs and why would he do that with a fine lady like hillary at home?

[@bobbeckey6941]

Terrance Hill you seen like a guy that loves his wife's kids. so be kind.

[@WhaleWTFMetal]

You may find it ugly, but hey, at least, it's very different & original.

[@workmill]

Nice playing. That little outro was pretty. The guitar sound smooth and dark.

[@johnbohlinger4868]

+michael miller Thanks Michael.

[@ryanbelaire9722]

+Jose O Well this guitar is almost $2000 so i wouldn't exactly call it a starter guitar... The epiphone would probably be a better value as a starter guitar.

[@johnbohlinger]

+Jose O This guitar is a pro instrument you could use in any application. thanks for the kind words. thanks for watching.

[@Jwstllc]

+john bohlinger yea I want one. How many dudes play these?

[@jaymacdonnell4730]

Only Music Man could get away with such an abstract and unusual design. The tone and quality are going to be there because Ernie Ball is such a reputable company. So the aesthetic compliments the sound rather than simply act as a novelty.

[@malabarista42]

I'm surprised that you didn't mention some of the reasons for the design. From what I've read, the design is so different because Annie needed something that was comfortable for women to play. I know that saying something is "for women" might turn some people off, but my understanding is that she really wanted something that fits a woman's frame better than what was out there.

[@DanRodriguez1]

I wish I could afford that guitar :/

[@Scott-J]

Think about the Sterling version. 600 bones, made in Indonesia. I have a Sterling Ray34 bass and I have no complaints about it. I would have no hesitation buying another Sterling instrument.

[@dirklives1168]

be happy you can't

[@middle_pickup]

Beautiful guitar. Happy to see an original design!

[@AidyJames]

I wasn't sold on the idea until I saw how I looked playing it. I'm definitely getting the all black Sterling model. I'm poor and I'd be terrified of breaking such an expensive guitar if I have an accident on stage. I love it! That, and it kinda looks like my obnoxiously angular head.

[@revolutionday1]

First review I've seen, that shows the wonderful neck on this thing!! I was also unaware that the body had contours on the top, like it appears to have, and thought it was just flat. Now, if they'd just do something with that horrible headstock, they'd have a winner!

[@maxg7871]

+revolutionday1 I agree 100%

[@quasarpuffs]

+revolutionday1 I was never a fan of the Musicman headstock either. Some of the G&L's are like that too.

[@cherrypickerguitars]

+revolutionday1 I've had a thing for the Armada from EB for a while, this is a fairly similar shape, but way cooler switching. And yes, that neck is spectacular! I have a repo rosewood tele as per George Harrison, and LOVE the feel of the neck on it, too! Peace

[@coffeedudeguy]

I agree. I'm usually okay with the regular headstock, but this guitar needs a different shape headstock

[@soyborne.bornmadeandundone1342]

I kind of felt that way at first coffee dude but it grew on me. How can it be THAT bad when fender came up with it in the first place. That's right folks. Music man came from fender. Leo even helped create music man.

[@ScytheSteve]

John kills it with this demos! Good job man

[@theufoexperience3859]

Great design and electronics. It's high time there was a new guitar shape. Always loved post-atomic design. And this guitar has that look. Love to see one in surf green or sea foam blue. That Start setting sounds just like Dire Straights. Out to sound totally Surf-Guitar with a drippy reverb tank.

[@fUP420babe]

i hope they make a sterling version, with the same neck, i would replace the pickups with some lollar gold foil p90 in neck and middle and lollar firebird bridge pickup, that would be rockin

[@polyphony250]

5:54 I was looking at this guitar for my daughter, but I got a strat in the end. I wish somebody had told me about the 5 E's before, that would definitely have tipped me over into the music man camp. I wonder why they don't market the extra cool range of this guitar more aggressively, could be quite a selling point …

[@jaredlowry3547]

Dang it. My guitars only do 3 E’s…

[@BillMellow]

I dig this guitar a lot! Great playing John!

[@lifebreath77]

Late to the party, but I saw this guitar last night in the hands of the guitarist in the Broadway musical Waitress. Thought it was very cool, but couldn’t place it. Thought it might be one of the odd fenders from that epoch. Caught the guitarist on his way out of the stage door and asked him about the model, which led me here. Great review. Just ordered one. 😂

[@wildeman1253]

If Bo Diddley was still here you know he'd be havin one of these.

[@aXisofmusic]

I think the guitar is - just like Annie Clark - oddly beautiful.

[@danielthomas8456]

It's a very 60s looking guitar, very cool I think... Nice opening riff too

[@Scott-J]

Thank you for a demo with clean tones. Everyone else just plugs this thing into a pile of gravel and dumps it onto an amp.

[@thomaskossnar356]

I love the design. I feel like its 1954 or something. Everything about St Vincent is great.

