EBMM Petrucci tuning question

[Platypus]

Hello, new here.

Looking into picking up a JP6 but I had some questions before I get serious about getting one.

The biggest one being tuning.. how well does this guitar handle low tunings like C# standard or drop C or drop B for that matter? I would most likely go with 11s in that case. I have a Schecter C7 hellraiser with a 26.5 scale and it handles these tunings fine even with 10s however the JP is a 25.5 so I'm worried about intonation/tuning issues with it. If anyone has experience with it I'd appreciate it.

On that note, would the JP7 be a better fit? I rarely use the 'B' and it has the same radius as the 6 so I'm not sure it would handle better.

Lastly, how are the stock pickups? I have heard mixed things about them.

Thanks for reading.

 

[phatduckk]

this video with JP can help with both your questions.

[ame="http://youtube.com/watch?v=6dONN8bt3AE"]YouTube - Ernie Ball - John Petrucci's favorite guitar strings.[/ame]

here you can hear him playing one of his axes tuned down to C using a set of Ernie Ball Not Even Slinkys.

as far as pickups go.. thats subjective. Obviously JP likes em as do many others... howver they may not be everyone's cup of tea. Personally i like em

 

[Platypus]

this video with JP can help with both your questions.

YouTube - Ernie Ball - John Petrucci's favorite guitar strings.

here you can hear him playing one of his axes tuned down to C using a set of Ernie Ball Not Even Slinkys.

as far as pickups go.. thats subjective. Obviously JP likes em as do many others... howver they may not be everyone's cup of tea. Personally i like em

Thank you for the clip, it was very helpful to define a phenomenon I had noticed myself with another guitar and didn't realize it was due to string gauge.

My biggest issue is that I would like to string it for a nice middle ground.. so I can be in standard tuning and have it sound good but also detune without having to restring. Unfortunately unlike JP I cannot have multiple guitars

Is there a common ground where it would sound good in both situations? I was thinking 11s might be a good compromise as I usually use 10s on my guitars.

 

[JohnnyD19]

The JP has a floating trem so changing tunings when ever you feel will be a pain. you would need to have it set up to play in that tuning.

 

[phatduckk]

The JP has a floating trem so changing tunings when ever you feel will be a pain. you would need to have it set up to play in that tuning.

thats also my guess but im no setup pro by any means. hopefully more knowledgable folks will cruise by. but ya, with a floating bridge i can see changing guages being a task that will require a setup

 

[JohnnyD19]

yeah i bought a book that really helped with learning how to set up a guitar and stuff like that.

Buy Hal Leonard Guitar Player Repair Guide Book online at Musician's Friend
I recommend that everyone gets this book.

 

[the24thfret]

thats also my guess but im no setup pro by any means. hopefully more knowledgable folks will cruise by. but ya, with a floating bridge i can see changing guages being a task that will require a setup

He's right, changing strings requires a full setup, but setup isn't that difficult. It's time consuming more than anything. I actually enjoy setting guitars up. It's a lot of meticulous little work that can make a big difference.

That being said, it would be a major pain in the ass to try to go from a C tuning with 11s or 12s to a standard tuning with 10s or 9s. I'd just buy another axe for that.

 

[Platypus]

Thank you all for your helpful replies, I appreciate it.

I think I will just keep my 7 string and slap some 12s on it for my low stuff and get the JP and keep it in standard. I really have no use for a trem in such low tunings anyway.

As I've always had fixed bridge guitars, is there a learning curve as far as proper tuning is concerned? Example, if I want to say go to drop D on the JP, is that possible without a lot of hoopla? Furthermore if I wish to tune all strings down 1/2 step.

 

[phatduckk]

Thank you all for your helpful replies, I appreciate it.

I think I will just keep my 7 string and slap some 12s on it for my low stuff and get the JP and keep it in standard. I really have no use for a trem in such low tunings anyway.

As I've always had fixed bridge guitars, is there a learning curve as far as proper tuning is concerned? Example, if I want to say go to drop D on the JP, is that possible without a lot of hoopla? Furthermore if I wish to tune all strings down 1/2 step.

drop D should be fine IMO.

but going from E tuning to Eb might release enough tension where the floating bridge will "dip" but im not sure.

in general since t5he trem is floating its the strings' tension that keeps it where it is (aka, the right place). changes in tension could/should/will effect that. how much of a change it will take i dunno

 

[acwild]

For downtuning with a floater, you could install one of these.
http://www.tremol-no.com/