Great comparison video. JPX, JPXI and the JPXII

[ohdamnitsdevin]

Musicman JPM compare. (JPX & JPXI & JPX12) - YouTube

 

[Rockman]

Thanks for the share! Gonna watch this now

 

[Lax]

As I commented to the author, thought the idea is great, there is now way the subtle differences in tone appear in the recorded video.
Chambering and body wood are not "violent" changes to ear.
Plus a seven string will not sound like a six.
I had a hard time choosing between the three guitars ! I bought finally a JP12 saturday.
This video would have confirmed my choice, because the real difference is finish color.

I think a great video to do would be a JP6/BFR/JP13 one, because there are loads of differences.
I didn't mention the majesty I hope it'll not kill my interest in the JP models.

 

[PY38]

I have to agree with the 6 and 7 comment. You just cant compare (Especially on clean) a six and seven. Even the same model. 7's are always darker. I had a JPXI6 right before my JPXI7 and when I took my 7 home I had to totally re-eq my amp....

However, thanks for the vid Dev...I enjoyed it

 

[SpeakingToStone]

Very cool. Thanks for posting.

 

[joe web]

thanks for posting, i love the sounds he programmed into his rig, very close to JP's sounds.
i prefer the X in this video.....well, i´ll see how it sounds hopefully next week, because i snagged a JPX7 the other days.

 

[ohdamnitsdevin]

I too prefer the tone of the JPX. I may be biased though as I own one.

 

[Kenji20022]

I have to agree with the 6 and 7 comment. You just cant compare (Especially on clean) a six and seven. Even the same model. 7's are always darker. I had a JPXI6 right before my JPXI7 and when I took my 7 home I had to totally re-eq my amp....

However, thanks for the vid Dev...I enjoyed it

7's are "always" darker is false. Adding the extra string doesn't affect a single thing in correlation to the first 6 strings. Of course playing a Low B or A will sound darker than the lowest string on a 6 will sound. Because a B and an A are much lower and deeper. I honestly have an Ibanez 7 string, with Dimarzio Pickups, and it is much brighter than my JP12, The tonewood variation in the 12 make it warmer and less spanky than the Ibanez is.

The JP12 is much warmer than the XI at it's core. The basswood is what gives it the warmth, the Alder in the XI gives it a more compressed and tighter tone, and that's not by much might I add. It's such a slight difference that there's no real distinction.

Thinking about it in application, the pickups are mounted directly into the Mahogany Tone Block, so it's resonating much more through the mahogany than any other tone wood in the body. I'd expect a more noticeable different when comparing them via the Piezo sound than anything else.

The X is really the biggest variation of the bunch, not counting the 13 for obvious reasons (haven't played it yet). In that video, the X shines in the lead and clean portions of the video it just sings and sounds smooth in both of them. Rhythm wise, it's not as articulate as the XI and 12 are, the notes just blend together instead of acting as their own distinct vibrations.

 

[PY38]

Adding an extra string is not the factor in this. Its the extra mass of wood....7's have more wood everywhere. Neck, Body, etc...The same model pickup for a 6 is always voiced different for a 7 because of this. Comparing an Ibanez to a MM is not a good litmus test.

The mass in a LOPro, Edge Pro and Edge are vastly different than the JP Bridge. The wood that Ibby uses is different quality than EBMM. Maybe your ibby 7 is less darker than your JP12 6 but that doesnt validate the argument.

I have owned every 7 string Ibby made in the last 25 years. They are darker than the 6 string counterparts. Just as the JPXI7 is darker than the JPXI6.......

Maybe its opinion maybe not but dont compare an Ibby in this test. The pretige quality level is a joke compared to an EBMM. Same with Early Japan made Ibbys etc....

I have a 7620 in mint condition now with my JPXI7 and you just cant compare......

 

[Kenji20022]

Adding an extra string is not the factor in this. Its the extra mass of wood....7's have more wood everywhere. Neck, Body, etc...The same model pickup for a 6 is always voiced different for a 7 because of this. Comparing an Ibanez to a MM is not a good litmus test.

