My beutiful sounding but awful playing JP6

[Jantex]

I own two EBMM guitars: Axis and JP6. While my Axis is superb, I have some troubles with my Petrucci. It is so stiff I cannot explain. I have 9-46 hybrid slinkies, but they play like 12's. I also think I have a very high action, but don't know what to do: lower the bridge or adjust the truss rod. Since my neck in straight as hell, I am thinkig about lowering my bridge, but it already seems very low to me I have taken some photos and would be really thankful if anyone, who has low and great action, could post some photos of his action, so I will be able to see what to do in my case. Thanx for your help.

 

[Warg Master]

Wow, your action is pretty high. the Bridge could stand to go down a little more... You could also use shims for the neck pocket.

 

[Jantex]

what shims for the neck pocket, btw thanx for advice about bridge.

 

[Warg Master]

Shims can be placed under then neck where the neck bolts on to the body, in effect raising the fretboard by however thick the shim you use is. It's not hard, you just need shims. If you're worried about doin gthis take it to a pro... and I mean a real pro, not the guitar center dude, someone who knows about your instrument.

 

[jongitarz]

I have NEVER had to use shims in a JP model, and I have set up 100's of them, including Johns guitars. Set the relief, level the bridge plate so it is flush......even side to side and front to back. Adjust the saddles. Warg is right in that some guitars need shims to lower the action (Floyd's in particular), but not your JP

 

[Warg Master]

I stand corrected.

I've never needed to worry about it on my jp as it's always been perfect, I just thought I'd need the shims otherwise...

 

[Jantex]

If I understand correctly, the bridge has to be in the same level with body, and I need to tighten the neck a bit?

 

[Jantex]

Can I adjust the saddles with strings on uder tension, or should I loosen the tension?

 

[Jantex]

I have spent now 4-5 hours, but hopeless. When I lower individual saddle it starts to buzz. Action is still pretty high and guitar still stiff

 

[skabassist13]

me thinks you need to add more relief( back bow) to the neck. and drop the saddles just a wee bit. i have no idea how floyds work or are set up, but id start with the two things i mentioned. remeber it can take a few days for a neck to settle after a truss rod adjustment, so make small adjustments and be patient.

 

[Jantex]

Yeah, I managet to lower the action. Now it is low, around 1/16 at the 12th fret with practicly no fret buzz, but one problem still exists. My guitar is stil stiff as hell. How to solve this problem, any suggestions? Setup is now good, I think. Neck is straight with only small relief, action low (I have spent almoast 6 hours screwing the saddles up and down I just want ti to be softer. While my Axis plays like a butter, I really suffer playing my JP. I would be thankful for any help.

 

[OrangeChannel]

I'm unsure what you mean by stiff...

 

[Jantex]

Strings are hard, the guitar doesn't play easily. I have 9-46 on but they play like 12-56 almost.

 

[OrangeChannel]

I've never had that problem....strings stretched and tuned to standard?

 

[Jantex]

Yes, tunned to standard and the strings are streched. Yeah, I know it is really wierd. I have one Ibanez JP with the same gauge (9-46) but it plays alot softer. My EBMM-JP-6 feels like having enormous string tension. I hope I will be able to fix this, cause otherwise I won't like my guitar that much. It really sounds beautifil, million times better then Ibanez JP, but it is really an effort to play it