[@bentpolski]

I love the look and sound! Get away from all the traditional shapes! Annie knows her shit! Music Man and Annie perfect together! If I was Music Man I would hire her as a designer! Annie design me a Bass now!

[@cpamiseso]

I love that kind of headstock of every signature musicman, really. Looks classy.

[@TheJamison76]

The all three position would sound great on "celebration day" by led zeppelin

[@calebb.56]

My face is cracked Im smiling...

[@darwinsaye]

Whoa... I was becoming very interested in the guitar until I went and checked the price. I find it odd that Annie, who's main axe was a Harmony Bobkat -- a budget guitar -- would turn around and team up with a company to design a replacement that would cost $2000. If this was inspired by the things she liked about the Bobkat as she has said, I would have thought they would try to design it to be valued similar to a vintage Bobcat, i.e.., $600 to $1000.

[@Kyoz]

I want a seven string with true temperment frets and this st vincent body with an all white finish. As of right now, that is my perfect dream guitar.

[@IAMchannell]

i love the design and the full rosewood neck idea is really genius..

[@marcob6880]

weird the Ernie Ball website says "The original St. Vincent signature guitar design features a lightweight Okoume body, premium roasted maple neck, and a rosewood fretboard. The roasted maple neck is highly figured and is adorned with St. Vincent signature custom inlays. Specially configured electronics package includes 3 Dimarzio mini-humbuckers with 5-way pickup selector for a unique offering of tonal options." it doesn't say anything about a "Mahogany body and or neck" what gives?

[@jazzercaster4749]

I think it looks cool! I could be wrong but I swear I read that St Vincent made the body shape to fit better with the female body shape, so that the body is more comfortable and doesn't get in the way of the breasts? Could be wrong, kinda explains the body shape a bit

[@soappyguitar]

+Jazzer caster She said that was part of the reason for the body style in a few videos about her model. I believe she said she thinks of it as a gender inclusive body style.

[@sheldonmontgomery2879]

Yea that's why the guitar is like that

[@j_freed]

'Since I got a EBMM St Vincent, I decided to get breast implants.'

[@jsphillip60]

jonas brave 😁

[@rickg2967]

She said that, and then clarified that it was a joke. How high do people wear their guitars??

[@hiroprotagonitis]

seriously, say what you will about its looks but you gotta pick one up. such a light and comfy guitar in how it hugs your body yet offers so much freedom. kinda like the albert king (which is fantastic imo!), maybe even where the strat should be heading? ?

[@Mumumumykul]

It feels so weird seeing annie's guitar played like...a normal guitar, i suppose. Glad it's happening though, this things so versatile!

[@ezragonzalez8936]

Just got this guitar with a few dings for $950 a new one was to dear for my wallet great guitar future collectible perhaps. .. great demo as always John!

[@Erebus5620]

Georgia on my mind at 6:24. nice!

[@FedericoStivan]

Love this guitar!

[@gustavoribeiro8427]

I think the wiring is not exactly the same but it´s very close to a Gibson S1 pickup wiring and i think it fits perfect in her style. Good choice!

[@HighArchingCrests]

this guitar looks and sounds awesome. Hopefully I can own one or at least play one someday!

[@thecrazydylus]

people complaining about headstock shape... dude, headstock is the brand identity for guitar company, you can't change it easily...

[@hughsnyder891]

I really like this guitar. Considering getting the cheaper version though I’d like to get the American version.

[@pascuirivas9298]

So awesome to hear you play señor.

[@rugomez8626]

love the shape of this thing! I look forward to seeing basses in this style

[@VintageSG]

The guitar looks like a wonderful hybrid of Bo Diddley Gretsch meets some of Danelectro's madder moments. I think I need one in my life.

[@calvinscheuerman]

that's exactly why i'm getting one.

[@ryandougherty8964]

VintageSG Yesss! You nailed it! That's exactly what it looks like. This thing is sweet (imo)

[@areyoujelton]

I'd play one for the hell of it but I can't fall in love with the shape... the features are cool though. I really like the pickup/switch configuration.

[@tonyvilaysack88]

Would love to own one since I need a smaller, more comfortable guitar. It's so pricey though. Will need to save up or sell some things to get one.

[@RavenRP]

Friggin love it

[@monstahouse]

Could you guys do a comparison of this vs the Sterling model?

[@JacobH93]

It honestly seems kinda cool but it isn't something I'd buy. I can appreciate the uniqueness though. It looks kinda like some obscure vintage guitar that never really became a thing. Sounds cool but not so great balance is disappointing. Never liked firebirds mainly for that reason.

[@Garrett_Hale]

How does it stay in tune so well when the bar is pushed down so much??? Almost like a Floyd rose without the locking nut.

[@oldineamiller9007]

How can the sound be described as straty on the 4th position since there is no such thing on a Stratocaster. We all know there is no "all 3 pickups on position" on a standard Strat. It needs an additional switch, in order to switch on, either the bridge or the neck pickup, at will.

