Jp12 or Jp13 Dilemma

[Primo]

Hi all,

So I purchased the EBMM JP12 last week and I LOOOVE the guitar. It's my second Ball. Anyways, I'm starting to feel that I should've probably gotten the JP13. I've played both models in the store and both feel and play awesome. The main reason why I went for the JP12 was because of the dark cherry red finish, ebony fret board, and the cool BFR seal in the 12th fret. I wasn't too thrilled about the silver finish of the JP13 and it didn't have the nice BFR seal on the 12th fret; but the rest of the JP13 are still great, especially the new pickups and the active pre-amp. But after seeing more and more pics of the JP13, that silver finish is starting to grow on me. Now I'm tempted to bring the JP12 back and exchange it for the JP13.

What do you guys think? Getting both is not option since my significant other will knife me if I do. So if you were given a choice between the two to own, would you go for the 12 or for the 13?

~Pr

 

[guitarp77]

This is so personal...

I´d say go for both, but if you can´t, just put yourself in a mental position of which guitar you´ll enjoy more in a couple of months. Trust me, the finish itself (though relevant) ain´t enough to make the decision.

Have a friend come along to the store, and get blindfolded. Have him pass the guitars and judge solely upon playing and feel. That way the colour / BFR inlay won´t play a relevant part

And where are the pics?

 

[Primo]

Ask and you shall receive

http://forums.ernieball.com/attachments/music-man-guitars/23120d1379667011-my-balls-ready-ngd-913957_666406673394325_1130775210_o.jpg

I've already played both models 'almost to death' at the store. And I love the way both the guitars feel and play. I wasn't too fond of the silver finish at first but now I'm starting to really like it. But that BFR seal is just too cool to have in the fretboard.

First-world problem, I guess.

 

[PY38]

I just got the JP13 back that I exchanged a few weeks ago. I was A/B'ing a JP6 BFR in cherry burst and while I had a real hard time trying to make a decision I ultimatly chose the 13....Ive had the XI and the 12 and I really prefer the 17" over the 20"....

It all comes down to preference but to me the 13 sounds much less cold or bright compared to the XI and 12.

 

[kestrou]

Ask and you shall receive

http://forums.ernieball.com/attachments/music-man-guitars/23120d1379667011-my-balls-ready-ngd-913957_666406673394325_1130775210_o.jpg

I've already played both models 'almost to death' at the store. And I love the way both the guitars feel and play. I wasn't too fond of the silver finish at first but now I'm starting to really like it. But that BFR seal is just too cool to have in the fretboard.

First-world problem, I guess.

Great pics - and I'm a big fan of the old style seal too.

Bring back the 12 fret BFR seal, Big Poppa - and you can start by retrofitting my JP6 Solarburst!

kestrou

 

[Systems]

12 all the way. Better color, better radius. Papa Ball.



(Just started hearing a Papa John's commercial in my head when I was typing that out, lol)

 

[Tis BOOLsheet]

I'd imagine that the biggest difference is the feel of the neck and how comfortable it is, no? Isn't the 12 a lot slimmer?

 

[xjbebop]

I've already played both models 'almost to death' at the store. And I love the way both the guitars feel and play. I wasn't too fond of the silver finish at first but now I'm starting to really like it. But that BFR seal is just too cool to have in the fretboard.

...you've answered your question right here....

 

[PY38]

Close your eyes, have someone hand you each one and pick. Aesthetics are great but "living" with it, playing it is what will inspire......Let the best one win

 

[Primo]

...you've answered your question right here....

Yes. But the BFR seal is just as cool as the JP13's new pickups & active pre-amp.

Ahh well. I'll hold on to this sweet JP12. They're all awesome guitars. I'll just wait until the JP15 is out, which will be my next Ball (I think) - being that 15 is my favorite number.

It's just soooo hard to pick which Ball to get whenever I get some extra funds to satiate my GAS.

 

[PY38]

Or the Majesty........

 

[Bangkokhellyeah]

Nien

 

[dedeman]

I'd chose JP12 over JP13 or Majesty. I even more prefere JPXi which I have. Black onyx color is really cool for a modern metal axe.

 

[dedeman]

And the onboard preamp is upgradeable.

