Question Brainstorm to make my JP feel better/ Let's get me a new Musicman!

[Charles]

Ok guys, I LOVE my BFR JP. It's the greatest guitar ever, but I need some help.

I'm pretty sure I need to up a string gauge and adjust the guitar accordingly, but at the moment the strings feel floppy in standard tuning. When I pick I feel like the strings are flopping around and when I look down on a bend I find I've unwittingly bent the string about a step sharp
Should I just up a string gauge?

Also, I want a guitar to compliment my JP. It's wicked awesome but when I'm doing cover tunes I need more variety in tone..suggestions?

 

[ScoobySteve]

Well, are you using the standard 10's (they're the JP standard now) or 9's? Or maybe even 8's.....

If you've handled, intonated and set up guitars before and have confidence in doing so, then yes, upping a gauge is probably a good idea.

As for another EBMM, you've got a JP and a Luke, I'd say to get the broad spectrum to look into playing a 25th.

If not, I'd say ASS with MM90's.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Try going up a guage - but you will prolly have to adjust the trem as there will be greater tension on the strings which will pull the trem forward, away from the body slightly.

My suggestion on another guitar would be to get a single coil. Maybe a Silo or an MM90 equipped axe like an AL? These will give you all the tone you want to cover "covers".

 

[Headstock]

Also, I want a guitar to compliment my JP. It's wicked awesome but when I'm doing cover tunes I need more variety in tone..suggestions?

For variety - I recommend a Axis Super Sport. For variety with extra credit/doublemint gum/double shot o espresso I recommend the 25th Anny.

EDIT - Spud's MM90 AL recommendation would "do the job" as well!

 

[BobMac]

Silo Special with piezo???

Who owns that red one i saw here lately??

Its a beaut.

Insert Pic here!

 

[mb99zz]

Lots of good suggestions here thus far (Silhoutte, Silhouette Special, AL, Luke...). My only comment would be to consider what you want. Do you want something that is very different from the JP (like a SIlhouette Special, AL, Luke) or do you want something that offers different tones but could be a backup to your JP if needed? In that case, you may want an Axis Super Sport or a Silhouette.

I previously owned an ASS and got the Silhouette Special because I wanted the single coil tones. I love how different the SS is from my the ASS and my 20th, but I consider it to be a very different beast. I don't think my 20th or my SS can come close to reproducing the sounds of the other. I'm fine with that, but if I were a gigging musician I may want more overlap in sounds for a backup when playing live. Just a thought.

I tried the Silhoutte and liked it quite a bit, but I figured if I wanted something with single coil tones then I may has well get a genuine S-S-S cinfig. I love how different it is from my 20th and from the ASS I once owned. Having said that, it can not match the crunch of the 20th or ASS.

 

[Pablo]

My pick would be the Silhouette with a maple fretboard. It's clearer and snappier than the JP and is decidedly versatile. Still: nothing beats the Morse for versatility!

Cheers

Eske

 

[JP7Nomad]

If you don't have a specific preference for going up in gauge (Preferring 10's over 9's, 11's over 10's, etc.) then I would recommend opening up your trem backplate, and adding a spring. It'll take some adjustment and a little bit of patience, but that should tighten things up. Usually when things feel floppy, that means they're moving around too much. Add an extra spring, and they'll do what they're told

 

[mb99zz]

Still: nothing beats the Morse for versatility!

Great point...that is a swiss army knife for sure.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

Going up a size in strings might be just the ticket. Make sure you have a proper setup though, especially with that floating bridge.

My vote for backup guitar goes to the standard Silhouette, possibly with a piezo. I could get just about any tone I wanted out of it, and they all sounded awesome. In fact, the only sound I couldn't get was a brick wall metal tone (with stock bridge pup), but that isn't what I had it for in the first place, and besides, that is one of the strengths in your JP. Between these two guitars, any sound is going to be possible and done right.