The mass in a LOPro, Edge Pro and Edge are vastly different than the JP Bridge. The wood that Ibby uses is different quality than EBMM. Maybe your ibby 7 is less darker than your JP12 6 but that doesnt validate the argument.

I have owned every 7 string Ibby made in the last 25 years. They are darker than the 6 string counterparts. Just as the JPXI7 is darker than the JPXI6.......

Maybe its opinion maybe not but dont compare an Ibby in this test. The pretige quality level is a joke compared to an EBMM. Same with Early Japan made Ibbys etc....

I have a 7620 in mint condition now with my JPXI7 and you just cant compare......

Now let's not say that Prestige Level quality is a joke, it's far from that. And you missed my point, I was comparing my JP12 to my Ibanez because of the similar tonewoods and the fact that the Ibanez is in fact much brighter. Just to point it out, don't consider this an argument this is my opinion which I have tested and if you disagree with me it's not an argument it's simply a discussion. Just how it's subjective to some people that people will say that a Prestige is "joke". My JP12 is superior to my Prestiges, yes. But that doesn't downplay Ibanez's quality and attention to detail in their instruments, let's stay classy and not slander another company's name.

The slight extra mass that the 7th string adds is not enough to cause that much of a tonal variation. I know because I compared the JP12 6 string and 7 string through a Mesa Mark V, and a Fender Deville for the clean sounds/Piezo. The 7 simply sound slight, and when I say slight I mean slightly warmer than the 6. The 7 string Dimarzio does have a Ceramic, whereas the 6 has an Alinco magnet so that's accounted for.

Me nor the 2 salesman that were hanging out with me and listening in on what I was testing could really say that one sounded that much different from one another. In the Piezo setting through the Fender, is where we noticed a bit more of a difference, best way I could put it is that the 7 felt a little rounder on it's low end felt much more balanced. Whereas the 6's mid range came out more.

I'm just telling you my experience with the JP12, which I ultimately own now in a 6 string variant. You were of course playing an XI, and there could be many things to account for your difference in tone.

 

[PY38]

We can agree to disagree....nicely, lol

I will say the guys on the Ibby forums, Huge Ibby fanboys will tell you pretige levels have been a joke since 2002.....I had a 3120 from 2000 and wow.....everything else after.....no thank you.

My point with that is EBMM have never fallen off the quality cliff. But I challenge you.....Try 5 6's and thier counterpart 7's....Even slightly darker is still darker.

Make sure you are comparing apples to apples.....The 6 and its exact spec 7....They are all darker.

 

[PY38]

BTW This is why I love this forum. We can disagree and no one is being a DB......You have good ponts Kenji....I have a different experience but now I want to take my own test....damnit...lol

 

[Kenji20022]

BTW This is why I love this forum. We can disagree and no one is being a DB......You have good ponts Kenji....I have a different experience but now I want to take my own test....damnit...lol

Haha exactly, I've been on here for awhile but mainly in the sidelines. Seen a lot of people being needlessly harsh with each other and ridiculously skeptical about things before they get their hands on them (BFR, 13). I'm going to be a bit more active from here on out though, it's good to take part in the communities.

And definitely do, it's always fun to compare guitars with each other. Having a friend at Guitar Center and comparing models with each other is pretty fun with all the gear they have there. I want to give the 13 and the regular BFR model a comparison!

 

[PY38]

Im constantly comparing effects.....Im a chorus guy and im always on the hunt. I made the mistake of comparing my 7620 (which I loved for years) to my JPXI7 and I havnt played the 7620 in months..........and months.....

Sometimes the comparision can ruin a guitar for me....lol. At the end of the day I have found there is a place for everything. My other fiddles def have thier places but my JP has a place everywhere....hehe

 

[Nito]

Hi, I'm new and just wanted to say that this is a great thread. I hope more threads like this appear and can say I hear a difference between the JPX/JPXI versus the JP12.

Thanks again for posting - Nito