Neck. JP vs Steve Morse

[Raz]

I'm back fro the dead, it's been awhile. I need your expertise again. In a band playing constantly and finding the JP neck and my hands may not be getting along, and I feel ill. My other guitar is a Wolfie, nice thick neck, unlike the Pet, and virtually no pain, no cramping...I would love to remain in the family, but around here Balls are slim to none. However there is a Steve Morse hanging on the wall in a music store. I have someone interested in my JP6, so I would just need to come up with a few bucks to buy the Morse. I will no doubt go and try it out, but I would like to get everyone's opinion, even if the SM doesn't work out, which model should I look for? Thanks.

 

[Benji Peterson]

What are you looking for in terms of features?

 

[Raz]

Well at this point I can be flexible as far as the bridge goes, but it would need humbuckers, at least in the bridge (classic metal). My main concern is the neck. I think this is what you are asking...

 

[fsmith]

Raz,
Good to hear from you again... It has been a while.

I have the Silo and HH Albert Lee and they both have pretty much the same neck carve which is much different from my JP. I had a Y2D once and the carve was similar to both of them. The Morse will more versatile with the pickups and switching but I really like the HH AL for what you are looking to do.

take care,
fred

 

[beej]

Hey Raz! Welcome back.

I never bonded with the JP neck, either, so I know what you mean. The SM/Y2D is more of a traditional shape and very comfortable.

In terms of other guitars ... they're all great. With bridge humbuckers you have the Albert Lee HH (love the neck), Axis models, Lukes (though the necks are on the small side given that you like the Wolfgang), Silhouette/Silhouette Special, and the Reflex.

 

[Raz]

Hey beej, how's the family? Yummy, can't wait to go try it out. Man, some gigs I can barely make it to the end of Hallowed Be Thy Name, my hand is so cramped! Thanks!

 

[Raz]

Raz,
Good to hear from you again... It has been a while.

I have the Silo and HH Albert Lee and they both have pretty much the same neck carve which is much different from my JP. I had a Y2D once and the carve was similar to both of them. The Morse will more versatile with the pickups and switching but I really like the HH AL for what you are looking to do.

take care,
fred

Sorry missed this. Hey fred, thanks...I always loved the look of the Albert Lee, something to think about...

 

[Spudmurphy]

Hi Raz - I suffered from cramps when I had my jp6. Never had that with the EVH or Al.
Played a Morse but the switching gets in my way!!!

As far as necks and bucker options go, I gues it boils down to Silo/Al or Axis.

The HH Al is one heck of guitar and will get you to Amen.

 

[Raz]

Hi Raz - I suffered from cramps when I had my jp6. Never had that with the EVH or Al.
Played a Morse but the switching gets in my way!!!

As far as necks and bucker options go, I gues it boils down to Silo/Al or Axis.

The HH Al is one heck of guitar and will get you to Amen.

Well the Steve Morse here has his signature on the back of the headstock, he must have signed it when he was here for a clinic (I know I missd it), and it is only 1539.00 CAD...that's a freakin steal. I hope it works out! I will keep an eye out for an AL but I have yet to see one in Ottawa!

 

[beej]

It's a really comfy neck profile, I think you'll like it. And the switching isn't too complicated. (You can always make it simpler with a few tweaks if it's an issue.)

 

[banjoplayer]

Hey beej, how's the family? Yummy, can't wait to go try it out. Man, some gigs I can barely make it to the end of Hallowed Be Thy Name, my hand is so cramped! Thanks!

Hi Raz,
only played a JP once. It was VERY different to a Morse. The Morse is very comfy, but a little bit less meat than my AL (assumed that my 1994 has the very same neckshape than modern ALHHs which I don´t know). Close to the Morse would be a Silhouette (which has 2 HBs) or a Silo Spec (which is available with HSS). Reflex is close too.
As you have the opportunity to try the Morse... I always would suggest it. It´s the most comfortable guitar I know. Some complain about the missing forearm contour, but... Teles, LPs, even Axis´ have this.
As you mention "Hallowed Be Thy Name" We play this one too. Great song. You can seee it in the link (we played at a local marathon). I apologize as I play the Tele in this partiucular video... You can see my Morse standing in front of the drumkit. Normally I use it for Hallowed Shelter50 @ Einstein Marathon 29.09.2013 - YouTube

 

[Raz]

Nice, by that point in the song I have jerkers cramp in my hand! Tried the Morse, liked it, but guilt starts to creep in. I will sleep on it and think more about it tomorrow. The neck is very close to the Wolfie...thanks!

Hi Raz,
only played a JP once. It was VERY different to a Morse. The Morse is very comfy, but a little bit less meat than my AL (assumed that my 1994 has the very same neckshape than modern ALHHs which I don´t know). Close to the Morse would be a Silhouette (which has 2 HBs) or a Silo Spec (which is available with HSS). Reflex is close too.
As you have the opportunity to try the Morse... I always would suggest it. It´s the most comfortable guitar I know. Some complain about the missing forearm contour, but... Teles, LPs, even Axis´ have this.
As you mention "Hallowed Be Thy Name" We play this one too. Great song. You can seee it in the link (we played at a local marathon). I apologize as I play the Tele in this partiucular video... You can see my Morse standing in front of the drumkit. Normally I use it for Hallowed Shelter50 @ Einstein Marathon 29.09.2013 - YouTube

 

[Raz]

This might be a stupid question, but what about noise from the single coils? Thanks!

