Can't make up my mind...

[BennyD]

I'm in the market again for a new axe. I currently play a Hamer Daytona (strat copy). I'm torn between 3 EBMM's and hoping you guys can post some feedback and experiences you've had with all 3:

1) Luke -
I like the looks of it. Kind of reminds me of Joe Satriani's axe and sounds very similar (imho). The only thing I don't like is from the clips I've heard, it's way too shrill and high pitch in bridge position, but that could be the amps? Have never seen in a store.

2) Petrucci 6 string -
One of my favorite guitarists of all time. I've got huge hands like he does so the neck wouldn't be a problem for me (probably more comfortable in fact). From the clips I've heard here and from DT's stuff this guitar sounds like it gets a huge range of tones and sounds. Not to mention it looks just incredible and is so comfortable. Most stores seem to carry 1 or 2 of these in stock so finding one isn't going to be an issue. Only thing is I love to play a lot of clean and I've never heard this guitar played clean, any clips out there?

3) Silhouette -
Very strat looking so it's familiar territory for me and more affordable than the other options. Having to wait 60-90 days though, bummer

It sounds like I've already made up my mind on a JP but I'd like to hear more clips if you guys have any?

 

[slukather]

I'm in the market again for a new axe. I currently play a Hamer Daytona (strat copy). I'm torn between 3 EBMM's and hoping you guys can post some feedback and experiences you've had with all 3:

1) Luke -
I like the looks of it. Kind of reminds me of Joe Satriani's axe and sounds very similar (imho). The only thing I don't like is from the clips I've heard, it's way too shrill and high pitch in bridge position, but that could be the amps? Have never seen in a store.

2) Petrucci 6 string -
One of my favorite guitarists of all time. I've got huge hands like he does so the neck wouldn't be a problem for me (probably more comfortable in fact). From the clips I've heard here and from DT's stuff this guitar sounds like it gets a huge range of tones and sounds. Not to mention it looks just incredible and is so comfortable. Most stores seem to carry 1 or 2 of these in stock so finding one isn't going to be an issue. Only thing is I love to play a lot of clean and I've never heard this guitar played clean, any clips out there?

3) Silhouette -
Very strat looking so it's familiar territory for me and more affordable than the other options. Having to wait 60-90 days though, bummer

It sounds like I've already made up my mind on a JP but I'd like to hear more clips if you guys have any?

From the sounds of your post, l think you've made your mind up already. Just don't buy a guitar cause your hero uses it, l'd recommend trying the guitars out before buying.

From experience, the pet, is a great guitar, l used to love it through my 5150, now that l play mesa, l'm not that fond of the sound anymore, so l don't play it anymore.

What amp have you got? what type of music do you play?

Scott.

 

[BennyD]

Hi Scott,

Thanks for the reply. I play mostly hard rock/metal but like to dive into blues/jazz a lot (which is why a good thick clean sound is imperative for me). I have a Marshall AVT50 (I hate it).

 

[SteveB]

The Petrucci guitar achieves stunning clean tones with the pickup selector in the middle position.

Get the piezo option, and you can add great acoustic sound as well.

I don't have any clips of me playing the Pet clean through my amp (Peavey Triple X head into a 4x12 cab), but I might have some clips around where I played it through a Digitech RP2000 directly into a multitracker. I'll take a look when I can and post if I find something.

Meanwhile, maybe Philip can post a clip or two with JP clean sounds?

 

[slukather]

Hi Scott,

Thanks for the reply. I play mostly hard rock/metal but like to dive into blues/jazz a lot (which is why a good thick clean sound is imperative for me). I have a Marshall AVT50 (I hate it).

Np, you can get a nice clean sound out of it, in the middle position, because, the coils in both humuckers are split in that position, so you get a nice clean sound, but not as good as a nice single coil.

Personnally l think the pick ups in the Pet are too weak for metal, although petrucci did get a nice sound, but l opted to switch the bridge pickup out and put a Tone Zone in, which l think made a huge improvement, but l don't play metal anymore, so it doesn't really matter anymore.

