MAJESTY Discussion page!

[steveadamlu]

I personally play and own a standard JP6, and I am interested in buying a BFR cherry burst, but here in Europe, they cost about 5500$. For me, the new Majesty (at first sight) is not a guitar that I would invest 5000$ in. It's maybe because my eyes need to habit on it. But I am a little bit sad about what EBMM did the last years. Ten yeras ago, there was a top guitar called the JP6. Really a super guitar, that covers all the needs an all the musicgenres. Then the BFR's came out, with little upgrades, esthetically really beautiful woods and finishes. Then they pulled out every year a new guitar, JPX, then JPXI, JP12 (a guitar that JP himself told that it was the very best, and then few weeks later, JP presented the JP13!!!). Too much people are running behind this marketing strategy while saying "Oh, I absolutely need the new model, because the model I own from last year is no more up to date...or the newer one is sayd to be better, faster? For me, you cannot reinvent the wheel. For me, the only thing that I think is that JP gets some money putting on his name on his guitars, an the more models come out, the more the consumerwheel is turning, the more money is floating... Please don't undersand that false, I really like Musicman products, and the guitars and basses are very good and maybe one of the most perfect guitars, but the business strategy they follow is since the JPX not "ownerfriendly", because whatever model you buy, the following year, it is an old model....

 

[Bungo]

I personally play and own a standard JP6, and I am interested in buying a BFR cherry burst, but here in Europe, they cost about 5500$. For me, the new Majesty (at first sight) is not a guitar that I would invest 5000$ in. It's maybe because my eyes need to habit on it. But I am a little bit sad about what EBMM did the last years. Ten yeras ago, there was a top guitar called the JP6. Really a super guitar, that covers all the needs an all the musicgenres. Then the BFR's came out, with little upgrades, esthetically really beautiful woods and finishes. Then they pulled out every year a new guitar, JPX, then JPXI, JP12 (a guitar that JP himself told that it was the very best, and then few weeks later, JP presented the JP13!!!). Too much people are running behind this marketing strategy while saying "Oh, I absolutely need the new model, because the model I own from last year is no more up to date...or the newer one is sayd to be better, faster? For me, you cannot reinvent the wheel. For me, the only thing that I think is that JP gets some money putting on his name on his guitars, an the more models come out, the more the consumerwheel is turning, the more money is floating... Please don't undersand that false, I really like Musicman products, and the guitars and basses are very good and maybe one of the most perfect guitars, but the business strategy they follow is since the JPX not "ownerfriendly", because whatever model you buy, the following year, it is an old model....

I don't understand why this should be an issue? Clearly JP is very much a 'detail' man, and likes to tweak and experiment with his guitars. He's like the polar opposite of a Walter Trout type character who I believe has played the same Strat throughout most of his career.

When he has a new model, people have the opportunity to buy it but they don't have to.

I own 4 x original JP6's and at no point has the appearance of other models made me feel that I had to dash out and 'update' them.

 

[ngutenson]

^ I can see how you might get that impression, but EBMM makes these guitars for John Petrucci first and foremost. The reason there's been a JP update for the last 4 years running is because JP makes incremental changes to the guitar to suit his wants and needs. It's not a marketing trick, because one JP model isn't objectively better or higher quality than the previous year's. It's not like Apple - whose products I happen to love - where every 6-12 months you get double capacity in RAM or storage. It's an evolutionary process. It makes sense for JP to call each new guitar his favorite because each new version includes updates he asked for to improve the guitar to his own taste.

 

[DrKev]

Welcome to the forum, Steveadamiu. This has been covered on the forum before, many times so I'll just recap briefly.

Music Man do not make a new guitar so the old one is obsolete and stick John Petrucci's name on the headstock. Music Man makes tools for artists. John Petrucci wants changes to his guitars and Music Man do it, then put that guitar into production. That's Music Man's marketing strategy - make what the artists wants and make that guitar available to the public. The old models are still there. They are not obsolete and taken out of production. This is not teenage pop idol merchandising here. These are not iPhones. The artists gets what they want but the customer still has the choice.

