Convinced

**SteveB** · 09-05-2004, 08:47 PM

I have been considering a John Petrucci model Music Man, and I read a lot on this and other forums. The neck joint crack was a concern, but I called the factory and spoke to "Dan" and after speaking to him, I felt a lot better.

He told me that they make the JP guitars a little thicker near the neck joint, and that they had resolved some issues with the case manufacturer. He also told me that the problem was never as widespread as one might think from reading these forums.

So, I took the plunge and ordered a JP 6-string model with all the options, in Pearl Redburst, and now I just have to endure the wait of a few months!

If anyone at the factory is reading this, keep your eyes open for my guitar order(which was ordered through Pianos 'n Stuff in Blawnox [Pittsburgh], PA) and make her very special!

**Jimi D** · 09-05-2004, 08:57 PM

Welcome to the club SteveB!

Feel free to stop by and whinge any time you're getting antsy about receiving your newly ordered Pet - you'll find lots of people to commiserate with you (and more than a few that will tell you how much they loved their new EBMM guitars once they finally arrived - which may not help much, come to think of it!) Anyway, the Petrucci's a sweet instrument, and I'm sure the thrill of being the first person to lift it from the box fresh from the factory floor will more than make up for the wait!

**jongitarz** · 09-05-2004, 08:58 PM

Welcome!

**OrangeChannel** · 09-05-2004, 09:49 PM

Hola Steve! PRB is a good one.

**koogie2k** · 09-06-2004, 06:14 AM

Welcome to the addiction! I happen to own a couple of JP's myself and have experienced none to the problems mentioned. An awesome axe and you will be very happy you ordered one.....in fact, OC and myself own that same color and it is awesome....BTW, pics are expected upon arrival!

**CudBucket** · 09-06-2004, 07:42 AM

PRB is still my fave color for the Pet. That's why I got one. Dan was also the guy I bugged about my special order Pet and he reassured me that I'd not have to worry about stress cracks and he was right. Then of course, everyone know Jongitarz sealed my neck and leveled my frets. Really a great sounding and playing guitar.

**Bassplyr** · 09-06-2004, 09:26 AM

Welcome to the forums. I'm sure once you receive your new Pet. , we won't hear from you again in a long time. You'll really dig it, I'm sure.

**SteveB** · 09-07-2004, 07:05 AM

Thanks to all the enthusiastic members of this forum.

I've been playing for over 20 years now, but I've never treated myself to a really nice guitar. I quickly narrowed it down to an Ibanez JEM or a Music Man JP model.

Obviously, I wanted to try a Petrucci model before buying one. None of the local EBMM dealers had a JP in stock, so I had to drive to another town to try one.

The Ibanez JEM felt like 'home' to me because I have two Ibanez electrics already, which are my main axes. The Music Man guitar, even though it lacked the feel that I was used to, was somehow more compelling. It just felt really solid, and the combination of the low action and the severe angled cut where your right arm rests (if you're right handed) really let me get 'close' to the guitar. I kept flicking the magnetic pickup toggle with my picking hand, but I'm sure I can learn to avoid it. I suspect that having the toggle so close to my picking hand might actually prove beneficial once I adjust to the instrument.

I will post pics when she arrives. I can't wait to try out that Piezo! I'm busy planning how I can incorporate that into my rig. I wonder if anyone will come out with a stereo wireless guitar system that could handle a guitar with outputs like a JP with Piezo?

**kbaim** · 09-07-2004, 07:30 AM

If you haven't already, pick up petrucci's duet cd with jordan rudess.

He flips between piezo and distortion all cd long. My favorite playing I've heard him do (including DT and Liquid Tension Exp.)

**SteveB** · 09-07-2004, 08:30 AM

I have been intending to get that Petrucci/Rudess CD.

Funny thing.. I have Vinnie Moore's first two albums on vinyl as well as CD. In fact, my "Mind's Eye" album cover is autographed by Vinnie. I was looking at the "Time Odyssey" album, and they misspelled Jordan's last name.. he is listed as "Jordan Rudes"... at least on my vinyl album cover! I'll have to look at the CD to see if they ever fixed it.

As for the Piezo, I understand that most recommendations are that the Piezo output be routed to a second, 'clean' amp.

Right now for live performance, I play a really simple setup. I plug into a Digitech RP2000 modeling pedalboard and route that directly into a rackmount Peavey Classic 120/120 power amp, then into a stereo 4x12 cab.

Now that old Peavey amp (120w per channel) has 2 inputs per channel. I'm thinking of using the stereo jack on the guitar and running the magnetic PUP output through the pedalboard and then the Piezo output directly into the power amp.

This ought to allow me to layer both outputs simultaneously for interesting effect. I really don't want to take along another amp just for the Piezo output. But I suppose this is all conjecture until I have the axe here for experimentation!

Anyone out there with a Piezo and some wild ideas?

**kbaim** · 09-07-2004, 09:08 AM

You could also run the piezo direct to the house PA and let the sound guy do some eq'ing.

I just dropped one fitty on a fishman pro eq platinum. It's a preamp/eq/direct box (1/2 the size of a crybaby) that has compression and a couple of other goodies to squelch feedback. Haven't tried it yet with a PA but expect very good results. It sounded great in front of an acoustic amp.

**koogie2k** · 09-07-2004, 08:01 PM

Thanks to Keith, I have that JP/Jordan Cd.....can't stop listening to it....AWESOME!!!

**SteveB** · 09-08-2004, 06:33 AM

That little Fishman device sounds cool, kbaim! One fitty, eh? I'll have to keep that in mind.

Man, I'm dying to try the Piezo on my own gear! I have one song in particular that I recorded with some acoustic guitars on the intro, but when I play it nowadays I end up using my electrics. It sure would be sweet to produce even a passable acoustic sound from an electric guitar for that song.

I can tell that this wait is going to be difficult!

But I'm all for a quality job, so I'll be patient!