But as l said before, try it out, and MAKE SURE it is what you want, you don't wanna buy one and then a couple of months later, you wished you got a Luke, or silo, because it becomes expensive when you start buying/selling instruments.

Good luck.

Scott.

 

[Roubster]

They are all great guitars, and I have 2 out of those 3 you stated. The JP is a great guiyar, but on clean channel I dont think it comes even close to the LUKE when you use the neck pup or the neck and middle. And the 85 in the bridge sounds really FAT and clear to me. And the Silo is not a bad choice at all. That was my first one, but I had to change to pups to my liking because they were too vintagey. Now my Silo can actually kinda sound like the JP, but I will get a JP at some point anyway. But the BEST thing you can do is try them all out somewhere somehow. Take a weekend and track all three down somewhere around your area.

 

[Bungo]

Owner of 2 x Pets and very happy. I used to play a Hamer (USA Californian) and the Pets are miles ahead in my opinion.

Middle setting does give a good clean sound. As you say, the DT catalogue will give you lots of examples of all the sounds on offer.

Enjoy!

 

[kbaim]

You'll get some different opinions here, but none will help as much as finding them and playing them. Maybe someone you know can let you borrow one.

The Pet middle (like Steve mentioned) is a great sounding clean, but I wouldn't classify it as thick clean like you said you want. More shimmering clean.

 

[phatduckk]

i kinda have a sound clip

this isnt a totally clean sound ... i recorded this random thinggy on GarageBand using the "modern nashvillie" preset.

honestly i dont remember what pup position i used ... im guessing its the bridge pup. hmm, maybe its the middle, i dunno.

disclaimer: im a punk rock bassist and this is a sort of blues guitar kinda thing. so dont hold the guitar responsible for my lack of guitar playing skills ... and dont forget its not a totally "clean" preset

clip here

i fake being a guitarist and of all my guitars (LP, Tele, Axis SS, Gretsch) the Pet is my fav for clean ... as they said above the middle pup possition is genious for clean tones!

actually my Axis SS has the peizo and the mags blended w/ the peizo sound brilliant clean when going thru a bass amp. ive heard the Peds' peizo is really badass so im guessing a Pet w/ peizo will make u a happy man

 

[Philip]

The Petrucci guitar achieves stunning clean tones with the pickup selector in the middle position.

Get the piezo option, and you can add great acoustic sound as well.

I don't have any clips of me playing the Pet clean through my amp (Peavey Triple X head into a 4x12 cab), but I might have some clips around where I played it through a Digitech RP2000 directly into a multitracker. I'll take a look when I can and post if I find something.

Meanwhile, maybe Philip can post a clip or two with JP clean sounds?

sure thing Steve, I couldn't record anything as I am heading for a gig, but here is a short sample of EBMM JP in the middle clean position, it's a track from my band's demo. I'm playing through Marshall AVT 150 so very close to your amp BennyD

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=B225F3E138A9DD40

 

[threeminutesboy]

Just don't buy a guitar cause your hero uses it, l'd recommend trying the guitars out before buying.

That's true ! I am not a big fan of EVH but I love the axis that in my IMHO it's just the perfect guitar.

So try before buy (of course if you can) !

 

[Tone-up]

Hey BennyD,

I have gone thru the identical situation as you. The Hamer Daytona is a great strat. I love the fretboard radius, very flat. You can always change the pickups out.

As far as the 3 EBMM guitars you mentioned, my opinion is this. I had the luke and tried to like it, but did not like the V neck carve and am not a big fan of EMG's. But if you like the neck carve, again you can always change pickups. The Pet is a nice guitar but is not made for clean playing, sorry JMHO. The Silhouette Special (HSS - 22 Frets) is probably the best choice and you may find the neck carve to be incredible. The Silhouette (HSH - 24 Frets) is also very nice. The upper fret access on the Silhouette speical is great. These are my opinions. Try to go out and try them all. Who knows, you may want them all.

Thanks,
~Tone