If you must have what JP uses now that's up to you. And many people don't feel that way - that's why you still see the original JP guitars in the stores today, people love them and want to buy them. They choose the instrument that works best for them.

With this guitar JP wanted something completely different and wanted to start over from scratch. The Majesty is the result. If you don't like it, that's cool. You can still choose whatever suits you best.

 

[DrKev]

BTW, since JP and EBMM posted on Facebook yesterday, the forum has had the greatest number of visitors ever. Wild!

 

[fogman]

I love it!
and my designer's eye has no issue with the top horn. I think it is as is should be.
I can't wait to try one out! Kudos to the team!

As for the haters, they'll come around. They always do.

 

[Warthog]

I haven't posted on here since selling my JP6 a couple of years ago... however I am always lurking! I think the guitar looks great and is a really nice example of looking forward in terms of design. For me, the most interesting aspect of the Majesty after the sexy and sleek look are the hardware and switches.

One question... looking at the picture I only see one input? Where is the input for the Peizo... or is that a feature that'll be discussed later?

Nice job!

Back to lurking...

 

[banjoplayer]

For example.
Was I initially turned on by the Albert Lee shape? No I wasn't - but once I played one I was hooked and still feel the same since I was first introduced to one in 2005.

good point, I never thought the AL was so comfy by just looking at it. Didnt´appreciate it that much until some years ago there was a real AL-hype here on the forum (with guys like Rob...)Then I got the opportunity to get my hands on one and to have it in hands it is totally different. Never thought that it´s that light, comfortable and great sounding. You have to play it! And the same it is with the Majesty I assume.

 

[DrewH]

The Majesty is totally Jive! Depending on price, I intend to snag one up.

 

[Big Poppa]

I personally play and own a standard JP6, and I am interested in buying a BFR cherry burst, but here in Europe, they cost about 5500$. For me, the new Majesty (at first sight) is not a guitar that I would invest 5000$ in. It's maybe because my eyes need to habit on it. But I am a little bit sad about what EBMM did the last years. Ten years ago, there was a top guitar called the JP6. Really a super guitar, that covers all the needs an all the musicgenres. Then the BFR's came out, with little upgrades, esthetically really beautiful woods and finishes. Then they pulled out every year a new guitar, JPX, then JPXI, JP12 (a guitar that JP himself told that it was the very best, and then few weeks later, JP presented the JP13!!!). Too much people are running behind this marketing strategy while saying "Oh, I absolutely need the new model, because the model I own from last year is no more up to date...or the newer one is sayd to be better, faster? For me, you cannot reinvent the wheel. For me, the only thing that I think is that JP gets some money putting on his name on his guitars, an the more models come out, the more the consumerwheel is turning, the more money is floating... Please don't undersand that false, I really like Musicman products, and the guitars and basses are very good and maybe one of the most perfect guitars, but the business strategy they follow is since the JPX not "ownerfriendly", because whatever model you buy, the following year, it is an old model....

you have chosen to take a company committing to provide an artist with the tools he needs and instead accuse them of taking advantage of the guitar community with cheap commercialism and not very well thought out comments like marketing machine. Nobody has to buy anything including the first jp6....if you do that is great...I got into making guitars 29 years ago without a marketing machine and I still dont have one and am sad that someone can look at us servicing JP and others and degrading us to marketing. I have 9 full time engineers cranking out new stuff all the time.....that is about 8% of my workforce... I challenge the other companies to show me 8% of workforce allocated to engineers.we spend almost nothing on advertising, we have two telephone sales to service 400 dealers and share an international sales desk with Ernie Ball....WHere is the Marketing Machine....Maybe I should get one. Now if your observations and accusations held true how come there isnt a new Steve Morse...we have made two models for him since 1986....what about Luke? Three models since 1993....Albert Lee one model and a few pick up options since 1986....Maybe we work with artists to give what they want? Believe me it would be cheaper to just design a guitar in 1986 and just make that non stop....I would be bored and out playing golf or something instead of writing you at 6 am on a holiday.

