Ernie Ball Music Man JP6 Restoration Project!

**Morbid** · 03-17-2010, 10:29 AM

Haven't had the opportunity to drop the guitar off for a setup just yet. The local luthier is a pretty busy guy, and once I drop the guitar off, I won't see it for at least 2 weeks. So for now I've just been playing what I can.

Regardless of needing a setup, the guitar plays great. The action is a little higher than I wish it was, but that's to prevent further buzzing. The 5th fret buzzes on all strings, and cancels out the note on some of the strings. I'm assuming that means the neck needs more relief. The other buzzes aren't too bad. I'm also having some tuning stability problems, but again, I think a setup will fix that. The guitar has a great sound though. And even unplugged, it's loud! Sounds like a thin acoustic, haha.

It's my intention to get some better photos when the DiMarzio straps come in. Been meaning to take pictures of all the guitars, so we'll see how it goes.

**petruccirocks02** · 03-17-2010, 10:42 AM

Morbid, how is the piezo working out?

-Phil

**Spudmurphy** · 03-18-2010, 05:31 AM

Originally Posted by Morbid

playing what I can.

Regardless of needing a setup, the guitar plays great. The action is a little higher than I wish it was, but that's to prevent further buzzing. The 5th fret buzzes on all strings, and cancels out the note on some of the strings. I'm assuming that means the neck needs more relief.

It won't hurt Morbid, just to slacken the truss rod and see if that improves matters?

**Morbid** · 03-23-2010, 10:16 PM

Piezo sounds great! Sadly, I don't have an acoustic amp to run it out to, so it's been going through my Mark IV, effects and all, but I love the blend between the piezo and the magnetic pickups. I knew I would!

I've still yet to A/B the Petrucci with another guitar to test the noise difference...to be quite frank, when I pulled out the JP6 I feel like playing, not experimenting, lol. I'm still having the issue with the bleeding volume with the volume knobs off. Haven't figured that one out yet...really haven't tried. Again, too busy playing

Spud, I released the truss rod a bit. It did help. I didn't do it too much, because I'm still going to get the guitar set up (probably, unless I feel ballsy), because it's just that one fret giving me issues. It inspired me to go out and search for some single Allen Wrenches instead of a multi-tooled version. Finally found some! I'll buy a bunch more for back ups, haha.

Anyway, that's about all the update i have, aside from how nice it is to play the guitar standing up with the strap. Good times. But I'm babbling now...time to do something constructive!

**Morbid** · 10-21-2010, 12:23 AM

It lives!

The thread that is...lol. Post #500 for this biggy of a thread! I'm so proud, haha.

How's it goin folks? Figured I'd update this thread a little bit with my recent dilemma.

I never did fix the strange noise/bleeding issue with the guitar, but it looks like I'll get my opportunity now. While brushing up on my neglected guitar playing today, everything was going GREAT...until the guitar stopped making noise. Actually, it makes a LITTLE noise...not much, and only on the high gain channel. I'd been noticing that my pickup switch would randomly cut out to where the guitar was barely audible, even at high volumes, but a slight nudge would normally fix it. With that, I'm assuming my switch finally bit the dust and is no more.

I've searched through the guitar and all of the wires are still connected nice and tight, so at least that narrows it down a little bit.

At any rate, I reckon I'll be calling Ernie Ball as soon as I wake up tomorrow to order a new switch. Bummer, I was hoping I was done spending money this week! lol- when the new switch arrives I'll go out and buy some new wire to rewire the guitar while it's all apart.

Ya know, I never did figure out where that 'ground' by the selector switch goes??

**e.mate** · 10-21-2010, 12:32 AM

Hey, the mighty Morbid is back

Mmmhh, that really sounds like that switch hit the eternal hunting grounds

Too bad....

**Spudmurphy** · 10-21-2010, 04:20 AM

3rd Highest most viewed thread in the guitar section !!!

**Jack FFR1846** · 10-21-2010, 05:23 AM

Sounds great. I always love finding what actually caused a problem. Both you and I have figured out how much it really costs to restore a guitar. With what I've spent on my sub 1 (putting it back together with it's second finish and more mods), I could have just bought that Axis Sport I saw a few months ago......

**ScoobySteve** · 10-21-2010, 05:39 AM

I can't believe this thread started around the time I started hanging around here. <3 this thread!

**Morbid** · 10-21-2010, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by e.mate

Hey, the mighty Morbid is back

Mmmhh, that really sounds like that switch hit the eternal hunting grounds

Too bad....

Good to see you too sir! I looked at that writeup you did for my restoration again. Still makes me feel warm and fuzzy

Originally Posted by Spudmurphy

3rd Highest most viewed thread in the guitar section !!!

Only because I'm a procrastinator and it took me a year to finish this guitar, haha. How's the revamped Krylon Dream, crap, I mean Mystic Dream treating ya?

Originally Posted by Jack FFR1846

Sounds great. I always love finding what actually caused a problem. Both you and I have figured out how much it really costs to restore a guitar. With what I've spent on my sub 1 (putting it back together with it's second finish and more mods), I could have just bought that Axis Sport I saw a few months ago......

I like finding what caused a problem, but not searching for it, haha. At least not in tight spaces like Electronic Cavities and such.

The cost thing had definitely come to mind with this restoration project. At the end of it all the whole thing cost me about $900, almost what I could have gotten a normal one for on ebay after looking for the right deal. The project was originally supposed to be a way that I could get a beloved JP6 for cheap! haha.
The other side of that is though, I still saved some money, and even though it's not perfect like one from the shop would be, I still now have hours of experience in a guitar restoration and a custom job I can truly call my own. The hours of experience is worth a pretty large chunk of change all on it's own, so I'm not complainin

Originally Posted by ScoobySteve

I can't believe this thread started around the time I started hanging around here. <3 this thread!

Haha, it's almost disappointing how long it took me to do this guitar! But now I'm back again for at least some short and quick updating.

So here's the update...I just got off the phone with Ernie Ball to place an order for a new switch...$25.00 + $7.50 shipping.

Anyone got a spare layin around?

I guess that must be a fair price, but geez. I hate to spend $32 on something I already have, just cuz mine broke. And it's so tiny!! lol

So I'm gonna take some time to think on that before placing the order...Anyone have any suggestions?

**Morbid** · 10-22-2010, 05:02 PM

Went ahead and bit the bullet to order the switch. I'll let ya guys know when it arrives and how all the rewiring goes!

**Sticky1973** · 10-23-2010, 03:49 AM

Originally Posted by Morbid

Went ahead and bit the bullet to order the switch.

Good man.

After all that hard work, it's the way forward.

**Spudmurphy** · 10-23-2010, 04:16 AM

Originally Posted by Morbid

Only because I'm a procrastinator and it took me a year to finish this guitar, haha. How's the revamped Krylon Dream, crap, I mean Mystic Dream treating ya?

It's all ok - I have a small problem with the wire that goes to the PCB of the Piezo. I've repaired it once but the same problem has re occurred - I know how to fix it and will do it on the next string change.

Originally Posted by Morbid

Anyone got a spare layin around?

Yeah, but it's the broke one I took out of mine.

Price seems ok for the switch though and glad you ordered it.