Dealing with the switch from Les Paul to Music Man JP6

[Ming]

You CAN adapt. Some people (looks at Blackdog) really, really, really like a particular guitar, neck, feel, everything and don't want other types. Other people (me) have 8 guitars and they're LP scale, EBMM scale, lacquered neck, hollow body, heavy, light...sort of everything. If you want to get used to it, do it. They are very different guitars.

Saw Bon Jovi at Hyde Park last weekend and I think Richie Sambora must have used a different guitar for each song..... poser! At least the 2nd guitarist (not sure who he was) used a Silhouette Bass on one song.
Saw Joe Perry a couple of years back and he was just as bad!

 

[mtodd6]

I'm having trouble adapting to my 2000-ish JP6. I've played mostly Teles, Strats, & a PRS. I thought - bolt-on neck, HB Dimarzios ... no problem. It is a nice guitar but it seems like a basic rock guitar, even less versatile than a Strat. I cannot get any other sounds out of it & the sustain is very poor compared to my PRS. I've been forcing myself to play it at home all the time, and played out once with it & was quite disappointed as I have to cover a wide variety of styles.

 

[straycat113]

Some interesting points made on this thread. For me if I am not comfortable during the test run it never seems to get better afterward when I get home. I find it kind of odd that it is the bridge you feel uncomfortable on as I would of surely assumed it would have been the neck since that is a much bigger difference of preference, since both guitars have the knobs away from the bridge. I am wondering if you ever owned a guitar with a trem and if the bar is making you uncomfortable. If that is the problem try just flicking it down or mayby taking it off and playing it like a stop tail as that is one of the most comfortable trems and very cleverly designed with the plate over it.

Ming I saw Aerosmith the last time during the Pumpm tour and just as you stated Joe Perry played a different guitar for every song and made over 20 changes. I hope he pays his tech well.

mtodd I think you meant even less versatile than a Tele as that is as simple as it gets, I never found a Strat not to be versatile.

I have 9 Balls and the only one I am not crazy for is the JP because the neck is too thin, funny thing is that after 3 years I still cant part with the guitar for some reason. I know it is because the neck is so damn fast and with the hand and arm issues I am dealing with right now I can only play with my thumb dead center of the neck which is great for that guitar but if I was to play normally where my thumb would be 70% if not more around the neck it would not feel comfortable. Then again you cant like everything.

 

[RandyRhoads]

Thanks for the reply straycat. I think i was a little impatient -> no problems anymore .

 

[shredder3386]

Man I totally sympathize. I just got my first EBMM guitar (JP Mystic Dream) and I had been playing a Les Paul for years. It took a little while to get used to the pickup selector switch as my playing style sometimes caused my hand to hit it unintentionally. For the first week I was accidently hitting the piezo in the middle of a fast run to switch pickups. Opps lol. Anyway after a few weeks it feels really comfortable and I have come to find that I really love the smaller neck on the JP6. Its plays faster and I feel like there is more control over the notes. Either way, they are both solid guitars, but hang in there. The JP6 will grow on you

 

[NoUse121]

If you like les pauls you should try a AL HH. Sick guitars! I was a LP fan for years and I have sold off all of them except one studio to feed my EBMM addiction. I found the AL HH best fits that thinkish LP tone but with more definition. I have played most of the JP guitars and to me the neck is just way too thin. its Super faster a solo machine but that is not my style. If I did have too choose a JP I think I would go for a Standard BFR JP. But anyways, congrats on the new guitar and welcome to the EBMM family! you will not find a better company!

 

[BrickGlass]

You should get used to the new feel pretty quickly. Just play as much as you can and enjoy the differences.