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Markdezy

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Mar 2, 2006
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15
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ATL
Alright, this is my first post here and I'm hoping to get a few answers about the JP7 in general.

Basically, I want a guitar that's got all of my required specs and not to break the bank too badly. I've got the 1800 to spend on a Petrucci, but if there are other suggestions that aren't like a Shamray Custom or something that I can't play first, I'd love to hear them.

My main requirements are:
1.) 7 stringer. A 6 stringer MIGHT be acceptable, but I've got some huge hands.
2.) A piezo would be nice for the acoustic stuff
3.) Lots of fret access.
4.) 24 frets
5.) Floyd or some type of similar trem.

My styles of music is mostly progressive stuff (gotta love that DT). A bit of metal. A bit of calm acoustic stuff. If need be, I'll purchase an acoustic later, but I'd like a Piezo in this one if possible.

The only other 7 string that I've played is the Ibanez RG-7321 that I own now. I absolutely love it and think it's just about the most comfortable guitar in the world. Hopefully, the Petrucci will prove me wrong.

If anyone in here has played both an Ibanez 7 stringer and a Petrucci, are the necks comparable in thinness an do the bodies feel close to the same? Also, I noticed that the JP7 doesn't have a locking nut, will that cause some tuning instabilities or will it be alright because of the locking tuners?

I'm going to Guitar Center soon to test out the Petrucci and a few other guitars. Is there anything else I should be looking out for?

Thanks.
 

Raz

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Sep 3, 2004
Messages
2,908
Location
Ottawa, Ont.
Markdezy said:
Alright, this is my first post here and I'm hoping to get a few answers about the JP7 in general.

Basically, I want a guitar that's got all of my required specs and not to break the bank too badly. I've got the 1800 to spend on a Petrucci, but if there are other suggestions that aren't like a Shamray Custom or something that I can't play first, I'd love to hear them.

My main requirements are:
1.) 7 stringer. A 6 stringer MIGHT be acceptable, but I've got some huge hands.
2.) A piezo would be nice for the acoustic stuff
3.) Lots of fret access.
4.) 24 frets
5.) Floyd or some type of similar trem.

My styles of music is mostly progressive stuff (gotta love that DT). A bit of metal. A bit of calm acoustic stuff. If need be, I'll purchase an acoustic later, but I'd like a Piezo in this one if possible.

The only other 7 string that I've played is the Ibanez RG-7321 that I own now. I absolutely love it and think it's just about the most comfortable guitar in the world. Hopefully, the Petrucci will prove me wrong.

If anyone in here has played both an Ibanez 7 stringer and a Petrucci, are the necks comparable in thinness an do the bodies feel close to the same? Also, I noticed that the JP7 doesn't have a locking nut, will that cause some tuning instabilities or will it be alright because of the locking tuners?

I'm going to Guitar Center soon to test out the Petrucci and a few other guitars. Is there anything else I should be looking out for?

Thanks.

First off I don't think the RG 7321 is even in the same town as the JP7, one is just a fixed bridge 7 with stock pups, and a fairly straight forward body design and the other is a signature series, with custom wound pickups, an innovative trem ( the best out there in my opinion), and the most comfortable body out there. So if you like your 7321, you'll go gaga over a JP7.
Have no worries about the trem, the tuners are locking and the stability is out of this world, the trem itself will blow you away...then there's the playability...oh mama. I had my action down to 1/32", how many other 7 string guitars can you lower the action down to 1/32"?
I've tried a 7321, it was alright, but I just wouldn't have any faith in it. Think about this for a second, you would be playing the EXACT same guitar that John plays. If it's good enough for him, what do you think it will do for you. But honestly I never purchased my JP7 cause of John, I purchased mine because I was a big fan of EBMM and I wanted a 7 string. Plus if you do get one with the piezo bridge, you'll be that much closer to heaven...good luck!
 

jaxadam

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Joined
Jun 30, 2005
Messages
445
Location
Jacksonville, FL
I have an Ibanez J Custom 7 string, and I love it. The neck is very comfortable for me. I don't know too much about the 7321, but I like the 1527 which is the Prestige version of that discontinued model.

