JP12 Basswood with maple top or BFR Family Mahogany woods for my axe?!?

[Motopsycho]

Hi everyone I am going to be the proud owner of a MM JP model shortly but before taking the plunge, I would like to know your opinions on whether I should go with the new JP12 basswood , Maple top body or the Classic BFR all Mahogany body guitars? I really love the sound of Mahogany, but I have conflicting ideas to which is best cause’ everyone says that Basswood with maple cap is the “Holy Grail of Tone”?!? so if anyone here has had experience with both wood types please shed some light. Thanks and Rock till you Drop!!!!

 

[James C]

The regular BFR models have an Alder body with a Mahogany tone block, and a Mahogany neck. With exception to the Koa BFR, which in fact has a full Mahogany body and neck.
I have a regular BFR, and a Koa, and I've play many beyond belief of the standard models which are also a Basswood body like the JP12, minus the Mahogany tone block.
My experience with them all is that you'll notice a difference in how full the sound is.
Starting with the Koa, it's a huge wall of sound that's just beautiful. (Don't mix full with muddy. ahah)
Then as you bump down to the regular BFR's it diminishes a tad then so forth with the standard models which would be the smallest sound I guess you could say.
Since the JP12 still has the Mahogany tone block, it'll be closer to the regular BFR, though you'd have to rule out the tones of Alder and Basswood.

TL;DR All of the JP's sound beautiful in my opinion, and it's really going to come down to you sitting with each one and finding the one you like best.

 

[Motopsycho]

Thanks James C for your great help and Expertise. really appreciateit. this is a great forum to learn new things all the time Rock On!!!

 

[christheasian]

do you like your necks a little thicker? fretboards flat? there is quite a bit of difference between the xi/12 and the bfr necks/fretboard radius.

 

[Motopsycho]

hi christheasian i like my necks wide, flat and thin!!! Ciao

 

[christheasian]

then DEFINITELY get a jpxi or jp12. the neck profiles are almost night and day between the older ones and the xi/12's.

 

[Motopsycho]

great info thanks. i didn't think there was so much diff. in neck depth?!? Ciao man

 

[christheasian]

the neck is substantially thinner and the fretboard is a lot flatter

 

[James C]

I wouldn't say the necks are night and day Chris, the necks are the exact same size at the nut and last fret.
I know this cause I'm comparing the specs right now, when I played both my BFR and my buddies JPXI side by side the necks felt the same.
The biggest difference was the radius of the fingerboard (JPXI 20"/BFR 15") and the fret size.
The BFR's have a high profile, wide fret. While the JPXI and JP12 have medium jumbo profile frets.
Plus the lovely feel of Ebony on the JPXI and JP12! That's why I bought my Koa.

 

[christheasian]

illusions, I guess. I worked with 10 different JP7's on my last tour and the xi/12 felt so so different. Jason Richardson doesn't even really like playing his bfr's anymore. Maybe I'm just high.
yeah.
that's it.

 

[Motopsycho]

Hey guys thanks for your great help, now one last question: you think i would feel much diff. with the 20" radius, considering that i'm coming from an IbbyRg770 1.690" radii and same nut width 43mm? Ciao all and thanks you're all so F?!?' awesome. Rock on!!!