I tried out a few musicman's today...

[Quilt_top]

Hello all, I had a chance today to go to a local music store today. I was able to test drive the Axis, Morse, and Petrucci models. I have been browsing these forums for a while now. After everything I've read I'm suprised on how my judgments have changed. Let me give a few reviews then maybe you can all help me decide on which one to buy.

Axis: I was certainly intrigued by this one before I picked it up because of the EVH models. I had once played an EVH and though it felt so good. I was almost certain it would be the model I would buy. After playing around with it I noticed it was a nice guitar but not as great as I thought it would be. Sure, the action could of been adjusted to my likings a bit more. Firstly, I noticed how well it played notplggued in. That;s a big plus because it really showed the craftmanship that went into it. Plugged in, it was solid, but nothing special (maybe the amp). The clean sounds were nice btw. So overall I thought it was good guitar...then I moved on to the steve morse.

Morse: THis guitar just seemed like it was a step up from the Axis. It felt just as good, but It was more versital and I liked the tones I could get out of it. The morese model was not only a nice finish, it certainly lived up to its hype. Then I took another step....I picked up a petrucci...

Petrucci: Now let me first say this. I thought there was no way I'd ever consider buying this guitar. I'm not really a hardcore shred player and I had never fallen in love with its finishes. It turns out, I am now totally into this guitar. I don't mind the finishes to much. there nothing spectacular, but there certainly very well done. I can now say this guitar is more versital then i had ever imagined. I don't mind the wider fret radius, being a Gibson player. The tremolo system seemed to do a good job staying in tune. And of course, the piezo pickup blew my mind! Its simply awesome. it sounded so damn good. I believe that this guitar could actually fit my tastes just fine. Sure, I love to crank it up and rock out, but the clean tones are simply first class.

overall, I think im leaning towards the petrucci model now! I'm not even a huge dream theater fan, but I just think the guitar is built so well. You guys agree? I really liked the axis's neck, small and fast, but i think the petrucci, for its value is far above the other guitars.

thoughts??

 

[Jay]

I see you inadvertently posted this topic twice, so hopefully this is the thread that should be used.

I have both an Axis SS and a JP6P, and love them both for different reasons. What's cool about EBMMs is that they're so varied, just like everyone's opinion on the 3 models you tried out.

Get what feels right, plays right and sounds right to you. That's all that really matters.

Happy hunting! And good luck just having one.

 

[beej]

Replied in the other thread ... I'll put it here!

---

Glad you liked 'em! You're going to find a lot of agreeable voices on this forum

I'm not sure if I'd say any of them was a "step up" from another. They're all different instruments with their own pros and cons. For example, I have a Morse and Axis, but find that I can't get into the neck shape of the Petrucci. And the Axis also has a Piezo, so in that configuaration it's just as versitile (in fact, the Axis Super Sport has a 5 way selector which gives it even more tonal combinations).

They're all killer instruments. Made to offer something different to each customer. Now go get one and bring back pictures!

 

[SteveB]

A 6-string Petrucci is my main axe. I'm not a rabid DT fan, but I do like their earlier stuff. I wasn't even all that familiar with JP's playing before I bought his guitar. I just bought it because it was the most comfortable and well-built guitar that I could find. It gets great clean sounds with and without the piezo.

I like all of the MusicMan guitars, and it would be fun to own all of them, but that's not in the cards. I also own a Morse Y2D which is fun to play, and my 'most wanted' (aside from the mythical maple-topped Petrucci) would be an Albert Lee.
There are so many great choices that it sucks to have to stay within our means!

