Couple questions...

[Prosthetic Rec]

I'm not exactly up-to-date with all the EBMM JP production aspects, so you'll have to forgive me.
I'll soon be in the market for a 7 string BFR, but I know there's some new stuff coming out and I wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything. I know soon (or already) they'll be releasing the BFR's with the new JP pickups- but I was wondering if there will be any new colors- or more importantly- neckwood options. The rosewood really bugs me. I've seen ebony boards on some tobacco bursts- so I'm wondering if it's possible to get it on other finishes? And if not- why not? Doesn't make much sense to me to only do it for ONE finish, but that's just me...

I have a Graphite Pearl JP7, which I love, so the rosewood isn't going to be a deal breaker, but I'd just hate to buy one only to later find out that I could've gotten something with an ebony board.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[ScoobySteve]

Hello Prosthetic, welcome to the forums!

Firstly, the full Rosewood neck option was a limited release and had a specific window of ordering that closed earlier this year. The only way to obtain a fully rosewood JP7 BFR or standard, would be to look at whats currently available on the market right now.

As for the new JP pick ups, I think (don't quote me) any JP that ships after June/July will come equipped with the new Dimarzio JP pups.

The ebony fretboard option, as far as I know, are only available to the Dargie Delight series of JP's which have been produced in limited quantities.

If you saw a unique variation, chances are its an axe John had made personally for his own use. All the BFR's (unless it was ordered with a RW neck) had finished necks, with rosewood boards.

Check out the thread about the new Dargie Delight 2 series to find out more about ebony boards on JP guitars.

Hope that helps.

 

[morsecode]

Ebony boards were first made available on the Koa JP BFR's...none of the bursts. To my knowledge the Koa's are only six stringers. The limited Dargie Delight JP's did not have an ebony board...they were rosewood. The new Dargies may but I'm not sure if they will be available for JP7's.

 

[ScoobySteve]

Ebony boards were first made available on the Koa JP BFR's...none of the bursts. To my knowledge the Koa's are only six stringers. The limited Dargie Delight JP's did not have an ebony board...they were rosewood. The new Dargies may but I'm not sure if they will be available for JP7's.

Yes this. Sorry I didn't make my original post clearer. The Koa tops have been marketed as "Tobacco bursts" by many vendors.

From what BP said on the other thread the ebony is a standard to the Dargies (not 100%)

Were there any original Jp7 DD's?

 

[Prosthetic Rec]

Yeah sorry, when I said "neckwood" I really meant fingerboard-wood. My mistake.
So it sounds like there's no plan in the near future to release ebony board BFR's on any of the finishes (unless you're JP). Oh well, guess I just need to figure out whether or not I want a Ruby quilt finish, or Walnut, or Emerald...or Amethyst

 

[morsecode]

Yes this. Sorry I didn't make my original post clearer. The Koa tops have been marketed as "Tobacco bursts" by many vendors.

From what BP said on the other thread the ebony is a standard to the Dargies (not 100%)

Were there any original Jp7 DD's?

I don't know why the vendors would label the Koa's as tobacco bursts considering there is already a Tobacco Burst maple top BFR available. Strange.

I believe that there were 4 original JP7's made...3 with a piezo and 1 without. Those are rosewood boards.

They haven't yet said whether the DD2 will be available for JP7's...I would assume they will be. Has the window order even opened for the DD2's? I understand that it will be open a little longer than previous limited runs.

 

[morsecode]

Yeah sorry, when I said "neckwood" I really meant fingerboard-wood. My mistake.
So it sounds like there's no plan in the near future to release ebony board BFR's on any of the finishes (unless you're JP). Oh well, guess I just need to figure out whether or not I want a Ruby quilt finish, or Walnut, or Emerald...or Amethyst

Who knows what the future holds in store with respect to other future JP BFR or even standard runs that having ebony boards? It could very well become a standard feature in the future. For myself, it would make little difference as I'm quite happy with either.

 

[phatduckk]

i think Dargin said the DD2 finish will be available on anything that doesn't have binding.

 

[Big Poppa]

I guess you have to understand that instead of feeling limited by the Ball Family Reserve concept that really it gives the market more unique choices...IF it wasnt for the BFR ine none of these would see the light of day or at best would not be able to get to the general public.

Ball Family Reserve gives us the freedom to make some different stuff. It also lets us find out demand and popularity.

I cannot tell you if there will be more choices with ebony...its tough to work with...but I can tell you that I love the stuff Ive been playing.

THe Dargie 2 are all ebony

 

[balance]

ebony...its tough to work with...

I've heard/read that from many builders. Sounds great, looks great, feels great, just no fun to build with; seems Pau Ferro and/or Macassar Ebony are the 2 commonly used substitutes.

Do you experiment with other woods as well? I put an all Canary(Arariba) Neck on a project guitar and it sounds and feels good too. Primavera is another interesting wood that looks like Swamp Ash.

 

[ProtoChicken]

I guess you have to understand that instead of feeling limited by the Ball Family Reserve concept that really it gives the market more unique choices...IF it wasnt for the BFR ine none of these would see the light of day or at best would not be able to get to the general public.

That actually makes me feel better. I think sometimes it's so easy to get caught up in wanting to always have what's new that one starts feeling like the second they buy a guitar they are going to wish they had waited just a bit longer. While the other side of that is that if you wait too long, you end up wishing you had bought that limited run instrument while you could have.

I'm obviously new to owning EBMM guitars, but I love the the fact that there are these more limited runs. I admit I have found myself a bit overwhelmed by it, as I find myself worried about pulling the trigger on a 3rd EBMM out of fear of falling into the trap I stated above. That's when I remind myself we are talking about incredible instruments and not computer parts which are outdated every 6 months, and even if some new wood option, paint job or limited run comes out after I've already made my choice, it doesn't make the Balls I currently own any less spectacular. It is also cool that the limited runs give you a chance to get the same guitar that will be sonically different. If you have 3 Jp's for example, a standard, a standard with the all rosewood bfr neck, and a Dargie II with an ebony board you are going to get 3 tonally different instruments with different feels and looks but retain the same basic shape and features. In a lot of ways it's kind of like having a custom shop.

I freaked out in Guitar Center last week when picking up my JP7 BFR, and canceled my JP6 BFR to make the funds available for a Dargie 2 or perhaps "fingers crossed" a JP BFR with the new Dargie Paint, and now I've spent the last week wondering if I made the right decision, and feeling bad about canceling an order so late.

Sometimes I just need to remind myself in the words of Zappa to "shut up and play your guitar". Some of it obviously depends on your personality type, I know I can be obsessive and need to remind myself of that when making choices.

i think Dargin said the DD2 finish will be available on anything that doesn't have binding.

I'm so confused now. I got the impression from the Dargie preview thread that they the new color shift paint would not be available on anything other than the Dargies themselves. Did I misconstrue BP's comment of "THe JP is a one off the smoke pearl doesnt work for production and the necks wont be painted" as meaning the color won't be available on anything else when it really just meant exactly what he said, that the Dargie neck won't be painted, leaving open the possibility that the color will be available on JP BFR's?