Interested in Petrucci...

[learningtolive]

Hi guys. I'm new here, but reading through some threads you seem to be a knowledgable, friendly bunch.
I'm interested in buying a musicman petrucci, but they are extremely scarce around here so I wondered if anyone could fill me in on them.
What's the neck like in shape? Nothing like an ibanez super wizard i hope, those things are way too thin for my liking.
Has anyone had any bad experiences? I'm contemplating buying one sight unseen, as shop price here is rather expensive. I'm only on a paper boys salery (i'm 15), so buying one in a shop would mean an extra 4 months saving at least. I'm hoping the quality is quite consistant, meaning that buying one without first playing isn't so risky. I've played a few Gibsons that were so different in quality it was shocking.
Finally, I'd like your thoughts on options. I definately want a piezo, but I find it hard to choose between finishes and 6 or 7 string. The 2 colours i was looking at were red pearl burst and mystic dream, both gorgeous. I doubt I'd use the extra string, so i was wondering if it was worth it. Plus, if I get the 6 string this year, I may get the 7 next year in the finish I didnt get before. Looking at some guys (ahem...ernie) this doesnt appear to be that bad an idea, as these guitars look like they become an addiction!
Next year I'll be 16 anyway, meaning i can get a better job and so an extra JP wont be as big an issue as right now.
Thanks in advance for your pearls of wisdom guys.
Mark.

 

[paperpistols]

i just went to a local sam ash the other day to play a JP and the necks on those things are probably the most uncomfortable ive ever played. IMO: the neck is too thin, it almost hurts to play the guitar because of the lower side of the neck, neck pickup was meh (although the bridge pickup was awesome). Of course the people here will disagree with me but then again its personal preference. i found that the axis necks were much nicer. I liked the fuller shape, it seems like JP just took a file and just made the whole back of the neck flat.

 

[learningtolive]

Could you compare the neck in terms of width and thickness to a c shape Fender (mexican strat)? That's what I play right now and it's one of the most comfortable I've found.

 

[kbaim]

Welcome newbie.

I'd strongly advise against buying sight unseen if you've never played one.

It's one thing to buy a guitar over the phone or internet after you've had the chance of playing one...as quality and consistency are way above average with eb's.

But it's too much money to take a chance especially at your age. It would be wiser to find one within a couple hours of where you live and spend $50 in gas making sure it's worth it (asuming there is one).

Use the dealer locator on www.ernieball.com. click on the music man bar, then the locator

 

[deadringer]

I think you'd be better off looking at another guitar, frankly. The JPM has a very thin, flat neck with a ( back shape rather than a C shape. I wouldn't say it's exactly like the wizard but a hell of a lot closer to wizard than Fender. For what it's worth I own the 7 and it is simply the best guitar I've ever played PERIOD. I don't mind wizard.

 

[OrangeChannel]

The super wizard is thinner than the std IBZ wizard neck. The JP is closer to the original wizard if combining that one wit the Ultra neck. The 7's seem to be more comfortable to a lot of guys than the 6's. Really a matter of preference.

 

[koogie2k]

I would do what kbaim said...you have to try one. These guitars are too expensive to buy sight unseen. The necks on the JP's fit me perfectly and are the best for me. Not everyone agrees, that is what makes the world go round. That does not mean one person is wrong for not liking the neck. They are thin, but, I have small hands and the necks on the JP's fit me. I still think you need to play one before buying.

6 or 7? Again, you have to play each one. The necks are different obviously because of the added string. I have both and love 'em.

Hope you get to play one and then you will know for yourself if that is the axe you want. I tried a Luke once, and did not like the feel of it. The guitar itself is awesome.....just did not feel comfortable with it. You might like that one better or an Axis better. Good luck and welcome to the addiction!

 

[kbaim]

And for the record -- Koogie tried MY Luke and didn't like it.

Pretty cool of him not to trash me publically though

...I think he's waiting for the video to do that

 

[dwf1004]

Hi guys. I'm new here, but reading through some threads you seem to be a knowledgable, friendly bunch.

This cat obviously needs to hang out here more often; he'll see that perception go down the drain...

Welcome aboard, Mark....you can see that we're doing best we can to help ya out, bud!

 

[learningtolive]

Welcome newbie.

I'd strongly advise against buying sight unseen if you've never played one.

It's one thing to buy a guitar over the phone or internet after you've had the chance of playing one...as quality and consistency are way above average with eb's.

But it's too much money to take a chance especially at your age. It would be wiser to find one within a couple hours of where you live and spend $50 in gas making sure it's worth it (asuming there is one).

Use the dealer locator on www.ernieball.com. click on the music man bar, then the locator

I was definately going to try one before I order. Obviously it is quite a lot of money, about a full years wage for me. I was asking about consistancy because if I play one in a shop and find that i like it, ordering online saves me (no joke) about $1400. But, obviously there are risks with ordering online, so if EBMM guitars are pretty consistant build-wise then there will will a severely decresed risk of ending up with a bad one. I would probably end up buying online anyway, because even if I bought from a UK shop, since they are custom ordered you must make a down-payment of around 25%, so even if a dud came id have lost about $700.
Ernie Ball will be appearing at a guitar show near my town in about a months time so fingers crossed they will have some petruccis (and if they have enough to see/play it may sort my 6/7 string, red/mystic dream dilmnas, assuming i still want one after playing).
I can play guitar happily with most any neck, from Gibson fat 59' to Ibanez jem. It's just recently I played an RG prestige and the super wizard neck was so thin I now avoid them like the plague. The regular RG wizard 2 is not as bad, and the ultra prestige is pretty good. Any comparisons regarding those 2? Also, is the 7 string neck just wider, or maybe a bit rounder as well?