[@jeremydahm2124]

Looking at an original model year example Sunday. Can't wait. Like nothing else out there and totally legit. Clark and Ernie done good!

[@rafsbio]

Arguably worth it, but this guitar is expensive AF.

[@schissgring]

+Rafael Andrade bullshit, it's very cheap just 1,899$ that's almost a gift.

[@yungsavagesleeper3198]

+Rafael Andrade *yawn*. man, the other music man signatures are way more than hers. this and the albert lee are some of the less expensive music man guitars.

[@rafsbio]

+yungsavagesleeper "yawn"?

[@burymeinmarigolds]

schissgring Some people don't have 2K to toss at a guitar dude. An expensive gift.

[@virginiaakin61]

It's not that spendy if you are a"collector" and you earn in the top 19 percent.It's sad that some genius musical and math prodigy had to pay their dues on mass produced wall art.I don't worry because as Jivegurudavy sez"Love will find a way!PAXIMUNDI

[@mjm33mjm]

Vibrato action appears to be a bit limp. The all rosewood neck probably adds 6 bills to the price. I do have to agree that most 'Signature' guitars are just cosmetic tweaks, whereas this seems to be a gutsy unique design.

[@jonathanfarmer5458]

Man! I wanna mod that for metal. I bet it'd be razor sharp highs with hotrails or some emgs. Beautiful!

[@cheztano10]

Love to hear a good guitar player. I love George Krikes playing in King Washington Jam in the Van "Hey Boy".

[@marchristiansen]

Love the way the pickups are wired.So many different sounds.Just like Annie's music.Got to play one and it plays great.Love the look of It.But it looks much better on Annie.

[@keith.loves.lasagna]

Beautiful looking and sounding guitar... Bet it plays just as well

[@nazmoking3171]

Glad he admitted about the neck position. I sold my Firebird because of the odd neck position feel - not for everyone.

[@Yoga_SBM]

Super versatile sound. And long neck.

[@jeebsgold]

The dot markers are not from the sacred geometry of pisces. They are from her logo on her last album- it is in fact the "S" initial of STV.

[@johnbohlinger4868]

SorryJeebs. Sacred geometry had it 1st. Very clever of St. V to incorporate it. Love her work.

[@jeebsgold]

Ok, the "sacred geometry" came first, whatever but that is not where St. Vincent's graphic designers got the intersecting circles. They were stylizing the letterforms of her initials.

[@Woahbro69420]

I like the guitar but not the neck plate I think they should make it smaller or cut it a bit

[@santiago.valori]

Great playing John! You have a fantastic tone in your hands. Do you have a band or music project? Thanks man!

[@TheMasonator777]

Nice design.

[@clement8959]

Great review man! It's really informative. Cheers

[@slimturnpike]

Great sound. John, what pedals did you use for this demo?

[@sanehumanbeing7019]

I bet this would actually be a great blues guitar. I gotta hit a guitar shop and plug one in 'cause I bet blues soloing on the neck pickup sounds badass.

[@LeftyF2003]

I love it, but I'd like it even more if the headstock were painted to match the body.

[@clarkbanes6958]

Watching Demos of this guitar and I'm totally ready. My wallet isn't though. What an awesome, unique, original and versatile guitar. St Vincent is cool and all but I'm not a big fan. But her tastes and style are hard to beat there's no doubt about that

[@albertorubatti]

I love your country attitude John! You're an amazing player!

[@tungtobak]

Too expensive for me but I like the weird shape and special 5-way pickup selector. Wish it came in white. Like the black one but inverted body/pickguard.

[@Mr316niles]

looks cool, plays cool , love the tones from it as well.

[@pitchpipeproductions6937]

I initially hated the look of it. But then I played one, and it kind of grew on me.

[@JIMJAMSC]

I collect oddball guitars and this appeals to me. Never heard of her but they could have at least changed the headstock. $1200-$1500 highend. 17 -19 hundred pass.

[@dylanseager7559]

Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t David Gilmore have a similar pickup configuration?

[@sandysinner6901]

Someday I will buy one!!

[@Adipsia1]

Lovely guitar and great playing John.

[@VEGAN-X]

NEIL YOUNG RULES!

[@jharsch3453]

This is a damn fine guitar, but that headstock is a little out of place. I really love the neck as a whole, but it seems like it'd be better suited with a different guitar

[@groovyhippie1165]

Great playin man! Very cool guitar.

[@jakobdobrinth8939]

Gorgeous and amazing guitar!

[@russellmedeiros3261]

Sounds great! I dig the body and the options, but the headstock really blows it for me. Maybe if it was painted the same. Weird thing is, up until I heard about this guitar coming out I had no idea who she or her band were.

[@TheHuester44]

Very cool guitar. I’d like to get one .

[@cgavin1]

Wow gnarly opening riffs man. I like!