JP6 Production

[csfalcon]

Hi everyone, I've been lurking for a few days because I am interested in picking up a MM Petrucci 6 string after years of the guitar being on my wish list...

My main question is, were there any design or spec changes since the guitar began production? Will a used one made in, say 2004, be the same as a brand-new one? (provided of course they have the same options)

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[Headstock]

Main differences in the JP model (excluding the BFR model):

The change of the pickup in the Bridge position. Same brand, different model.
The plastic on the backplates have changed to a textured plastic.
Recent models (2005-2006? and on) have the new compensated nut.


The BFR model has different wood (Maple top, Alder and Mahogany in the body) and neck(Mahogany), the body is slightly wider, looses the arm scoop and has a deeper cutaway on the lower horn as well as having a painted neck.

 

[csfalcon]

Thank you for the great info. Based on a quick Google, a compensated nut has a slightly different position for each string to help correct intonation problems - right?

And can you or anyone easily explain the tonal differences between the two bridge pickups?

 

[roburado]

The new bridge pickup is a DiMarzio D-Sonic. If you go to their website, they have a description of the pickup there. In my experience, the D-Sonic is a bit brighter than the old Steve's Special. It's a bit more in-your-face and aggressive. I think it's got a bit more clarity, but some people make the criticism that it's not as smooth sounding as the old pickup.

Compensated nut made it on the the JPs around 2005, as did the D-Sonic, which I think came a little later than the nut.

You may find some JP6s coming with .010s and some that come with .009s, because JP switched from .010s to .009s and then back again. EBMM shipped the guitars with the string gauge that he was using on his main guitars. Now, the guitars are shipping with .010s again. The change to .009s came around November 15, 2007, or so. Just recently, they changed back to reflect what JP was doing.

 

[csfalcon]

Ok, that's good to know. I gathered that the D-Sonic is the one with a stripe instead of just poles on the one coil.

There's a particular one I'm looking at apparently has the old pickup. I think I'd prefer the older one now based on your description.

 

[acwild]

I was looking at the JP6 at Musician's Friend and it still looks like it's the old pickup.

 

[John C]

I was looking at the JP6 at Musician's Friend and it still looks like it's the old pickup.

I think Musician's Friend just grabs photos from the Music Man website instead of shooting the individual guitars when they come in - and the current website is out of date and in the process of being updated.

In fact, BP shared a beta version of the new website with us last week; it's a knockout with lots of new high-res photos of the current line.

 

[paranoid70]

There is also the little matter of the fret markers. At some point the inlays went from the standard "dot" to a different marker that looks like a shield. Not sure if that happened before or after 2004.... actually I am not even sure if they still make JPs with the standard dot, but most guitars I see on the net and in stores have the larger markers.

 

[MatrixAndyR]

The shield inlays on the Petrucci are a special addition, just like piezos, you can still order the guitar with or without them.

 

[Bierschinken]

Paranoid, do you have some illustration of that?

I just never noticed that

 

[roburado]

There is also the little matter of the fret markers. At some point the inlays went from the standard "dot" to a different marker that looks like a shield. Not sure if that happened before or after 2004.... actually I am not even sure if they still make JPs with the standard dot, but most guitars I see on the net and in stores have the larger markers.

The shield inlays on the Petrucci are a special addition, just like piezos, you can still order the guitar with or without them.

The shield inlays have been there all along as an option. There has been no change regarding the inlays.

 

[Bungo]

Ok, that's good to know. I gathered that the D-Sonic is the one with a stripe instead of just poles on the one coil.

There's a particular one I'm looking at apparently has the old pickup. I think I'd prefer the older one now based on your description.

I have JP6s with both the old pickup and the D-Sonic. I prefer the old pickup. Not a massive difference but I do find it a little smoother than the D Sonic.