 

[Sub1 Zero]

welcome to the bad habit i also will most likely be trying to grab a JP6 soon. i think i might trade my Sub1 towards it, since 24 frets and a wider fretboard would do me a world of good

 

[kompressaur]

shame the Axis didnt do it for you - those pickups!that neck!...still,different strokes 'n all
Komp

 

[threeminutesboy]

shame the Axis didnt do it for you - those pickups!that neck!...still,different strokes 'n all
Komp

yep really a shame case the Axis is really a very good axe (especially with MM90 pickups), but anyway if the pet do it for you that's the most important

 

[roburado]

overall, I think im leaning towards the petrucci model now! I'm not even a huge dream theater fan, but I just think the guitar is built so well. You guys agree? I really liked the axis's neck, small and fast, but i think the petrucci, for its value is far above the other guitars.

thoughts??

I really love the JP. It fits me better than any other guitar that I've played. It solved certain problems I've had with other guitars like the placement of the controls on a $tr@t. The JP has the controls right where I want them. (The ASS and the Luke) also are pretty good about that. The JP gives me the sound I want most of the time. There are some sounds that it doesn't do, though. It doesn't do some of those great tones that you can get with single coils. It has a certain voice that isn't...uh...vintage enough for me sometimes. The guitars that I want to have to fill those voids are also EBMMs: ASS, Luke. I suspect that I'll want an AL and a Silo or Silo Spec too. But yeah...it's a very well built guitar. Does it exceed the value that the others represent? I don't know, but I think you get what you pay for and then some.

 

[surrealforreal]

I'm right there with you quilt_top. I bought a Sub 1 recently, it was the first EBMM I ever held. I went to get a part for an old Jackson I am re-finishing, etc and I picked up the Sub while waiting for the guy to get the part. He came back and I said "I'll take the guitar, too".
Now I'm looking at trading in my PRS and a few Strats to go all out EBMM...could be trouble...

 

[greeny]

Hey, You've played the things, the one you are most comfortabe with is the JP so go for that.

The only thing that might be worth you trying is an Axis Supersport with Piezo, same great neck as the axis, same pickups but with split coils for some great single coil sounds and with teh peizo you have even more versitility that the Jp or morse.

As you can tell I am a Supersport owner and think its the dogs danglies

 

[Jay]

As you can tell I am a Supersport owner and think its the dogs danglies

The dog's danglies! Haha!

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I love the Axis over all the other MM axes, but if the Pet does it for you, thats the main thing!

 

[Bungo]

Hi Quilt

Sounds to me as if you've made you're mind up!

I agree with you completely. I have an Axis that was my main guitar for 2/3 years until I bought my first JP.

I think some people assume that it's only for shredders, but I find it a great all round guitar. Funnily enough if you listen to a lot of JP's output, then it shows how much versatility he has and therefore how versatile his guitar has to be. I'm no shredder but this is my fave guitar ever.

I bought a Y2D recently as well, but haven't connected with this in anything like the same way as the JP's.

Buy....play.....enjoy!

 

[Norrin Radd]

It sounds like the JP is the one. It's my main guitar right now. Yeah, there are some things it can't do, that's why I've got an AL on order. Between the two, I'm defintiely covered. And if the finish is not your cup of tea, wait to see what Winter Namm brings, it might very well be this:

 

[Scarifi3d]

My OLP JP has been my main guitar for quite sometime, and it was that guitar along with playing the EBMM JP at a local music shop that convinced me to order an EBMM one. I own a couple !b4n3z's and have went through all the other brands out there, (except G1b50n) but the JP is so comfortable! I can't even hardly play my RG's anymore because of being spoiled by the JP's body contours and neck. I can't wait for my JP to be done, and God willing that will be very soon!

You won't be disapointed with the EBMMJP!

 

[Quilt_top]

Ya, I didn't mean to make it out as the axis wasn't as nice as the others, I just wasn't as impressed as I thought I would of been.

I certainly like the idea of trying out a super sport with the piezo in the pickup. I do like the axis's neck. It was small and comfortable.

Also, I might wait to see if if music man provides some other finishes. I read that JP thread the other day. Someone posted some stunning photo shopped finishes.

talk to ya all later, thanks for the input

 

[yesandno]

Wha Wha Whaaaaat!
You were in a music store that had three different models of EBMM's !!???

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I was thinking that!