• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

Bill S

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2020
Messages
102
Location
Alicante, Spain
Hi all

I am looking for my first EBMM John Petrucci model. I am looking at a Silver Sparkle JP6, and I see from the serial number it is a 2001 model. It certainly looks in good condition although it is getting on for 20 years old. I would be buying this blind as the seller is in the UK and I am in Spain.

Music Man USA John Petrucci JP6 RARE Silver Sparkle Dream | Reverb

As a newbie to EBMM, what should I be asking? What do you guys think from what you see here? I did fancy a piezo but I probably would not use it much so not a deal breaker. What would the pickups be assuming they are the originals and what are they like?

Many thanks!
 

GWDavis28

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 23, 2003
Messages
12,490
Location
Mass
So you want to look for stress cracks in the paint around the neck pocket. The knobs are not the original but they can be replaced. To me it's a bit pricey, but silver sparkle is a great color in person. It's got a great looking neck!! I'd ask about pimples or dings in the paint.

Good luck, Glenn |B)
 

Bill S

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2020
Messages
102
Location
Alicante, Spain
So you want to look for stress cracks in the paint around the neck pocket. The knobs are not the original but they can be replaced. To me it's a bit pricey, but silver sparkle is a great color in person. It's got a great looking neck!! I'd ask about pimples or dings in the paint.

Good luck, Glenn |B)

Thank you Glenn, that is most helpful.

Bill
 

Razzle

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 18, 2012
Messages
851
Location
Alabama
So you want to look for stress cracks in the paint around the neck pocket. The knobs are not the original but they can be replaced. To me it's a bit pricey, but silver sparkle is a great color in person. It's got a great looking neck!! I'd ask about pimples or dings in the paint.

Good luck, Glenn |B)

But that's cosmetic only? Or does it suggest something else with the neck pocket?
 

GWDavis28

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 23, 2003
Messages
12,490
Location
Mass
But that's cosmetic only? Or does it suggest something else with the neck pocket?

Usually it's only cosmetic as long as you aren't seeing wood. From the pictures if it does has it, it's only cosmetic and nothing structural. But you might get some $$ off.

Glenn |B)
 
Last edited:

Bill S

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2020
Messages
102
Location
Alicante, Spain
Thanks again, I am also considering this one:

Music Man John Petrucci JP6 Piezo (2008) True Gold | Frets | Reverb

Obviously this has a piezo. Not as many photos and I can’t see the serial number. I have asked if all the strings are sounding with just the piezo engaged as I came across one recently where they were not.

Again, anything I should ask about this one in particular, and aside from aesthetics, which one would you choose and why?! 😀
 

GWDavis28

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 23, 2003
Messages
12,490
Location
Mass
The serial number looks like G43899.

For those that have the piezo, it's a must.

Glenn |B)
 

cbc83

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 17, 2017
Messages
59
Thanks again, I am also considering this one:

Music Man John Petrucci JP6 Piezo (2008) True Gold | Frets | Reverb

Obviously this has a piezo. Not as many photos and I can’t see the serial number. I have asked if all the strings are sounding with just the piezo engaged as I came across one recently where they were not.

Again, anything I should ask about this one in particular, and aside from aesthetics, which one would you choose and why?! 😀

Both look sexy as hell, but of the two, I'd go for the gold. The piezo is such an amazing tool.

However, both seem a bit on the pricy side. I've seen newer JP6's without piezo go for less than 1400 euro. I just bought a 2012 JPXI in great condition for 1700 euros off a local guy (cheaper than the two you're looking at), so I think patience is key.

Keep an eye on sites like the German eBay as well - many are willing to ship to other European countries, and there are occasional bargains to be had.

So I'd recommend patience - and say that you'll be hard pressed to go back after playing a JP model!
 

Sweat

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 31, 2006
Messages
7,033
Location
Texas Finally!
The first is overpriced, no peizo, non matching head stock, non original knobs, no JP shields, maybe worth 600-900 less, the other is nicer
 

Razzle

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 18, 2012
Messages
851
Location
Alabama
Thanks again, I am also considering this one:

Music Man John Petrucci JP6 Piezo (2008) True Gold | Frets | Reverb

Obviously this has a piezo. Not as many photos and I can’t see the serial number. I have asked if all the strings are sounding with just the piezo engaged as I came across one recently where they were not.

