EBMM JPM or Ibanez JPM ???

[Dror520]

Hi !!! It's my first post but I've been surfing in this site for quite a time now ...
I'm so close buying a new guitar and I narrowed the list to two guitars ....

I know this a Music Man forum but I know there are some guys who have a MM JPM and an Ibanez JPM ... Can you plz explain the differences between those two and which one you like better and why ??

And finally it will be really nice of you to record both guitars ... and send me that record so I can hear the differences ...

TY !!!

 

[MatrixAndyR]

I've played both, but own a few MM JPM's... i prefer these by far, feel more well made and to me sound so much better. either way though... Music Man JP's will be far easier to find, seeing how Ibanez no longer produces their JPMs.

 

[DaPatrooch]

I've never played an Ibanez JPM, but I can tell you that the Music Man would be hard to top haha. I like the look of the Music Man better, you can get a piezo, and the body shape is more comfortable IMO. Plus, the bridge on the Music Man just rules, and I like it much better than a Floyd or Edge or whatever's on the Ibanez. I really love the arm contour on the EBMM, it's more of a scoop than a curve, which most guitars have and I like the scoop much better. I can't really tell you the tonal differences, but I believe the woods in both guitars are the same, and the pickups on the EBMM are just customized versions of the ones on the Ibanez (except newer MM models which have the D Sonic instead of the modified Steve's Special). I also like JP's more recent tones after he started using Music Man better than his older tones, but that might also have something to do with the amp he was using or the quality of the recording at the time.

So you are on a Music Man forum, so everyone's going to say they like the Music Man better, and I think you would be better off asking this on the John Petrucci forum, because there are lots of people that own either or both of the guitars.

 

[Benjamin T]

I would suggest the MM. Nice solid feel, well balanced, nice tone, sturdy. I'm getting so sick of ibanez's. Heh.

 

[Pablo]

I have owned both an Ibby JPM (P3) and the MusicMan JP. Quite frankly, the difference in feel is decidedly different between the two. The EBMM has a a race-bred wide/thin neck in the vain of Ibanez' original Wizzard shape - only with rounder, more comfortable shoulders. The Ibby (surprisingly) has a a narrower neck with a slightly fatter back - essentially a slim Strat neck.

Personally, I prefered the Ibby's neck shape, but everything else on my EBMM JP. The quality of the MusicMan is simply lightyears ahead of what Ibanez did with the JPM, the JP bridge is a stroke of genius and, most importantly, the tone of my MusicMan just wiped the floor with the Ibby.

Cheers

Eske

 

[DT1607]

Musicman.

The chances of finding a JPM are slim. I rarely see them on ebay.

And welcome to the forums.

 

[colinboy]

musicman all the way&go with the BFR.you wont regret it!

 

[petruccirocks02]

As much as I love the Ibanez JPM's, I'd say go for the MusicMan. They're way more versatile than the Ibanez models. The BFR JP is the cream of the crop as far as I'm concerned.

-Phil

 

[whitestrat]

I've had both... Honestly? I'd buy both if I could... I regretted selling my Ibby JPM. They are both very different guitars...

Oh, and btw, if you're after the Ibby JPM neck profile, check out a Silo... It's very similar...

 

[Dror520]

Thx !! everyone for their answers !!! I really enjoy reading them !!!

BTW which Bridge pickup you like better and why ?? the D-Sonic or the Steve Special ?

 

[Lou]

I just scored a P3 that I've had for a week. I had been half looking for one for quite a while. Figured I'd never own one. I had the chance of playing a P4 new quite a long time ago, but did not buy it for some reason. I have 2 JPs and one JP BFR.

The neck as has been mentioned is the biggest difference feel wise between the two. The JPM is quite comfy to play. The trems are quite different, but I find them both very good. Even though the JPM is japanese made, it's very good quality. Not on par with the EB's, but much better than lower/mid grade Ibanez.

Soudwise I haven't A/Bd the two back to back, but I can tell the EBMM seems fatter on the neck pickup. Both have balls and chunk on the bridge.

As for a buying - EBMM is the better deal, IMO. First off, Ibanez customer sevice???? what's that? You can't get a new JPM, and finding one can run you almost as much as a used EBMM or MORE if you are looking at P1 or P2s.

 

[unclerico]

I've played a Jem, personally I don't feel that there is anything special about it. The JPM is much more distinct, and has an excellent sound.

 

[Metlupass2]

I'd say if you had the chance to buy an Ibanez JPM buy it cause you don't seem them too often and you could always find an EBMM JPM for sale obviously cause they still make em.

 

[mesavox]

I have both, and the differences are the kind where you have to play both and know what you prefer and why....

As mentioned, the neck on the Ibanez is rounder. I prefer the Ibanez neck, but it's pretty minor because the MM neck still isn't that uber wide thin mess that hurts the sides of my hands.

The tone is still where the Ibanez wins for me, but it's the pickups, not quality of guitar. I prefer the Steve's Special and Air Norton to the modded versions or the D Sonic (although I've only played the D Sonic 7). The Ibanez has a more edgy and raw sound in the bridge. Less volume. The MM is smoother with less bite... well, the D Sonic 7 is. This might be due to the coils being flopped around, but the Modded Steve's Special in the old MMs is hotter and smoother as well. I think this is a direction JP just wanted to go.

The Air Norton really wins over the modded Air Norton to me. It's more single coilish and more spanky... whereas, again, the MM version is smoother and hotter.

Again, these descriptions aren't a matter of better verses worse... they are a matter of personal preference, and you could always replace the MM pickups for the stock Dimarzio's that were in the Ibanez JPM if that's what you prefer.

The MM plays easier... it has a more expensive feel, and of course offers piezos. The Ibanez is a nice instrument. I'll never get rid of mine, but it's not a surprise that the MM is a better instrument overall. However, even the feel of the body is a matter of preference, and I've known a lot of guys who like the pointy strat shape over the smaller more compact MM JP body. There are reasons why guys play RG shaped Ibanezs. If you are familiar with the Sillouette body shape, the MM JP feels kinda like an oversized Silo.

Except for pickups, the MM wins overall for me. That's a pretty easy fix, so if you can find an Ibanez JPM, play it and see what you think... I say that because you can find an MM JP at a lot of guitar centers so playing one of those shouldn't be a problem.