Gonna get a new ball, just dont know which one...help!

[strangegrey]

Hey folks,

First of all, I'm new to these forums. It's good to see Ernie Ball finally setup a forum.

Anyway, the reason I'm posting. Right now, I'm looking to replace my recently purchased Peavey Wolfgang. I have an EBMM Axis as well....and after playing the wolfgang for a number of months, I've come to the conclusion that the Wolfgang is flat out, an inferior instrument to the Axis. I could go into the details, but I'll spare you guys. The topic's been done to death. Having said that, I dont really want the wolfgang around. I have a few guitars, so it's not like I *need* the wolfgang around for a backup to the axis or anything.

So anyway, I plan to get another EBMM in place of the wolfgang...and I'm was torn between three guitars. The Petrucci, the Luke and the Silhouette.

Now, one thing I'd really like, is a 24 fret guitar. None of my guitars are 24 frets....and I could use those extra two in some of the music I'm playing. So that immediately rules out the Luke. I also didn't like the active EMGs...although I love the Luke neck....hense the dilhema about the Luke.

The next choice is a the Silhouette. Its got 24 frets...but it also doesnt have the active EMGs.....problem is, I dont really like pickguards on anything other than strats.....


Then there's the Petrucci. I had the pleasure of playing one last night and really enjoyed it. The pickups are spot on, the tremolo feels great and that arm cutaway RULES. However, I have reservations about the neck. Years ago, I used to play an Ibanez RG, but I've since moved to rounder, less wide necks...ie, axis, wolfgang. The Petrucci would be a step back to the thin wide necks of my ibanez. Does anyone have different guitars with different necks, and are comfortable with all of them?

Id really like to get the petrucci, out of the three mentioned above....but that would really make all of my guitars have different neck profiles.

I apreciate any help or thoughts you guys can offer.

-Frank

 

[cocobig]

I have 4 electric guitars: EBMM JP + peizo, Peavey Wolfgang Flame top, Fender Customshop strat, and Ibanez JPM 90th.

You can see that the neck shape are different for all of them. I like it this way since I want different feeling when I play each guitar. The neck shape did bother me at the beginning of getting to know each guitar. But the time goes by, you will get used to it.

If I want to play fast and mean, I will play Ibanez JPM.
If I want some traditional sound, I will play strat.
If I want versatility, I will play EBMM JP or Wolfgang.

I have to admit one thing, the Wolfgang's neck is my favorite. But it doesn't mean it is the best, it is just different.

 

[strangegrey]

I have 4 electric guitars: EBMM JP + peizo, Peavey Wolfgang Flame top, Fender Customshop strat, and Ibanez JPM 90th.

You can see that the neck shape are different for all of them. I like it this way since I want different feeling when I play each guitar. The neck shape did bother me at the beginning of getting to know each guitar. But the time goes by, you will get used to it.

If I want to play fast and mean, I will play Ibanez JPM.
If I want some traditional sound, I will play strat.
If I want versatility, I will play EBMM JP or Wolfgang.

I have to admit one thing, the Wolfgang's neck is my favorite. But it doesn't mean it is the best, it is just different.

The wolfgang neck is what drew me to the wolfgang. But I cant get past that cheap tremolo or the sharp frets.....But thanks for the answer. It's looking more and more like I'll do the Petrucci...

 

[cocobig]

Oh! I forgot to say that "Don't afraid to try some thing new"...

The EBMM JP is very good guitar. The neck are closed to Ibanez JPM, but they are somewhat different. You can try it at your local guitar shop... Just give it a shot! Don't forget to add piezo option though.

 

[cocobig]

Ha! I agree that Wolfgang's trem is cheesy. However, I hardly use it anyway.... I like it because of the neck and D-tuna..

 

[strangegrey]

Oh! I forgot to say that "Don't afraid to try some thing new"...

The EBMM JP is very good guitar. The neck are closed to Ibanez JPM, but they are somewhat different. You can try it at your local guitar shop... Just give it a shot! Don't forget to add piezo option though.

I was originally going to pass on the piezo option.

In your opinion, how valuable is it to you?

 

[cocobig]

For me, it is worth to add the piezo. I also have acoustic amp, and some times I just want to get the clean acoustic sound right away (I am too lazy to switch the guitar). That's why the piezo is cool to me even though I hardly gig out.

Just a couple hundred more for versatility. I think it's worth.

 

[strangegrey]

Ha! I agree that Wolfgang's trem is cheesy. However, I hardly use it anyway.... I like it because of the neck and D-tuna..

True, but I get a neck that's pretty darn close to the Wolfgang neck, in my Axis. Plus, I put a D-tuna on my axis.....rendering my wolfgang pretty obsolete...

-F

 

[cocobig]

Yes, the Axis's quality is better than Wolfgang. But I don't think I am going to move to Axis since I like the carved top of my Wolfgang also.

Maybe when the time goes by, I think I just change the trem of my Wolfgang and I am happy.

 

[punkin]

my fav

I have a few guitars...a couple Ibanez ( a JEM and an RG with WizII neck), a USA Fender Strat (which sucks by the way) and a 6 string petrucci. Hands down...the petrucci! I can't stand to play the others any more and I used to love the RG. A solid guitar, excellent tremelo back it up with a good tube amp, there's nothing better as far as I'm concerned.

 

[hbucker]

I have a Wolfgang and an EBMM/EVH. The only thing I didn't like about the stock trem on the Wolfgang was the Whammy bar assembly. Obviously that's how EVH wanted it but I didn't like it so I replaced it with a Fender Floyd replacement whammy bar. Now it unscrews by hand and doesn't have any play. There were no modifications required. I just removed the old and installed the new.

beyond that, I don't have a problem with the Wolf trem.