Again, anything I should ask about this one in particular, and aside from aesthetics, which one would you choose and why?! 😀

I looked for a True Gold JP6 forever and never found one, they're very rare IMO. I ended up finding a True Gold Luke but ended up selling it (because of the neck really) and loved the True Gold. I ended up settling on a Medallion Gold JP6 (which was also harder to find but nowhere near as hard) which I love the color on, and my comparison the True Gold is a bit warm and orange-y.

That True Gold one seems to be a good deal, good fr hard to find, GREAT would be like 18.

Ya know all my JP6's have piezos but honestly, I never use it. Great for resale value, most want them.

buy Buy BUY
 

Bill S

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2020
Messages
102
Location
Alicante, Spain
I have bought the gold one, and negotiated a decent discount to the asking price. Should be with me next week, and I will report back.

Thank you for all your input.
 

GWDavis28

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 23, 2003
Messages
12,490
Location
Mass
I have bought the gold one, and negotiated a decent discount to the asking price. Should be with me next week, and I will report back.

Thank you for all your input.

Nice congrats, Desert Gold is a great color.

Glenn |B)
 

SilosRock

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 20, 2019
Messages
107
Location
Maryland
Awesome! Congrats! Post pics when she comes in the door:)

The silver sparkle was priced way too high and really dislike when the seller has to advertise its the cheapest on the net, when clearly they've sold for a helluva lot less in recent times. smh. Anyways, looks like ya got a good one!!!

Welcome to the fam! You'll find great people here who are very knowledgeable. Glenn,Dr.Kev,Norm... to drop a few names:) I'm a Morse fanatic and "Name Dropping" is one of my fav tunes!!!
 
Last edited:

Bill S

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2020
Messages
102
Location
Alicante, Spain
Thanks guys, I am super excited to be joining the EBMM family! I met John Petrucci in Madrid in January doing the meet and greet. He was super lovely and humble. I took my Strat, and he signed it for me...even though he joked to the couple of guys who had Music Mans that we should burn it!
 

cbc83

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 17, 2017
Messages
59
Welcome to the family! It'll spoil you for other guitars, believe me.
 

SilosRock

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 20, 2019
Messages
107
Location
Maryland
Thanks guys, I am super excited to be joining the EBMM family! I met John Petrucci in Madrid in January doing the meet and greet. He was super lovely and humble. I took my Strat, and he signed it for me...even though he joked to the couple of guys who had Music Mans that we should burn it!

JP is a helluva nice dude. Got to meet him when visiting a friend at Berklee back in the early 2000s... came back to the room and chilled for quite a while.

The Strat story is hilarious... I'm sure John has a few in his collection:)
 
Last edited:

Bill S

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2020
Messages
102
Location
Alicante, Spain
Hi all

I took delivery of my JP6 this afternoon. True Gold, 2008 piezo model - here it is hanging on my studio wall:


KTOMWOY.jpg
[/IMG]

To say I am thrilled is an understatement - I bought the guitar "blind" from a store in the UK, and had it shipped out here to Spain. Took three working days, and here it is. The guitar is in mint condition - in fact I would say it looks like it has just rolled off a production line - like brand new. The neck is gorgeous. The pickups are amazing - sustains forever! The sheer quality of this guitar blows me away.

There's no going back now - have a feeling this won't be my last EBMM guitar!!

Thanks to everyone who helped me further up the thread, much appreciated.
 

GWDavis28

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 23, 2003
Messages
12,490
Location
Mass
Nice man, congrats!!! Looks awesome, it could have been a NOS (New Old Stock) situation, since you got it from a store.

Enjoy, Glenn |B)
 

cbc83

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 17, 2017
Messages
59
Congrats, it's a beauty! Nothing beats the build quality, and JP designed a kickass, versatile guitar. Sold off my Parker Fly Deluxe today to fund my JPXI - I suspect I'll be playing JP models from now on...
 
Top Bottom