 

[beej]

They're real singles, so they're noisy. You can always swap something noise-free in there if you'd prefer. (I have a Bill Lawrence L200 in the neck single of mine.)

 

[Shadowbox]

Hey Raz!

It's been awhile for me too. Welcome back to both of us. I played an Axis first and loved it. Those things sound amazing. After a while I wanted something without a Floyd, so I went with the signature model of one of my guitar idols and got a blueburst Morse. I love that guitar. The Morse has a slightly lower output and is inherently more midrangey (based on Mr. Morse's specs) but tweaking my amp settings to adjust was quick and easy. The tones from the humbuckers were so clear that I rarely needed the single-coils but I occasionally used the switching to add one to the mix . Once you spend some time with that switching system it becomes second nature.

I recently needed to add a guitar with a trem system to my live setup. Naturally I tried a Y2D first but (for whatever reason) didn't click with it. I tried several others. In the end it was a tossup between two. A Silo and a Luke III. Silos are truly great guitars but in the end I went with the Luke. It's cool, comfortable, and a pleasure to play sitting or standing.

Here are a couple of things you might want to consider:

1) When you are trying out guitars, do you use a strap and play standing up as if you were actually gigging? This makes a huge difference. How high do you wear the guitar on your body? Wearing it low looks cooler but wearing it a little higher can be freeing, especially when it comes to executing tricker runs in the upper register.

2) What sort of grip do you use? A blues grip (thumb up and over the bass side of the neck), or a more traditional grip? If you're cramping you might want a little more support across your palm. However, if you play with a more traditional grip you may find the chunkier necks odd.

Regardless, no matter what you get, you'll end up with a guitar that is a joy to play. Every model has a couple of cool features that you may or may not notice at first but you appreciate immediately.

The Luke III is the bees knees. Especially in full-float mode. That being said, my Morse is not for sale.

 

[Raz]

Well I did it, I wasn't going to but I did. Pictures coming soon, say hello to the proud owner of the Steve Morse Blueburst, signed by Steve himslef, yeah!!!!

 

[beej]

Nice! Congrats Raz.

 

[uOpt]

I owned both a JP and a Morse.

The JP is music man's only guitar with a wider neck at the nut, but unfortunately the nut is cut so that the string spacing is right back to where it would be with the narrower neck. That is very unusual and contributes to the "alien" feeling, not to mention it is a problem for people like me who cannot play on that narrow string spacing.

In addition to that, apart from being wider the neck is mostly the same, and instead of doing a new round-round shape at the back it has a bit of a flatter back, as if the neck was just expanded in the middle. That's also bad since the neck is now too thin for the comparably big shoulders.

 

[Raz]

Hey Shadowbox
You speak the truth my good friend, in fact I did adjust my strap to make it slightly more metal, however everything I did for the Pet I did for the Wolfie, yet the Pet really cramped my hand, and I could not compensate for it...but with the Wolfie and that little extra thickness I was able to overcome...so far so good with the SM!!!

Thanks for the great advice

Hey Raz!

It's been awhile for me too. Welcome back to both of us. I played an Axis first and loved it. Those things sound amazing. After a while I wanted something without a Floyd, so I went with the signature model of one of my guitar idols and got a blueburst Morse. I love that guitar. The Morse has a slightly lower output and is inherently more midrangey (based on Mr. Morse's specs) but tweaking my amp settings to adjust was quick and easy. The tones from the humbuckers were so clear that I rarely needed the single-coils but I occasionally used the switching to add one to the mix . Once you spend some time with that switching system it becomes second nature.

I recently needed to add a guitar with a trem system to my live setup. Naturally I tried a Y2D first but (for whatever reason) didn't click with it. I tried several others. In the end it was a tossup between two. A Silo and a Luke III. Silos are truly great guitars but in the end I went with the Luke. It's cool, comfortable, and a pleasure to play sitting or standing.

Here are a couple of things you might want to consider:

1) When you are trying out guitars, do you use a strap and play standing up as if you were actually gigging? This makes a huge difference. How high do you wear the guitar on your body? Wearing it low looks cooler but wearing it a little higher can be freeing, especially when it comes to executing tricker runs in the upper register.

2) What sort of grip do you use? A blues grip (thumb up and over the bass side of the neck), or a more traditional grip? If you're cramping you might want a little more support across your palm. However, if you play with a more traditional grip you may find the chunkier necks odd.

Regardless, no matter what you get, you'll end up with a guitar that is a joy to play. Every model has a couple of cool features that you may or may not notice at first but you appreciate immediately.

The Luke III is the bees knees. Especially in full-float mode. That being said, my Morse is not for sale.

 

[Siddius]

I know this thread is a little old, but as someone who has come back from a two year wrist injury, the 1-5/8" is the big factor when it comes to hand comfort. My flat and thin Carvin and Jackson give me a little discomfort, while my thicker vneck fender gives me even more discomfort. I can play just about all day on my Y2D. The tone was a little weeny until I switched to 500k pots.