I do think it was a little silly for them/him to design a case that requires you to remove the whammy bar for storage. That's why I bought an Axis case to store my Wolfgang in. Now I don't have to remove the whammy bar when I store it.

 

[Ekib]

.

I have tried a couple Wolfgang's and never really liked it.I really think the MM's are so much better,qualitywise.
Strangegrey;why do you want to have 24 frets.I used to have 24 too,than I traded my guitar for an Axis and I really don't miss the 2 upperfrets at all.How many times do you really play a lead there???But I guess that's personal.
I still would go with the Axis,no matter what.

 

[strangegrey]

Well,

I might as well offer a bit of an update.

The wolfgang is sold....at this stage, I'm waiting for some more consulting dollars to come in, then im going SHOPPING!

Ekib, I'll try to answer your question in a roundabout way. I already have an axis. Buying another would certainly be pretty cool....but part of me wants to get something a little different, but still have the ability to have one guitar serve as a backup to the other.

That's why I've been comtemplating the Luke, Sihouette or Petrucci.

At this stage, I'm really hot on the idea of getting a Petrucci. I played one the other day...and it was just a fabulous instrument.

Albeit, the neck is thinner than I'm used to, but I could get used to it.


-F

 

[Ekib]

.

Ok,I understood your question the wrong way.Still I think the Axis is the best of all MM guitars.On the other guitars there is always something I don't like.Let me tell you what that is;

Silhouette;That shouldn't be an argument but I hate the looks of that guitar.A guitar should be like a woman(unless ofcourse the player IS a woman ),if you hate the looks of it it won't work.I would never take a guitar if I would hate the looks of it.

Luke;I am not into EMG's.Simple argument and just a matter of taste.Offcourse you could get replacement pick ups but than I much rather have an Axis which has the right pick ups for me.

JP:Also a guitar that doesn't look too great.The volume and tone knobs look awfull,very cheap looking for a guitar with that price.But that's too overcome.What is much worse for me is that the pick up switch is on the other side.Everytime I play that guitar the switch gets into my way.For me a switch should be(looking for a players view)on the right side.It probably works for JP but I don't like it.That is something that is harder to redo since it ruins the looks of the guitar.Besides that it is a great sounding guitar(whatelse would you expect from MM???) and it plays wonderful too.Had that switch being on the right side I would have gone for the JP.Although the terrible knobs would bother me for the rest of the days.

I am not putting these guitars down.I am sure there are tons of guitarists who absolutely love these guitars and that's cool.But to me a guitar is an expensive tool so my guitar has to have the whole deal and I have to like everything out of it.
That's why I picked the Axis,that guitar was the perfect thing for me.There is not a thing I don't like about it.I wouldn't compromise about a guitar.

 

[strangegrey]

Hmm...I can't much disagree with you on the Luke. I wish they released a passive version of that.

Get this...the guy at my local Ernie Ball dealer he has a luke and he tore out the EMGs. seems like everyone I know with a luke tears out the emgs.

As far as the Petrucci goes....the knobs are actually well made....they just look funky...

the switch location wouldn't bother me. There are some players that I can see if would be a big deal. But it's never made a difference to me. Petrucci actually specifically wants it there. He switches pickups several times in a song....sometimes serveral times in the same solo run. So he needs something he can throw back and forther very quickly......

But each guitarist has to independantly evaluate whether that would work for him. For me, it's not too big a deal...

-F

 

[robochimp]

Re: .

...Strangegrey;why do you want to have 24 frets.I used to have 24 too,than I traded my guitar for an Axis and I really don't miss the 2 upperfrets at all.How many times do you really play a lead there???...

I'm a big fan of 24 fret guitars, and have been asked this question countless times. And I always give the same answer.
First off, I use those two frets %100 more often than if I DIDN'T have them. Also, an often overlooked point is that having 24 frets makes the REMAINING frets easier to play on. It's much easier to reach the 20th or 22nd fret on a 24 fret guitar, at least in most cases.
I've also heard the argument that 24 fret guitars don't sound as good at the neck pup. To me, the trade off in playability versus (minimal,IMO) tone variations is well worth it.
I don't expect to change anyone's mind here, I just wanted to shed a little light on why we 24 fretters like them so much.

 

[Ekib]

.

Good arguments! In fact I have nothing against 24 fret guitars but if there is only 22 frets I am not missing it.But 22 is the limit for me.Some older Fenders have 21 and than I sure am missing that 22nd fret.
I am looking for a new guitar too,since my Axis doesn't have a trem bar.I wil check out the JP model too.Despite the remarks I made I am sure it will be a great guitar.In fact I checked it out a while ago and I really liked the sound,that's all that matters.

 

[robochimp]

Re: .

Good arguments! In fact I have nothing against 24 fret guitars but if there is only 22 frets I am not missing it.But 22 is the limit for me.Some older Fenders have 21 and than I sure am missing that 22nd fret.
I am looking for a new guitar too,since my Axis doesn't have a trem bar.I wil check out the JP model too.Despite the remarks I made I am sure it will be a great guitar.In fact I checked it out a while ago and I really liked the sound,that's all that matters.

Haha, I know what you mean- those 21 fret Strats used to drive me crazy! I would always be reaching for it, or I'd paint myself into a musical corner where I NEEDED that fret, only to have to bend to get there. Ah, memories

 

[Estin]

well when it comes to my 6 strings, i like a medium fret, 25.5 scale with 22 frets. only time i like a 24 fret is on my 7 string. on my 7 strings i like 24 fret with 27" scale and extra jumbo frets. two totally different worlds there and i love it. and my new axis super sport is string thru body, and my 7 strings is floyd rose. ;-) lol

 

[Estin]

as for those 21 fret fenders, i've never played one of those, but just the sound of that bothers me. LOL but what do i know, i'm just a punk kid! hahaha