 

[FantasyMetal]

I have had about every configuration of JP that has been offered up to this point and I would say 12 over 13 for sure, though I prefer the JP6 BFR over any other JP model.

 

[Kenji20022]

I would personally stay with the 12, I find it aesthetically cooler than the JP13. Tonewise, they're identical sans the fretboard wood, which when I A/B'd them didn't make that much of a difference at ALL.

If you prefer the finish and the inlay, just get the Illuminators and stick it in that guitar! Or just get the bridge pickup, the neck LF and Illuminators are very, very similar.

I have an XI 6 string on the way right now, and I can't wait to get it. I'll be using it for lower tunings. The 7 string I had excelled at having the low string down to B and A.

 

[Tis BOOLsheet]

Hi all,

So I purchased the EBMM JP12 last week and I LOOOVE the guitar. It's my second Ball. Anyways, I'm starting to feel that I should've probably gotten the JP13. I've played both models in the store and both feel and play awesome. The main reason why I went for the JP12 was because of the dark cherry red finish, ebony fret board, and the cool BFR seal in the 12th fret. I wasn't too thrilled about the silver finish of the JP13 and it didn't have the nice BFR seal on the 12th fret; but the rest of the JP13 are still great, especially the new pickups and the active pre-amp. But after seeing more and more pics of the JP13, that silver finish is starting to grow on me. Now I'm tempted to bring the JP12 back and exchange it for the JP13.

What do you guys think? Getting both is not option since my significant other will knife me if I do. So if you were given a choice between the two to own, would you go for the 12 or for the 13?

~Pr

How do you feel about the necks? I would imagine that is the biggest difference between the two models. I think the JP13 has a neck that more people can identify with (if I had to guess), but there are things the JP12 has that I prefer. First of all, I am not convinced the Illuminators are at all better than the Crunch Lab - Liquifire combo in the JP12. Demo videos have been okay, and obviously there are a ton of factors in an overall sound product, but I think the JP12 PU combo was pretty great. So IF the Illuminators are that much different, are they better?

Also, I'd say ebony beats rosewood any day of the week for fretboard. It's just a classier fretboard wood. The feel is just better to me, and my JP12-7 shows none of the dirt that I used to get on my rosewood boards. It's also worth noting that many people notice a sonic difference between the two. And as a bonus, I think the dark dark brown of ebony looks far cooler!

In terms of overall look, I'm not sure how much a factor that plays to you. I think the red sparkles are richer, but the silver ones are far more masculine.

I say try to play them once more in the store and compare feels of the necks. Which one is more comfortable to you this time around? Then see if you can detect any difference in sound from pickups. Also, note that unless you put 9s on the JP12, you'll have 10s; the JP13 has 9s. That will make a HUGE difference in the sound and will obviously skew your experiment if you decide to go back to play the 13.

Ultimately I'm not entirely sure what I would do myself if I had to choose between the 6 string models. For a 7 string, I'd never trade in my JP12-7. But for a regular guitar I might go with the JPX, I think, now that it has stainless steel frets. Good luck!

 

[kroma-ibk]

I'd imagine that the biggest difference is the feel of the neck and how comfortable it is, no? Isn't the 12 a lot slimmer?

The JP13 and the Majesty have the same neck, which is supposed to be very fast according to EBMM. Last year I played a JP12and wanted to take this guitar home. Can anybody who played both guitars confirm that the JP13 has a "thicker" neck and how different they really are?

Thx

 

[t_rod]

The JP13 and the Majesty have the same neck, which is supposed to be very fast according to EBMM. Last year I played a JP12and wanted to take this guitar home. Can anybody who played both guitars confirm that the JP13 has a "thicker" neck and how different they really are?
Thx

The JP12 has a 20" radius and I think the JP13 has a 17" radius, that may explain why the 13 feels thicker

 

[Primo]

I ended up keeping the JP12 (and not exchange it for the JP13). I just really like the ebony fretboard, plus I'm a bit partial to darker colors (though the JP13 silver still looks good). As for the neck, the JP12 definitely feels much thinner and the JP13 to me has a slight better feel (when I was comparing both models in the store). But the difference between the two in radius isn't that big for me personally.

My most recent EBMM purchase though after the JP12 was a Luke III. Now that guitar has a really beautiful neck.