Should we stop progressing when you are happy. (but you want a bfr, the other guitar that I got killed for when I first showed it) Should bands continue to make their first CD?

Why do people decide to try to put someone in a sell out box when in fact all they have done is offered the guitarist more choices? I have never discontinued a guitar.....I want to provide the right tools for signature artists and hopefully their tools will benefit others and I can continue to pay a living wage and exist in the guitar business

 

[savannah_sean]

I'd be interested to know what Luke had to say after playing one?

 

[Bungo]

So, steveadamlu, how are you enjoying your time here so far?

 

[Dr.Strangenote]

Sterling, this is amazing man. You and your team, along with JP, all did a terrific job with this. I really cannot wait to get my hands on one to play. Thanks again for all that you and your staff do. I appreciate your efforts and products as a company and as a friend. This certainly is a new era on the JP line! Well done sir.

 

[Big Poppa]

Hey Bungo...Iam answering him straight forward and honest....maybe he could have come into our house and wiped his feet first! Say hi to the missus and petted the dog.

 

[Soulkeeper]

I don't understand the hate about this design. This guitar looks perfectly well designed to me. I don't understand the Bongo references either, it looks nothing like a Bongo. Rather, the horn proportions remind me of Yamaha and Ibanez basses, and that's only logical: It's a balancing act.

When I saw that the neck wasn't bolt-on that immediately made sense too, considering that massive cutaway at the treble side (well, both sides, to be fair).

The only thing that bugs me a little bit is the upper pickup selector switch, as it looks very exposed sitting right at the ridge between three planes. But I guess that's on purpose too, to make it easy and quick to find while playing.

If I were a guitarist, I'd certainly GAS for this one.

the headstock design of the bongo would fit well with this guitar-shape i think

I think I'll have to disagree with this one: The shape and tip of the Bongo headstock reflects the shape and tips of the Bongo horns. A very unique design feature. A Bongo headstock without a Bongo body attached to the other end of the neck, would look very wrong to me.

 

[sambarugh]

I personally find the lower body shape an odd design choice - essentially everything tied in with the three V shapes going from bridge > JP logo shape > strap button.
Perhaps the bridge shape serves a purpose that JP wanted, but the other elements appear to be purely aesthetic and I don't enjoy them.
I think if the bottom was round and if they could have found a way to make the whole body one color then it would be more visually appealing to me.

 

[Gio_Force_One]

I think the guitar looks amazing and probably plays awesome but I love my yd2 and own three and more then likely would never buy one.
The one thing I love about music man is that they do do things different and outside the box and it is exciting and no other guitar compAny really does that. In Rhode Island the guitar center does not carry music man anymore so I barely ever go there.
To me all the other brands are just boring nothing new really ever changes just a colour here and there buts it's all the same with much less quality than music man.
I glad thee is a company willing to take chances on guitars and designs and come out with so many diced rent and cool things.
I love my y2d in the last two years I have not played anything else.
Thanks again.

 

[Hind]

Stephan's extended cutaway? What's that?

A sort of ... well, extended cutaway. Can be found on some Washburn guitars (Nuno's model, I think).

 

[Big Poppa]

we could paint it one color.....jp wants it this way....
the stephens was a nice older design but the access is still a problem with the thumb...it is still a blocker and you will still notice on the treble side you hit a sharp edge and the body of the guitar.

the switch looks different because it is not symetrical....it is placed at the angle that matches the arc of jps arm....so its a natural switch. Instead of him having to find the switch or change the natural arc of his picking and switching hand we put the switch in line with the arc. This switching can be done on the floor via the games changer and that will be an software update that we start to offer in the future...100's of things are available but will be very very slowly released as jp integrates them into his rig

 

[fbecir]

There is something I don't understand : John Petrucci, when he is not playing guitar, is an avid body builder.
Thus, why Music Man builds for him a very light guitar

They should build him a 25 kg guitar made with lead !!!