Music Man Dan
Well-known member
I was bored, so I thought it might be fun to see what everyone's favourite version of the JP6 is, whether it be the Standard, BFR, JPX, JPXI, JPXII or JPXIII, and why you like it best. Thanks! I hope this is fun!
- Thread starter Music Man Dan
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pmercado
Well-known member
JP6 BFR Koa top Great tone
Warg Master
Well-known member
no poll, but I'd say the standard! 
Raw neck, basswod body, beutiful figure on some necks... I bond with it more than any other jp!
Raw neck, basswod body, beutiful figure on some necks... I bond with it more than any other jp!
Norrin Radd
Well-known member
no poll, but I'd say the standard!
Raw neck, basswod body, beutiful figure on some necks... I bond with it more than any other jp!
Ditto! For all the same reasons. Plus I much prefer the body shape and neck sizes (radius, carve, etc....).
Good choice!
And I still want this one!
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Music Man Dan
Well-known member
Sorry, it's there now.
Sweat
Well-known member
Do not get along with the JP neck but have played and owned a few the standard is the best for me
Metalcat
Well-known member
There's a lot of love for the standard here...I'm in good company!
TheShreddinHand
Well-known member
JPX! Big frets are big!
Warg Master
Well-known member
Ditto! For all the same reasons. Plus I much prefer the body shape and neck sizes (radius, carve, etc....).
Good choice!
And I still want this one!
Me too!!
Benji Peterson
Well-known member
They're all just so friggin' sweet. I love all of mine and couldn't imagine giving any one of them up.
Music Man Dan
Well-known member
I see that there's a lot of love for the standard version, and that's what gets my vote, as it's the only one that doesn't leave me with thoughts of "I wish it had" or "Instead, it should", etc.
I can definitely say that my least favourite of the bunch is the JPX, for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, I don't like chambered-bodied guitars. I figure they should either be totally solid, thinline semi-hollow bodied, or full-depth hollow body...chambering an otherwise solid body seems weird to me. Secondly, the 5-position lever pickup selector switch doesn't suit the JP series, as every one of John's guitars have always used the 3-position toggle switch, even the Silhouette Bass Guitars that he's used. Third, the black hardware just doesn't look nearly as nice to me as the chrome hardware. Fourth, I've never seen any evidence of John Petrucci himself employing this particular model, whether it be in a live video, instructional video, nor do I know if he's ever actually used it on any studio recordings. Finally, the pairing of the alder body and the ebony fingerboard, both of which woods possess a high resonant frequency, seem like they would combine to produce an incredibly bright guitar tone.
As for the JPXI, the aforementioned undesirable (to me) pairing of alder and ebony is present on this model, that, and, the only body colour option of onyx (plain in my eyes) is limiting.
As for the JPXIII, I like the woods and hardware being used, however, the active on-board preamp seems scary, however, as John Petrucci has been using this model on the upcoming Dream Theater album, upon hearing the tone of these new pickups and the booster circuit, I might change my opinion. Like the Onyx finish of the JPXI, the silver finish is a little plain to me.
The BFR model is sweet for obvious reasons, however, out of all the non-standard models, my favourite would be the JPXII, as I enjoy the pairing of the basswood body and the ebony fingerboard, and the 20" fingerboard radius. The Cherry Sugar finish is nice online, but in person, it's heavenly.
One strike against all of the non-standard models (in my eyes) is the lack of options for the features. For example, I'd love to get a JPXII, but without the piezo bridge and with standard dot inlays.
Now, don't get me wrong, all of the Music Man models are top-notch, and I didn't write any of this to put any of these models down by any means, these are just my opinions. No matter what, the entire EBMM JP lineup is indisputably recognizable as a group of well-made, easy to play, great sounding fine instruments, and I'm sure there's something for everyone (although I wish they would allow customization of the feature appointments on the BFR, JPX, JPXI, JPXII and JPXIII models!)
I can definitely say that my least favourite of the bunch is the JPX, for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, I don't like chambered-bodied guitars. I figure they should either be totally solid, thinline semi-hollow bodied, or full-depth hollow body...chambering an otherwise solid body seems weird to me. Secondly, the 5-position lever pickup selector switch doesn't suit the JP series, as every one of John's guitars have always used the 3-position toggle switch, even the Silhouette Bass Guitars that he's used. Third, the black hardware just doesn't look nearly as nice to me as the chrome hardware. Fourth, I've never seen any evidence of John Petrucci himself employing this particular model, whether it be in a live video, instructional video, nor do I know if he's ever actually used it on any studio recordings. Finally, the pairing of the alder body and the ebony fingerboard, both of which woods possess a high resonant frequency, seem like they would combine to produce an incredibly bright guitar tone.
As for the JPXI, the aforementioned undesirable (to me) pairing of alder and ebony is present on this model, that, and, the only body colour option of onyx (plain in my eyes) is limiting.
As for the JPXIII, I like the woods and hardware being used, however, the active on-board preamp seems scary, however, as John Petrucci has been using this model on the upcoming Dream Theater album, upon hearing the tone of these new pickups and the booster circuit, I might change my opinion. Like the Onyx finish of the JPXI, the silver finish is a little plain to me.
The BFR model is sweet for obvious reasons, however, out of all the non-standard models, my favourite would be the JPXII, as I enjoy the pairing of the basswood body and the ebony fingerboard, and the 20" fingerboard radius. The Cherry Sugar finish is nice online, but in person, it's heavenly.
One strike against all of the non-standard models (in my eyes) is the lack of options for the features. For example, I'd love to get a JPXII, but without the piezo bridge and with standard dot inlays.
Now, don't get me wrong, all of the Music Man models are top-notch, and I didn't write any of this to put any of these models down by any means, these are just my opinions. No matter what, the entire EBMM JP lineup is indisputably recognizable as a group of well-made, easy to play, great sounding fine instruments, and I'm sure there's something for everyone (although I wish they would allow customization of the feature appointments on the BFR, JPX, JPXI, JPXII and JPXIII models!)
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joe web
Well-known member
i prefer the standard as well, due to the smaller body size and the unfinished neck.
but the best standard is one with ebony fretboard on it, like the Dargie II and my PRB EU-Limited.
the ebony gives this beast a bit faster attack and more top-end, what i really like.
the bfr version is nice as well, with a more les paul like sound and nice maple tops on it....the jpx has the ebony board again - same advantage as written above, but with the bfr woods and sound.
to sum it up, they are all great, but the standard is more my cup of tea.
but the best standard is one with ebony fretboard on it, like the Dargie II and my PRB EU-Limited.
the ebony gives this beast a bit faster attack and more top-end, what i really like.
the bfr version is nice as well, with a more les paul like sound and nice maple tops on it....the jpx has the ebony board again - same advantage as written above, but with the bfr woods and sound.
to sum it up, they are all great, but the standard is more my cup of tea.
TheShreddinHand
Well-known member
It can be seen in the drummer audition videos during A Nightmare To Remember and some of the jam spots. And he used it on the DT/Maiden tour.
Music Man Dan
Well-known member
You're absolutely right (about the use of it in the Dream Theater drummer audition video). As for Dream Theater's tour with Iron Maiden, that's been the only time I didn't see them when they came to Toronto since I first saw them on their "World Tourbulence" tour. Sadly, I missed my last opportunity to see them live with Mike Portnoy (even though I like Mangini at least as much).
Hendog
Well-known member
I do love the standard JP. I have owned 3 and I just love everything about them.
To be fair, I have not played the JPXII or JPXIII.
To be fair, I have not played the JPXII or JPXIII.