For some reason, and I know this is gonna sound funny, but the EBMM JP neck seems a little thin for me. Maybe it's just a different neck profile that I'm not used to. I don't know. I'm used to playing a variety of guitars. It's not a bad neck at all. I like the guitar a lot, I'm just not a fan of really thin necks.

According to the specs you desire, I think you'll really like the guitar a lot. Give it a shot, you can't go wrong.
 

jaxadam

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Jun 30, 2005
Messages
445
Location
Jacksonville, FL
P.S. The piezo is a must. It sounds killer.

Also, this guitar is super easy to set up. The trem is very good. It actually took me a while to finally get my guitar to be very stable. At first, with slight use of the trem, I would go out of tune a bit, but now I can abuse it like it's a double locking trem, and I have no problems. To tell you the truth, I'm actually surprised.

This guitar is like a fine wine. It gets better with age. Honestly, I wasn't too wild about it at first. It seemed too easy, but it seemed to have a few flaws. It was just a new animal to me. I wasn't confident in setting it up, because it seemed too vulnerable. But it stood up to my ESP, which, as much as I might get flamed, that is one of my finest tuned instruments that holds together no matter what.

I really don't think you can go wrong.

P.P.S. I purchased mine because it played better than any other guitar I'd played in quite a while. And that was the Chain-Store-No-Set-Up version...
 
Last edited:

Markdezy

Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2006
Messages
15
Location
ATL
I also had one more question. Do you need to have a Stereo cable to make the Piezo and magnetic pickups work without changing the plug from one jack to the other?

I'm not that familiar with the whole Piezo system yet. Hopefully that'll come over time.

Thanks, for the support, guys!
 

PeteDuBaldo

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Jul 16, 2004
Messages
10,192
Location
Central Connecticut (Manchester) USA
I've got a JP7 and love it!

Markdezy said:
I also had one more question. Do you need to have a Stereo cable to make the Piezo and magnetic pickups work without changing the plug from one jack to the other?

I'm not that familiar with the whole Piezo system yet. Hopefully that'll come over time.

Thanks, for the support, guys!

You have the option of running either 1 or 2 cables to use the piezo and magnetic pickups in tandem.

1 cable - EB makes a splitter box for use with a stereo (TRS) cable out of one output jack on the JP - signal splits into two separate 1/4" jacks, one to amp, one to PA/bass amp/acoustic amp
2 cables - use each output, one to amp, and one to PA/bass amp/acoustic amp -- you may need a ground lift.
 

Markdezy

Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2006
Messages
15
Location
ATL
PeteDuBaldo said:
I've got a JP7 and love it!

You have the option of running either 1 or 2 cables to use the piezo and magnetic pickups in tandem.

1 cable - EB makes a splitter box for use with a stereo (TRS) cable out of one output jack on the JP - signal splits into two separate 1/4" jacks, one to amp, one to PA/bass amp/acoustic amp
2 cables - use each output, one to amp, and one to PA/bass amp/acoustic amp -- you may need a ground lift.

So, you can't just use one mono cable to one amp?

Or, does this mean you can switch, and them both work with 1 jack, you just can't use them both at the same time?
 
Last edited:

jaxadam

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Jun 30, 2005
Messages
445
Location
Jacksonville, FL
With the JP, you can use one mono cable, just put it in the piezo jack.

You have the option of selecting magnetic or piezo in that input, or you can select a combination of both.
 

Markdezy

Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2006
Messages
15
Location
ATL
jaxadam said:
With the JP, you can use one mono cable, just put it in the piezo jack.

You have the option of selecting magnetic or piezo in that input, or you can select a combination of both.

Awesome. I don't think there's a way possible that I can be disapponted with this. :D

Thanks!
 
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